portal Archives

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

The Edge of Fate will be the biggest change to Destiny 2 since it launched—an injection of fresh ideas, but also of ARPG grind

Bungie's upcoming expansion for Destiny 2, The Edge of Fate, introduces a tiered loot system categorizing new gear from one to five, with higher tiers offering enhanced perks and stat increases. The expansion features new weapon archetypes, including rocket sidearms and healing auto rifles, and introduces a Portal feature for selecting activities and customizing difficulty. Daily rotating guaranteed rewards for specific playlists aim to streamline the acquisition of tier 5 weapons and introduce set bonuses for armor. The expansion is set to launch on July 15.

AppWizard

June 1, 2025

This gravity-defying dungeon crawler is basically Legend of Grimrock meets Portal, and while the trailer had me dizzy, the demo made me feel like a genius

This week's Thinky Direct showcased a variety of new puzzle games, including a mystery game by a creator of Case of the Golden Idol and a time-loop adventure called "Metroidbrainia." The highlight was "He Who Watches," a dungeon puzzler that combines elements of Legend of Grimrock and Portal. Players navigate an underground labyrinth using a bow and arrow to interact with the environment instead of engaging in combat. The game features mechanics such as sticky boots for object manipulation and offers a demo version to reduce motion sickness. A trailer suggests a potential release in the autumn, although a specific date is not yet announced.

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

Digital Domain vs. the Nether Horde: Behind the VFX of Minecraft

VFX Supervisor Piotr Karwas and Animation Supervisor Liz Bernard discussed the visual effects of Minecraft: The Movie, which includes 187 shots completed in 25 weeks. Karwas, with experience from films like World War Z, served as Cinematic Director, merging CG storytelling with Minecraft's aesthetic. Bernard, with a background from The Lion King, was the Previs Supervisor, focusing on visual planning and comedic tone. Digital Domain assisted with the final battle sequence, and Karwas learned about Minecraft lore from his children. The team worked to balance humor and visuals, ensuring consistency across departments. They faced technical challenges in creating custom VFX shots and animating characters like Piglins and Iron Golems, navigating the constraints of their blocky designs. Karwas is also exploring generative AI to enhance creativity in visual effects workflows.

BetaBeacon

May 29, 2025

More AYANEO Pocket S2 information revealed ahead of Indiegogo campaign

The AYANEO Pocket S2 handheld will soon be available for pre-order from Indiegogo, but pricing has yet to be revealed.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

How to Get Tears Music Disc in Minecraft

In the upcoming Minecraft Summer Drop 2025, six new music tracks will be added, including the Tears music disc, which players can obtain by completing the Return to Sender challenge. This challenge requires players to locate and defeat a ghast in the Nether dimension using its own fireballs. Players must gather Obsidian blocks and Flint and Steel to ignite a Ruined Portal and prepare with a sword, shield, and iron armor. Ghasts can be found in the Soul Sand Valley, Basalt Delta, and Nether Waste biomes. To defeat a ghast, players should block its fireballs with a shield and deflect them back using a sword. After defeating the ghast, the Tears music disc will drop, along with a ghast tear or gunpowder. Players can then use the disc with a Minecraft Jukebox to listen to the music track.

Winsage

May 24, 2025

VMware Fusion is the best way to run Windows for free on Mac

VMware Fusion is a free solution for virtualizing Windows on Macs, including those with Arm chips. It simplifies the setup process by allowing users to automatically download Windows 11 for Arm devices. Performance testing on an M4 Mac Mini showed impressive results, with smooth operation for everyday tasks and light gaming, despite limitations compared to Parallels, such as lack of support for 120Hz refresh rates and Coherence mode. Users need to create a Broadcom account to download the software, which can be cumbersome. Overall, VMware Fusion is a practical option for users seeking a cost-effective way to run Windows on their Macs.

