Shroud Archives

AppWizard

January 27, 2026

Is Highguard down? Current server status

Wildlight Entertainment's PvP raid shooter, Highguard, has launched, but initial reports indicate server instability, with some players unable to progress beyond the main menu due to a persistent login queue after completing the tutorial. The developers have not yet commented on the server issues. Players are advised to monitor the PlayHighguard X account for updates on server status, as in-game notifications may also be provided.

AppWizard

November 27, 2025

Dispatch dev was “heartbroken” that you thought Blonde Blazer was a villain, and they found your Shroud theories “very funny”

Enthusiasts have engaged in discussions about the game Dispatch, particularly focusing on its romance options, Blonde Blazer and Invisigal. After episode two, a significant backlash against Blazer emerged when it was revealed she was in a relationship with another character, Phenomaman. Players who had chosen to kiss her faced a dilemma, leading to criticism of Blazer's intentions, which surprised the developers at AdHoc Studios. Creative director Dennis Lenart expressed disappointment over the backlash, stating that Blazer was intended to be a pure-hearted character. The episodic format of Dispatch has successfully increased player engagement, with peak concurrent users on Steam nearly doubling with each episode, ultimately surpassing 220,000 players. AdHoc Studios faced skepticism about the episodic format but believed in its potential, aiming to minimize wait times between episodes to maintain player interest. The game has fostered community engagement and speculation, with players developing theories about the narrative.

AppWizard

November 6, 2025

Shroud just started a GOTY war between Arc Raiders and Expedition 33: “we all have to band together”

Predicting Clair Obscur Expedition 33 as the frontrunner for Game of the Year at The Game Awards seems almost a foregone conclusion, as critics have praised the title and it has sold millions of copies. Prominent livestreamer Michael 'Shroud' Grzesiek is advocating for Arc Raiders to win the award, rallying fans of multiplayer gaming to support it during public voting. Shroud admires Arc Raiders for creating memorable gaming experiences and believes it deserves the top honor despite acknowledging the competition from Expedition 33. He has urged his followers to vote for Arc Raiders, emphasizing the importance of their support as multiplayer gamers. Arc Raiders has an average Metacritic score of 87 and faces competition from several titles, including Expedition 33 and others. Historically, only one purely multiplayer game, Overwatch, has won Game of the Year at the Game Awards. If nominated, Arc Raiders could potentially win the Players' Voice award, determined solely by fan votes.

AppWizard

November 4, 2025

All Black Ops 7 Zombies field upgrades

The latest installment of Black Ops 7 Zombies features six field upgrades: Toxic Growth, Dark Flare, Healing Aura, Frenzied Guard, Energy Mine, and Aether Shroud. Each upgrade can be selected during the loadout phase and swapped mid-game, requiring players to defeat enemies to charge them, with increasing costs for subsequent uses. 1. Toxic Growth: A defensive upgrade that creates poisonous thorns to block pathways and damage enemies. Players can deploy up to three at once. - Major Augments: Urticant, Cordyception, Pollination, Zoochory. - Minor Augments: Ankle Shredder, Green Thumb, Extra Charge, Plant Food. 2. Dark Flare: Unleashes a beam of energy that inflicts shadow damage. - Major Augments: Extension, Supernova, Dark Pact, Adjustment, Muzzle Blast. - Minor Augments: Broad Beam, Heavy Gloom, Extra Charge, Dusk Flame. 3. Healing Aura: Restores health to allies completely. - Major Augments: Resilience, Enduring Radiance, Persistence, Necromancer. - Minor Augments: Inner Strength, Protection, Stoic Presence, Cornucopia. 4. Frenzied Guard: Repairs the user's armor and redirects enemy attacks to the armor. - Major Augments: Phalanx, Retribution, Frenzy Fire, Fists of Frenzy. - Minor Augments: Repair Boost, Extension, Rally, Dual Layer. 5. Energy Mine: Deploys a mine that detonates multiple times near enemies. - Major Augments: Scatter, Turret, Carousel, Smart Mine. - Minor Augments: Frequency Boost, Extra Charge, Siren, Recycle. 6. Aether Shroud: Grants invisibility and allows players to phase into the Dark Aether. - Major Augments: Group Shroud, Burst Dash, Void Sheath, Afterimage. - Minor Augments: Instant Reload, Extra Charge, Extension, Impulse.

