playing Archives

AppWizard

May 28, 2026

‘Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4’ developer promises PC focus — Infinity Ward promises extensive optimization and is dropping older consoles

Infinity Ward has announced performance optimizations and graphical enhancements for the PC version of Modern Warfare 4, emphasizing a focus on PC gaming. The developer will no longer support older console generations, limiting compatibility to PlayStation 5/Pro, Xbox Series X/S, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. The game is designed to leverage the capabilities of current-generation hardware, promising a significant improvement in visual quality as it is built natively for these systems.

AppWizard

May 28, 2026

This week’s most compelling Steam demo is a torment engine disguised as golf

The demo of Normal Golf Game, created by Luke Muscat, challenges players with unconventional mechanics and bizarre obstacles, requiring strategy and precision. It is available on Steam and features a physics engine that tests even seasoned gamers. The game highlights the difference between casual gaming and its rigorous demands, emphasizing the humility that comes with playing golf, whether virtual or real.

BetaBeacon

May 28, 2026

The best Simpsons game just got (unofficially) ported to Android

A developer has created an Android port of The Simpsons: Hit & Run game, which requires the original game files to play. The port currently requires an external controller to play, but touch controls are being worked on. The game runs well on most phones from the last several years, and the developer has provided installation instructions on GitHub.

BetaBeacon

May 28, 2026

‘When we started our studio, we were building the wrong games.’ Millions of Meta Quest owners are playing games like Ug VR every month, and they’re redefining VR as we once knew it

- Facebook bought Oculus in 2014 and rebranded to Meta in 2021 to become a metaverse leader. - VR gaming is evolving towards social and communication platforms. - The success of VR games is driven by community feedback and player involvement. - Social VR games are becoming more popular, with a focus on creating and sharing content on social media platforms. - Games like Scary Baboon blend familiar mechanics with horror elements and emphasize cooperative gameplay rather than competition.

AppWizard

May 28, 2026

Playing 007 First Light? Send us gameplay videos galore and you could win a $500 Amazon gift card

The launch of 007 First Light allows players to experience the role of James Bond through various missions involving gadgets and vehicles. Players can record and share their gameplay clips for a chance to win a 0 Amazon gift card, with submissions featured on social media. The competition is open only to residents of the US and UK. Clips should be under 10GB and can showcase creative or humorous moments from the game. A dedicated Clips page has been established by PC Gamer to curate and reward the best gaming videos monthly.

AppWizard

May 28, 2026

31 hours with the spit-shined Mina the Hollower (and 34 with the four games that came before it)

Mina The Hollower is a new game developed by Yacht Club Games, which has been in development for six years for PC and consoles. The protagonist, Mina, has a unique ability called "hollowing," allowing her to dig into the earth to find treasures and navigate through walls. The co-founder of Yacht Club Games, David D’Angelo, recommended playing their previous titles, starting with Shovel Knight, to better understand the design philosophy behind Mina The Hollower. He noted that Specter of Torment is the least difficult and quickest to finish, while King of Cards celebrates their work in the Treasure Trove compilation. Engaging with these games provides insights into the studio's evolution as a game developer.

AppWizard

May 28, 2026

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus 2 review

Mechanicus 2 is a follow-up to the original Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus, developed by Bulwark Studios and published by Kasedo Games, priced at £31.50. It is available now on Windows 11 but does not support multiplayer or Steam Deck. The sequel features two distinct campaigns, allowing players to choose between the Adeptus Mechanicus and the necrons, offering a deeper exploration of the necrons' complexities. Unlike its predecessor, Mechanicus 2 limits players to five named leaders with basic upgrade trees, reducing customization options. Technical issues include subtitle bugs and performance problems, and the soundtrack is less impactful than the original. The game lacks the charm and innovation of the first installment, despite being enjoyable as a casual experience.

Winsage

May 27, 2026

When Microsoft was developing Windows 95, developers discovered that SimCity had a severe memory bug that caused it to crash on the new operating system—but instead of forcing the game studio to fix it, Microsoft engineers actually rewrote the core Windows 95 source code to detect if SimCity was running and safely allocate memory for it.

Windows 95 contains a block of code that checks if the user is playing SimCity and adjusts memory management to address a bug from the game's programming. This bug, a "use-after-free" error introduced by SimCity's developer Jon Ross, went unnoticed in Windows 3.x but caused crashes in Windows 95 due to its different memory management. Instead of asking Maxis to fix the bug, Microsoft engineers modified Windows 95 to mimic the older memory behavior, ensuring SimCity would run smoothly. This approach reflects Microsoft's broader strategy of maintaining compatibility with older software through various "shims," allowing legacy programs to function on modern systems.

BetaBeacon

May 27, 2026

I tested the this liquid-cooled phone in a UK heatwave, it made me sweat

The REDMAGIC 11S Pro outperforms competitors in benchmarks, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra and OPPO Find X9 Pro. It excels in 3DMark's Wild Life Extreme test and can sustain 120fps in Call of Duty Mobile's Battle Royale. The handset struggles with Asphalt Legends but performs well in emulation tests. Cooling setups may not always be necessary for optimal gaming experiences on modern gaming phones.

AppWizard

May 27, 2026

Cities Skylines may get the Lego treatment, as Korean ratings for new Paradox game, Persona 4 Revival, and more appear online

The Cities Skylines series has experienced mixed reception, with the original game being well-received and its sequel earning a score of 7/10. Developer Colossal Order has handed development responsibilities for the sequel to Iceflake Studios. A new title, Lego Skylines, is anticipated, as indicated by the Game Rating and Administration Committee of Korea (GRAC). This game aims to combine Cities Skylines mechanics with Lego's charm, reminiscent of earlier Lego simulation games. The last significant Lego construction game was Lego City Undercover in 2013. The development landscape for Lego games is fragmented, with major studios tied to larger corporations, leaving Paradox Development Studio as a potential candidate for the project. Other titles revealed by GRAC include Gears of War: E-Day, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, and Persona 4 Revival, with the gaming community looking forward to announcements during the Summer Game Fest.