player choice Archives

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

This game has 100 endings, and it’s pushing the creators to the brink of bankruptcy

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is a visual novel and turn-based tactics hybrid developed by Too Kyo Games, a studio formed by the creators of Danganronpa and Zero Escape. Despite positive reviews and notable sales, studio CEO Kazutaka Kodaka has expressed concerns about the studio's financial future, stating that the chances of further console releases for the game are "very slim." The game features a complex narrative with an estimated 80% narrative to 20% action ratio, requiring over 130 hours for 100% completion. The production process took over five years, including a complete reboot, and Kodaka described it as a gamble where he invested his skills and money. The game is currently available on Steam for £50.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

Hideo Kojima confirms an easy mode for Death Stranding 2, which’ll allow players to skip boss battles and let them read about it instead

Hideo Kojima announced that Death Stranding 2 will feature an easy mode aimed at players less familiar with action games. This mode includes a boss battle skip option, allowing players who prioritize narrative over combat to bypass challenging confrontations. Reactions in the gaming community are mixed, with some expressing concern that skipping boss battles diminishes the gaming experience, while others advocate for player choice in how to engage with the game.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

Valve says you will get more cheap PC games and extends Steam Daily Deals

Valve Corporation is expanding its Steam Daily Deals program from four to six discounted games each day. This change aims to increase the variety of discounts available to gamers, enhancing player choice and engagement. The selection of discounted games will be tailored based on user interest and engagement rather than being random. Valve has also refined the frequency with which games can appear in Daily Deals to ensure a diverse range of titles is featured. The expansion is designed to provide players with more opportunities to find both popular and lesser-known games at lower prices. Daily Deals have become one of the most clicked sections on the Steam homepage, indicating their popularity among users. Valve is also exploring new analytics to further personalize the deals presented to players.

AppWizard

February 17, 2025

The new game from The Witcher 3’s director revives the best tradition of Morrowind by letting you kill off ‘really important NPCs’

The Blood of Dawnwalker allows players to kill important NPCs, significantly diverging from the narrative restrictions of The Witcher 3. The game emphasizes player choice and a sandbox nature, aiming to create options while maintaining good storytelling and lore. The ability to eliminate characters can lead to alternate outcomes and cut-off questlines, introducing consequences that players must navigate. The protagonist's blood hunger at night can result in unintended fatalities, enhancing the game's exploration of darker decision-making.

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

As console exclusivity quietly dies, I’m reaping the rewards on PC

The author owns a PC, Xbox Series S, and Nintendo Switch but does not own a PlayStation 5, despite initially intending to acquire one. They have resisted the urge to buy a PS5 due to the decline of console exclusivity, allowing them to wait for PC releases of titles like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Historically, most desired PlayStation titles have eventually become available on other platforms, with the exception of Bloodborne. The gaming industry is shifting away from exclusivity, with titles like Forza Horizon 5 moving to PlayStation and Square Enix releasing games like Octopath Traveler across multiple platforms. The author prefers investing in PC games but acknowledges exceptions like GTA 6, which may be a console exclusive, and Nintendo's unique IPs that can only be accessed through their consoles. The gradual decline of console exclusivity is seen as beneficial for both developers and gamers.

AppWizard

December 7, 2024

Where Winds Meet is coming to PC on December 27th but there is a catch

Everstone Games announced that Where Winds Meet will be released on PC on December 27th, initially exclusive to the Chinese market. The game features a hero molded by chaos, emphasizing skill development with paths as a doctor, merchant, or NPC explorer. Combat includes Wuxia-inspired skills and Tai Chi techniques. It has a construction system with 600 antique components and an interactive environmental system. The game is open-world with detailed landscapes. There is no confirmed timeline for a Western release, but speculation suggests it could be in 2025. The game is not currently available on Steam or the Epic Games Store.

AppWizard

December 4, 2024

PC gamers: In Avowed, customize your combat style

Avowed, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, will be released on February 18 and will be available on platforms such as the Xbox app for Windows, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Battle.net. It will be accessible from day one for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. The game features intricate combat mechanics and emphasizes player choice, rewarding players for their decisions and encouraging experimentation with various weapons. The AI in Avowed adapts to different locations, enhancing gameplay and narrative immersion.

AppWizard

December 2, 2024

5 biggest new games launching in December 2024 for PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, VR and PC

December 2024 will feature several high-profile game releases across various platforms. 1. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks, this action-adventure game is set in 1937 and follows Indiana Jones on a quest to uncover the mysteries of the "Great Circle." It includes first-person exploration, puzzles, and combat in locations like Egypt and the Himalayas. 2. Marvel Rivals: A team-based PvP third-person shooter developed by NetEase Games, featuring 6v6 matches with characters from the Marvel Universe. The game focuses on hero synergies and a storyline involving Doctor Doom and his future counterpart, set in destructible environments like Asgard and Tokyo 2099. 3. Path of Exile 2: Launching on December 6, this sequel to the action RPG is set two decades after the original and features enhanced character customization and a focus on endgame content. Players will face the Count of Ogham and the Seed of Corruption. 4. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remastered: Releasing on December 10, this remaster enhances graphics and gameplay of the classic series, following Raziel's quest for revenge against Kain, with improved visuals and modernized controls. 5. Alien: Rogue Incursion: Set to launch on December 19, this single-player action-horror VR game places players in the role of Zula Hendricks, investigating a distress signal on the planet Purdan while battling Xenomorphs in a research facility.

AppWizard

November 28, 2024

Xbox says it’s still blocked from selling and launching games from its Android app, Google says it isn’t

Xbox and Google are in a legal dispute regarding Xbox's ability to sell and launch games through its Android app. A US judge ruled in October that Google must open its Android marketplace to competitors, which was set to take effect this month. Xbox's head of gaming, Phil Spencer, initially expressed optimism about enabling game purchases directly from the Xbox App on Android devices, but indicated that an emergency stay requested by Google is currently blocking these features. Google claims that Xbox has always had the option to enable these features but has chosen not to. The October ruling includes several restrictions on Google's practices over the next three years, such as prohibiting exclusive app launches through the Play Store and allowing developers to direct users to external payment options. Xbox is also exploring the establishment of a mobile app store.

AppWizard

November 28, 2024

Xbox’s plan to see games via Android app delayed by court order

Microsoft's initiative to enable Android users to purchase and play console games through the Xbox app is currently delayed due to a "temporary administrative stay" from the courts, linked to the ongoing legal dispute between Google and Epic Games. Xbox president Sarah Bond indicated that the feature was expected to launch in November for Android devices in the U.S., but the legal situation has hindered this rollout. The delay follows a favorable jury verdict for Epic Games, which led to a court order requiring Google to open its marketplace and eliminate its billing requirements, set to take effect on November 1. However, Google has appealed and received a stay on these changes. Google spokesperson Dan Jackson claimed that Microsoft has always had the ability to offer this functionality but chose not to, citing security concerns over a rushed implementation. Despite the setback, Microsoft is continuing to expand its mobile offerings, including a beta for game streaming on various devices and plans for a dedicated mobile store, which has been postponed for further research.