Pride Archives

AppWizard

October 2, 2026

Riot’s absurd expectations of player counts ‘in the high hundreds of thousands, if not millions’ doomed 2XKO from the start

Marc Merrill discussed the development challenges of the game 2XKO, which faced difficulties in attracting a sufficient user base to support its live service model after eight years of work. The game required a monthly active user count in the high hundreds of thousands to justify its ongoing operation. The decision to shift 2XKO to a "box game" model resulted in layoffs and reflected broader industry challenges. The podcast highlighted that even with 400,000 daily players, sustaining a monthly unique player count near one million would be difficult. Merrill indicated that 2XKO would likely struggle to exceed 500,000 monthly active users, raising questions about Riot Games' market assessment and the developers' effectiveness.

Tech Optimizer

October 2, 2026

AhnLab V3 Scores Perfect 18 in Global Antivirus Test

AhnLab’s V3 security software achieved a perfect score of 18 points in AV-TEST’s evaluation for antivirus software targeting the Windows operating system, conducted for July-August 2026. The evaluated products were V3 Endpoint Security and V3 Internet Security. AV-TEST assesses security products based on protection, performance, and usability, with each category scoring up to 6 points. AhnLab has participated in AV-TEST’s evaluations since 2013 and competes with major security companies like Microsoft, Kaspersky, and Bitdefender.

AppWizard

September 28, 2026

Latest Xbox layoffs reportedly devastated Age of Empires developer and canceled its next game

World's Edge Studio, responsible for the Age of Empires franchise, underwent significant changes due to a recent restructuring within Xbox, resulting in nearly half of the studio's workforce being laid off, including former creative director Adam Isgreen. The reorganization led to the cancellation of their next project and a substantial reduction in staff. Isgreen expressed pride in the work accomplished during his tenure and highlighted the emotional toll of the layoffs. The situation raises concerns about Xbox's approach to its gaming divisions and reflects a broader pattern of restructuring within Microsoft.

AppWizard

September 8, 2026

GTA 6’s Criminal Profile system sounds pretty interesting, isn’t a direct copy of Red Dead’s Honor system

Grand Theft Auto 6 features a detailed environment where player choices significantly impact the narrative. Unlike previous games, it offers immersive gameplay with various actions reflecting players' moral decisions. Recent leaks reveal chaotic behaviors, such as violent outbursts and confrontations with NPCs, emphasizing player freedom in Vice City. Rockstar Games is not implementing punitive measures for player behavior but instead introduces a 'Criminal Profiles' system categorizing behavior into four states: Professional, Aggressive, Violent, and Psycho, with a fifth state called 'shattered' for disengaged players. Players can disable Criminal Profile notifications for a tailored experience. Protagonists Jason and Lucia can display different Criminal Profile states, influencing their interactions. Maintaining a 'Professional' state requires restraint, encouraging reflection on actions and consequences. Player actions are expected to impact narrative outcomes, with comments from Rob Nelson highlighting the interconnected systems of the game. Players will navigate choices that affect their experience, balancing chaos with a more measured approach.

AppWizard

August 20, 2026

Epic Games Store PC Weekly Free Games 20/08/2026

The Epic Games Store is offering two free titles, Cardpocalypse and the Epic Mage Bundle, from 4 PM BST on August 20, 2026, until 4 PM BST on August 27, 2026. Cardpocalypse, developed by Gambrinous and published by Versus Evil, follows a 10-year-old girl named Jess who causes a collectible card game to be banned at her school. The Epic Mage Bundle, developed and published by Sandbox Interactive GmbH, includes various cosmetic items and rewards for players in Albion, such as a complete Mage Wardrobe, Armored Horse Mount Skin, Spellbook Weapon Skin, and additional tokens and potions to enhance gameplay. Players must have the base game to access the bundle's features.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

Walking for Rochester launches free mobile app to report and track litter

A nonprofit organization in Rochester, Walking for Rochester, has launched a mobile application to help residents report and track litter in the city. The app allows users to report litter from their smartphones and document their cleanup efforts, aiming to engage citizens in maintaining a cleaner community. Since its founding in 2020, the organization has collected over 17,000 pounds of litter. The app is available for free on Apple and Android devices.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Marketplace Content August 2026

The Uncrafter+ 2.1 Add-on from Dalibu Studios allows users to deconstruct crafted blocks back into their original components. More Blocks 3.0 from RareLoot introduces over 80 new blocks and more than 1,000 texture variations. The Auto Factory by Team Metallurgy provides automation tools like conveyor belts, funnels, and magnets for material gathering and crafting. The Blocks Update by Radium Studio includes 5,000 new blocks and furniture, compatible with various resource packs. The Auto Farming Add-on by Block Perfect Studios enables users to cultivate crops in glass containers for auto-harvesting. Food Expansion by Mine-North adds dozens of new dishes, fresh crops, and farming vehicles.

AppWizard

August 2, 2026

Fighting AI, one block at a time: Trenton resident recreating Pictou County in Minecraft

Logan Smith, an 18-year-old from Trenton, has been recreating iconic sites from Pictou County in Minecraft since July 18. He has already recreated several locations, including the Express Yourself Cafe, Domino’s, and Tim Horton’s. Smith shares his work on Facebook, receiving positive feedback and requests from the community. He plans to continue his project until he exhausts his passion or completes all known spots in the county, with upcoming projects including Trenton Town Hall and Sparkles Arcade/Appleseed Modern Diner. Smith uses Google Maps for reference, and his most challenging creation has been the Trenton Tim Horton’s, which required a visit for reference images. He aims to highlight familiar locations that evoke a sense of belonging rather than create an accurate map of Pictou County. Smith hopes his project will inspire others to embrace creativity in an age dominated by artificial intelligence.

AppWizard

July 28, 2026

Cyan releases teaser for the first new Myst game in 20 years, then breaks the news that it’s not actually being made

Cyan Worlds, the developer of the iconic game Myst, laid off approximately half of its workforce in 2025 due to financial struggles. In the same year, they developed a prototype for a new Myst game, codenamed Project Anglerfish, but the project is not currently in development due to a lack of interest from publishers. A teaser for the game was released, generating mixed reactions from fans who expressed disappointment over its cancellation while also showing a strong desire for a continuation of the Myst legacy. Despite the challenges in the current gaming landscape, there remains a dedicated audience for a new Myst experience, and Cyan has previously found success with crowdfunding for other projects.

AppWizard

July 28, 2026

Epic taps Blizzard’s Battle.net lead to fix the Epic Games Store as Steam dominates

Epic Games has appointed Martin Keely as the new Vice President and General Manager of the Epic Games Store, succeeding Steve Allison, who left the company in July. Keely previously worked as Senior Vice President overseeing the Battle.net launcher at Blizzard for seven years. His appointment aims to strengthen Epic's competitive position against Valve's Steam in the PC gaming market. Keely expressed enthusiasm for his new role and the opportunity to enhance player, creator, and developer experiences. Epic's CEO, Tim Sweeney, has acknowledged the challenges the company faces in gaining market share against Steam.