PvE Archives

AppWizard

March 26, 2026

Extraction shooter Sand delayed from March as Ukrainian developer cites ‘a difficult few months’ with ‘severe power outages and air alert disruptions’

Hologryph announced that their game, Sand: Raiders of Sophie, will not be released in March due to ongoing challenges in Ukraine, such as power outages and air alerts. The developers are focused on refining key features, including enhancements to PvE mobs, server physics and performance, anti-cheat measures, and expanding the weapon arsenal. They plan to use the additional development time to incorporate feedback from playtests. A new release date has not been set, but the team will provide another update soon, including details about a community engagement event.

AppWizard

March 16, 2026

Marathon review in progress – exquisite gunplay and striking aesthetics cover up some frustrating cracks

Three bags of loot are accompanied by the bio-synthetic remains of their former owners, with pools of blue blood marking the ground. The narrator has transitioned from collaborating with players in Arc Raiders to a more competitive spirit in Marathon. The game features a striking user interface and vibrant aesthetics, but some aspects, like item transitions and menu designs, can be clunky and confusing. The map layouts have engaging points of interest but also feature obstructive barriers. The gunplay is praised for its quality, with balanced gameplay and challenging PvE enemies. PvP encounters have a quick time-to-kill, and environmental dangers add intensity. However, faction quests often rely on repetitive tasks, which can be frustrating despite the compelling narrative elements. The narrator expresses surprise at their engagement with the game and suggests that improvements to the user experience and quest diversity could enhance its longevity.

AppWizard

March 16, 2026

The best extraction shooters on PC or: how I learned there are other games like Arc Raiders

Extraction shooters are experiencing a renaissance with a growing selection of titles catering to various playstyles. These games revolve around the concept of "extraction," requiring players to safely leave a mission area with collected loot, risking loss upon death. Arc Raiders is a third-person extraction shooter available on Steam and Epic, where players combat massive flying robots and navigate potential teammate betrayal while scavenging for gear. It features aggressive matchmaking and offers both PvE and PvP experiences, with optional seasonal gear wipes. Marathon, a first-person extraction shooter from Bungie, includes unique character classes with distinct abilities and fast-paced rounds. Players can quickly accumulate gear and have unlimited free loadouts, with a narrative enriched by colorful quest-givers. Escape from Duckov is a top-down extraction shooter where players control ducks on quests, offering easy mechanics, exploration, base building, and gear upgrades, making it suitable for newcomers. Hunt: Showdown is set in the Louisiana bayou, emphasizing stealth and strategic gameplay as players hunt bosses and contend with rival hunters, featuring a long-term progression system. Witchfire blends single-player gameplay with fast-paced action and inventive weapons, maintaining an engaging loop of resource gathering and upgrading, currently in Early Access. The Forever Winter is a third-person shooter set in an apocalyptic world, focusing on survival amidst towering mechs and tanks, still in Early Access with some performance challenges. The extraction shooter genre is diversifying, offering experiences for both casual gamers and seasoned veterans.

AppWizard

February 24, 2026

That Overwatch mobile game is real, and it’s yet another win for Blizzard’s hero shooter

Overwatch has seen a significant increase in player count, rising from around 37,000 concurrent players to a peak of 165,651. Blizzard is introducing a new hero each season and making ongoing map reworks and additions. The upcoming Overwatch Rush will transform the game into a top-down mobile format, distinguishing itself with a MOBA-like gameplay style. The reveal trailer shows fan-favorite characters, but details on game modes are limited. Blizzard has confirmed that Overwatch Rush is being developed by a separate team to ensure Team 4 remains focused on the PC and console version. There is currently no specific release date for Overwatch Rush, but playtesting is planned in select regions. Players can join a new Discord server for updates.

