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Steam Adds 11 New Free Games You Can Keep Forever
AppWizard
June 14, 2026

Steam Adds 11 New Free Games You Can Keep Forever

Steam has added a variety of free games to its library, including: - The Blackwood Project: A horror game where players investigate Blackwood Manor. - Bladefall: A hack-and-slash game with fast-paced melee combat. - 0.5%: A visual novel about two college students uncovering secrets. - Hexpand: A real-time multiplayer strategy game focused on territory expansion. - Pixel Rain: A sandbox game allowing players to create and experiment with interactive materials. - IOSoccer: An online multiplayer soccer game emphasizing ball control. - Hyper Glee Semik: A first-person shooter where players battle candies. - Jolly and Whimsy: An experimental visual novel about a character's quest to retrieve a friend. - Pantomime Horse Obstacle Course: A co-op platformer filled with humor and teamwork challenges. - Card Night at Gigi's: A card game collection featuring classic games in a cozy setting. - The Sphere: A point-and-click adventure exploring themes of loss and mystery.
Enjoy Vibrant Visuals With Minecraft's Native Switch 2 Release
AppWizard
June 10, 2026

Enjoy Vibrant Visuals With Minecraft’s Native Switch 2 Release

Minecraft will be released on the Nintendo Switch 2 later this year, featuring enhanced 'vibrant visuals' with improved lighting and graphical elements. Players can import their existing creations from the current Switch version and carry over their save data. The new version includes the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack, which features a custom Mario-themed world, 15 tracks, and 40 player skins. Local and online multiplayer options will be available. Details on potential discounts for current owners have not been announced.
Minecraft is getting a Switch 2 native version with the Vibrant Visuals graphics upgrade
AppWizard
June 10, 2026

Minecraft is getting a Switch 2 native version with the Vibrant Visuals graphics upgrade

Microsoft announced a native edition of Minecraft for the Nintendo Switch 2 during a recent Nintendo Direct livestream. This new edition will utilize the console's advanced capabilities and include the Vibrant Visuals graphics upgrade, featuring enhancements like volumetric lighting, directional lighting, volumetric fog, dynamic shadows, reflections in water, and shimmering effects on metallic blocks. Players will be able to transfer their save data from the original Switch version to the new edition, which will be a paid upgrade. The Nintendo Switch 2 version will also include the exclusive Super Mario Mash-Up Pack. The release is scheduled for 2026.
Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions is Coming to Game Pass on Day One in June
AppWizard
June 3, 2026

Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions is Coming to Game Pass on Day One in June

New titles arriving on Game Pass in June include Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions, Solarpunk, and Junkster, with Starseeker launching on June 11. Persona 5 Royal, Undisputed, Beastro, and Frog Sqwad are also joining the lineup. The complete list of new Game Pass games for June includes: - Herdling (Available June 4) - Total Chaos (Available June 4) - Solarpunk (Available June 8) - Undisputed (Available June 8) - Persona 5 Royal (Available June 9) - Beastro (Available June 11) - Frog Sqwad (Available June 11) - Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions (Available June 11) - Junkster (Available June 16) Five titles will leave Game Pass on June 15: Jurassic World Evolution 2, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Warhammer 40K Space Marine: Master Crafted Edition, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, which can be purchased at a 20% discount before leaving the service.
How mathematicians use Minecraft to calculate pi
AppWizard
May 25, 2026

How mathematicians use Minecraft to calculate pi

Mathematicians Molly Lynch and Michael Weselcouch developed a method to approximate the value of pi (π) within the game Minecraft using a probabilistic darts technique. They constructed a circular structure with a radius of 11 blocks surrounded by a square and introduced random events using slimes, which move randomly. By counting the number of slimes killed within the circle compared to the total number killed, they calculated an approximation of π. During their test, they killed 619 slimes, with 508 inside the circular area, yielding an approximation of π ≈ 3.283. They noted that increasing the size of the square and the number of slimes could improve accuracy.
We Pick Minecraft's 5 Best Updates Ever on Its 17th Anniversary
AppWizard
May 17, 2026

