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The Elder Scrolls Online's devs are pushing through hard times after layoffs and delays: 'We didn't want to rush to just hit a date'
AppWizard
September 26, 2026

The Elder Scrolls Online’s devs are pushing through hard times after layoffs and delays: ‘We didn’t want to rush to just hit a date’

The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) has faced significant challenges, including the cancellation of Project Blackbird in July 2025, which led to the layoff of 62 employees. In July 2026, Xbox's restructuring resulted in a reduction of 213 positions at Zenimax Online, shrinking the studio's workforce by approximately 60% within a year. Despite expressing optimism earlier in the year about refreshing animations and introducing new gameplay mechanics, the layoffs have led to the postponement of several updates until 2027. A representative from the development team emphasized the importance of maintaining quality over meeting deadlines.
27-year-old GTA 2 gets full path tracing and 60 FPS frame generation via RTX Remix — custom Direct3D 9 wrapper modernizes classic with custom Direct3D 9 bridge, unlocks dynamic lighting
AppWizard
September 26, 2026

27-year-old GTA 2 gets full path tracing and 60 FPS frame generation via RTX Remix — custom Direct3D 9 wrapper modernizes classic with custom Direct3D 9 bridge, unlocks dynamic lighting

Modder gebdag has released GTA2 RTX Remix, a mod for Grand Theft Auto 2 that utilizes Nvidia’s RTX Remix technology to enhance the game, originally launched 27 years ago. The mod introduces full path tracing, dynamic time-of-day cycles, and modernizes the aspect ratio from 4:3 to 16:9. It improves gameplay fluidity with frame rates up to 60 FPS and addresses issues like the sudden appearance of cars and pedestrians. Players need a copy of Grand Theft Auto 2 version 9.6, available for free since 2004, and a 64-bit version of Windows 10 or 11, along with the RTX Remix runtime files, to use the mod. The RTX Remix platform has also enabled similar enhancements for other classic games.
What's the weirdest thing that happened to you in a tabletop RPG?
AppWizard
September 26, 2026

What’s the weirdest thing that happened to you in a tabletop RPG?

Fraser Brown, Online Editor at PC Gamer, reflects on his 15 years of tabletop roleplaying experiences, sharing memorable anecdotes such as a companion covered in vomit due to the "Vomit Bandit" and his own humorous attempt to use a large table as a battering ram. He emphasizes the unpredictability and creativity of tabletop gaming, highlighting the camaraderie and joy it fosters among players.
It took CD Projekt two years to design Phantom Liberty's Chimera Tank boss fight: 'We were iterating over and over'
AppWizard
September 26, 2026

It took CD Projekt two years to design Phantom Liberty’s Chimera Tank boss fight: ‘We were iterating over and over’

The Chimera Tank boss fight in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty features protagonist V and President Myers against a spider-tank inspired by Ghost in the Shell, set in a Barghest facility. Game director Gabe Amatangelo and creative director Igor Sarzyński discussed the challenges of its production on CD Projekt's AnsweRED podcast, highlighting it as an example of collaboration across gameplay, narrative, art, and worldbuilding. Art director Paweł Mielniczuk noted that it took two years to develop the boss fight, which went through four iterations. Sarzyński described the Chimera as one of the most expensive art assets ever created. Some players felt the fight could have been better balanced, comparing its difficulty to a battle in The Witcher 3: Hearts of Stone.
Manor Lords publisher isn't worried about launching a game on GTA 6's release date - PC players "looking to steal cars" might check out its new management sim instead
AppWizard
September 26, 2026

Manor Lords publisher isn’t worried about launching a game on GTA 6’s release date – PC players “looking to steal cars” might check out its new management sim instead

Hooded Horse is set to launch its medieval management simulation, Blacksmith Master, on November 19, the same day as the release of GTA 6. Despite industry concerns about releasing alongside a blockbuster, Hooded Horse believes that GTA will not negatively impact their game's release. The gaming industry has seen several high-profile games delay their launches to avoid the crowded November schedule, with the director of the Fable reboot indicating that GTA's release influenced its postponement until next year.
Drop everything and grab the popcorn: Majuular's 4.5-hour documentary on Ultima Online is here to devour your weekend
AppWizard
September 26, 2026

Drop everything and grab the popcorn: Majuular’s 4.5-hour documentary on Ultima Online is here to devour your weekend

YouTube essayist Majuular has released a new video focused on Ultima Online, part of a series that took six months to produce. The video explores the game's origins under Richard Garriott and Starr Long, its development by Raph Koster and his team, and its impact on the gaming landscape. Ultima Online has adapted to competition and remains accessible through official and fan-operated servers, including the In Mani Ylem server. Majuular's efforts to document the making of Richard Garriott's series have gained him over 200,000 followers on YouTube. His retrospective highlights Ultima's influence on role-playing games and includes personal stories and historical context.
Guess who patented a new system for in-game ads
AppWizard
September 26, 2026

Guess who patented a new system for in-game ads

Microsoft has a patent titled "Contextually Aware Management of Interactive Software Application Access" (US 202610260258 A1) that describes a system for pausing gameplay to present advertisements to players. Key features include: - A content management system that can suspend user interaction with the game based on a content trigger event. - The presentation of promoted audiovisual content to the user. - A credit system that delays the suspension of user interaction. This system aims to integrate advertisements into gameplay, similar to ad-supported models in mobile gaming. Matthew Ball, Xbox's Chief Strategy Officer, supports in-game advertisements, while EA has launched EA Advertising for in-game integrations and scalable advertising capabilities. The integration of advertisements poses both opportunities and challenges for monetization and user experience in gaming.
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