AppWizard

October 27, 2025

The Day I Will Die: New Horror Game Announced for PC

Developer Lost Lighthouse has announced its first project, a first-person horror game titled The Day I Will Die, which will be released on PC. The game is set in Little Red Valley, a mountain town that combines elements of pop culture, urban legends, and classic horror tales. Players will explore a misty, isolated valley with landscapes reminiscent of childhood memories, while encountering entities from late '70s and early '80s horror lore. No specific release date has been provided, but players can add the game to their Steam wishlists for updates.

AppWizard

October 23, 2025

Stellaris announces release date for Infernals species pack, and I can’t wait to finally play as volcanic Tyranids

Paradox Interactive has announced the release date for the upcoming Stellaris species pack, titled Infernal, which will launch on November 25. This volcanic-themed pack will introduce new character portraits, civics, ships, and gameplay adjustments. It features new species such as bird-like creatures and crocodilian beings, along with two origins: Cosmic Dawn and Red Giant. The pack will also include a new planet type, volcanic worlds, and a new crisis path.

AppWizard

October 15, 2025

This mini gaming PC is actually a new Edifier computer speaker in disguise

Edifier has introduced the Huazai New Cyber, a computer speaker designed to resemble a high-end gaming PC, featuring a fishtank case, wraparound window panel, and a 2.8-inch LCD screen. The speaker includes light-up bars that mimic RGB RAM sticks and illuminated rings that resemble RGB fans. It has a 2.1 configuration with a total output of 60W, consisting of a 40W subwoofer and 10W side speakers. The mock graphics cards house essential components, with the top card containing a signal processing module and the bottom card managing power. The LCD screen can display song lyrics and system information when connected via USB. It also functions as a charging station with USB-C and USB-A ports. The dimensions of the speaker are 293.6 x 150.7 x 213.6mm, and it is priced at 1,499 yuan in China.

AppWizard

October 3, 2025

As yet another Stellaris DLC lands to negative outcry, Paradox admits fixing performance is a “long haul”

The Stellaris DLC, Shadows of the Shroud, has received a 43% positive rating on Steam, primarily due to performance issues such as bugs, desyncs, crashes, and instability, rather than the content itself. Game director Stephen 'Eladrin' Muray acknowledged these challenges and mentioned that the open beta for patch 4.1.4 revealed critical issues, leading to a new open beta, 4.1.5, focused on fixes. Performance is a top priority for the Stellaris team, with a subteam dedicated to diagnosing and resolving issues. Muray noted an unusually large number of ships in late-game saves, attributed to enhanced economies from version 4.0, and highlighted the AI's improved naval capacity. The performance of version 4.1 is marginally better than 3.14 until around 2300, after which performance diverges sharply. The team is working on reducing ship counts through economic balancing and mechanical changes. QA analyst 'Gosia' confirmed the team's commitment to performance testing across various machine specifications. Muray mentioned that the performance team is rewriting how modifiers are calculated, which could positively impact late-game performance. He also discussed a new mod that increases ship costs and power to reduce vessel numbers and emphasized the need to address non-linear growth in the post-4.0 economy. Multiplayer stability and desyncs are ongoing concerns, with the team actively working to resolve these issues and encouraging players to report problems.

AppWizard

September 18, 2025

Stellaris factions keep getting weirder, as Paradox’s “madness-consumed doomsday cult” lets you embrace the end with open arms

Paradox Interactive's latest expansion for Stellaris, titled Shadows of the Shroud, introduces the Endbringers, a faction linked to a cosmic force that leads them toward an unavoidable fate. Players must choose to resist, accept, or propagate this impending doom. The expansion features predetermined ascension paths, with the Psi-Corps replaced by the Chamber of Silence, where players can attune to the End's voice. The Shroud interface now acts as a countdown clock, and players can gain various covenant powers while managing rising paranoia among their populace. New civics, such as 'Entropy Drinkers,' allow leaders to siphon life energy from the population. The expansion also includes proxy wars, enabling players to instigate conflicts between civilizations based on trust or infiltration ratings. Shadows of the Shroud is set to launch on September 22, priced at .99 / £16.75, and will be available as part of the Season 9 expansion pass for .99 / £34.99.