player base Archives

AppWizard

April 26, 2026

Last Flag, the multiplayer shooter from the Imagine Dragons guy, is free to play for every weekend until its first update comes out

Last Flag, a multiplayer shooter from Night Street Games, was released on Steam earlier this month but has received a subdued reception despite promotional efforts. The game is priced at £12 and aims to stand out in a crowded market. In response to its lukewarm reception, Night Street Games announced that Last Flag will be available for free every weekend until its first update this summer. Early impressions suggest it offers an engaging experience, described as a mix of capture the flag and hide and seek. The game currently holds a 'Mostly Positive' rating of 73% on Steam, with player feedback highlighting core mechanics while noting issues such as the lack of regional servers and matches filled with bots. The free weekend initiative is intended to grow the player base and address these concerns.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

FF14 Evercold’s ‘Evolved Mode’ jobs aren’t a replacement, because Yoshi-P remembers what happened to Star Wars Galaxies

The upcoming expansion, FF14 Evercold, will introduce 'Evolved Mode' for a streamlined gameplay experience while retaining 'Reborn Mode' for traditional mechanics. Game director Naoki Yoshida discussed the development process, highlighting battle system planner Hikaru Tamaki's role in the initiative. A demonstration of Evolved Mode was showcased for classes like Paladin, Dragoon, White Mage, and Bard, with some classes undergoing significant changes. Yoshida emphasized the importance of preserving beloved aspects of the existing system to avoid alienating long-time players. The expansion was initially titled "Absolute Zero," and it will explore various forms of ice as thematic elements. Yoshida acknowledged Norse influences but did not provide specifics. He also expressed a desire for a sustainable future for FF14, ensuring its continuation beyond his involvement.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

After a slow start, Last Flag developer says you can’t become the next big hit just by ticking boxes: ‘It’s a slippery slope’

Night Street Games, co-founded by Dan and Mac Reynolds, launched a 5v5 multiplayer shooter called Last Flag, inspired by the capture the flag game mode. The game has received positive reviews on Steam and is priced affordably, but it debuted with fewer than 600 concurrent users, which has since decreased. Mac Reynolds emphasized the studio's focus on creative integrity over chasing trends, aiming to provide a unique gaming experience. Despite the commitment to a creative vision, the game faces challenges in attracting a substantial player base, similar to other recent titles that struggled to maintain engagement. Reynolds believes success should not be solely measured by player numbers, highlighting the team's pride in their work.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

World of Warcraft is getting a sub price increase in several countries, and it couldn’t come at a worse time

World of Warcraft is facing issues following patch 12.0.5, which has caused significant bugs and led to the temporary disabling of housing features in The Americas and Oceania. Effective June 22, 2026, subscription prices will increase in the UK, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Turkey, with UK players seeing a 10% increase and Kazakhstani players facing up to a 40% hike. Turkish players will be required to pay in Euros instead of the Turkish Lira. The game has maintained a steady subscription rate in the US since 2004, but adjustments have been made in other regions based on market conditions. Players have reported various bugs, including a critical bug affecting player housing, which Blizzard is prioritizing.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Call of Duty games coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one lasted all of two releases as Microsoft announces big changes and a welcome price cut

Xbox has reduced the prices of its Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass services. The monthly fee for Game Pass Ultimate decreased from .99 to .99, and the cost of PC Game Pass was adjusted from .99 to .99. New titles in the Call of Duty franchise will no longer be available on the platform at launch but will be accessible approximately one year after their initial release. Existing Call of Duty titles, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, will remain available to subscribers.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Xbox Drops the Price of Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, But Loses Day One Call of Duty Games

Microsoft has reduced the subscription prices for Game Pass Ultimate from .99 to .99 per month and for PC Game Pass from .99 to .99 per month. Future Call of Duty titles will no longer be available on Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass at launch; instead, they will be added during the subsequent holiday season, approximately one year after their initial release. Existing Call of Duty titles will remain accessible to subscribers. The changes were made in response to financial considerations and feedback from players regarding the previous pricing. Asha Sharma, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, stated that Game Pass Ultimate had become too expensive for many players.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

After 2 years of silence, an extraction shooter we liked back in 2022 for its ‘impeccable vibes’ suddenly springs back to life on Steam

In 2022, Marauders, an extraction shooter, launched in early access on Steam, gaining a notable player base despite not being free-to-play. However, updates ceased after the Retribution update in August 2024, leading to over 20 months without new content. Recently, developers announced they had focused on a comprehensive overhaul of the game, which generated mixed reactions from the community. Some players are hopeful for its revival, as evidenced by 11 pages of comments following the update. The competitive landscape for extraction shooters has intensified with new titles like Arc Raiders and Marathon.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Roblox is finally cracking down on illicit games as security continues to tighten

In Roblox, 'condos' refer to user-generated games with sexual themes, which are prohibited on the platform. Due to insufficient moderation, much of this content has evaded automated filters. Roblox recently settled a lawsuit with Nevada over child safety issues and faces 140 similar legal cases. Accounts are being suspended for participation in these condo games, with bans accompanied by notes citing violations of content policies. The new Chief Safety Officer, Matt Kaufman, is focusing on improving age verification tools. Community reactions to the bans are mixed, with some players supporting stricter measures while others express concern about potential unintended suspensions.

AppWizard

April 19, 2026

Windrose sails past 1 million copies sold in six days as it hits 200,000 concurrent players

Windrose has sold over 1 million copies in less than a week since its launch on Steam. The game reached a peak of 200,000 simultaneous players. The developers, Kraken Express, expressed gratitude to the gaming community for their support and patience while working on fixes. The game features engaging naval battles, which have been positively received by players and critics alike.

AppWizard

April 18, 2026

Last Flag, the debut game from the studio founded by Imagine Dragons’ lead singer, becomes the latest multiplayer shooter struggling to find an audience

In 2026, attracting players to new multiplayer shooters has proven to be a significant challenge. Highguard experienced a decline in player engagement, fading from the scene within three months. Marathon, despite its high budget of 0 million, is struggling to justify its costs. Last Flag, a 5v5 multiplayer shooter developed by Night Street Games and co-founded by members of Imagine Dragons, launched on April 14 to a peak of fewer than 600 concurrent players, which has since dropped to just under 400. Despite a competitive price and a marketing push, the game has faced criticism for having bot-filled matches and a visual style reminiscent of Fortnite. Night Street Games is focused on building a sustainable community and is currently offering a free weekend on Steam to attract players. Mac Reynolds highlighted the difficulties of fundraising in 2026, indicating challenges for studios in maintaining operational viability.