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AppWizard
March 26, 2026

“Nobody wants their games to look like Italian brainrot” – Indie publisher New Blood CEO urges devs to push back against DLSS 5 just like they did with NFTs and crypto games

A growing number of independent developers, including New Blood's CEO Dave Oshry and developer David Szymanski, are skeptical about Nvidia's DLSS 5 and its generative AI graphics tools. They express concerns that generative AI is irrelevant to Deep Learning Super Sampling, questioning the branding and technology connection. Oshry suggests that if Nvidia rebranded the technology as “Nvidia Generative Upscaling,” it would face backlash from the gaming community. Their stance reflects a broader apprehension about gaming technology's direction and emphasizes the importance of aligning innovations with player expectations and community feedback.
Pragmata's devs urge players to test out the demo beforehand to figure out whether controller or mouse and keyboard is best for them: 'There are some people who find keyboard and mouse too tricky'
AppWizard
March 18, 2026

Pragmata’s devs urge players to test out the demo beforehand to figure out whether controller or mouse and keyboard is best for them: ‘There are some people who find keyboard and mouse too tricky’

Joining PC Gamer led to a significant change in gaming habits, including the destruction of a PS5 and Switch, while controllers remain useful for certain games. Controllers are essential for titles like FromSoftware games, the Resident Evil series, and others, enhancing the gameplay experience. Director Cho Yonghee emphasized the careful design of control schemes for different platforms, noting that hacking mechanics in Pragmata are more fluid with a controller compared to a mouse. The free Pragmata sketchbook demo serves as a tutorial for essential skills and allows players to experiment with both control schemes. Yonghee acknowledged that preferences vary between players, and both control methods have been optimized for a great experience. Mastering controls is crucial for effectively navigating and combating AI-controlled adversaries in Pragmata.
Roblox and Minecraft players are less likely to play traditional AAA video games
AppWizard
March 13, 2026

Roblox and Minecraft players are less likely to play traditional AAA video games

Newzoo's insights indicate a shift in gaming preferences, with Roblox and Minecraft players showing distinct engagement patterns compared to traditional AAA titles. Roblox's playtime has increased by about 50% year over year, driven by viral experiences. There is significant overlap between Roblox and Minecraft players with popular live service games like Fortnite (55% overlap with Roblox, 46% with Minecraft) and Grand Theft Auto V (28% with Roblox, 25% with Minecraft). However, Roblox players are less likely to engage with traditionally popular games, such as Monster Hunter Wilds, where they are only 0.4 times as likely to play compared to average gamers. Similarly, Minecraft players show disinterest in titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Assassin's Creed: Shadows. The demographic of these players is often younger, leading to a reluctance to invest in pricier AAA games. Newzoo's research suggests that these players may continue favoring free-to-play live-service titles and sandbox games as they mature, which could impact the market dynamics significantly. Additionally, it is projected that by 2028, PC gaming revenue will exceed that of consoles, marking a notable growth in the industry.
Indie dev says 'best I can do is sentient tofu' after fans demand a male protagonist—they respond oh yeah, actually Mr Tofu works fine, thanks
AppWizard
March 5, 2026

Indie dev says ‘best I can do is sentient tofu’ after fans demand a male protagonist—they respond oh yeah, actually Mr Tofu works fine, thanks

A user on the Steam forums for the upcoming game Honcho expressed a preference for playing as a male character, stating that playing female characters disrupts their immersion. The indie developer, Pryjmachuk, humorously suggested a sentient block of tofu as an alternative, acknowledging the limitations of indie game development. Players will be able to embody Mr. Tofu by entering their name at the game's start. Despite the initial request for a male character, the user responded positively to the tofu option, expressing support for the developer's work. This exchange highlights the diverse preferences players have regarding character choices in gaming.
Call of Duty's Black Ops Royale is the kind of rulebook-burning experience Warzone needs
AppWizard
March 3, 2026

Call of Duty’s Black Ops Royale is the kind of rulebook-burning experience Warzone needs

