Publisher Archives

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

Revisiting Redfall after its final update reveals the ghost of the game it wanted to be

Redfall, developed by Arkane Austin, was released in May 2023 and faced criticism for its open world, AI, and shooting mechanics. Following its launch, Arkane attempted to address these issues but was ultimately closed by Microsoft a year later. Before its closure, the studio released patch 1.4, which introduced a Community Standing system that allows players to enhance their skills through community tasks. This patch aimed to improve gameplay by encouraging exploration and interaction with the environment, offering rewards like fortified safehouse defenses and new abilities. Despite these improvements, core issues such as unsatisfactory combat and shallow NPC interactions persisted, limiting the game's narrative depth and player engagement.

BetaBeacon

April 9, 2026

Animal Busters: Idle RPG Now Available on iOS and Android

Super Awesome is bringing Animal Busters, an idle RPG game featuring cute animals, monster-bashing, and rewards that accumulate even when not actively playing. The game follows the genre blueprint closely but offers clean art direction and a faster progression system. Animal Busters is free to download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.

AppWizard

April 9, 2026

Valorant gets its biggest VCT shake-up ever, and it could be the best thing to happen to it

Riot Games is restructuring the Valorant Champions Tour for 2027, moving away from the current league format to a more inclusive regional free-for-all system. The new format will feature open qualifiers and regular regional tournaments called 'VCT Cups,' allowing teams of all skill levels to compete for spots in international events. Riot plans to host over 20 tournaments annually across 16 cities, with a prize pool exceeding a million dollars each year. Partnered teams will still have advantages but will operate on a two-year cycle. The changes aim to foster compelling narratives and enhance competitiveness by allowing organization-less teams to emerge. Leo Faria stated that the shift to a tournament-driven system will create a dynamic ecosystem where every match matters and every team has a chance at the global stage.

Winsage

April 7, 2026

Get Microsoft Office Professional Plus for Windows at $17 or Mac for $25 (Up to $229 value)

Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 is available for Windows users at .97 and for Mac users at .97, down from the regular price of 9.99. The suite includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Teams Classic (Mac only), Publisher (Windows only), and Access (Windows only). It is compatible with Windows 10 and 11, and macOS 14 Sonoma, macOS 15 Sequoia, and macOS 26 Tahoe. Users are advised to disable auto-update to avoid prompts for upgrading to the 2021 version. Prices are subject to change.

AppWizard

April 6, 2026

Veteran indie developer scared to reveal new game in case it gets “slurped up by AI”

Lucas Pope is a notable game developer known for creating "Papers, Please" and "The Return of the Obra Dinn." He has since worked on smaller projects, including Mars After Midnight, but has not released anything on Steam recently. During a podcast, Pope expressed concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on game development, particularly regarding idea theft and the potential for his work to be copied or imitated. He feels uneasy discussing ongoing projects due to these risks and reflects on the pressure of following up his previous successes. Despite these worries, Pope's reputation allows him to avoid some challenges faced by less-known developers, and his next project is expected to generate significant interest.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

Ahead of its full remaster, the most relaxing building game ever is yours for free on Steam, but be quick

House Flipper is offering players a chance to download the game for free on Steam as it approaches its eighth anniversary. The player base has exceeded ten million, and a House Flipper Remastered Collection is set to launch later this year. The remastered version will be priced at .99 and will include all downloadable content (DLC). Discounts will be available for players who already own the original game, based on the content in their libraries. Players can claim their free copy until April 6, 2026, and the remastered collection is expected to be released in the second quarter of 2026. A playtest is currently underway until April 6, allowing players to explore two jobs and one purchasable house, with feedback being actively sought by the developer.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

Warframe community director says ‘nothing in our games will be AI-generated, ever’

Digital Extremes, the studio behind Warframe and Soulframe, opposes the use of AI in game development. Community Director Megan Everett stated that the company is "very non-AI" and emphasized that all content in their games will be created by humans. She expressed frustration with AI-generated content, stating that it causes uncertainty about the authenticity of art. Despite skepticism towards AI in the industry, some developers are still using AI, as seen with Arc Raiders, which initially utilized AI voice acting but is now shifting to handcrafted assets. A survey indicated that 90% of developers want clearer AI disclosures on platforms like Steam, while some games have included AI "placeholders" in final releases. This has led to concerns among creators about the influence of AI on their work.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

Subscription service for indie games gets a rough reception

Indie Pass will launch on April 13, offering a subscription model for .99 per month, providing access to a curated selection of 70 indie games primarily from the indie.io catalog. Developers will be compensated based on the playtime of their games by subscribers. The service has received mixed reactions, with concerns about promoting games designed for prolonged engagement, the preference for direct purchases, and the lack of ownership of games. Critics, including George Broussard, argue that subscription models harm developers, while some see potential for discoverability for indie titles. Jess Mitchell from Indie Pass emphasized discoverability as a key incentive for developers. Publisher Devolver Digital humorously commented on the subscription model's viability. As the launch nears, Indie Pass must demonstrate its value to both developers and gamers amidst skepticism and competition in the gaming market.

Winsage

April 4, 2026

Give Your Laptop an Easy Upgrade with This Microsoft Bundle

The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle is available for .97, originally priced at 9. The bundle includes Windows 11 Pro, valued at 9, which features enhanced security, multitasking capabilities, custom desktops, voice typing, and an AI assistant called CoPilot. It also includes Microsoft Office 2021, valued at 9.99, which contains applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. The bundle offers immediate download and lifetime access. Prices on StackSocial may change.

Winsage

April 3, 2026

This $45 bundle gives you Office 2021 + Windows 11 Pro for life

The combination of Microsoft Office 2021 Professional and Windows 11 Pro is available for a one-time payment of .97, reduced from the standard retail price of 9.99. Microsoft Office 2021 Professional includes applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access, and offers a lifetime license. Windows 11 Pro features an intuitive interface, productivity-enhancing tools like Snap layouts and an AI-powered assistant called Copilot, along with security features like BitLocker encryption. This bundle is available until April 12.