player experience Archives

AppWizard

May 23, 2026

“Congrats to the owners of a brand new $6k paperweight”: Valorant dev Riot makes players think Vanguard anti-cheat will brick their PCs, causing uproar — here’s what’s really happening

Valorant's anti-cheat system, Vanguard, has been controversial due to its interference with DMA firmware devices, which are used to cheat in the game. Riot Games posted a message suggesting that Vanguard was making these devices unusable, leading to backlash from the gaming community. Riot clarified that Vanguard does not damage hardware or disable devices but prevents DMA cheat devices from functioning while IOMMU protections are enabled. Players not using DMA devices are not affected. The situation has sparked debate about the balance between anti-cheat measures and their impact on hardware.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

Dying Light’s former director believes devs are obligated ‘to focus and listen to the players’ because as soon as a game’s released ‘it stops being only your game’

Tymon Smektała, who spent 13 years directing the game Dying Light, recently stepped down from his role. At the Digital Dragons Conference, he discussed the importance of player feedback, stating that a game evolves into a shared experience with numerous stakeholders after its release. He emphasized the need for developers to engage with their community and build relationships, while also cautioning that player feedback should not be viewed as absolute truth. Smektała acknowledged that while players may not always have the right solutions, their feelings are crucial indicators of a game's direction. He highlighted the importance of understanding player sentiment and maintaining a balance between creator intent and player experience.

AppWizard

May 19, 2026

I’m not sure who the PUBG x Payday collab is for, or why it exists

Developers of PUBG are introducing a map selection feature despite concerns that it could lead to longer wait times and more bot players. They believe this will enhance the game experience. PUBG has also collaborated with the game Payday, introducing a new game mode with monetary incentives for players. The gameplay in this mode has been described as unremarkable and feels more like a marketing strategy than a genuine enhancement. The developers expressed concerns about dividing the matchmaking pool and affecting overall quality in a letter regarding the new feature. The Payday heist mode incentivizes participation through in-game rewards but lacks the tension that has contributed to PUBG's longevity. Additionally, a 0,000 prize pool for streamers based on viewer numbers aims to draw attention to the new mode but feels inorganic. There seems to be a conflict within the development team between preserving player experience and diversifying the game, which could risk alienating the player base.

AppWizard

May 18, 2026

‘We are not a killing game,’ says Subnautica 2 dev: ‘Go play Sons of the Forest or something if you want to kill’

O'Rielly, a developer of Subnautica 2, suggested that players seeking a violent gaming experience might prefer other titles like Sons of the Forest, which led to mixed reactions from fans. Players expressed frustration over the lack of options to defend against aggressive marine life, prompting O'Rielly to assure the community that this issue would be addressed in an upcoming update. He also acknowledged a fan's gratitude for the game and emphasized the team's commitment to continuous updates and enhancements leading up to the game's full release.

AppWizard

May 18, 2026

Minecraft Updates Used to Feel Magical, Now They Don’t Hit Like They Used To

In the early days of Minecraft, major updates significantly transformed gameplay, introducing new dimensions and mechanics, with players eagerly anticipating these annual changes. Iconic updates included Redstone mechanics, the Nether overhaul, and the Ender Dragon boss. Recently, Mojang shifted to smaller, more frequent updates, which introduced new mobs and blocks but felt less impactful, leaving players wanting more substantial changes. The transition began with the Garden Awakens update, which set a precedent for subsequent updates that lacked transformative qualities. For example, the Minecraft 1.21 Tricky Trials update introduced new challenges and a mob but did not alter core gameplay significantly. Recent updates have focused more on building enhancements rather than survival challenges, with examples like the Chaos Cubed and Tiny Takeover updates prioritizing cosmetic changes over meaningful survival features. The frequency of updates has diluted their impact, making players feel overwhelmed and disconnected. Many recent updates exist independently without building on previous content, leading to missed opportunities for integration and deeper gameplay experiences. The community desires updates that enhance the survival experience and create memorable moments.

