players Archives

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

Hit markers are an FPS crutch

Hit markers are visual cues in first-person shooters that indicate the impact of a shot, often accompanied by an 'X'. Before 2007, developers used impact animations and effects like blood spurts for feedback instead of UI elements. Notable franchises like Halo and Gears of War initially provided immersive feedback through visual cues but have since adopted hit markers, which clutter the HUD and diminish the immersive experience. The trend raises questions about balancing clarity and immersion in game design, as seen in contrasting examples like Left 4 Dead 2, which uses dynamic enemy reactions, versus Back 4 Blood, which employs hit markers.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

Upcoming PS5 Games: The Future of PlayStation Exclusives

In May 2026, Sony announced that future single-player titles will remain exclusive to the PlayStation 5, although some games currently in development will launch across platforms. Upcoming PS5 games include: - Spider-Man franchise: A new narrative featuring a character from the Marvel universe, expected to carry an M-rating. - Phantom Blade Zero: Set to launch on October 29, 2026, as a timed PS5 and PC exclusive, with a later release on Xbox and Switch 2 in Fall 2027. - God of War Laufey: Scheduled for release on February 16, 2027, as a PS5 exclusive, featuring Faye on a journey through the Everywhen. - Until Dawn 2: A sequel with a new cast, set for release in 2027 as a PS5 exclusive, focusing on amateur ghost hunters. - Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet: An upcoming PS5 exclusive from Naughty Dog, featuring a rogue bounty hunter in a retro-futuristic world. - Fairgame$: A multiplayer heist shooter for PS5 and PC, facing development challenges but still anticipated. - GTA 6: A timed console exclusive launching on November 19, 2026, not exclusive to PS5 but available solely on consoles for a limited time.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

Donkey Kong Land PC Fan Remake Available for Download

A fan-made remake of the Nintendo Game Boy title Donkey Kong Land has been created by YouTube user ‘kasquez’ and is now available for PC. This remake features over 30 full-sized levels, refined controls, and updated graphics and sound that closely resemble the SNES version. It does not require the original ROM file and includes assets from the original game. The project is at risk of being taken down due to copyright concerns from Nintendo. Other notable fan projects in the gaming community include remakes of titles like Superman, Halo 3: ODST, and Metal Gear Solid, as well as various tech demos and ports.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

Cancelled Quake 4 expansion gets surprise GitHub release after former XCOM 2 developer discovers it on an old hard drive: ‘This essentially saved my life’

The original Quake has unveiled an official new episode as part of its 30th anniversary at QuakeCon. Additionally, a build of the previously cancelled expansion Quake 4: Awakening has been discovered on GitHub. This expansion was under development by Ritual Entertainment but was halted by Activision due to poor sales of the base game. A veteran game developer named Marshall found the expansion on a second-hand PC and shared it on GitHub, expressing that it had a significant emotional impact on him. The build includes configuration files with names of former Ritual employees, suggesting its authenticity. Gameplay footage shows new weapons and missions, indicating that the expansion was nearly complete before its cancellation. Marshall aims to preserve the project and hopes the community can help refine and eventually release it.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

Lae’zel actor Devora Wilde didn’t know she was in Space Marine 2 until players told her

Devora Wilde is a video game voice actress known for her role as Lae'zel in Baldur's Gate 3. Her resume includes roles in Solasta 2, Clair Obscur, Crimson Desert, Split Fiction, and Red Solstice 2. Recently, she discovered her participation in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 after receiving fan comments and recognizing her voice in an audio log. Wilde often remains unaware of her projects until close to release, a common practice to prevent leaks. In Space Marine 2, she voiced multiple characters, including a servo-skull and a Cadian soldier. She has also voiced Tzarina Katarin Bokha in Total War: Warhammer 3, the female Arbitrator in Darktide, and a Sister of Battle in the Adepta Sororitas animation, Penitence, on Warhammer TV.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

The GTA 3D trilogy fanpatch has its biggest update, with over 100 new fixes including restored dialogue for San Andreas

The PC versions of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, GTA 3, and Vice City have faced criticism for problematic ports due to code reuse and quality control issues. The modding community has created significant updates, including the SilentPatch, which addresses bugs and restores previously cut content. Notably, over 100 voice lines in GTA San Andreas have been restored, allowing players to access them while using a mouse and keyboard. These efforts reflect the dedication of the modding community to enhance the gaming experience and preserve the legacy of these classic games.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

PlayStation 5 emulation has taken a new leap forward, bringing console-based Minecraft to PC.

Developers of PlayStation 5 emulation software have made significant progress in running various 3D games on personal computers, including a version of Minecraft. This advancement is due to architectural similarities between modern consoles and PCs, although major AAA titles still require further system enhancements to be emulated. Sony has decided not to release single-player, high-budget games on PCs, focusing instead on multiplayer titles, which has increased interest in emulation for experiencing single-player games. In contrast, the development of an emulator for the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to be more challenging and time-consuming due to its dedicated processor, complex graphics API, and lack of a console jailbreak, leading analysts to predict a lengthy emulation process similar to that of Sony's hardware.

Winsage

August 9, 2026

Dell is blaming Microsoft’s Windows 11 updates for a bug that broke 245+ PC models, but it’s all good now

Recent updates to Windows 11 have caused issues for users of Dell PCs, resulting in shutdowns, performance degradation, and overheating. Dell has released a list of approximately 245 affected models, including Alienware systems. Microsoft deployed an out-of-band update (KB5121767) to address these issues, which stemmed from an incompatibility between the Intel Innovation Platform Framework Processor Participant driver and the Windows USB-C Connection Manager. Affected devices could experience significant performance setbacks, unexpected shutdowns, increased heat output, and battery drain. Users are advised to install specific builds to avoid these problems, as rolling back the update is not an option. Microsoft is also working on improving driver quality through a new Driver Quality Initiative.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

This free Steam cozy game offering will bring back fond childhood memories

Stickers evoke nostalgia for many, especially among Gen Z and Millennials, who often decorate their MacBook covers with them. The free Steam game My Cozy Cube, developed by Potato Sprouts, allows players to decorate a virtual room using sticker-like items and includes a light puzzling element. Players can choose between a guided 'normal mode' and a freeform 'sandbox mode,' with features like auto-snapping for accurate placement. A demo is currently available, but the full release date has not been announced. Another game in this genre is Little Corners, priced at £5.99, which lets players decorate various scenes and offers a simple yet enjoyable experience.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

PC Game Permanently Removed From GOG in Sudden Delisting

Circle Empires has been permanently removed from the GOG digital storefront, following a wave of delistings that included six other games on July 31. Developed by Luminous and published by Iceberg Interactive, Circle Empires was released in 2018 and has over 1,000 user reviews on Steam with an 88% approval rating, qualifying it for the “Very Positive” distinction. On GOG, it has a score of 3.8 out of 5. The reasons for its delisting are unclear, as it remains available on Steam. GOG announced the delisting on August 6, providing only 48 hours' notice. Circle Empires is currently priced at .99 on Steam. A sequel, Circle Empires 2, was launched earlier this year but is not available on GOG. Despite the delisting, a classic PC game was recently added to GOG for free.