reception Archives

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.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

Slay the Spire 2 adds end-of-run badges ‘to let you know what was unique about each adventure’ in latest beta patch

Developer Mega Crit has introduced a new feature called badges in Slay the Spire 2, which will highlight unique player achievements at the end of gameplay runs. The current balance of reviews for the game stands at 801 negative against 817 positive. Ascension 6 has been reworked to increase the cost of removing cards from the deck at the Merchant. The Blade of Ink card has been revamped to generate Inky Shivs, and the Borrowed Time card now offers increased energy gain. The Doormaker enemy has been adjusted for enhanced challenge, while Leading Strike has received buffs and other cards like Speedster and Untouchable have been slightly nerfed. The History Course relic has been adjusted for its X-value, and the Skulking Colony has been buffed to attack on all turns. New portrait art has been added for several cards, and improvements have been made to dialogue timings and speech bubble positions. Clarifications in card descriptions and updates to translations have been implemented. Various bug fixes have addressed issues from startup crashes to specific softlocks related to card upgrades.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

Steam Giving Away Two PC Games for Free for Next 72 Hours

Steam is offering two games for free until April 6, each available for about 72 hours. The first game is House Flipper, a 2018 simulation title valued at .99, which has a 94% approval rating based on over 45,000 reviews. The second game is Depths of Horror: Mushroom Day, a 2021 first-person adventure horror game valued at .99, with a 74% approval rating. House Flipper is compatible with the Steam Deck, while Depths of Horror's compatibility status is unknown. Both games will remain in players' Steam libraries permanently once claimed.

AppWizard

March 30, 2026

Borderlands 4 just got its first story DLC, and you can get the full experience at its lowest price yet

Borderlands 4, a looter shooter game, initially faced challenges in securing a strong reception due to awkward humor and technical issues. However, it has improved significantly with updates, making it a good time for new and returning players to engage with the game, especially with the release of a first story DLC and discounts. Players can choose from four or five Vault Hunters, each with unique skills, to confront the Timekeeper in a more serious narrative tone compared to previous titles. The game features diverse loot from enemies and rewarding boss fights. The new Story Pack 1 introduces a new Vault Hunter, C4SH, and new bosses in the Whispering Glacier. The base game and deluxe edition are currently discounted by 38% on Fanatical, priced at .39 / £37.19 and .99 / £40.29, respectively.

AppWizard

March 28, 2026

First-Person Shooter Zombie Game Now Free for All PC Gamers

A first-person shooter zombie game called Blood and Zombies is available for free to PC gamers through IndieGala, a digital storefront. The game, developed by Wild Monkey and published by Indie.io, was released in 2022 and typically retails for .99. It has received a "Mixed" user review score on Steam, with a 57% approval rating based on 283 reviews. The gameplay involves players defending against waves of zombies using various weapons and survival strategies. Players can experience several hours of content without any financial commitment during the promotional offer.

AppWizard

March 28, 2026

In defense of placeholder assets: why generative AI accidentally appears in so many games

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn has acknowledged the use of generative AI in its development, while Pearl Abyss apologized for unintentionally including AI-generated assets in Crimson Desert. Other games like The Alters and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have faced similar issues with AI elements. Developers are increasingly cautious about AI integration, with some, like Arc Raiders, moving away from AI-generated voice actors. When AI-generated art appears, developers often claim these were placeholders, which raises concerns about their inclusion in final products. Josh Sawyer highlighted the importance of distinguishing between temporary and final assets in his project Pentiment. The creative process relies on human vision and artistry, which generative AI cannot replicate. Additionally, the environmental impact of AI technology is a concern due to the energy demands of data centers. Developers' claims of unintended AI assets raise questions about transparency, contrasting with Owlcat's open acknowledgment. Players react negatively to AI-generated artwork, leading to swift apologies from developers, highlighting the tension between AI use and artistic integrity.

AppWizard

March 28, 2026

Borderlands 4’s Mad Ellie expansion plummets into the red as players reject $30 price tag

Anticipation for the first story expansion of Borderlands 4 is high, particularly due to the enjoyable base game experience. The expansion features characters like Ellie and introduces a new playable character, C4SH, a robotic gambler. Players will join forces with Moxxi's daughter and Ellie to confront a cosmic threat in the new region, Whispering Glacier, while seeking an alien monolith and exploring the Vault of the Damned. C4SH has unique abilities that enhance gameplay, including building 'Fortune' stacks and using various action skills. However, the expansion has received 'mostly negative' reviews on Steam, with only 33% of reviewers rating it positively, largely due to its pricing. The expansion is priced at .99 / £26.99, which many players feel is too high for the content offered, especially when compared to other games that provide more substantial gameplay for similar prices. The bundling of the new character with the story content has also contributed to dissatisfaction, as not all players may be interested in both elements. The expansion is available on Steam and included in the Super Deluxe Edition bundle.

AppWizard

March 28, 2026

Mojang hired a “cow whisperer” and “real animal voice actors” to record new Minecraft animal noises: “The cows started to speak to him immediately”

Minecraft's latest update, Tiny Takeover, features new animal sounds created with the help of "real animal voice actors" to enhance authenticity. The update includes an overhaul of baby mob sounds, with recordings of kittens, wolf puppies, foals, piglets, and baby chickens, as well as new sound variants for adult animals. The reception of update 26.1 has been mixed, with some players criticizing it as a "low effort marketplace add-on," while others defend the developers' efforts. The Minecraft development team remains optimistic about future updates and the abundance of ideas available for the game.

AppWizard

March 27, 2026

V Rising studio is working on a new game, and it sounds like it’s got teeth: ‘The odyssey of the Vampire continues’

Stunlock Studios has announced the end of content updates for its vampire survival game, V Rising, nearly two years after its launch. The studio is shifting its focus to a new ambitious project that aims to expand the V Rising universe, promising a world with greater depth, danger, and mystery. While details about the new game are limited and it is still in early development, Stunlock reassured fans that V Rising will continue to receive balance adjustments and bug fixes. Additionally, the studio confirmed that official modding support will not be introduced for V Rising due to structural limitations, but insights from this exploration may benefit future projects.

AppWizard

March 26, 2026

V Rising developer is making its “most ambitious” vampire game yet, and players want it to be an MMORPG

Stunlock Studios is transitioning from V Rising to a new project within the same universe, which they describe as their "most ambitious project yet." While they will continue to support V Rising with balance adjustments and bug fixes, the content for the game is complete. The studio is stepping away from V Rising's established architecture due to its restrictive nature for creative iteration. They have introduced a Google Form for players to provide feedback on V Rising, although most of the development team will focus on the new title. Details about the new project are vague, but it promises a deeper and more dangerous experience. There is a strong player desire for an MMORPG experience, with hopes for larger servers in the next iteration. Stunlock is attentive to this feedback and invites community suggestions for the future of the V Rising saga.