player concerns Archives

AppWizard

September 30, 2026

Silent Hill: Townfall’s First Update Released on PC as Version 1.3.1

Silent Hill: Townfall update 1.3.1 was released on September 24 for PC users on Steam and the Epic Games Store, addressing minor bugs such as reducing gameplay stuttering from shader precompilation issues. Players continue to report several known issues, including: - Framerate drops: Inconsistent frame rates and sudden drops in specific areas. - Crashes/freezes on PC: Crashes and brief freezes reported by users. - AMD Radeon crashes: Increased crashes for Radeon users with ray tracing enabled; disabling this feature is suggested. - Controller double-input: Some controllers registering inputs twice; disabling Steam Input may help. - Puzzle/progression bugs: Glitches hindering puzzle progression; restarting from the previous checkpoint is suggested. - Black-screen during a cutscene: Reported occurrence of a black screen during a significant cutscene. - DLC not unlocking: Initially, some Deluxe Edition and pre-purchase DLC failed to unlock, but this has been fixed. - The Weight stealth sections: Developer acknowledged player concerns regarding stealth encounters and is working on gameplay balancing.

AppWizard

August 4, 2026

Xbox 360 games are reportedly coming to PC this year as Microsoft prepares disc-to-digital conversion for an upcoming launch

Microsoft is enhancing its gaming offerings with a new emulation initiative that will allow Xbox 360 games to be accessible on PC, the next-gen console Project Helix, and compatible handheld devices. This initiative is part of Microsoft's commitment to backwards compatibility, which has already seen four classic Xbox titles available on PC. The Project Helix console is designed to function more like a PC and support PC games, aiming to bridge the gap between console and PC gaming. Additionally, a disc-to-digital conversion initiative is expected to roll out soon, allowing owners of physical Xbox games to access a digital library linked to their original discs. This conversion process was set to begin in July, with general availability projected for August 2026, targeting Xbox One and Series X owners. An official announcement regarding this service may be imminent. Microsoft's strategy comes at a time when Sony is discontinuing physical discs, positioning Microsoft to potentially capitalize on Sony's missteps in navigating digital rights and player concerns.

AppWizard

July 11, 2026

Star Citizen’s next update will switch focus to fixing its bug-riddled previous update, with bigger changes shunted to a later patch

Star Citizen's Alpha 4.8 update reset the game's universe and introduced new features but also caused a surge of bugs. Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) has reassessed its bug prioritization process, identifying nearly 100 critical issues affecting gameplay, with about 20% already addressed. The development team has temporarily paused work on some features to focus on stability, delaying the Siege of Orison event to update 4.10, scheduled for mid-August. The game has surpassed a billion in player funding, and the single-player component, Squadron 42, is set for a 2026 release.

AppWizard

May 30, 2026

A burnt-out Final Fantasy 14 playerbase is noticeably more chipper after its latest reveal, even if we’ve seen nothing come of it yet

The author experienced fatigue and burnout regarding Final Fantasy 14's current state, feeling that the game had become stagnant due to aging systems and a predictable patch structure. This sentiment was shared by friends and the broader community. However, after attending Fan Fest, the author felt reinvigorated and optimistic about the game, noting a noticeable influx of happy players upon logging in. Significant changes announced, such as the introduction of Evolved Mode, the elimination of the two-minute meta, ensuring everyone receives a limit break, and expanding combo actions, suggest that developers are addressing player concerns. The author prefers the game to take risks with new experiments rather than remain stagnant. After returning home from Fan Fest, the author felt a sense of lightness and appreciated the quality-of-life enhancements in the subsequent 7.5 patch, which rekindled enthusiasm for the game.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

Valorant’s new Vanguard update seems to be bricking cheaters’ PCs. Riot’s response? “Congrats on your $6k paperweights”