AppWizard

February 24, 2026

Steam Next Fest is back and you’ve once again got just 7 days to find your favorite demos among hundreds of choices

The Steam Next Fest is currently taking place, offering a week-long celebration of game demos. It features a wide variety of upcoming titles, including: - Prime Monster: A card-based political roguelike where political leaders are depicted as monsters. - All Will Rise: A narrative deck-builder focused on seeking justice for a slain god. - Vampire Crawlers: A card-based dungeon crawler from the creator of Vampire Survivors. - The Last Gas Station: A game where players control a red panda running a gas station in an electric vehicle-dominated world. - Windrose: An open-world PvE pirate survival game with "soulslite combat" and sea shanties. - Tap Tap Loot: An action-packed game featuring a character reminiscent of Bongo Cat. - Phonopolis: An adventure game from Amanita Design. - Titanium Court: Highlighted as the "first must-play demo" of the event. The Steam Next Fest runs until March 2.

AppWizard

February 13, 2026

Marathon console players can turn off PC matchmaking if they want, but Bungie made a point to give everyone the same gameplay experience

Bungie's new title, Marathon, will launch on March 5, marking the company's first release outside the Destiny universe in over a decade. Players will have the option to disable cross-platform matchmaking, allowing PS5 and Xbox Series X/S users to avoid competing against PC players. Marathon will feature a mix of PvP, PvE, and PvPvE gameplay elements, but will not use matchmaking strategies from other titles like Arc Raiders. A server slam is scheduled for February 26 to preview the game. Sony has received positive feedback from playtests, which has informed adjustments to improve the game before its release.

AppWizard

February 13, 2026

Promising good old fashioned co-op FPS action, Half-Life remake dev’s Rogue Point has finally hit early access

Rogue Point is a co-op, PvE FPS game developed by the creators of the Black Mesa Half-Life remake, recently launched in Steam Early Access. Players form squads of up to four resistance fighters against mercenaries hired by wealthy backers. Missions include objectives like eliminating targets, gathering intelligence, and rescuing hostages, with success yielding cash rewards for loadout improvements. The game features a Dead Drop mechanic for acquiring new gear without real-money transactions. Gameplay emphasizes tactical realism and strategic movement, with elements reminiscent of games like Ready or Not and Rainbow Six Siege, while also incorporating chaotic enemy types. Rogue Point is currently priced at .99 / £14.44, with a 20% discount for its first two weeks.

AppWizard

January 19, 2026

Arc Raiders’ huge success gives Embark the “opportunity to do bigger things” and cook up a more “ambitious” roadmap

12.4 million copies of Arc Raiders have been sold. The success has provided Embark Studios with new resources and opportunities to expand and enhance the game. The studio is reevaluating its roadmap to cater to a diverse player base, including casual PvE players and competitive PvP players. Plans for multiple map updates throughout the year are in place, which may include revamps of existing areas and new maps. There is interest in enhancing the trading system, particularly the NPC trading system. The possibility of transforming the underground colony of Speranza into a more interactive hub has been discussed. Future developments may introduce new circumstances and threats to deepen gameplay and player interaction.

AppWizard

January 15, 2026

Marathon fully unveils all seven of its Runners, and I’ll take the one with the grappling hook and loot-stealing drone, please

The author initially lost interest in Marathon due to its challenges and competition from Arc Raiders, but recent updates, including enhanced visuals and the introduction of Runner Shells, have rekindled their enthusiasm. The Runner Shells are highly customizable, offering more flexibility than traditional hero selections in other games. Various Runner Shells, such as Destroyer, Assassin, Recon, Vandal, Triage, and Thief, have unique abilities inspired by Destiny, with Thief particularly appealing for its loot-gathering capabilities. The author expresses optimism about Marathon's potential and intends to engage with the game at launch.

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

Ubisoft says The Division 3 is “a monster” and believes it can have “as big an impact” as the first game

Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment are developing a third installment in The Division series, referred to as The Division 3, which executive producer Julian Gerighty describes as "shaping up to be a monster." The Division 2 continues to offer a rich looter-shooter experience with extensive PvE content and PvP Dark Zones. An upcoming expansion for The Division 2, titled Survivors, will reintroduce the extraction experience with a new twist, although a release date is not confirmed. Gerighty has indicated that The Division 3 will maintain the series' core elements, including online co-op gameplay and RPG mechanics. The franchise's tenth anniversary next year may provide an opportunity for early reveals of both The Division 3 and the Survivors DLC. An exclusive preview event for community members is scheduled for February at Massive HQ in Sweden. Further insights into The Division franchise are expected in 2026.