We Pick Minecraft’s 5 Best Updates Ever on Its 17th Anniversary

Minecraft has maintained its prominence for over 17 years due to a steady stream of updates that enhance gameplay and mechanics. Key updates include: - Minecraft 1.5 Redstone Update: Introduced components like hoppers, droppers, and redstone comparators, enabling automated systems for resource collection and item sorting, and introduced quartz blocks for architectural designs. - Minecraft 1.21 Tricky Trials: Released in 2024, this update focused on combat and replayability with Trial Chambers, introduced the Breeze enemy and the Minecraft Mace weapon, and added the Wind Burst enchantment for advanced Parkour maps. - Minecraft 1.14 Village and Pillage: Revitalized villages with unique architectural styles and specialized villager professions, introduced new workstation blocks, and added Pillagers and raid mechanics. - Minecraft 1.0 – Full Release: Marked the end of the beta phase, introduced brewing potions, enchanting, strongholds, and the End dimension, enhancing survival progression and gameplay experience. - Minecraft 1.16 Nether Update: Transformed the Nether dimension with new biomes like Crimson and Warped Forests, introduced Piglins for bartering, and shifted player focus towards acquiring Netherite gear. The Minecraft 1.16 Nether update is widely regarded as one of the best updates for its comprehensive transformation of the Nether dimension. The Elytra was introduced in Minecraft 1.9 Combat update, alongside End Cities and Shulkers.
Destruction sandbox Besiege's new space DLC gets far bigger than anything you've seen before
AppWizard
May 16, 2026

Destruction sandbox Besiege’s new space DLC gets far bigger than anything you’ve seen before

Besiege: The Broken Beyond is the next expansion for the sandbox game Besiege, set to release in the second quarter of 2026. This expansion introduces a universe with varying gravitational forces and features larger, immersive environments compared to previous versions. Players will encounter celestial bodies like asteroids and planets, each affecting gameplay through unique gravitational fields. The game aims to balance realistic physics with whimsical gameplay, adhering to the inverse square law for gravitational pull. Different celestial shapes will provide varied gravitational experiences, and players will face challenges such as space debris and obstacles. Further insights into the game’s mechanics, including planetary atmospheres, will be revealed as the release date approaches.
15 PC Games That Rely More on CPU Than GPU
AppWizard
May 14, 2026

15 PC Games That Rely More on CPU Than GPU

In competitive gaming, unique character abilities combined with a 5v5 format create innovative experiences, with high stakes in competitive shooters where low frame rates can lead to defeat, demanding on CPU resources. Baldur’s Gate 3 features an immersive storyline and expansive world, requiring a robust CPU due to its intricate physics and character interactions. Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020 onwards) is a CPU-intensive simulation game that offers real-time world streaming, dynamic weather, and air traffic management. GTA Online allows players to engage in a sprawling open world of crime, with complex AI interactions that demand substantial processing power. Civilization VI, while not graphically intensive, requires significant CPU load for its intricate gameplay mechanics and constant calculations. Counter-Strike 2 demands high FPS and stable frame rates, making it extremely CPU-intensive due to its tactical team-based combat. World of Warcraft is one of the most CPU-intensive MMOs, requiring significant processing power for large-scale battles and exploration. Total War: WARHAMMER III places considerable demands on CPU performance due to its real-time warfare mechanics with vast armies. Overwatch relies on steady frame rates and real-time calculations, necessitating a powerful CPU, while also depending on the GPU for optimal performance. Minecraft's resource generation and real-time world building place significant demands on the CPU across various modes. Call of Duty: Warzone requires a powerful CPU to maintain fast frame rates and execute numerous physics-related calculations on a massive map. Starfield is one of the most demanding PC games of 2023, emphasizing the need for a capable CPU to handle its complex mechanics and expansive environments.
After 3 years of work, GTA 4 dev's sandbox game hits Steam as he has to tell people it's "completely different" from Minecraft: "For starters, no Steve"
AppWizard
May 8, 2026

After 3 years of work, GTA 4 dev’s sandbox game hits Steam as he has to tell people it’s “completely different” from Minecraft: “For starters, no Steve”

Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar Games, has launched a new sandbox game titled Plentiful in Early Access on May 5. The game emphasizes consequence-driven gameplay, where players' actions impact the environment, such as too many trees draining water and a single spark potentially causing widespread fire. While it features low-fi, blocky visuals reminiscent of Minecraft, Vermeij asserts that Plentiful is distinct, drawing inspiration from the classic game Populous. Players interact with the game world solely through a mouse cursor, without a traditional avatar.
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