player experience Archives

AppWizard

April 12, 2025

Dark and Darker finally gets a PvE-exclusive ‘Adventure Mode’

Dark and Darker has launched Season 6 of its early access release, introducing "Adventure Mode," a PvE-exclusive co-op format that allows players to explore dungeons without PvP encounters. The update includes adjustments to loot drops and monster difficulties, new monster patterns such as the Nightmare Ice Spider and Nightmare Yeti, and a "High-Roller boss summoning system" for summoning bosses like the Lich and Ghost King. Numerous bug fixes have been made, along with improvements to gameplay mechanics, cooldown times, armor ratings, and new crafting options.

AppWizard

April 11, 2025

PC Players Spend More On Microtransactions Than Actual Games

Newzoo's report reveals that in 2024, microtransactions account for over 58 percent of spending in the PC gaming sector, while only 28 percent is allocated to full game purchases, reflecting a 2.6 percent decline from the previous year. Players dedicated only 8 percent of their gaming time to new releases, with over 60 percent spent on titles released more than six years ago. In contrast, console gaming shows microtransactions at 32 percent of player spending, a 4.5 percent increase year-over-year, while full game purchases still dominate. Subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus Extra capture about 16 percent of the console market.

AppWizard

April 3, 2025

Nintendo got a Bloodborne spiritual sequel before PC even got the first game

FromSoftware is developing a new game titled The Duskbloods, set for release in 2026, which is a spiritual successor to Bloodborne. The game features gothic architecture, beast transformation mechanics, and characters that can morph into monstrous forms, including a miniature T-Rex. It incorporates vampiric themes where vampires can siphon power from defeated foes. The gameplay will include elements like runes, firearms, and a focus on steampunk technology, with characters using jetpacks and a functioning train. The game is exclusive to Nintendo Switch.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

How to gift a game on Steam

Gifting a game on Steam involves logging into your account, browsing the store for a game, selecting it, choosing the 'Purchase as a Gift' option, picking a recipient from your friends list or entering their email, adding a personalized message, and completing the purchase. Steam has over 100,000 titles available for gifting.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

All Minecraft Live 2025 Announcements – Minecraft Guide

Minecraft Live 2025 announced several updates and new features for the game, including a significant visual overhaul called the Vibrant Visuals update, which introduces new pixelated shadows, water effects, reflections, and improved volumetric lighting and fog, initially exclusive to the Bedrock edition. The first game drop, Spring to Life, will be available on March 25th, featuring warm and cold animal variants, falling leaves, and firefly bushes. Mojang plans to release features more frequently through Game Drops and will host two Minecraft Live shows each year. An in-game Live Event related to the upcoming Minecraft Movie will take place from March 25th to April 7th, offering mini-games and an exclusive cape for completing challenges. Later in the year, the second game drop will introduce the Dried Ghast block, which can be nurtured into a Happy Ghast, allowing up to four players to ride it simultaneously.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

Minecraft will not go free-to-play: Mojang defends one-time purchase and core game values

Mojang has confirmed that Minecraft will remain a one-time purchase and will not adopt a free-to-play model. Ingela Garneij, the executive producer, emphasized that changing the business model would deviate from the game's foundational vision and highlighted the importance of accessibility. The company aims to preserve the integrity of the Minecraft experience, contrasting its approach with the monetization strategies of other studios. Agnes Larsson, Game Director of Minecraft Vanilla, supported this view, stating that maintaining these values is crucial to the game's culture and community connection.

AppWizard

March 23, 2025

When is Vibrant Visuals Coming to Minecraft? Release Date Tracker

Mojang has announced the Vibrant Visuals update for Minecraft, which will enhance the game's visual elements such as reflections, sunlight, water, and draw distances. The update is expected to significantly change the game's appearance while preserving its core essence. The release date is currently unconfirmed, but players on select devices in beta programs can experience it early. Key features of the update include improved shadows, volumetric fog, directional lighting, infinite clouds, thousands of crafted elements, accurate light rays, enhanced glow effects, and more realistic water visuals. The update will follow the upcoming Minecraft Spring to Life update, and players can also expect a new dried ghast that evolves into a happy ghast.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

Balatro’s LocalThunk isn’t ‘trying to pull a Banksy’, he just ‘wanted to be left alone to make his game’

Balatro, developed by LocalThunk, has become a global phenomenon featuring Geralt of Rivia, with millions of copies sold and numerous awards. Despite its success, LocalThunk prefers to remain anonymous, valuing privacy over public attention. Playstack's communications director, Wout van Halderen, noted that LocalThunk's choice to stay out of the spotlight is genuine and not a marketing strategy. The game's popularity has led to increased opportunities for merchandising and collaborations, but LocalThunk enjoys a normal personal life, often unrecognized in social settings.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

Microsoft’s Copilot for Gaming preview leaves us with more questions than it answers

Microsoft is set to introduce Copilot for Gaming, an AI-driven feature for its video game platforms, aimed at enhancing player experience. An early preview will be available for mobile users in the Xbox Insider program. The feature is designed to help players access games quickly, provide coaching to improve skills, and facilitate connections with friends and gaming communities. It will operate unobtrusively, stepping in only when needed. Examples of its functionality include suggesting items to craft in Minecraft and providing strategy guides in Age of Empires IV. Concerns have been raised about the reliability of the information it uses, as it functions more like a personalized search engine rather than true AI. Additionally, there are questions about whether players will prefer AI assistance over direct interaction with friends, particularly for new gamers.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

Despite its history of taking action against GTA mods, a Rockstar-approved GTA 5 modding tool is on the way to “assist the modding community” in the wake of the recent PC upgrade

Rockstar Games has aligned the PC version of GTA 5 with current-generation consoles and announced that the Cfx.re modding team will release an official asset conversion tool for modders. This tool will help adapt assets from FiveM and GTA 5 Legacy to the new game version, as custom assets will not be natively compatible. The conversion tool will ensure compatibility for specific file types, including .ydd, .ydr, .yft, and .ytd files. This announcement marks a significant shift in Rockstar's approach to modding, moving towards support rather than restriction. Additionally, Rockstar is pursuing legal action against a website selling hacked GTA Online accounts.