AppWizard

May 17, 2026

Total War Medieval 3 aims for emergent character growth: “We have no plans for skill trees”

Total War Medieval 3 is in development by Creative Assembly, with Creative Director Leif Walter actively communicating with the community. The team has decided against including skill trees in the game due to concerns about repetitiveness, instead opting for emergent gameplay elements like traits and ancillaries. The focus will be on dynasties rather than individual characters, allowing players to cultivate distinct identities over a long time span. Walter acknowledged the influence of the modding community, specifically citing Europa Barbarorum 2 and the Stainless Steel megapack as inspirations. He emphasized the need to balance accessibility and depth in the game, ensuring it remains engaging for both experienced and less experienced players while maintaining historical authenticity.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

Star Wars: The Old Republic’s original director hadn’t played a single MMO before launching its development studio: ‘How the hell did they trust me with this much money?’

James Ohlen, a veteran of BioWare, oversaw the development of the MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic, which is currently managed by Broadsword. He had never played an MMO before taking on the project. Ohlen expressed regrets about the game's initial launch, which included 200 hours of content across eight origin stories, suggesting a more focused experience of around 60 hours would have improved quality. He noted that the vast amount of content led to a decline in quality, stating that creativity was compromised. Ohlen proposed a relaunch of the game as Star Wars: The New Republic, which was supported by EA executive Patrick Söderlund but ultimately rejected by EA's board due to concerns over the initial costly launch. By 2019, The Old Republic had generated nearly billion in revenue. In 2019, Ohlen co-founded Archetype Entertainment, but he left the studio in December 2025 for personal health reasons.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

How Poppy Playtime made ‘free game, paid DLC’ work on PC

GameDiscoverCo held its annual offsite gathering, discussing various industry developments. Footprints.gg reported significant buzz for Forza Horizon 6 ahead of its launch, with GTA 6 also trending due to trailer speculation. Xbox plans include Project Saluki, a new Game Pass tier for the Chinese market, and Positron, potentially introducing a disc-to-digital entitlement program. Steam's bundle discounting interface has sparked discussions about pricing strategies. The PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for May includes Star Wars Outlaws and Red Dead Redemption 2. Roblox is experiencing shifts in user-generated content rights and cost models. The Source 2-powered s&box has launched on Steam, but interest is waning. Hushcrasher's analysis indicates rising game production costs are due to project scope rather than base costs. Concurrent user metrics suggest week one sales can reach 20 times peak concurrent users. Poppy Playtime, a horror puzzle game, has expanded from a free title to four paid chapters, with Huggy Wuggy becoming a popular character. Mob Entertainment, founded by brothers with a background in 3D animation, has seen Poppy Playtime Chapter 5 sell 408,000 copies on Steam and 19,000 on Epic Games Store. The free base game has 2.76 million downloads on Steam since the chapter's release. The franchise's revenue from four DLCs exceeds a million on Steam, with potential total revenue approaching 100 million when including console and mobile sales. The development team employs a parallel strategy for annual chapter releases, with varying DLC structures across platforms. The pricing of DLC has increased over time, reflecting greater ambition in production. Game director Bryce Clark emphasizes balancing puzzles and chase sequences to enhance player experience.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

A new Far Far West update slices its grind in half, and stamps out Joker hoarding

The developer Evil Raptor has released a significant update for the team shooter Far Far West, which includes an overhaul of the Prestige system to reduce grind time by halving the required experience gains and restructuring the unlocking process for Joker and upgrade slots. Players can now prestige heroes and weapons up to level 15 and unlock an additional bonus upgrade slot, totaling six. Jokers will now be instanced per player to improve resource distribution, and players can share Jokers without triggering healing effects. The drop rate of Jokers has been adjusted based on team size. Balance changes include increased ammo for the Bow, a damage buff for Dual Revolvers, and a doubled Fire Rate upgrade for the Minigun. The Overblast modifier has been nerfed, and adjustments have been made to enemy types for better balance. The update also features bug fixes, quality-of-life improvements, and new options for players in the lobby. The update is now live, and players are encouraged to provide feedback through official channels.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

The next big Arc Raiders update isn’t until October, but some serious stash relief lands next week

Embark Studios is shifting its development strategy for Arc Raiders from a monthly update cycle to biannual major updates, with the first scheduled for October 2026. This change aims to allow for deeper game enhancements while maintaining regular live updates and support. The upcoming October update, titled Frozen Trail, will introduce the largest map to date, new progression goals, enhancements to the skill tree, and a new trader at level 25 offering unique rewards and extra stash space. The update will also explore the lore of the Arc and address community inquiries.