QA Archives

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

In the nick of time, Helldivers 2 rolls out a “slim version” shrinking file sizes by a whopping 85% on PC: “It’s a low-risk way to save ~131GB of space on your drive”

Arrowhead Game Studios has reduced the file size of Helldivers 2 for PC by 85%, from 154GB to approximately 23GB. A public technical beta is currently underway, allowing select users to experience the new file size and provide feedback. Players can still matchmake with others and opt-out of the beta at any time. If successful, the slim version will become the standard, with plans to phase out the legacy version next year. The latest patch also includes balance changes and bug fixes, though some players are disappointed by the removal of the feature that allowed "Factory Striders" to be launched erratically.

BetaBeacon

November 26, 2025

A Complete Guide to Working With an Android and NFT Game Development Partner – That is where the collaboration with an experienced Android Game Development Company or a pioneering NFT Game Development Company will become the game-changer. by SM

The success of a project can depend on the availability of a team with the required special knowledge in Android and NFT game development.

AppWizard

November 24, 2025

This week in PC games: warriors, painters, roguelikes, sailors, shotguns, subs and metroidvanias

The gaming industry is currently experiencing a wave of creativity and innovation, with a potential revival of third-person cover shooters on the horizon. Several new PC games are being highlighted: 1. Nientum - Op.ZERO (early access): A 2D platforming and rhythm-action game featuring amnesiac anime girls restoring a creepy theatre. 2. Constance: A 2D metroidvania where players control a painter navigating worlds influenced by mental health struggles. 3. Primal Fray: A turn-based, creature-collecting strategy roguelike set on floating hexagonal islands. 4. A.I.L.A: A narrative-driven game where players act as a game tester against a malicious AI level designer. 5. Captain Wayne - Vacation Desperation: A cartoon FPS featuring a sailor on a mission to challenge wealth. 6. Red Rogue Sea: A turn-based combat and deck-building game with a pirate theme. 7. Holder Of Place: An autobattling roguelite deckbuilder confronting a dragon that has cast the world into eternal night. 8. Kings Of Hell (early access): A nostalgic beat 'em up set in a chaotic world with upwardly mobile demons. 9. Veterum: A turn-based fantasy strategy game focused on battlefield manipulation. 10. Death In Abyss: A 3D underwater combat game where players battle massive leviathans. 11. Ayasa: Shadows Of Silence: A platforming adventure through six themed worlds. The gaming landscape remains unpredictable, with these titles adding to the excitement and anticipation for the future of the industry.

Winsage

November 22, 2025

Nvidia confirms October Windows updates cause gaming issues

Nvidia has acknowledged that recent security updates have caused gaming performance challenges for users on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. To address these issues, Nvidia released the GeForce Hotfix Display Driver version 581.94. This hotfix driver is a beta version and has not undergone the standard quality assurance procedures, allowing for quicker deployment. Users may experience diminished performance in certain games after installing the Windows 11 October 2025 update, specifically KB5066835. The hotfix drivers are optional and have been expedited to provide timely solutions. Users can access the driver for both Windows 10 x64 and Windows 11 x64 systems via Nvidia's Customer Care support site. Additionally, Microsoft has addressed various bugs in recent Windows updates, including issues with localhost HTTP connections, smart card authentication, and the Windows Recovery Environment.

BetaBeacon

November 13, 2025

Valve cracks the door on Steam to Android games

Valve's Steam has 35+ million concurrent users, making it the largest PC gaming storefront in terms of active engagement. Android games will run natively on Valve's new Steam Frame, which runs on an Arm-based Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform. Developers can reuse their existing toolchain when bringing Android games to Steam, but will need to integrate Steamworks features. Valve's broader Arm ambitions include paving the way for SteamOS to be more broadly supported across Arm devices. By embracing Android games, Valve is breaking down platform walls to benefit developers and players, potentially making it one of Steam's most important platform expansions in years.

