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Beyond These Stars Arrives Oct 15 on PC Game Pass With Full 1.0 Launch
AppWizard
August 21, 2026

Beyond These Stars Arrives Oct 15 on PC Game Pass With Full 1.0 Launch

Hooded Horse and Balancing Monkey Games will release Beyond These Stars on October 15, 2026. The game is a city-building and colony management title set on the back of a sentient Space Whale named Kewa. It will be available on Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store, with day-one access for PC Game Pass subscribers. Beyond These Stars serves as a sequel to Before We Leave and features players guiding a civilization called the Peeps while managing resources and Kewa's well-being. The game emphasizes ecological mutualism, where Kewa's happiness affects gameplay. Players will navigate a complex production system and can explore a procedurally generated Galaxy Map with various star systems. The game has received positive feedback from critics and will launch as a complete 1.0 title, bypassing Early Access. The minimum system requirements include a Windows 10 (64-bit) PC with an Intel Core i3-6300 or AMD FX-9370, 8 GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 750 or AMD Radeon R9 380. A free demo is currently available on Steam.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer's multiplayer 'tour' mode is a chaotic arcade racer spliced with a MOBA, and that somehow works brilliantly
AppWizard
August 18, 2026

Star Wars: Galactic Racer’s multiplayer ‘tour’ mode is a chaotic arcade racer spliced with a MOBA, and that somehow works brilliantly

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is an upcoming racing game developed by Fuse Games, featuring a single-player campaign with roguelike elements and an online multiplayer mode structured like a MOBA. Players can race across six planets in 12-player races or eight-player podracing, selecting characters with unique loadouts. After each race, players can upgrade their vehicles and choose parts inspired by the single-player campaign. The game emphasizes player agency, with choices affecting gameplay outcomes, and balances accessibility with depth. Environmental hazards add chaos to the gameplay, although the lack of a catch-up mechanic can hinder those falling behind. The game is set to release on October 6.
5 Best PC Games Of The '80s, Ranked
AppWizard
August 10, 2026

5 Best PC Games Of The ’80s, Ranked

The original "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" is a classic game from 1989 that is being remade to appeal to both new and veteran players. "Dungeon Master," released in 1987 by FTL Games, is a first-person dungeon crawler that introduced a dynamic improvement mechanism for character attributes and skills, featuring real-time combat and detailed monster designs. "Maniac Mansion," developed by Lucasfilm Games in 1987, is a horror-comedy point-and-click adventure that involves rescuing a teenager from a mad scientist's home, known for its intricate puzzles and multiple endings. "MIDI Maze," released in 1987 for the Atari ST, was an early multiplayer first-person shooter that allowed up to 16 players to battle using floating smiley faces as avatars and included networking capabilities and a level editor. "Starflight," released in 1986, allowed players to explore a vast galaxy, interact with civilizations, and engage in diplomacy and trading, featuring 270 star systems and the ability to recruit crew members and upgrade spacecraft.
The designer of Diamond City, Little Lamplight, and Starfield's Neon thinks Bethesda's galaxy was just too big: 'I would have done a handful of planets with bespoke layouts'
AppWizard
August 9, 2026

The designer of Diamond City, Little Lamplight, and Starfield’s Neon thinks Bethesda’s galaxy was just too big: ‘I would have done a handful of planets with bespoke layouts’

Nate Purkeypile, a former environment artist at Bethesda, discussed his experiences and insights from his time at the studio on The Examined Game podcast. He contributed to the design of Starfield, particularly the city of Neon, and has also worked on locations in Fallout 3 and Fallout 4. After leaving Bethesda during Starfield's development, he began independent game development and plans to release his first solo project, The Axis Unseen, in 2024. He is looking forward to the remaster of Fallout 3.
Minecraft meets No Man’s Sky in ‘Incredible’ new Xbox freebie
AppWizard
July 21, 2026

