playtime Archives

BetaBeacon

June 10, 2026

Struggling to find PC games that run well on your phone? GameNative has a cool solution.

GameNative is introducing new filtering options for its PC game library app, allowing users to filter games based on compatibility ratings, playability, and GPU compatibility. Users can rate their game experience and provide feedback on crashes and performance, which will be used to create optimal settings for different devices. The goal is to streamline the process of finding compatible games for Android devices.

AppWizard

May 31, 2026

Acer Nitro Blaze Link Streams PC Games Straight to a Dedicated Handheld

Acer has introduced the Nitro Blaze Link, a handheld gaming device designed to stream games from a nearby computer. It features ergonomic grips, standard controls, and a seven-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels. The device weighs 464 grams, measures approximately 287 millimeters in width, and has a maximum thickness of 33.5 millimeters. It is powered by an 18-watt-hour battery and includes a USB-C port for charging (up to 15 watts) but does not support data transfer. The Nitro Blaze Link runs on Debian Linux, uses Moonlight for video streaming, and requires Sunshine installed on the host computer. It has 1GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 8GB of integrated flash storage, supports WiFi 6, and is designed to work with Acer's Predator Helios and Nitro laptops. The device cannot run games locally, has limited storage and RAM, and relies on a stable wireless connection for performance. It is expected to be available in the U.S. market in the fourth quarter of 2026, with no pricing information disclosed.

AppWizard

May 31, 2026

Steam Just Made a PC Game 100% Free for All Users

A popular Steam title, Moonrise Fall, is available for free download until June 2, allowing players to permanently add it to their library. After this date, it will return to its standard pricing. The game, released in 2019 by Made From Strings and published by GrabTheGames, is an atmospheric exploration puzzle game with an 88% approval rating based on 25 user reviews. The story follows a young boy lost in a mystical forest after a car accident. User feedback indicates an estimated gameplay duration of 5 to 10 hours. This is the first time the game has been offered for free on Steam. Steam Deck users can also access the promotion, but compatibility is labeled as "Unknown."

AppWizard

May 29, 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 game developed by Yacht Club Games over six years for PC and consoles. The protagonist, Mina, has a unique move called "hollowing," which allows her to dive into the ground to find treasures and navigate through walls, contrasting with the jumping mechanic of Super Mario. The co-founder of Yacht Club Games, David D’Angelo, recommended starting with Shovel Knight to prepare for Mina The Hollower, noting that Specter of Torment is the least difficult and quickest to finish, while King of Cards offers a polished experience similar to Mina. Engaging with Yacht Club's previous titles enhances understanding of their game design evolution.

AppWizard

May 27, 2026

Two Brilliant-Looking Indie Games Come Out This Week

IO Interactive is releasing 007 First Light, while indie titles Mina the Hollower and Enter the Chronosphere are also launching. Mina the Hollower is developed by Yacht Club Games and features a mouse navigating dungeons with challenges inspired by Castlevania and Zelda. Enter the Chronosphere is a sci-fi turn-based bullet hell roguelike from Effort Star, noted for its psychedelic art style and positive early reviews. Release dates include: - May 25: Paralives, Enter the Chronosphere (early access), EMUUROM, Jump King Quest, RUNNING TRAIN - May 26: Stonemachia, Town to City (1.0), World of Tanks: Heat, Birushana: Winds of Fate, LumenTale: Memories of Trey, Romestead, Realm of Ink, Tower of Babel: Survivors of Chaos, Teamfight Manager 2 - May 27: 007 First Light, Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5 (port), Utawarerumono: Past and Present Rediscovered, Starminer - May 28: Amanda the Adventurer 3, Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen, Clockfall, Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten, Schrödinger’s Call, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (port), Stray (port), Touhou Yukkuri Mountain, Scale the Depths, STARDUST: Wish of Witch - May 29: Little Nightmares II Enhanced Edition (port), Mina the Hollower

AppWizard

May 24, 2026

Comedian Alasdair Beckett-King was a die-hard adventure gamer until he discovered Morrowind: ‘The first time I loaded it up, I walked straight into a little pond and was killed by a fish’

Alasdair Beckett-King began his gaming journey with a second-hand ZX Spectrum and the game Dizzy. He has transitioned to PC gaming and explored titles like The Secret of Monkey Island and Full Throttle. Beckett-King is a YouTube sketch creator, actor, writer, podcaster, and adventure game designer, currently on a UK comedy tour called King of Crumbs. He has a nostalgic preference for classic games, recently revisiting the remaster of Broken Sword, and has completed Myst and Riven. He enjoys modern indie titles such as Obra Dinn and The Case of the Golden Idol. His highest playtime on Steam is 266 hours for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, where he prefers normal difficulty for narrative enjoyment but found hard mode enhanced his engagement. He is hesitant to uninstall Silksong due to his mixed feelings about finishing it. Beckett-King relies on Blender 3D for his creative video production but admits to having a chaotic desktop filled with disorganized icons and folders.

AppWizard

May 23, 2026

Steam Drops Permanent Freebie You Can Beat In 10 Hours, Claim Before 28 May

Steam is offering Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War as a complimentary download until May 28, allowing players to keep the game indefinitely. It is a turn-based 4X strategy game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, featuring four factions: Space Marines, Orks, Necrons, and Astra Militarum. The game has a Very Positive rating on Steam, with over 5,000 reviews. Players can complete the base game in approximately 10-11 hours, with side quests taking around 25 hours and completionists potentially engaging for 50 hours or more. Additional DLC packs introduce new factions such as Chaos Space Marines, Adeptus Sororitas, and Tyranids.

AppWizard

May 18, 2026

As Terraria turns 15, Re-Logic confirms crossplay is “soon” and that “updates will continue beyond 1.4.6”

Terraria celebrates its 15th anniversary since its initial release. The game has achieved total sales of 70 million, making it the eighth best-selling game of all time, with 39.6 million copies sold on PC. The modding platform tModLoader has 12.3 million downloads on Steam. Over the past year, the game averaged 461,000 daily players, with a peak of 1.4 million during the 'Bigger and Boulder' update. The average playtime for the base game is 101 hours and 18 minutes, while tModLoader users average 89 hours and 52 minutes. Re-Logic is working on crossplay functionality and future updates beyond version 1.4.6. A special collector's edition box set will be available for preorder in early June.

AppWizard

May 17, 2026

Terraria devs reveal the game’s average playtime on PC is over 100 hours as it passes 70 million copies sold

The average PC player has logged 101 hours and 18 minutes in Terraria, according to a blog post by developer Re-Logic. The game has been captivating audiences for 15 years and has received praise from critics, including an 83% rating from Luke Winkie in 2018. Terraria currently has over 35,000 concurrent players, as reported by SteamDB. Its success is attributed to engaging gameplay, regular updates, and a dedicated player base, allowing it to remain relevant in a competitive market.

AppWizard

May 17, 2026

Final Fantasy 11 takes cues from FF14 as Square Enix plans a dramatic free trial expansion

Final Fantasy 11 is set to enhance its free trial experience by removing the current two-week limit and raising the level cap for trial players from 50 to 75. The changes aim to allow players unrestricted playtime and greater engagement with the game, similar to the successful free trial model of Final Fantasy 14. Certain restrictions will remain to prevent farming bots and scammers, including limitations on using the auction house, party invitations, earning more than 100,000 gil at a time, and communication methods. Director Yoji Fujito acknowledged that the existing trial limitations feel outdated and expressed a desire to implement these changes before the game's 25th anniversary in May 2027.