Pride Archives

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Hytale cancelled as Hypixel Studios winds down

Hypixel Studios has announced the cancellation of its sandbox title, Hytale, due to challenges in meeting evolving expectations and technical demands. CEO Aaron "Noxy" Donaghey stated that despite efforts to salvage the project, compromises would have undermined its uniqueness. The cancellation does not affect the Hypixel server on Minecraft, which will continue its regular activities. Hypixel Studios, part of Riot Games since 2020, is now moving forward without Hytale while valuing its creative legacy.

AppWizard

June 12, 2025

Streaming platform Noice is closing down

Finnish live-streaming platform Noice is set to close, as announced by CEO Tuomas Rinta in a LinkedIn post. The decision follows difficulties in attracting additional investment despite a successful fundraising effort in 2023. Rinta noted that the team had been aware of the challenging fundraising environment and had hoped for a better outcome. He acknowledged the emotional impact of the closure on employees and expressed a desire for them to eventually take pride in their accomplishments.

AppWizard

June 12, 2025

Minecraft Pride Month Build Features Rainbow Ship; Check Details

A player known as u/WulfyTime constructed a wooden ship in Minecraft adorned with rainbow sails and pride flags to celebrate Pride Month. The ship serves as a symbol of inclusion and creativity within the game. WulfyTime shared their creation in the r/Minecraft Builds community, receiving positive feedback from other users who admired the attention to detail and the immersive experience of the build. The ship exemplifies the diverse and imaginative projects that players undertake in Minecraft, highlighting the game's role as a platform for creative expression.

AppWizard

June 12, 2025

Queens high school students take top prize in NYC Minecraft Battle of the Boroughs

A team of students from World Journalism Preparatory in Queens, named ‘Diamond Sword Bustamoney,’ won the inaugural NYC Video Games Festival in the high school division of the Minecraft Education “Battle of the Boroughs” competition. Their victory followed a three-stage tournament that included preliminary digital submissions, borough-level championships, and a final showdown on May 31. This is the first time a Queens school has won the title since the competition began in 2021. The event was organized by the New York City Department of Education in collaboration with Microsoft and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, originally conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team defeated the defending champions from Staten Island’s Tottenville High School. The winning team consists of five 11th-grade students.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

Minecraft fan wins Latitude festival poetry competition for kids

A seven-year-old boy named Myles from Wymondham, Norfolk, won a poetry competition for children with his poem titled "A Friend Like Steve." He will perform it at the Latitude festival on July 24. The competition was organized in collaboration with the BBC and was open to children aged seven to eleven from Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire. Myles' poem was praised by judge Luke Wright for its subject matter related to Minecraft. Two runners-up, eleven-year-olds Zara and Eleanor, were also selected to read their works at the festival. The competition aimed to showcase the creativity of young people, with a focus on the theme of friendship. The Latitude Festival will take place from July 24 to 27, 2025, featuring headliners like Sting and Snow Patrol.

AppWizard

June 8, 2025

Humble Choice Explained: How The Xbox Game Pass PC Alternative Works

Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass offers subscribers access to a wide array of games for a monthly fee, but access is revoked if the subscription lapses. In contrast, Humble Choice allows subscribers to keep the games they acquire, regardless of subscription status, and supports charitable causes. Humble Choice charges a monthly fee or an annual subscription fee and provides a selection of games each month, which are owned indefinitely by the subscriber. The service is more focused on indie titles and offers discounts on games in the Humble Store. It is particularly suited for gamers who enjoy indie games and those with older gaming PCs.

