player base Archives

AppWizard

September 20, 2026

6 Actors Starring In Upcoming Video Game Movies

Actors are increasingly pursuing roles in video game adaptations, which have gained respect following the success of series like The Last of Us. Upcoming adaptations feature high-profile actors, including: - Kirsten Dunst will portray Alex in the sequel to A Minecraft Movie, following the success of the first installment. - Sam Neill will make his final on-screen appearance in The Legend of Zelda, with speculation about his character. - Kristen Bell will voice a character in Sonic the Hedgehog 4, joining a cast that includes Idris Elba and Keanu Reeves. - Kit Connor has been cast in the adaptation of Elden Ring, alongside Ben Whishaw and Nick Offerman. - Sophie Turner will portray Lara Croft in a television adaptation of Tomb Raider. - Dave Bautista will take on the lead role of Kratos in the television adaptation of God of War, after Ryan Hurst stepped down due to injury.

AppWizard

September 16, 2026

Is Aniimo a gacha game?

Aniimo is not a gacha game, as it lacks traditional banner systems. It monetizes through a cosmetics shop where players can buy Lumin Crystals with real money for outfits and accessories. Some cosmetics are available for free, but premium items are often behind a paywall. The game also features shop bundles and a battle pass called the "Companion Handbook," which includes free and premium tiers. Players can acquire Aniimo by using Aniipods to capture creatures, hatching eggs, completing events, or progressing through the battle pass. Legendary Aniimo can be captured by collecting unique tokens and using a special Aniipod.

AppWizard

September 15, 2026

Bungie delays next Marathon update and ends ‘strict seasonal schedule’ as it goes all-in on Destiny-like features

Bungie has announced a shift in its development strategy for the game Marathon, moving away from a rigid seasonal schedule to a more flexible timeline for updates. As a result, content originally planned for this month has been postponed until December, although a smaller update focusing on progression and the in-game economy will be released in October. The Nightfall refresh is set to launch on October 6, providing all players with a "fresh starting point." Bungie aims to address previous issues with the seasonal model that left some players behind. The decision to abandon the strict seasonal model comes amid a decline in Marathon's concurrent player numbers on Steam. Players are hopeful for a more comprehensive version of Marathon, including a single-player mode and enhanced social interactivity. Bungie's communications lead, Dylan Gafner, has promised increased communication with the community in the coming weeks and months.

AppWizard

September 14, 2026

Minecraft releases 26.3 RC2 ahead of September 15 launch | Tap to know more

Mojang has released the Java Edition 26.3 Release Candidate 2 on September 11, serving as the second testing version before the Wilderness Bound game launch on September 15. This update is expected to transition into the final version, enhancing gameplay mechanics and preparing for the official release.

AppWizard

September 13, 2026

The WoW ‘Classic+’ rumors were true: World of Warcraft: Forever promises to be another timeline’s bizzarro version of the MMO

World of Warcraft: Forever is a new expansion that resets the timeline to 2004, the year the original game was launched. Unlike WoW: Classic, which focused on nostalgia, WoW: Forever will introduce new narratives and explore aspects not covered in the original game. It will feature new quests, characters, and lore. Despite concerns about player base dilution with three versions of the game, the franchise's popularity suggests it can sustain this diversity. Blizzard Entertainment is positioned to support these multiple iterations.

AppWizard

September 13, 2026

No more Diablo 4 expansions are planned, but there’s ‘a lot of room’ for more storytelling in the leadup to Diablo 5

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that Diablo 5 is in development, taking place a century after Diablo 4, with the release scheduled for 2029. In the meantime, Blizzard will provide seasonal updates for Diablo 4, but no additional expansions for that game are planned.

AppWizard

September 3, 2026

Microsoft announces cap on Xbox Cloud Gaming hours for Game Pass subscribers, admits most aren’t using it much anyway

Microsoft's gaming division is facing challenges due to layoffs, industry consolidation issues, and controversial partnerships. Xbox is increasing service costs for its cloud gaming service, introducing a monthly cap for Game Pass subscribers starting in November, after which additional playtime must be purchased. This change follows a decline in Xbox revenue, which fell by .7 billion over the past year. Xbox also tested an ad-supported game streaming model to boost revenue. The effectiveness of the new pricing strategy is uncertain, especially after a previous price hike led to a loss of "millions" of Game Pass subscribers. Xbox plans to engage with its player base for feedback on these changes.

AppWizard

August 29, 2026

The Long Dark will get new DLC again as studio shifts devs away from the sequel to survive an ‘uncertain’ industry: ‘We have to adapt to this’

Hinterland Studios has shifted its strategy regarding The Long Dark, a survival game, by reallocating a team to create new downloadable content (DLC) for its survival mode, despite the ongoing development of a sequel titled Blackfrost. This decision aims to enhance the longevity of the nine-year-old game amid challenges in the gaming industry, such as rising costs and increased competition on platforms like Steam. The studio's focus on The Long Dark reflects a desire to sustain its player base while navigating the complexities of the current market.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

A cracked version of Marvel Tōkon is reigniting questions around DRM and its impact on PC games

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls has faced significant criticism since its PC release due to performance issues, including stuttering frame rates and network problems. A patch was issued, but many players still experienced difficulties. The console version has not encountered these issues, leading to speculation that the DRM in the Steam version may be causing high CPU usage. A cracked, DRM-free version has emerged, reportedly offering better performance, with players noting it is less taxing on CPUs and runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware. Social media has highlighted a nearly 40 FPS difference between the two versions. Concurrent player counts on Steam have dropped from a peak of 24,498 to 5,249 shortly after launch, as some players turn to the cracked version, which does not support online matchmaking. This situation raises concerns about the impact of DRM on gaming performance and could affect PC sales and the overall player base. The Marvel Tōkon social media account has indicated that further fixes for the PC version are forthcoming, but inquiries to Sony remain unanswered.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

Riot is ending development of its 2XKO fighting game

Riot Games has decided to cease active development of its fighting game, 2XKO, six months after significantly reducing its development team. This decision follows a layoff of approximately 80 developers due to the game's failure to generate the necessary momentum for long-term support. Despite attracting a considerable number of players and fostering a vibrant community, 2XKO did not achieve a sustainable player base. The game, which was officially confirmed in 2019 and released in January 2026, struggled to engage the broader fighting game community, despite being well-received by diehard tag fighter enthusiasts. Riot had previously expressed commitment to the game's future but has now acknowledged the need to conclude active development due to a lack of meaningful, sustained change in player engagement. The studio plans to provide a roadmap for remaining updates and support for the community.