Play Games Archives

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Japan’s PC gaming population has decreased by 3 million in the past decade, studies suggest

The Famitsu Game Hakusho 2025 report indicates that the Japanese gaming market grew by 3.4% from 2023 to 2024, reaching 2,396 billion yen. The domestic gamer population has decreased to 54.7 million from 55.5 million the previous year. Mobile gaming leads with 42.77 million users, followed by console gamers at 29.51 million, and PC gamers at 14.52 million. Although active PC gamers increased slightly from 14.45 million to 14.52 million in 2024, this number is down from 17.49 million in 2015. Console users rose from 26.12 million to 29.51 million, and mobile users increased from 14.11 million to 42.77 million over the same period. The PC gaming population has not surpassed 17.49 million since 2015, and hardware pricing has significantly increased, with a 40% rise in pre-built desktop PC prices over six years. JEITA reported a decline in domestic PC shipments, with 6.667 million units sold in 2023, marking a 2.9% decrease and the lowest sales since 2007. The global PC gaming landscape is shifting towards gacha and free-to-play games, leading players to prefer mobile devices.

BetaBeacon

August 13, 2025

There’s a new Xbox emulator on Android, but here’s why you should run away from it

Xanite, a new Xbox emulator for Android, was recently launched but was found to be an empty shell lacking actual emulation code. It is not compatible with newer Android devices and includes copyrighted materials, posing legal risks. Experienced developers advise users to avoid Xanite and explore other established emulators like Xemu and Xenia.

BetaBeacon

August 12, 2025

Forget Reddit, Google wants gamers to use the Play Store as a forum (APK teardown)

Google is working on a gaming-related community forum within the Google Play Store where users can share gaming tips, ask questions, and start discussions. The feature will allow users to create and delete posts, add comments and reactions within a community present within the Google Play Store. The feature is still a work in progress and has not been officially announced by Google.

AppWizard

August 11, 2025

New Free Steam Game Is One of the Best of 2025 So Far

A new free game, Summer in Mara, is being offered through Fanatical for 48 hours, expiring on August 13, contingent on stock availability. It is a cozy farming adventure developed by Chibig, originally released in 2020, and has received over 1,300 user reviews with a 76% approval rating. This is the first time the game has been available for free on Steam or any other platform. The game typically costs a certain amount and offers 20 to 30 hours of gameplay. Its compatibility with the Steam Deck is currently listed as “Unknown,” indicating potential performance variability. To access the free game, players must sign up for the Fanatical newsletter.

AppWizard

August 1, 2025

Battlefield 6 requirements suggest it’ll run on surprisingly modest PCs — EA VP says it still won’t work on Steam Deck, though

Battlefield 6 (BF6) is scheduled for release on October 10, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game requires a 10th-generation Intel processor or an AMD Ryzen 3000 series chip, along with an Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti or an AMD RX 6700 XT graphics card for optimal performance. It will not be playable on the Steam Deck but may work on other handheld devices that support external GPUs. Recommended specifications for BF6 include 16GB of memory and 80GB of storage. The Battlefield series has historically been less demanding in terms of graphics compared to other AAA titles.

AppWizard

July 27, 2025

GeForce NOW on Samsung TV: The Easiest Way to Play PC Games Without a Console or PC

Cloud gaming allows users to play games on various devices without the need for expensive gaming PCs or graphics cards. It streams high-quality video from powerful data center computers, providing smooth gameplay as long as the internet connection is stable. The Samsung Gaming Hub, exclusive to Samsung TVs, features a user-friendly interface and includes the GeForce Now app, which utilizes Nvidia GPUs for enhanced graphics and performance. Users can access the GeForce Now app without downloading or installing anything, and they can create or log into an Nvidia account directly on their TV. GeForce Now offers free and paid membership options, with the free tier allowing access to free-to-play titles, while paid memberships provide additional features like 4K resolution and extended session times. Users can link their game libraries from platforms like Steam, Epic, and Origin securely through QR codes. The app is compatible with most game controllers, and performance may vary based on the TV’s resolution and internet speed. Players can start new save files or continue existing ones with synced statistics across platforms.

AppWizard

July 21, 2025

Ubisoft’s annual financial report includes claim that monetizing games with microtransactions ‘makes the player experience more fun’

Ubisoft's annual financial report, filed on June 19, emphasizes post-purchase monetization in its games and outlines the company's commitment to monetization policies that respect player experience. The report states that the "golden rule" for premium games is to allow players to enjoy the full experience without additional costs, while also claiming that monetization options enhance the gaming experience through personalization and progress acceleration. There is a notable distinction between microtransactions in free-to-play games and those in premium titles, with gamers expecting substantial content rather than superficial enhancements after already investing upfront. Ubisoft's attempt to distance itself from the "pay to win" model is met with skepticism, as many view microtransactions as a necessary evil rather than enjoyable features.

AppWizard

July 16, 2025

You can now stream select Xbox games you own to PC, no Xbox required—but there’s a catch

Xbox enthusiasts can stream select titles on PC through the Xbox PC app, currently available to Xbox Insiders with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. This feature allows subscribers to stream their owned titles, including over 250 games, some of which are not part of the Xbox Game Pass catalog. The streaming does not require an Xbox console, as games are accessed directly from Microsoft's cloud servers. This capability is part of Microsoft's strategy to enhance game streaming, known as Project Lapland, and aims to expand the library of supported games.

BetaBeacon

July 7, 2025

5 Best Android Games to Play in 2025

The text describes five Android games that offer versatile worlds, actions, adventures, and murder mysteries. Some of the games mentioned are Monster Train, Trinity Trigger, Chronomon, Jenny LeClue, and Pandoland.

AppWizard

July 7, 2025

I won’t use anything but Steam for PC gaming because of this one feature

Steam is a leading online gaming storefront that offers a user-friendly interface, seasonal deals, and the ability to connect with friends while streaming games. The author began using Steam in 2011, purchasing titles like the Stronghold Collection, Terraria, and Skyrim, and has accumulated over 5,000 hours of gameplay across more than 300 games. Initially, the author primarily used Windows for gaming due to compatibility issues with Linux, but the introduction of Proton has allowed access to most of their Steam library on Linux. Valve, the company behind Steam, has developed iconic games like Portal and DOTA 2, supported indie developers, and contributed to gaming technology advancements. The launch of the Steam Deck has further enhanced Linux gaming support.