playing Archives

AppWizard

April 18, 2026

15 years on, Portal 2 Community Edition just breathed new life into Valve’s classic

Portal 2: Community Edition is a fan-driven initiative developed by a team of 29 developers to enhance the experience of creating and playing custom content within Portal 2. It introduces technical upgrades including physically based rendering, more detailed textures, improved lighting, clustered shading, dynamic shadows, specular highlights, and volumetric fog. The edition focuses on providing robust tools for custom content creation, currently offering single-player gameplay with plans for multiplayer support. It utilizes the Strata Source engine, a modified version of the CS:GO engine, which enhances performance and expands creative possibilities for modders. New modding tools include adhesive gel, a paint gun, Schrödinger cubes, and colored lasers, along with the 'AngelScript' scripting framework for unique game modes. Full Steam Workshop support is integrated, allowing players to share their creations. Portal 2: Community Edition is now available on Steam as a free download, requiring ownership of the original Portal 2.

AppWizard

April 18, 2026

Here’s that free fan remake of 1999’s PlayStation-exclusive Medal of Honor you were looking for

Medal of Honor: Allied Assault is a pioneering title in the first-person shooter genre, released before Halo and initially on the PlayStation. The game has been revived with Medal of Honor: Retro Remake, developed by Elber88, which faithfully reconstructs the original 1999 title and is available for free on itch.io. The remake offers a simple installation process for players to easily access the game.

AppWizard

April 18, 2026

This is not a drill: All-timer weirdo game Deadly Premonition now playable on Linux as of Valve’s most recent Proton beta, plus 17 others and your EA library (until EA breaks it again)

Proton 11 beta 1 has been released by Valve, enhancing the Steam Deck and Linux desktops, and incorporating features from Wine 11. This update includes an initial Arm64 version of Proton, with plans for implementation in the upcoming Steam Frame. Some Windows games may perform better on Linux with this update. Newly playable games include "Unknown Faces," "Gothic 1 Classic," "X-Plane 12," "Breath of Fire IV," and "Deadly Premonition." The update also fixes various issues, such as video playback in "She Sees Red," rendering problems with the Ukrainian language option in "Chambers," and voice chat issues in "Phasmophobia." Improvements have been made in VR support for "No Man's Sky," and many other gameplay and performance enhancements have been implemented across various titles. Proton 11 beta 1 is based on Wine 11.0 and includes updates to several components, including vkd3d, dxvk, and Wine Mono.

AppWizard

April 17, 2026

Charlie Cox has finally played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33—a bit

Actor Walton Goggins has not played the video game franchise Fallout and does not intend to. Charlie Cox, known for his role as Daredevil, initially had not played the game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, where he voices the character Gustave, but later explored the game briefly, only experiencing the introductory segment. He reflected on the evolution of storytelling in games compared to titles from his youth, such as Goldeneye and Mario Kart. Cox noted that voicing Gustave felt different from his own identity and expressed disbelief at the dedication of players who have completed the game, which can take over 50 hours.

BetaBeacon

April 17, 2026

The Best Mobile Games on Google Play Are Becoming Harder to Put in One Box

Developers in the mobile gaming industry are now comfortable borrowing elements from various genres, resulting in games that are harder to define by a single genre. The best mobile games cater to different levels of commitment simultaneously, offering a surface loop for beginners and deeper systems for serious players. Mobile games now borrow structure from various sources, including console design, tabletop mechanics, and social media behavior. The diversity in mobile gaming has increased, with games offering a variety of tones and tempos within genres. The best mobile games are less predictable and offer a combination of different elements, making the platform more expansive and appealing to a wider audience.

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

Moves of the Diamond Hand will be one of 2027’s best RPGs, and it just launched in early access

Moves of the Diamond Hand entered early access on April 13. It is set in Off-Peak City, a noir-inspired metropolis with blue-skinned DJs, cloned jazz musicians, and animal-human hybrids. The game features a narrative that combines personal quests with societal issues, including a mayoral race. Players can engage in whimsical scenarios and utilize various non-combat skills. The gameplay is based on dice rolls and freeform mechanics, allowing exploration and interaction with characters. Players can level up skills and acquire augment dice that influence their rolls. The early access model provides feedback and funding but may be challenging for players seeking polished gameplay. The game is available on Steam, with a full release expected in spring of next year.

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

Spotify’s new tablet interface is more than just a bigger version of your phone

Spotify has launched a redesigned app layout for Android tablets and iPads, moving away from simply scaling the mobile app. The new design optimizes the user experience by utilizing larger screens and includes features like adaptive orientation for portrait and landscape modes, a collapsible sidebar for parallel browsing, and a prominently placed "Switch to Video" toggle for easy access to video content. The updated interface is now live for users on these devices.

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

Spotify rolls out redesigned app for tablets, works on most foldables too [Gallery]

Spotify has redesigned its tablet app, now available to all users, enhancing the experience for tablets and select Android foldable devices. The new design features a dedicated "Now Playing" panel on the right side of the screen and a transformed bottom navigation bar divided into two sections for improved accessibility. The redesign is compatible with certain foldable devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Honor Magic V6, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, while some devices like the Oppo Find N6 are not supported due to optimization challenges. Additionally, Spotify launched a revamped Wear OS app earlier this year.

BetaBeacon

April 16, 2026

The Best Mobile Games on Google Play Are Becoming Harder to Put in One Box

Developers in mobile gaming are now more comfortable borrowing from different genres across the industry, resulting in games that offer a variety of experiences within a single title. Mobile games are designed to cater to different levels of commitment simultaneously, with simple mechanics for beginners and deeper systems for more serious players. The Play Store landscape is becoming less predictable as games borrow concepts from console design, PC live-service loops, tabletop mechanics, and social media behavior. The best mobile games are those that can accommodate multiple habits and playstyles, providing players with a diverse and versatile gaming experience.

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

Rejoice, Steam Deck and couch lovers: Gloomwood just got controller support

Gloomwood has introduced controller support, which has been positively received by the gaming community. Previously, players on Steam Deck had to use unofficial gamepad layouts, complicating the experience. The game is now officially marked as 'Playable' on Steam Deck. Additionally, Gloomwood has been recognized for its expansive design, with Ted Litchfield stating it has surpassed the "early access threshold" and is worth playing. The game is currently available at a 25% discount on Steam.