Activision has announced Black Ops Royale, a new mode that shifts away from the traditional loadout system seen in Call of Duty Warzone. Unlike previous games, Black Ops Royale will not feature custom loadouts; instead, players will find weapons with specific attachments, known as 'Build Archetypes,' throughout the environment. The game will also include four upgradeable tiers and a rare fifth tier called Ultra, which contains a fully maxed-out weapon with eight attachments. All equipment, perks, and killstreaks will be loot-based, requiring players to adapt and search for gear rather than relying on pre-set loadouts. Treyarch's associate creative director, Miles Leslie, indicated that discussions about moving away from the loadout system are ongoing, with potential for limited-time modes in the future.
Minecraft Slimefun Dupe: Is It Real?
AppWizard
February 23, 2026

Minecraft Slimefun Dupe: Is It Real?

Slimefun is a server-side plugin for Minecraft that enhances the vanilla experience by adding new items, machines, and crafting possibilities without requiring client-side modifications. It allows players to create automated farms, develop tools, and build factories, encouraging experimentation and strategic planning through a complex crafting system. The plugin's modular design enables server administrators to customize it for different player preferences. There are rumors of item duplication glitches associated with Slimefun, with players claiming to find methods to multiply items. Historically, some legitimate glitches have existed, but developers actively patch these exploits. Engaging in item duplication is frowned upon as it disrupts the game’s economy, creates unfair advantages, and can lead to penalties such as temporary suspensions or permanent bans. Duplication undermines the integrity of gameplay, leading to disillusionment among honest players and potential technical issues on servers. Legitimate methods for duplicating items in Slimefun are largely nonexistent, as the plugin aims to maintain a balanced experience. Players are encouraged to build efficient farms and explore the game world for resource gathering, focusing on creativity and collaboration rather than unethical duplication methods.
Minecraft Meets Stardew Valley In 94% Rated PS5 Release, Out Today
AppWizard
February 20, 2026

Minecraft Meets Stardew Valley In 94% Rated PS5 Release, Out Today

Outpath, a clicker base-building adventure game, was launched on October 16, 2023, by solo developer David Moralejo Sánchez and published by GrabTheGames and UpgradePoint. It has a 94% positive rating on Steam and will be released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on February 19, 2026. The game features tranquil exploration, cozy crafting, and idle progression, drawing inspiration from Minecraft, Forager, Satisfactory, and Stardew Valley. Players can gather resources, craft items, build bases, buy islands, fish, level up skills, and engage in parkour movements. A free demo is available on PC, offering about 10 hours of content, while the full game is priced at £12.79 on the Nintendo eShop and Steam. Pricing for PlayStation and Microsoft stores is not yet announced.
Instead of difficulty, Obsidian designer Josh Sawyer thinks in terms of 3 RPG player archetypes: 'What are they trying to get out of this game?'
AppWizard
January 27, 2026

Instead of difficulty, Obsidian designer Josh Sawyer thinks in terms of 3 RPG player archetypes: ‘What are they trying to get out of this game?’

Josh Sawyer, design director at Obsidian, discussed the concept of difficulty in game design on his YouTube channel, emphasizing the need to understand player expectations rather than viewing difficulty as a fixed set of challenges. He highlighted the benefits of offering detailed difficulty settings, as some players desire granular modifications to enhance their gaming experience. Sawyer categorized RPG players into three types: adventurers, survivalists, and explorers, noting that each type has different motivations and preferences. He suggested starting with complex mechanics that can be simplified based on player preferences, using bullet drop mechanics as an example. Sawyer concluded that providing granular difficulty options is advantageous for both players and developers and committed to prioritizing this approach in future projects.
Valve announced the 2025 Steam Awards winners (and shockingly Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 didn't win everything)
AppWizard
January 7, 2026

Valve announced the 2025 Steam Awards winners (and shockingly Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 didn’t win everything)

Valve announced the winners of the 2025 Steam Awards, highlighting user preferences on the gaming platform. Hollow Knight: Silksong was the only title to win multiple awards, while Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won the Best Soundtrack Award. The Steam Awards, held annually since 2016, are determined by user votes, with this year's selections showcasing a diverse range of titles, including smaller games like The Midnight Walk and RV There Yet?.
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