player experience Archives

AppWizard

January 15, 2026

Monster Train 2’s first DLC is transforming the game with a giant new mode and the hammer-swinging Railforged clan

A significant update for Monster Train 2, titled Destiny of the Railforged, will be released in early February as the game's first paid DLC. It introduces a new clan, the Railforged, and a gameplay mode called Soul Savior. In Soul Savior, players battle to reclaim souls from a final boss named the Lifemother, with unique mechanics that enhance gameplay. Players can unlock and upgrade over 30 souls, each providing powerful enhancements and strategic options. The Railforged clan specializes in boosting the pyre's attack power and features new units and mechanics. Additionally, the Wurmkin clan will receive a free update with new designs and balance adjustments. Pricing details for the DLC have not been disclosed.

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

The Best Confirmed Hytale Mods So Far

Hytale is a sandbox and RPG game developed by Hypixel, initially backed by Riot Games, which acquired the studio in 2020. The project was canceled by Riot in June 2025, but the original founder repurchased it in mid-November 2025, leading to plans for an early access launch. The development team has warned players to expect bugs and unbalanced content during this phase. Hypixel has engaged with modders to enhance the player experience and partnered with Curseforge to facilitate modding, ensuring a streamlined installation process for players.

AppWizard

January 10, 2026

Larian’s given us a single-word spoiler for Divinity, its next game, and for some reason it’s ‘alligator’

Larian Studios recently held an AMA session where they teased details about their upcoming title, Divinity. Writing director Adam Smith mentioned the word "Alligator" in response to a question about potential spoilers, sparking curiosity among fans. Head of design Nick Pechenin hinted at new gameplay mechanics, expressing that he could finally implement a feature he had wanted in previous titles. Fans speculate that the alligator reference may relate to a shapeshifter character or a potential lizard romance, given the lore of Rivellon. There is also concern that popular elements might be removed before the game's release, which could lead to community discussions.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

Escape from Tarkov changes its ending after requests to make it easier, but does the exact opposite

Escape From Tarkov 1.0 was launched late last year, introducing multiple endings and allowing players to escape the city of Tarkov after completing missions. The Terminal mission can be played solo or with a squad of up to five players, but only one to three players can extract at the end due to limited seating on the extraction boat. Streamer Velion requested that all squad members be allowed to extract simultaneously, and Battlestate's chief, Nikita Buyanov, initially indicated that this change had been made. However, streamer Pestily noted that the situation had not improved, as only one player could extract even with a full squad. This has led to confusion and frustration among players regarding the developers' communication and adjustments.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

This Awesome New Mario 64 PC Mod Introduces A Series Of WarioWare-Style Mini Games

Super Mario 64, released in 1996, remains popular due to a dedicated fan community that creates unofficial ports and mods. One notable modification is Super Mario 64 Co-op Deluxe, which turns the single-player game into an online multiplayer experience with new game modes. Recent additions include Coopware, inspired by WarioWare, featuring 17 standard microgames, 4 boss microgames, 64 achievements, and various modes like Co-op and Versus. The challenges in Coopware are time-sensitive, and it allows for customization by modders. The mod requires an official copy of Super Mario 64 for installation.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

In 2025, Monster Hunter fell prey to profit

Capcom's Monster Hunter Wilds sold 8 million copies within three days of its release, making it the fastest-selling title in the company's history. However, the game's review ratings on Steam fluctuated between Mixed and Mostly Negative due to performance issues, leading to a drop in sales from 10 million at launch to fewer than 500,000 in a single quarter. Capcom's net sales fell by 24.7% year-over-year and profits dropped nearly 40%. The company has introduced 190 microtransaction items for the game, while significant improvements to its optimization are not expected until February.

AppWizard

January 3, 2026

Embark CEO confirms that Arc Raiders’ matchmaking takes your aggression into account, so behave yourself out there

Embark CEO Patrick Söderlund discussed the matchmaking mechanics of Arc Raiders, an extraction shooter launched in 2025. The matchmaking system considers players' tendencies toward aggression, grouping them based on skill and preferences for PvP or PvE interactions. This feature was implemented a week before the interview to enhance player experience by aligning similar preferences. Söderlund confirmed the existence of an aggression-based matchmaking system, acknowledging the complexity of predicting player behavior. He noted that while players may be matched with like-minded individuals, the game still retains inherent PvP tension.

AppWizard

January 2, 2026

Ark Survival Ascended’s future DLC tests “every risky feature” in its far-off sequel, but I’m wondering if we already have Ark 2

As of late 2025, Ark Survival Ascended released the Lost Colony DLC, its first expansion featuring new content instead of remastered elements from Survival Evolved. Studio Wildcard announced a roadmap for the next two years, promising seven releases, including revamped game modes and expansions leading to Ark 2's launch, now expected in 2028. Jeremey Stieglitz, co-founder of Studio Wildcard, noted improvements in meeting deadlines, with Lost Colony now managed by the live-support team and a pirate-themed expansion, Bob's True Tales: Tides of Fortune, set for late Q2. A World Editor tool for user-generated content is also in development for early Q3. The reboot of Survival of the Fittest aims to enhance player experience with features like meta progression and background matchmaking. Upcoming expansions include Dragontopia in late 2026 and Atlantis in 2027, created with modder 'Nekatus.' The final expansion, Legacy of Santiago, will test new gameplay features in a live environment, potentially bridging to Ark 2.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

Monster Hunter Wilds is on my GOTY list for a reason, but after a messy year I just want Capcom to wipe the slate clean with Master Rank DLC

The author apologizes to Yuya Tokuda, the director of Monster Hunter Wilds, for not using the weapon swap feature despite playing the game for over 100 hours. The game has received a rating of 4.5 out of 5 and is considered one of the year's best, but it has inconsistencies that affect player experience. Capcom has struggled with defining a clear direction for the game, particularly with the PC port facing performance issues. The difficulty of new quests varies significantly, leading to a lack of consistent challenge. Changes to the armor system have resulted in more powerful loadouts, but the introduction of tougher monsters may have been an overcorrection. The author's enthusiasm for Artian weapons has diminished, viewing them as tedious and detrimental to the crafting experience, suggesting they should be removed or made cosmetic.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader developer announces its own launcher, but players are already “opting out”

Owlcat Games is developing its own game launcher to serve as a central hub for players, aiming to improve cross-promotion of its titles. Market research indicated that many Pathfinder 2 players were unaware of Rogue Trader. The decision has received mixed reactions, with concerns about the crowded landscape of game launchers and their functionality. Owlcat plans to roll out the launcher gradually, ensuring no mandatory registration or data collection from users. Players in the alpha test for Warhammer 40k Dark Heresy will be the first to use the launcher, which will provide access to all of Owlcat's games and links to social media and announcements. The launcher will allow users to buy, install, or launch games regardless of the original distribution method, but players can bypass it if accessing games through Steam.