Riot Games' Vanguard anti-cheat system, introduced with Valorant and later integrated into League of Legends in 2024, operates at a kernel level, raising concerns about potential damage to players' PCs. Issues arose when streamer Nick 'LS' De Cesare experienced computer problems after a Vanguard update. The latest version of Vanguard reportedly made some cheaters' computers inoperable, requiring a complete operating system reinstall. Players must have Vanguard installed to access Riot's games, and the system now blocks most DMA firmware, which is used to mask cheats. Vanguard can activate even without Valorant installed, and if it detects DMA firmware, the only solution is a Windows reinstall. Riot Games acknowledged the complaints humorously, highlighting the frustrations of affected users. The kernel-level operation of Vanguard raises concerns about the risk of damaging personal computers due to misidentification, and legal discussions about its implications are ongoing. Players who do not want to use Vanguard cannot access Riot's games.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Riot admits it “made mistakes” with League of Legends’ ranked season, imposes hard reset at apex levels

Riot Games is revising the matchmaking framework for League of Legends in preparation for the 2026 season, including the introduction of the Aegis of Valor for autofilled players and reinstating duo queues across all tiers. Players in apex ranks have reported issues with inconsistent matchmaking and LP gain discrepancies. In response, Riot will implement a hard reset of the apex ranked ladder with patch 26.09, placing all players at Master 0 LP. This reset aims to create a more equitable environment but may lead to "wonky matchups." All rewards for Season 1 will be distributed as planned, while Season 3 will reconcile rewards for apex-tier players based on their highest rank. Starting in 2027, LP gain and loss will increase to a maximum of 30, and minimum LP cutoffs for Challenger and Grandmaster will rise to 800 LP and 400 LP, respectively. The apex ranked reset will take effect at the beginning of Season 2 on April 29, impacting regions including BR, EUNE, EUW, LAN, NA, and TR. Initial community reactions have been more positive than expected.

AppWizard

April 18, 2026

‘I don’t want Sloppy Spire 2’: Slay the Spire 2 dev teases exciting updates, rejects the concept of deadlines

Slay the Spire 2 has gained popularity on Steam since its March launch, surpassing the original game in features. Upcoming updates include alternate versions of Acts 2 and 3, Steam Workshop support, experimental game modes, a new character, new cards, events, relics, and potions. Players can also expect bug fixes, enhanced audio and artwork, balance adjustments, and additional languages. The studio has not provided specific timelines for these updates. Recent balance changes will be integrated into the main version once stable. Developers are committed to maintaining a whimsical experience in the game. A full newsletter detailing updates is available on Steam.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Giving Graveyard Keeper away for free apparently earned its publisher ‘almost 250k’

Graveyard Keeper 2 was announced at the Triple-I Initiative, leading to the original game being offered for free for a limited time to attract new players. This strategy resulted in nearly 0,000 in DLC sales on Steam, where the DLC is currently discounted by 80%. The giveaway successfully highlighted the sequel, which has become one of Steam's top 100 most-wishlisted games with 450,000 wishlists. Some players expressed concerns about the artistic direction of the sequel, fearing a shift to a more generic style, but developers assured fans that AI is not being used in the game's development.

AppWizard

April 13, 2026

Todd Howard says Starfield’s NG+ was misunderstood and defends Bethesda’s new U-turn on how it works: ‘You can tell us if we’re done our job right’

Starfield's Free Lanes update enhances the New Game Plus (NG+) mode by allowing players to retain up to 50 items when entering The Unity, a multiverse nexus that resets the game while keeping character skills and abilities. This change addresses player concerns about losing hard-earned possessions, which was previously seen as a daunting sacrifice. The update also introduces X-Tech for further upgrades to existing gear, aiming to reward players without frustrating them by losing progress. Bethesda's director, Todd Howard, and creative producer, Tim Lamb, emphasize the importance of evolving the gameplay experience and encouraging players to engage with the game's NG+ features.

AppWizard

April 12, 2026

Apex Legends reaches 20-month Steam high, proving Respawn’s communication is paying off

Apex Legends was launched by Respawn Entertainment in February 2019 with minimal fanfare. As of April 11, 2024, the player count on Steam surpassed 300,000 for the first time in 20 months, coinciding with the launch of Season 22. After experiencing a decline in player numbers following Season 25, the game has seen a 50% increase in players since the launch of Season 28 in February 2024. Respawn has actively addressed issues like cheating and server performance, implementing strict measures and maintaining open communication with the community. The recent crossover with Gundam has positively impacted player sentiment, which is reflected in favorable discussions on Reddit. Community feedback highlights Respawn's consistent quality updates and responsiveness to player concerns.