sequel Archives

AppWizard

August 2, 2026

Stellar Blade: Blood Rain’s AI slop music video is terrible for us all

ShiftUP CEO Kim Hyung Tae has faced criticism for a promotional video for the game Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, which featured an AI-generated music composition that was deemed lacking in soul and coherence. The video showcased a surreal visual experience with the protagonist, Evie, in a skin-tight suit that raised concerns about the game's creative direction. Critics argue that the video undermines the game's narrative and visual identity, leading to disappointment among fans who anticipated a deeper narrative in the sequel. ShiftUP has a history of producing high-quality content, as seen in their previous title, Nikke, which featured a soundtrack by a seasoned composer. The backlash reflects broader concerns about the normalization of AI in creative processes within the gaming industry and its potential impact on emotional connections in games. The gaming community has expressed disappointment and reevaluated their interest in Blood Rain due to the promotional material.

Winsage

August 2, 2026

Windows 11’s Photos app just got debloated, but Microsoft is already ruining it with a WebView2 sequel

Microsoft Photos for Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel has been updated to feature a cleaner interface with fewer icons and a faster context menu. The update removes unnecessary elements, including the "Ask Copilot" button, and focuses on essential actions like Edit, Print, and Share. The context menu now opens faster and includes a concise list of relevant options. Additional enhancements include a richer file info pane, support for HEIC files without conversion, SVG viewing support, improved launch performance, and new device import controls. However, a new app called "Photos (Preview)" has been introduced, which operates as a WebView2 process and adds complexity to the user experience. Microsoft is seeking user feedback on this experimental app.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

Late 90s Platformer Is Getting Remastered for Modern Consoles and PC

Argonaut Games has announced a remaster of Croc 2 Kingdom of the Gobbos, set to be released on modern consoles and PC. The remaster will feature classic platforming action with enhancements, including a triple jump mechanic and expanded gameplay options such as racing and flying. Players will explore four unique villages, rescue Gobbos, and encounter new Guardians. The remaster will also include the “Croc2pedia,” a digital museum with production materials and interviews about the game's development. It will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Windows PC via Steam and GOG.com.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

Steam gamers have spoken: innovative indies like Palworld continue to thrive while traditional triple-A flounders for a foothold

In 2026, the gaming landscape shows a significant shift, with smaller development teams gaining popularity among PC gamers, while established franchises face challenges. Palworld 1.0 has become a major success, attracting over half a million concurrent players daily, trailing only behind CS2, PUBG, and Dota 2. Other notable releases include Meccha Chameleon, Windrose, Slay the Spire 2, Deltarune Chapter Five, and Mewgenics. In contrast, Halo: Campaign Evolved peaked at just over 25,000 concurrent players, significantly lower than The Master Chief Collection's peak of 161,000 in 2019. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced reached 104,000 active players, marking its best performance on Steam. The Summer Game Fest highlighted successful titles like Resident Evil Requiem and Forza Horizon 6, while smaller innovative projects like Vampire Crawlers and Super Battle Golf are also gaining attention.

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

Thimbleweed Park 2 is ‘not really a sequel, not really a prequel,’ but it is finally happening

Thimbleweed Park, released in 2017, is a point-and-click adventure game created by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, receiving an 84% review score. A sequel, Thimbleweed Park 2, is in early development with a projected release in early 2028, featuring the original team and will be available on Windows, Mac, and Linux through Steam and GOG. Ron Gilbert previously expressed a declining interest in 2D adventure games but has since been inspired by recent successes in the genre. Gilbert's 2022 release, Return to Monkey Island, received a 92% review score. He plans to create a development blog for Thimbleweed Park 2, and fans can wishlist the game on Steam.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Soulslike game Wuchang is officially getting a sequel developed by its creator’s new studio after the original team reportedly disbanded

The 2025 soulslike title Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has attracted five million players, marking a significant success for developers Leenzee and publisher 505 Games. Xia Siyuan, the game's director and producer, was dismissed from Leenzee earlier this year, along with other staff members. In April, the Wuchang intellectual property was sold to Digital Bros for approximately million. Recently, 505 Games announced a partnership with Xia Siyuan, who now leads his own studio, Indolphinity, to develop a sequel to Wuchang: Fallen Feathers.

AppWizard

July 29, 2026

Koei Tecmo Wants to Release 6 Console and PC Games, 19 Mid-Range Games Before March 2027

Koei Tecmo has launched successful titles like Nioh 3 and Pokémon Pokopia and is shifting focus from blockbuster releases to sustainable growth. The company plans to release six major console and PC titles, 19 mid-range titles, and two original online and mobile titles by March 2027. Major anticipated titles include Attack on Titan 3, which will have a unique opening animation produced by MAPPA, and Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember. Koei Tecmo's president expressed surprise at the success of Pokémon Pokopia, which exceeded initial expectations.

AppWizard

July 29, 2026

Corsair Cove review

Corsair Cove, a pirate-themed city builder, will be released on July 31, 2026. It is published by Hooded Horse and developed by Limbic Entertainment. The game features a setting where pirates escape from a prison ship to build a colony on a deserted island with a skull-shaped mountain. It offers a lighthearted atmosphere with activities like drinking rum and dancing with pigs. Corsair Cove is distinct from Tropico 2: Pirate Cove and incorporates elements reminiscent of Fabledom and logistics puzzles similar to Whiskerwood or Factorio. The game is reviewed on high-end hardware, including the RTX 4090 and Intel i9-13900k, and is also confirmed to be playable on the Steam Deck.

AppWizard

July 27, 2026

10 highly anticipated new games coming to PC in August 2026

In August 2026, ten notable video game titles are set to launch on PC: - Beast of Reincarnation - August 3: An action-RPG by Game Freak featuring real-time and turn-based combat. - Big Walk - August 4: A co-operative open-world adventure from the creators of Untitled Goose Game. - Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls - August 6: A fighting game featuring iconic Marvel characters like Spider-Man and Captain America. - Agefield High: Rock The School - August 12: A spiritual successor to Bully, offering a nostalgic schoolyard experience. - Hell Let Loose: Vietnam - August 13: A 50v50 player battle game set during the Vietnam War. - The Sinking City 2 - August 18: A survival-horror sequel with Lovecraftian elements. - Mortal Shell 2 - August 20: A sequel known for its challenging combat mechanics, with a free demo available on Steam. - Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 - August 27: Includes re-releases of Metal Gear Solid 4 and Peace Walker. - Star Wars Zero Company - August 27: An X-COM-style game set during the Clone Wars, featuring Anakin Skywalker. - Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy - August 27: A prequel exploring an original story in the Plague Tale universe.

BetaBeacon

July 27, 2026

Roguelike Deckbuilders: Games Like Slay the Spire and Balatro

Deckbuilding is a genre of games that combines card-based gameplay with collecting powerful cards to use in battle against other players. It started in tabletop gaming before moving to video games. Roguelike deckbuilders add procedural generation to keep gameplay fresh and unpredictable. Slay the Spire is a popular example of a tactical deckbuilding game.