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

Minecraft Is Getting A D&D-Style Tabletop RPG – Preorder The Adventure Book

Minecraft is expanding into tabletop gaming with the release of "Minecraft: Roll for Adventure - The Temple of the Charged Creeper" on July 8. The gamebook, priced with a 20% preorder discount, features a 224-page adventure where players track down Illagers in the Overworld. It includes rules, a bestiary, a removable character sheet, and four dice. The author, Matt Forbeck, has experience with titles like Dungeons & Dragons and Halo. The game is recommended for ages 10 and up. Additionally, a Junior edition of "Minecraft: Builders and Biomes" will be released on August 1 for players aged 5 and up. Other Minecraft-themed games include "Portal Dash," the Mattel Minecraft Card Game, and the Minecraft Explorers card game. Various Minecraft book box sets, graphic novels, and novels are also available, including "The Island" by Max Brooks. Upcoming releases include "A Minecraft Movie: From Block to Big Screen" and the "Minecraft Official Blocks Guide," with the film adaptation set to release on June 24 in multiple formats.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Doritos and Minecraft Movie Mixed Reality Campaign Ends with a Golden Chip

A mixed reality campaign called ‘The Nether Lands’ promoted ‘A Minecraft Movie’ and positioned Doritos as the ultimate movie snack. The campaign was initiated by United Playgrounds, with creative direction from Fitzroy and real-time activation by Livewall, while immersive tech was developed by Beyond. It launched on March 28 with a full-scale Minecraft portal in Amsterdam’s Museumplein, allowing players to collect resources and battle Piglins using their phones for a chance to win an 18-karat gold Dorito chip worth €1,000. The activation expanded to cinemas, train stations, and over 135 DOOH screens in the Netherlands and Belgium, enabling anyone with a bag of Doritos to access an AR-powered Minecraft adventure. The campaign gained global attention, particularly in Times Square and Piccadilly Circus, and was covered by international media. Key results included 400,000 unique interactions, 42.5 million impressions, a 185% lift in association with “movie nights,” and a 27% increase in brand preference.

AppWizard

May 19, 2025

NVIDIA DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation and Other RTX Updates Shown Off for Upcoming and Existing PC Games

NVIDIA's DLSS 4 technology is integrated into over 125 games and applications. Portal with RTX has upgraded from DLSS 3.5 to DLSS 4, improving performance with the GeForce RTX 5090 achieving an average of 277 frames per second. Roadcraft will launch with DLSS Frame Generation, DLSS Super Resolution, and DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, running at over 250 frames per second on the RTX 5090. SplitGate 2 will fully integrate DLSS 4 technologies in its Open Beta, while NARAKA: Bladepoint will receive a path tracing update, showcasing approximately 350 frames per second. F1 25 will launch on May 24 with DLSS 4 technologies, and Dune: Awakening will feature these technologies in early June. MindsEye will launch on June 10 with full DLSS 4 support, followed by Remedy's FBC: Firebreak on June 17. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers will launch on July 24 with complete DLSS technologies but without ray tracing. inZOI will receive a DLSS 4 update in August. Horizon 'clone' Light of Motiram runs at over 400 frames per second with DLSS 4 technologies. Crimson Desert will incorporate DLSS 4 technologies and ray-traced effects, aiming for high-quality graphics and smooth gameplay.

Winsage

May 16, 2025

MSI PortalX ditches Windows apps to sync RGB via the web

MSI has introduced PortalX, a web-based lighting platform for RGB control in PC gaming, eliminating the need for traditional software installations. PortalX serves as a centralized hub for RGB functionalities, allowing users to adjust system lighting via a webpage without downloads. It offers per-device configuration and an ‘All Sync’ toggle for cohesive aesthetics, with adjustable lighting speeds. Currently, PortalX operates exclusively within the Windows environment, which may limit compatibility for users of Linux and macOS. The platform aims to simplify RGB customization and improve integration across future product lines. PortalX is set to launch soon.