showcases Archives

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

Weekend PC Game Deals: Total War, Kingdom Hearts, Black Myth Wukong, and more

The Epic Games Store is offering the game Caravan SandWitch for free until August 20, where players explore an alien landscape without combat. After this date, Cadpocalypse and an Albion Online Epic Mage bundle will be available. The Humble Store has launched the Indie's Support for Venezuela Bundle, featuring games like VA-11 Hall-A and Bug Fables, and the Built Differently Games Bundle, which includes titles such as Frostpunk and SteamWorld Build. Both bundles will be available for about three weeks. GOG is also running weekend specials, though specific titles were not listed. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

RPG companions need to be hateable, otherwise nobody’s going to love them

Harvey Randall advocates for the inclusion of flawed, obstructive companions in RPGs to enhance storytelling. He reflects on his experience with Baldur's Gate 3, highlighting a romantic encounter with Gale that showcases the impact of character imperfections. In contrast, he critiques Dragon Age: The Veilguard for its lack of compelling character dynamics, resulting in bland archetypes. Randall discusses the "Halo effect," suggesting that flawed characters resonate more with players due to their reflection of real-life complexities. Research indicates that engaging narratives activate neurochemical responses associated with social bonding, fostering emotional connections. He argues that RPGs should embrace character imperfections to create richer interactions and encourage emotional investment from players.

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

Disney says that Kingdom Hearts is now a ‘billion dollar franchise’

The Kingdom Hearts series has officially become a billion-dollar franchise for Disney. The article highlights Disney's achievements in gaming, including a strengthened partnership with Epic Games and the popularity of Marvel Rivals among Gen Z. It also mentions the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer, set to debut in June, four years after its initial announcement in 2022, which could lead to significant revenue growth.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

The Best Places to Buy and Rent PC Games Online in 2026

The digital landscape for purchasing PC games has evolved, offering various online stores for Linux, macOS, and Windows games, with some also featuring e-books, movies, and software. Notable platforms include Steam, Epic Games Store, Humble Bundle, and Xbox, each with diverse game libraries. Some publishers, like Blizzard and EA, initially required exclusive downloads but are now allowing games across multiple storefronts. Steam offers extensive titles and a Verified program for Steam Deck users, while GOG.com focuses on classic games and itch.io on indie titles. Consumers can purchase games from different platforms and use tools like CheapShark to compare prices and find deals.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

PC Gamer magazine’s new issue is on sale now: Onimusha: Way of the Sword

PC Gamer has an exclusive feature on Onimusha: Way of the Sword, a new action sword-fighting game from Capcom, marking its return after two decades. The magazine includes insights from seven developers and highlights the game's unique swordfight experience. Additionally, it features a 32-page supplement titled PC Gamer's Top 100, showcasing the top 100 games for PC gamers in 2026. The issue also includes an A1 poster of Onimusha, discusses favorite co-op games, and provides hands-on impressions of upcoming titles like The Blood of Dawnwalker and others. It reviews new releases such as Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced and is available in PDF and EPUB formats.

Winsage

August 11, 2026

Microsoft PowerToys will soon take full advantage of the same AI that powers Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft PowerToys has introduced on-device support for Phi Silica, a small language model, in its latest preview version, enhancing the Advanced Paste feature for clipboard management. Advanced Paste can format clipboard content in various formats, extract text from images using OCR, and transcode audio and video files. It now supports multiple AI models, including local options like Foundry Local and Ollama. The latest version, PowerToys v0.101.2211.0, includes improvements such as enhanced AI customization for Advanced Paste, better dialog handling in the Command Palette, and improved window management features. Mouse Jump has transitioned to the newer WinUI app architecture, and new settings have been added for update channel selection and bug reporting.

Winsage

August 9, 2026

Microsoft confirms it accidentally installed new OneDrive app on Windows 11 PCs, and there’s no easy way to remove it yet

Microsoft has unintentionally rolled out its AI-powered OneDrive Photos app on Windows 11, affecting enterprise PCs where it is non-functional. The app was initially limited to select consumer PCs but became widely available starting August 1, 2026. Microsoft confirmed that this rollout was not intended and is working on a solution to allow users to remove OneDrive Photos independently from the OneDrive sync client. Currently, the app cannot be uninstalled without removing OneDrive entirely. OneDrive Photos serves as a centralized hub for viewing images stored locally and in the cloud, integrating with OneDrive.com’s Gallery. It appears in search results above the traditional Microsoft Photos app, even on systems not part of the Windows Insider Program. IT administrators have expressed frustration over its unexpected presence on enterprise PCs, as the app is designed for personal accounts.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

Donkey Kong Land PC Fan Remake Available for Download

A fan-made remake of the Nintendo Game Boy title Donkey Kong Land has been created by YouTube user ‘kasquez’ and is now available for PC. This remake features over 30 full-sized levels, refined controls, and updated graphics and sound that closely resemble the SNES version. It does not require the original ROM file and includes assets from the original game. The project is at risk of being taken down due to copyright concerns from Nintendo. Other notable fan projects in the gaming community include remakes of titles like Superman, Halo 3: ODST, and Metal Gear Solid, as well as various tech demos and ports.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

Cancelled Quake 4 expansion gets surprise GitHub release after former XCOM 2 developer discovers it on an old hard drive: ‘This essentially saved my life’

The original Quake has unveiled an official new episode as part of its 30th anniversary at QuakeCon. Additionally, a build of the previously cancelled expansion Quake 4: Awakening has been discovered on GitHub. This expansion was under development by Ritual Entertainment but was halted by Activision due to poor sales of the base game. A veteran game developer named Marshall found the expansion on a second-hand PC and shared it on GitHub, expressing that it had a significant emotional impact on him. The build includes configuration files with names of former Ritual employees, suggesting its authenticity. Gameplay footage shows new weapons and missions, indicating that the expansion was nearly complete before its cancellation. Marshall aims to preserve the project and hopes the community can help refine and eventually release it.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

The indie parkour game from one of the French brothers behind 2024’s best FPS is coming out in just two weeks

Vholume is a "melancholic first-person parkour adventure" set to launch on August 21. The game features an introspective soundtrack with atmospheric synths and sounds of footsteps and labored breaths. It includes striking environments with overgrown, brutalist structures and a multiplayer aspect that allows players to race against friends or compete with recorded performances. Developed by a small team of three, one of whom is associated with the acclaimed game Straftat, Vholume has a demo available on its Steam page.