AppWizard

June 6, 2025

Tencent now owns 16% of Helldivers maker Arrowhead

Tencent has acquired a 15.75 percent stake in Arrowhead Games, valuing the studio at SEK 5.1 billion (approximately .8 million). The founders of Arrowhead Games retain 84.24 percent ownership. Arrowhead reported a turnover of SEK 959 million ([openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Chinese tech and entertainment titan Tencent has made a significant move in the gaming industry by acquiring a 15.75 percent stake in Arrowhead Games, the developer behind the popular title Helldivers 2. According to Swedish media outlet DI, Tencent's investment amounts to million, which places a valuation of SEK 5.1 billion (approximately 2.8 million) on Arrowhead. The founders of Arrowhead Games—Johan Pilestedt, Emil Englund, Malin Hedstrom, Peter Lindgren, and Anton Stenmark—retain the remaining 84.24 percent ownership of the studio. This strategic partnership not only underscores Tencent's growing influence in the gaming sector but also highlights Arrowhead's impressive financial performance, with a reported turnover of SEK 959 million (0.2 million) and a profit of SEK 729 million (.2 million). Success of Helldivers 2 Arrowhead's latest release, Helldivers 2, launched at the beginning of 2024, has garnered substantial acclaim, dominating the Steam charts for four consecutive weeks. Johan Pilestedt, the studio's chief creative officer and former CEO, expressed his pride in the team's accomplishments, stating, "It's fantastic fun, and I feel incredibly proud of what the team has managed to achieve. Above all, it's proof that what we do resonates with the player base." In discussing the implications of the Tencent partnership, Pilestedt remarked, "It also opens up opportunities for China as a market. Gaining access to the Chinese player base is the holy grail in the gaming industry." This sentiment reflects a broader trend in the gaming landscape, where access to the vast Chinese market is increasingly seen as a pivotal factor for success. In a notable leadership transition, Arrowhead promoted Shams Jorjani to the role of CEO in May 2024, signaling a new chapter for the studio as it navigates its growth trajectory in collaboration with Tencent." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].2 million) and a profit of SEK 729 million ([openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Chinese tech and entertainment titan Tencent has made a significant move in the gaming industry by acquiring a 15.75 percent stake in Arrowhead Games, the developer behind the popular title Helldivers 2. According to Swedish media outlet DI, Tencent's investment amounts to million, which places a valuation of SEK 5.1 billion (approximately 2.8 million) on Arrowhead. The founders of Arrowhead Games—Johan Pilestedt, Emil Englund, Malin Hedstrom, Peter Lindgren, and Anton Stenmark—retain the remaining 84.24 percent ownership of the studio. This strategic partnership not only underscores Tencent's growing influence in the gaming sector but also highlights Arrowhead's impressive financial performance, with a reported turnover of SEK 959 million (0.2 million) and a profit of SEK 729 million (.2 million). Success of Helldivers 2 Arrowhead's latest release, Helldivers 2, launched at the beginning of 2024, has garnered substantial acclaim, dominating the Steam charts for four consecutive weeks. Johan Pilestedt, the studio's chief creative officer and former CEO, expressed his pride in the team's accomplishments, stating, "It's fantastic fun, and I feel incredibly proud of what the team has managed to achieve. Above all, it's proof that what we do resonates with the player base." In discussing the implications of the Tencent partnership, Pilestedt remarked, "It also opens up opportunities for China as a market. Gaining access to the Chinese player base is the holy grail in the gaming industry." This sentiment reflects a broader trend in the gaming landscape, where access to the vast Chinese market is increasingly seen as a pivotal factor for success. In a notable leadership transition, Arrowhead promoted Shams Jorjani to the role of CEO in May 2024, signaling a new chapter for the studio as it navigates its growth trajectory in collaboration with Tencent." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].2 million). Helldivers 2, released in early 2024, has topped the Steam charts for four weeks. Shams Jorjani was promoted to CEO of Arrowhead in May 2024.

AppWizard

June 5, 2025

Build a Rocket Boy loses two c-suite execs ahead of MindsEye launch

Two senior executives at Build a Rocket Boy, Riley Graebner (chief legal officer) and Paul Bland (chief financial officer), have announced their departures ahead of the launch of the game MindsEye. Graebner, who served for three and a half years, noted the company's growth to over 450 employees and the successful launch of multiple products. Bland left after a two-year tenure. Co-CEO Mark Gerhard suggested that negative sentiment towards MindsEye may be influenced by external forces, although he did not provide evidence for this claim.

AppWizard

June 5, 2025

XDefiant exec producer Rubin departs Ubisoft

Mark Rubin, the executive producer of Ubisoft's XDefiant, has left the company, and the game is set to be discontinued. Rubin cited inadequate marketing and technical issues with the Snowdrop engine as challenges for the project. The entire team behind XDefiant was let go at the end of the previous year, with many members seeking new opportunities. Rubin is stepping away from the gaming industry to spend time with his family. In December 2024, Ubisoft announced the closure of XDefiant, leading to the layoff of approximately 300 employees.

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

Weekend PC Download Deals for May 30: Steam Zombies vs. Vampires Fest

Steam has launched its Zombies vs. Vampires Fest, featuring popular titles from both genres, including DayZ and Vampire Survivors. Other sales on Steam include the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase and the Cozy & Family-Friendly Games Celebration, along with discounts on titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Diablo 4, and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. A limited-time sale on Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is also available. The Epic Games Store is concluding its MEGA Sale, while Humble Bundle is starting a new bundle for Pride Month. Gamebillet is offering the lowest price on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Ubisoft has reduced prices on Tom Clancy's The Division 2. Fanatical is offering customizable bundles, and various other platforms like Gamersgate, GamesPlanet, GOG.com, and Green Man Gaming are providing deals and discounts. Humble Bundle offers a subscription service for .99 monthly with a lineup of games.