productions Archives

AppWizard

July 21, 2026

The best Deus Ex sequel is a 2009 fan-mod set in a living forum where you attack enemies with sporks and foons, and no I am not joking

The Nameless Mod (TNM) is a fan mod for the game Deus Ex, developed over seven years within a forum community. It features a chaotic power struggle among factions such as goat worshippers and llama devotees, with characters using sporks as weapons and quirky phrases like "What the radish?" The mod is considered a strong contender for the best sequel to Deus Ex, alongside Mankind Divided. It was first highlighted in PC Gamer in June 2010 for its adventurous spirit. TNM expands on the original game's elements, offering a unique experience in the gaming landscape of 2026. It is available on ModDB and the Steam Workshop for Deus Ex: Revision.

AppWizard

July 20, 2026

Gears of War’s creator is considering returning to game development, but whatever he makes won’t be PvP like his last efforts: “Good look to anyone in that space.”

Cliff Bleszinski, known for creating the Gears of War franchise, is considering a return to game development after an eight-year break following the closure of his studio, Boss Key Productions, in 2018. During his time away, he wrote an autobiography, produced a Tony Award-winning musical, and addressed his alcoholism, which included a hospitalization earlier this year. He expressed a desire to create characters and worlds again, focusing on player-versus-environment (PvE) experiences rather than PvP multiplayer games. Although he has not disclosed specific projects, he indicated that he is inspired and open to new creative endeavors in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

Cliff Bleszinski says ego played a role in LawBreakers’ failure: ‘People are loyal to the game, but they’re not necessarily loyal to the person’

LawBreakers, released in 2017 by Boss Key Productions, was a commercial failure and was shut down a year later. Cliff Bleszinski, co-founder of Boss Key, attributed some of the game's lack of success to his desire to establish the company as a distinct entity, which led to missed collaborative opportunities, including not working with Rod Fergusson from Gears of War. Bleszinski remains passionate about game development and expresses a desire to create characters and worlds that resonate with players.

AppWizard

July 7, 2026

Microsoft needs to “reset Xbox,” says Asha Sharma, as the company lays off 3,200 employees

Xbox plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 3,200 employees by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2027, with an initial layoff of around 1,600 positions. CEO Asha Sharma expressed concerns about the company's health and announced a transition of four studios to new management. Xbox is facing financial challenges, operating at margins significantly lower than comparable entities, and the expected growth of Game Pass has not occurred. Compulsion Games and Double Fine Productions will return to independent status, retaining ownership of their intellectual properties. Ninja Theory and Undead Labs will also join new ownership structures. Bethesda is refocusing on its major franchises, and there are no cancellations of first-party games due to these reductions. Compulsion Games and Double Fine Productions expressed gratitude for support during this transition.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

PlayerUnknown’s survival game becomes free-to-own and offers Steam refunds ‘without restrictions on playtime or how long ago you bought the game’

Prologue: Go Wayback! has exited early access on Steam, but is considered incomplete with no further development plans. Launched in early access in 2025 by PlayerUnknown Productions, the game faced significant challenges, including staff layoffs, leading to a halt in development. The studio, founded by Brendan Greene, aimed to use the game as a testing ground for its Melba game engine, designed for creating large procedural worlds. A free tech demo, Preface: Undiscovered World, is available in early access. The final version of Prologue includes new features such as enhanced paths, mobile weather monitors, and improvements in cooking, lighting, clouds, and fog.

AppWizard

June 11, 2026

Epic Games Store PC Weekly Free Games 11/06/2026

The Epic Games Store is offering two free games from 4 PM BST on June 11, 2026, until 4 PM BST on June 18, 2026. The first game, The Ouroboros King, combines chess-like strategic gameplay with roguelike elements, allowing players to build armies and explore a world filled with relics. The second game, Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks, is a combat racing game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, featuring fast-paced racing with Ork-themed vehicles and intense multiplayer battles.

AppWizard

June 7, 2026

‘Tactical radio action’ game Burn-9 announced for PC

14 Hours Productions is developing a political spy thriller game titled Burn-9, set to launch for PC on Steam, GOG, and the Humble Store in 2026. Players take on the role of an unseen operator assisting the last survivor of a black-ops team in a chaotic mission. A demo is currently available. The game involves navigating espionage and making pivotal choices based on gathered intelligence while using advanced surveillance systems. Players can disable security measures and extract sensitive information, facing moral complexities and ethical dilemmas throughout the mission.

AppWizard

June 6, 2026

A Minecraft Movie’s sequel will officially be known as Squared

The live-action sequel is officially set to premiere in July 2027.

AppWizard

June 3, 2026

PUBG creator Brendan Greene halts development on “realistic Minecraft” survival game, plans to make it free and is looking into refunds

Brendan Greene has announced that the development of the early-access survival game, Prologue: Go Wayback, is on hold as PlayerUnknown Productions undergoes restructuring. The game, launched in early access last November, is described as a "realistic Minecraft" where players face challenges in procedurally generated landscapes. Greene plans to make the game free for future players and is exploring refund options for those who purchased it. A statement on the game's Steam page indicates hope for a future return, although Early Access plans cannot be fulfilled at this time. The development team is working on an update to enhance exploration with new items and pathways. Prologue: Go Wayback has received a Mostly Positive rating on Steam, with 70% of players giving favorable reviews.

AppWizard

June 3, 2026

Over 116,000 Mincraft systems infected in WeedHack malware campaign

A malware operation called WeedHack has targeted Minecraft players since January, compromising over 116,000 systems with daily infections between 2,000 and 3,000. It primarily distributes malware through malicious mods, clients, cheats, and utilities promoted on YouTube, utilizing SEO poisoning to reach victims. The campaign features polished YouTube videos with embedded download links and targets keywords related to popular Minecraft clients. WeedHack operates as a malware-as-a-service (MaaS) model, offering a free tier that steals Minecraft session IDs, cookies, and passwords across various platforms, and a premium tier with enhanced capabilities. The operation's Telegram channel has over 800 members, mostly teenagers or young adults. Minecraft players are advised to trust only official sources for mods and verify download links to protect against these threats.