Revitalizing Archives

AppWizard

December 2, 2025

Payday 3 tears up one of its worst systems and replaces it with a shiny new one, and it’s a huge step in the right direction

Since its launch in 2023, Payday 3 has faced challenges, with daily player counts on Steam for Payday 2 being approximately 20 times higher than for Payday 3. Starbreeze has canceled a Dungeons & Dragons project to focus on enhancing Payday 3 and has transitioned support for Payday 2 to another studio. The upcoming free update, Skills 2.0, will overhaul the skill system by eliminating the previous buffs (Rush, Edge, and Grit) and introducing a more intuitive structure with six main archetypes: Soldier, Ninja, Mechanic, Hacker, Conman, and Professional, each with three subdivisions. Players will have access to 51 skill points upon reaching Infamy level 150 and an online tool will help plan skill progression. Starbreeze has adjusted weapon damage to maintain balance and introduced various enhancements, including the ability to throw bags at enemies to stagger them and resolving a bug with throwing knives.

AppWizard

November 28, 2025

Revived survival RPG Hytale already has a release date after springing back to life, but the owner is reminding everyone the game ‘isn’t good yet’

Hytale has undergone a challenging seven-year development period and faced cancellation by Riot Games, but the original owner has reclaimed the project to pursue its original vision. Developer Hypixel has released new gameplay footage and announced an early access release date of January 13, 2026. However, they have cautioned players to manage their expectations, describing the footage as "raw and broken" and stating that the game is not yet in a good state. CEO Simon Collins-Laflamme advised against pre-ordering or participating in early access for those who might feel uncomfortable, while content lead Polina Logado reminded followers that it is an alpha release. Hytale aims to be an ambitious reinterpretation of the Minecraft formula despite its challenges.

AppWizard

November 28, 2025

If you’ve left Castor Woods behind, the new Dying Light The Beast update gives you some very good reasons to return

Patch 1.4 for Dying Light introduces Legend Levels and New Game Plus (NG+), allowing players to replay the main storyline with increased difficulty while retaining gear and character progression. Players can earn Legend XP after reaching the maximum character level, which can be used for passive upgrades. The patch enhances graphical fidelity with ray tracing support for PC players and addresses over 70 graphical issues across all platforms. It includes more than 200 gameplay improvements, particularly in parkour navigation. A new login bonus offers the Bloody Bowie Knife until December 2, and a double XP event runs until November 30.

AppWizard

November 27, 2025

It took a full 10 years but one of Ubisoft’s most popular games finally has achievements on Steam

Ubisoft has announced that Steam achievements are now available for Rainbow Six Siege, a feature that took ten years to implement since the game's launch in 2015. Achievements previously unlocked through Ubisoft Connect will automatically be recognized on Steam during the next login, eliminating the need for players to replay challenges. This update aligns with Ubisoft's trend of returning to Steam and enhancing older titles with new features.

AppWizard

November 19, 2025

Rescued “Minecraft challenger” Hytale finally shows off gameplay, and it has the building blocks of something great

Hytale was originally developed by Hypixel Studios and acquired by Riot Games in 2020. Riot announced the cancellation of Hytale in June, but a deal was made with Hypixel's co-founder, Simon Collins-Laflamme, to revive the project. Hypixel has shared gameplay footage and aims to combine elements from Minecraft and platforms like Roblox. The game faced delays under Riot's management, but Hypixel is now focused on delivering a playable version and will announce an early access release date soon. They have decided to revert to the original engine for development while planning future cross-platform functionality. Collins-Laflamme noted that the current version has imperfections but shows promise, and he assured that Hytale will not take any revenue from modders and server owners for the first two years.

AppWizard

November 17, 2025

2005 survival horror shooter ups and vanishes from Steam suspiciously soon after entering Nightdive’s orbit

Cold Fear has been removed from Steam as of November 11. The game transitioned from Ubisoft to Atari in August, along with four other titles. Atari's CEO expressed interest in reintroducing these games and hinted at potential expansions. There is speculation about Nightdive Studios possibly working on an updated version of Cold Fear. The removal may be due to a licensing issue, raising questions about the game's future under Atari's ownership.

Winsage

November 13, 2025

Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for Just $10 (MSRP $199)

Windows 10 support is ending, prompting users to consider upgrading to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for .97, down from 9. Windows 11 Pro offers enhanced security features such as TPM 2.0, Smart App Control, and advanced encryption. It is designed for gaming with DirectX 12 Ultimate, improving graphics performance. Productivity is boosted with features like snap layouts and voice typing, while AI integration through Windows Copilot assists with tasks. The operating system supports up to 2 CPUs and 2 TB of RAM, providing high performance at a lower cost.

BetaBeacon

November 4, 2025

Dream adventure game Green Light announced for PC, iOS, and Android

Green Light is an adventure game based on singer-songwriter yanaginagi's upcoming album of the same name, set to release on February 28, 2026. The game will be available on PC via Steam, iOS, and Android in 2026, with English and Japanese language options.

Winsage

November 1, 2025

This $10 Windows 11 Pro Upgrade Will Keep Your Systems Secure and Compliant

Upgrading to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is available for .97, significantly reduced from its MSRP of 9. This operating system is designed to enhance productivity and efficiency by revitalizing existing hardware. Key features include Snap Layouts, multiple desktops, and security enhancements like BitLocker encryption and biometric logins. Support for Windows 10 has ended, making the upgrade necessary. The integrated AI assistant, Copilot, helps with tasks such as summarizing documents, drafting email responses, extracting spreadsheet insights, and modifying system settings hands-free. Upgrading to Windows 11 Pro can improve the efficiency of current setups without the need for new hardware.

AppWizard

October 31, 2025

Condemned: Criminal Origins, the best game about beating people to death with a lead pipe I’ve ever played, has been delisted from Steam and Xbox, and fans are hoping that means a remaster is on the way

Condemned: Criminal Origins has been removed from digital storefronts, including Steam and the Xbox store, and is not available on GOG. The game, which was released 20 years ago, featured an FBI agent dealing with murder investigations and had notable gameplay mechanics. A code for the game is still available on Fanatical for .45. Nightdive Studios has expressed interest in revitalizing the game for modern platforms, and inquiries have been made to Sega about future plans for the franchise. A similar game, Butcher Creek, inspired by Condemned, has a demo available on Steam.