player reactions Archives

AppWizard

March 4, 2026

Sony won’t bring any more single-player PlayStation games to PC

Sony's approach to single-player game releases is evolving, having started to release first-party titles on PC since 2020, including Horizon Zero Dawn, Helldivers 2, and Ghost of Tsushima. This shift has caused confusion among players due to inconsistent release timing, with some titles appearing on PC months or years after their console launches. Additionally, some games required a PlayStation account for essential features, leading to mixed reactions. Sony's PC strategy is less defined compared to competitors, with recent sales figures for its PC titles not meeting expectations.

AppWizard

November 15, 2025

Escape From Tarkov shoots to the top of Downdetector, debuts on Steam to ‘Mixed’ reviews as players struggle to log in: ‘Best extraction shooter that you CAN’T play’

Escape From Tarkov has achieved significant success without major digital storefronts like Steam and has established the extraction shooter genre. Its Steam debut coincides with the game's 1.0 release, leading to hundreds of connection issue reports per hour on Downdetector. This has resulted in a "Mixed" rating on Steam, with players expressing frustration over technical difficulties. The developers have acknowledged these issues and are working to stabilize the servers. Players have reported being unable to create accounts due to website maintenance and have encountered various error codes. Despite these challenges, Escape From Tarkov is currently the second best-selling game on Steam, with around 19,000 concurrent players.

AppWizard

November 15, 2025

A stylish new action RPG is making big waves on Steam, but its ‘AI chatbot’ NPCs have players howling in the wrong ways

Where Winds Meet, a martial arts RPG, received ten million pre-registrations and launched on Steam, attracting hundreds of thousands of players. Initially released in China at the end of 2024, it features a 10th-century China setting with 20 square kilometers of terrain. The game has faced mixed reviews due to AI chatbot NPCs that some players feel disrupt immersion. Its Steam rating fell to 'mixed' at launch but improved to 'mostly positive' as players appreciated the visuals and combat. Discussions on social media highlight both enjoyment and disappointment regarding the AI interactions, with players sharing humorous experiences. The game's use of AI reflects a broader trend in the industry, raising concerns about the impact on human creativity in game design.

AppWizard

October 8, 2025

I never knew I needed a medieval RTS game with dinosaurs, until now

Dinolords is a video game where players follow Eric the Red as he discovers and hatches frozen dinosaur eggs, leading to a journey of domestication. The game features a dinosaur-led invasion of England, requiring nations to unite. It combines real-time strategy (RTS) elements with hack-and-slash gameplay, making it a unique 'hack and strat' experience. Dinolords will have its closed alpha playtest starting on October 31, with an early access release planned for 2026. Players can register on Steam to participate.

AppWizard

October 1, 2025

One of Steam’s most highly anticipated roguelikes adds generative AI disclosure five days after release, and fans aren’t happy

Hotel Barcelona debuted last week with a Metacritic score of 58 from 15 reviews and a 55% positive rating on Steam, categorizing it as 'mixed.' The game, developed by Goichi 'Suda51' Suda and Hidetaka 'Swery' Suehiro, has disappointed fans due to the introduction of a generative AI disclosure on its Steam page just five days after launch. Critics have raised ethical concerns about the use of generative AI, particularly regarding copyright issues and its impact on creative jobs. The AI features are set to be removed in an upcoming patch, following similar issues faced by another game, The Alters. The late disclosure has raised questions about compliance with Steam's Terms of Service, potentially affecting players' ability to seek refunds.

AppWizard

September 28, 2025

Remedy’s bold gambit to save FBC: Firebreak arrives on Monday, in the form of a massive update that aims to ‘improve everything’ about the underwhelming coop shooter

FBC: Firebreak, released in June, received a lukewarm reception due to simplistic and repetitive gameplay, lack of essential features like a tutorial, and overall execution issues. In response to feedback, Remedy has worked on the Breakpoint update, launching next week, which aims to revitalize the game by reworking core mechanics, introducing a new mission involving a mold epidemic, and adding new adversaries. The update also includes a structured onboarding process with an Orientation level and instructional videos. Additional enhancements feature new weapons, new Hiss enemies, a gun modification system, and a reworked in-game economy. Remedy aims to improve the overall experience and establish a foundation for future updates, with the next major patch expected in November. The success of Breakpoint and the November update is critical for re-engaging the FBC community, especially given concerns about sales and player base.

AppWizard

April 8, 2025

Half-Life 2’s 2003 beta reveals the mystery behind a City 17 river that once led players to the foot of the Citadel

Various unfinished iterations of Half-Life 2 have emerged over the years, showcasing the evolution of Valve's vision for the game. A recent video by YouTuber CMDR RileySV explores the 2003 beta, focusing on the "City 17 river," which was originally intended to play a significant role in the gameplay. In the beta, players would navigate through canals leading to the Citadel, promising a striking visual reveal. Although remnants of these elements exist in the final version, the canal section was repurposed, leading to mixed player reactions. A comment from user @FlintExp highlights that the city layout of City 17 draws inspiration from New York City, with specific coordinates matching real locations. The river was once a crucial aspect of the journey through City 17, guiding players toward the Citadel. The 2003 beta closely resembles the retail version, with notable differences reflecting Valve's editing process before release.

AppWizard

March 1, 2025

Monster Hunter Wilds PC players make Steam reviews their 15th weapon as Capcom’s RE Engine delivers another Dragon’s Dogma 2-sized disaster: “Very immersive game. You can cook a well-done steak on your GPU”

Monster Hunter Wilds has received a mixed rating on Steam, with players expressing significant frustration over its performance issues. Many reviews highlight the game's optimization problems, with players noting that achieving 60fps requires frame generation, which should not be necessary. Capcom has offered tips to improve the gaming experience but has not alleviated player concerns. The game is built on the RE Engine, which has performed well in other titles, but struggles in open-world settings like Monster Hunter Wilds. The critical feedback primarily focuses on the game's performance, indicating a pressing need for improvements.

AppWizard

October 30, 2024

Gearbox has removed Denuvo from Homeworld 3

Gearbox has removed the Denuvo anti-tamper technology from Homeworld 3, which was launched on PC in May 2024, about five to six months after its release. Despite this removal, the game has a "Mostly Negative" rating on Steam, with players praising the graphics but expressing dissatisfaction with other aspects. The addition of Denuvo was a last-minute decision that frustrated many players. Other publishers, including KRAFTON and NEOWIZ, have also removed Denuvo from their titles. Notable games that have shed Denuvo include Wolfenstein Youngblood, Ghostwire: Tokyo, Doom Eternal, Mortal Kombat 11, Tekken 7, and various titles from Square Enix such as The Diofield Chronicle and Forspoken. Homeworld 3 peaked at 9,000 concurrent players but has recently seen a decline to only 60 active players in the last 24 hours.

AppWizard

September 22, 2024

Homeworld 3 will get two of its DLC packs this November rather than in 2025

Blackbird Interactive has announced a revised release schedule for Homeworld 3, moving the launch date to November 2023 instead of early 2025. The update will include three free updates and two fleet packs for the War Games mode, aiming to enhance skirmish gameplay and complete features for the "Year One Pass." Player reactions are mixed, with some excited about the changes while others worry about potential reduced support after November. The game currently has a 38% positive user review rating on Steam, with criticism focused on its lack of strategic depth compared to earlier titles in the series. Fraser Brown from PC Gamer noted that while Homeworld 3 tries to innovate, it does not fully capture the essence of its predecessors.