reception Archives

TrendTechie

February 22, 2025

5 отличных игр, в которые вы не сможете сыграть. Почему они исчезли даже с торрентов

1. **Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game** was removed from digital storefronts in 2014 due to copyright issues and remained inaccessible until a re-release was announced by Ubisoft in 2020. 2. **P.T.**, an interactive teaser for Silent Hill, was removed from the PlayStation Network after its cancellation by Konami, making it unplayable for those who had downloaded it, with access only for those who had not deleted it. 3. **Tekken Revolution**, a free-to-play game released in 2013, had its servers shut down in 2016, rendering it unplayable. 4. **Battlefield Heroes** was closed down after becoming inundated with pay-to-win elements, despite attempts by fans to create private servers. 5. **Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII**, released in 2004 for Japanese mobile phones, was shut down in 2018, and Square Enix stated that the original code has been lost, making it a complete loss.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

XCOM’s creator wants to know where XCOM 3 is just as badly as you do: ‘I’m sure there’s an audience for it’

XCOM 2 was released nearly a decade ago, and anticipation for a sequel, XCOM 3, has grown, but its release remains uncertain. Julian Gollop, the creator of the original XCOM, acknowledges that strategy games are still a niche market, which poses challenges for new titles like XCOM 3. He notes the mixed reception of Civilization VII as an example of how established franchises can struggle. Gollop highlights innovation in the indie game scene with titles like Factorio, Tactical Breach Wizards, and The Last Spell. Other games, such as Jagged Alliance 3 and Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader, incorporate elements reminiscent of XCOM, reflecting its tactical depth and strategic gameplay. The future of XCOM 3 remains uncertain as the strategy gaming landscape evolves.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

Relic’s new project is a ‘smaller indie-style’ game about a martian invasion of Earth

Relic Entertainment is developing a new real-time strategy game titled Earth vs Mars under its Relic Labs label, moving away from its larger franchises like Company of Heroes and Dawn of War. The game features a narrative where Martians invade Earth using flying saucers and hover-tanks, and introduces a technology called "Splice-O-Tron" that merges volunteers with animals to create supersoldiers. Notable units include the "cheetah-fly" and "squirrel-cow infantry." The studio has undergone significant changes, including layoffs of over 150 employees and a transition in ownership to Emona Capital LLC in March 2024. Earth vs Mars is expected to launch this summer exclusively for PC, with possible plans for other platforms depending on its reception.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Relic Entertainment announces turn-based strategy game Earth vs Mars for PC

Relic Entertainment has announced a new turn-based strategy game titled Earth vs Mars, set for release in summer 2025 on PC via Steam. The game features a narrative where Martians abduct Earth's inhabitants and aim to conquer the planet. Players will lead a group of commanders in battles against Martian forces using unique mechanics like the "Splice-O-Tron," which allows the creation of hybrid supersoldiers. Key features include a single-player campaign with over 30 missions, online multiplayer, a VS mode against AI, a map editor, unique unit abilities, and multiple commanders with distinct abilities. The game will initially launch on Steam, with potential future platform expansions. Pricing and language support details are yet to be finalized, and compatibility with Steam Deck is not planned at launch. Regular updates will be provided leading up to the release.

Winsage

February 18, 2025

Microsoft just put this controversial Notepad feature behind a paywall

Microsoft's Notepad has received updates, including a new character count feature, while maintaining its core functionality as a free application that does not require an account for standard use. Users are prompted to sign in to a Microsoft account only if they wish to access the AI-powered Rewrite feature, which requires a paid Microsoft 365 subscription. The introduction of premium functionalities suggests a shift towards a "freemium" model, allowing basic use without payment, while advanced features necessitate a subscription.

TrendTechie

February 18, 2025

Фильм «Муфаса: Король Лев» вышел в онлайн-кинотеатрах и попал на торренты

The digital premiere of "Mufasa: The Lion King" occurred on February 18, following a two-month theatrical run that grossed 7 million at the box office. The film is centered around Mufasa's early years and includes characters like Scar, Rafiki, Zazu, and Sarabi, narrated from the perspective of Kiara, Simba's daughter. It has a 57% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 6.7 on IMDb, with mixed reviews from viewers. The film has also appeared on torrent sites in high quality and dubbed in Russian.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Report: Funko Fusion dev 10:10 cutting staff

UK-based developer 10:10 Games has laid off 19 employees following the poor reception of its first title, Funko Fusion, which was deemed a "complete commercial and critical failure." The layoffs were attributed to the "needs of the next project" and did not affect senior or upper management. Severance packages for those laid off were slightly above the legal minimum, leading to concerns about support for affected staff. Employees expressed dissatisfaction with management's handling of the layoffs, noting that feedback was not considered. 10:10 Games was founded in 2021 by veterans from TT Games.

AppWizard

February 15, 2025

Just two weeks after launch, ‘extraction survival horror’ game Level Zero: Extraction ends development: ‘It’s no longer feasible for our relatively small teams to sustain the game’

Level Zero: Extraction, a multiplayer extraction survival horror game, has been deemed unsustainable just two weeks after its launch on Steam due to underperformance. The game's player count peaked at over 2,600 concurrent players but fell below 100 by mid-October, and shortly after its official release in January 2025, it peaked at only 98 players and currently has around 20. The development team has confirmed that no new content will be added, although servers will remain operational with monthly wipes. The final patch was released on January 30, 2025. The developer, DogHowl, is shifting focus to a new co-op multiplayer project, hoping to apply lessons learned from Level Zero: Extraction.

Winsage

February 14, 2025

This Surface Laptop 7 with Snapdragon is “basically perfect,” and it’s almost half the price of the Surface Laptop 7 with Intel

Microsoft's Surface Laptop 7 is currently priced at 9.99, reflecting a 0 reduction from its standard retail price due to President's Day sales. It features a Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. The laptop has received a perfect score in reviews for its design, keyboard, display, and performance. It has undergone a design refresh that allows for easier repairs, with replaceable components available for purchase from Microsoft. The Snapdragon processors provide exceptional battery life and performance, making the Surface Laptop 7 a cost-effective choice compared to the entry-level Intel variant, which retails at ,499.99.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

Despite a ‘teamwide oops, guess we made it too hard moment,’ Hyper Light Breaker has ‘no regrets’ about its mixed-response early access launch, and now it’s got a roadmap so everyone can ‘git gud’

Hyper Light Breaker, launched in early access a month ago, currently has a 63% Mixed rating on Steam, with players reporting technical difficulties, control issues, and high difficulty levels. Lead producer Michael Clark acknowledged the developers' realization that the game may be too hard and expressed no regrets about entering early access, emphasizing the importance of player feedback for improvement. Heart Machine plans to release a roadmap with significant updates, including a February patch to address performance issues and rebalance combat, followed by a smaller update in March and a larger "Buried Below" update in April. Clark noted the team's intention to create a challenging yet fair experience, admitting they misjudged the difficulty for new players. The developers are committed to refining the game based on player feedback.