AppWizard

November 3, 2025

Riot admits its League of Legends TCG Riftbound might have short-changed you on rare cards

The author's enthusiasm for League of Legends has decreased recently, particularly due to the overwhelming pursuit of ranked success and the lack of cinema watch parties for the Worlds tournament in Scotland. However, the introduction of Riftbound, a new physical card game by Riot, has rekindled their interest. The game captures the essence of League of Legends champions, as emphasized by its design manager. There have been concerns regarding rarity distribution in booster packs, with some players receiving fewer rare cards than expected. On October 29, game director Dave Guskin acknowledged these issues and stated that Riot is investigating potential collation problems. He reassured players that overall rarity distribution at the booster box level is functioning as intended and promised to address the concerns. Players experiencing issues are encouraged to report them with specific details. The launch of Riftbound has generally gone smoothly, despite some complaints about regional pricing and pack availability.

AppWizard

October 29, 2025

Ambitious new Crusader Kings 3 expansion All Under Heaven is a win for Paradox, right when it needed it most

Paradox has released a new DLC for Crusader Kings 3 titled All Under Heaven, which expands the game by approximately 30 to 40%, introducing new playable land and characters. The DLC allows players to control Japan and interact with China's Celestial Government and other Southeast Asian nations, featuring a new mandala government system that emphasizes tributary relationships. Early feedback has been positive, with 85% of reviews praising the expansion. The accompanying patch 1.18, known as the Crane update, introduces new gameplay features, including hegemonies, natural disasters, and a religious exiles system. The expansion adds 2,721 new baronies, 41 cultures, 30 faiths, and over 20,000 historical figures. All Under Heaven and the Crane update are available on Steam, with the DLC priced at .99 and the base game on a 70% discount until November 6.

AppWizard

October 26, 2025

Path of Exile 3.27 tests the waters on sequel mechanics, but its director tells us he wants to avoid “cutting corners”

Path of Exile 3.27 introduces the seasonal league "Keepers of the Flame," marking the first time Grinding Gear Games has revisited the Breach system from 2016. The league focuses on character attachments evolving into grafts and features a Genesis Tree for item production, with a darker aesthetic. The design aims to balance traditional ARPG combat with innovative concepts while maintaining the simplicity of the Breach system. The development team is also working on two games simultaneously, sharing some elements like the new asynchronous trade system. Path of Exile 3.27 will temporarily remove mercenaries but will bring them back with modifications. New features include bloodlines as secondary ascendancies, quality-of-life improvements, and enhancements like mass identify and quick-swapping orbs. The league launches on October 31 and is available for free on Steam and GGG's standalone launcher.

AppWizard

October 16, 2025

Total War Warhammer 3’s frustrating bug streak continues as players get locked out of DLC units

Total War Warhammer 3 has released patch 6.3.2, which fixed AI recruitment issues but inadvertently made certain downloadable content (DLC) units inaccessible to players without earlier titles in the series. Players are receiving messages stating "additional content required" for previously free units. Developer Creative Assembly has stated that this change was unintentional and is working on a fix. Community feedback indicates frustration with frequent bugs, and concerns have been raised about the lack of beta testing before updates.

AppWizard

October 9, 2025

The creator of this forgotten, Valve-funded FPS with Half-Life ties couldn’t “wait to get out of the room” with Gabe Newell

Gunman Chronicles, released in 2000 and built on the Half-Life engine, was published by Sierra Studios but has never been available on any official PC storefronts, including Steam. The project lead, Herbert Flower, revealed that the development team, composed of modders from various countries, faced financial constraints that led them to seek assistance from Valve. Valve invited the team to its Seattle headquarters, where they worked for about two and a half months and received a funding boost. Despite the collaboration, Flower's relationship with Gabe Newell was strained, and the team ultimately received only 11% of the game's earnings after Sierra's cut. The game's launch was described as "anticlimactic," and Flower speculated that disputes over rights following Sierra's merger with Vivendi might explain the game's absence from Steam. Despite solid sales, the game received mixed reviews, with some critics noting its similarities to Half-Life.