Minecraft meets No Man’s Sky in ‘Incredible’ new Xbox freebie

The Planet Crafter, developed by Miju Games, is set to debut on Xbox Game Pass on July 21. It is a space survival open-world terraforming crafting game that supports 1 to 10 players, allowing them to transform inhospitable planets into habitable environments. The game has received positive feedback, with a Metacritic score of 81 and an "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating on Steam from over 35,500 reviews. The Planet Crafter will be available on the Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass tiers, with plans to be added to the Essential tier in the future. It will also be released on PlayStation 5 and is available on the GOG platform for PC users.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer Fuses Episode 1: Racer and Burnout Into a Compelling Roguelite Racing Game
AppWizard
June 24, 2026

Star Wars: Galactic Racer Fuses Episode 1: Racer and Burnout Into a Compelling Roguelite Racing Game

Disney has shifted its Star Wars video game strategy to allow a wider range of developers to create games, moving away from reliance on a limited internal team. The upcoming title, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, is developed by Fuse Games and features players as Shade, who participates in an underground racing circuit in the Outer Rim. The game includes various vehicles, a roguelite structure, and character customization. Players face challenges from AI competitors and can explore planets between races, upgrading vehicles and interacting with characters. The game also features an Arcade mode for podracing, emphasizing quick reflexes and control.
Stellaris' Nomads expansion finally lets me live out my Battlestar Galactica fantasies, though its Wayline system could definitely use some work
AppWizard
June 18, 2026

Stellaris’ Nomads expansion finally lets me live out my Battlestar Galactica fantasies, though its Wayline system could definitely use some work

Players in Stellaris experience an enchanting initial phase of exploration, discovering alien species, mega structures, and black holes. They must balance exploration with territory claiming, as resource management is crucial. Resources can be transported back to the Arkship or harvested directly from planets, though the latter incurs penalties. Nomadic players need to forge alliances and establish Wayline treaties to survive and thrive, while new resources like Operational Reserves add complexity. Upgrading the Arkship is rewarding, and the game features a vibrant post-Nomads era with new music and events enhancing gameplay.
Xbox Game Pass Updated With 3 New Day One Games
AppWizard
June 12, 2026

Xbox Game Pass Updated With 3 New Day One Games

Xbox Game Pass has added three new titles for PC and Xbox Series X as part of its day-one game initiative in 2026. The new games are: 1. Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions - A sci-fi multiplayer adventure developed by System Era Softworks and Devolver Digital, currently in early access. It has a 40% approval rating on Steam but lacks a Metacritic score. 2. Beastro - A cozy adventure game from Timberline Studio where players engage in culinary creativity. It has a 92% approval rating on Steam and no Metacritic score. 3. Frog Sqwad - A multiplayer extraction puzzle platformer developed by Panic Stations, supporting up to eight players. It has a 90% approval rating on Steam and no Metacritic score. Subscribers can enjoy these games at no additional cost and receive a 20% discount on each title. The duration of these games' availability on Xbox Game Pass has not been disclosed.
This week in PC games: some enormous space sims and strategy games, plus a cheery prop hunt where you paint your own camouflage
AppWizard
June 8, 2026

This week in PC games: some enormous space sims and strategy games, plus a cheery prop hunt where you paint your own camouflage

The Summer Game Fest featured a new installment of Duskers and glimpses of a Fumito Ueda game. The following PC games were released or are in early access: - Atre: Dominance Wars - A turn-based fantasy kingdom builder available in early access, featuring four factions and a campaign. - Rakeo - A puzzle-platformer where players collect cookies in a 2D environment. - NBA The Run - A 3v3 street basketball game with vibrant visuals and humorous camera work. - Meccha Chameleon - A multiplayer hide-and-seek game focused on camouflage. - SAND: Raiders of Sophie - A PvPvE looting game involving warmechs. - 33 Immortals - A cooperative roguelike from the developers of Spiritfarer. - SpaceCraft - An early access game about exploring and transforming planets into a trading empire. - Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions - An early access spin-off of Astroneer for teams of cosmonauts. - Don't Let It Starve - A game about crafting bento boxes for a creature. The Treehouse will focus on interviews and impressions from the Summer Game Fest, with no further announcements allowed.
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