skepticism Archives

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

The Marathon server slam consumed my weekend: 21 hours later, I’ve gone from ‘meh’ to believer

Last year, Embark and Bungie conducted playtests for their extraction shooters, with Bungie's Marathon being their first project outside the Destiny universe in over 15 years. Arc Raiders, developed by Embark, launched as the first mainstream title in the genre, while Marathon faced delays. The author initially felt indifferent towards Marathon but grew enthusiastic after playing for over four days. The game features a PvP experience with looting mechanics, weapon upgrades, and unique gun modifications. Critics compare Marathon to Call of Duty and Apex Legends, but the author finds its pacing more similar to Halo, emphasizing positioning and timing. The game includes movement shooter elements, allowing creative navigation techniques. Weapon designs are visually appealing and feature a variety of modifications. The game's progression system encourages experimentation with builds, and the vendor system aids in resource management. The upcoming full version will include a third map, Outpost, and additional content like the Cryo Archive.

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

Battlefield 6 explains how its Javelin anticheat system works—and it kind of boils down to ‘just trust me bro’

Battlefield Studios' anti-cheat system, EA Javelin, has thwarted over 580,000 cheating attempts in Battlefield 6. Players have expressed skepticism about the accuracy of the developers' claims regarding the percentage of cheaters caught. The Match Infection Rate (MIR) is a metric that includes confirmed cheaters and those suspected based on detection signals, which recently increased from 2.28% to 3.09% in January. The rise in MIR is attributed to improvements in the anti-cheat system's ability to detect stealth cheats and the implementation of a new ban acceleration method on January 26.

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

The creators of Postal just announced a new FPS where you play as a victim of the Postal Dude’s original killing spree, which is certainly an angle

Running With Scissors announced a first-person shooter titled Flesh & Wire, where players will take on the role of Angel, a young woman seeking vengeance against the Postal Dude from the original Postal series. The game is set in the Arizona desert and involves confronting military forces and traumatic memories. The narrative explores the consequences of the original game's storyline, particularly in relation to mass violence in America. There are concerns about the developer's ability to handle sensitive material due to their past issues, including a chaotic announcement last December that led to a game cancellation within 48 hours after fan backlash. Flesh & Wire is scheduled for release next year.

AppWizard

February 28, 2026

We polled PC gamers on how much generative AI is acceptable in games, and here’s what they said

Generative AI is increasingly integrated into video game development, with applications ranging from art assets to gameplay mechanics. A poll of approximately 1,000 respondents revealed that over 40% prefer traditional game development with no AI involvement. More than half of participants are open to generative AI to varying degrees: 20% oppose its inclusion in final products but accept its use as a productivity tool, while 21% approve of some AI involvement if disclosed. Additionally, 14% would engage with heavily AI-utilized games if enjoyable. Concerns about AI-generated code have been raised by developers, particularly regarding its quality. Despite skepticism, there is agreement on the benefits of AI-accelerated rendering techniques for performance improvements.

AppWizard

February 23, 2026

GOG agrees with Ultrakill publisher boss that “the future of preservation is decided by players who give a s**t”

Dave Oshry, CEO of New Blood Interactive, questioned the long-term viability of GOG as a competitor in the PC gaming market after its acquisition by a co-founder of CD Projekt Red. He praised GOG's commitment to game preservation and modding but expressed skepticism about its sustainability. In response, GOG acknowledged his concerns and emphasized the importance of community support for game preservation, encouraging players to engage with the platform. GOG has been focused on preserving classic games for nearly 20 years and differentiates itself from competitors like Steam and Epic Games Store through its DRM-free offerings and modding capabilities. Despite these efforts, challenges remain in attracting users away from Steam, which dominates the market.

AppWizard

February 23, 2026

Steam Next Fest has the perfect game demo for Disco Elysium fans, but it’s not ZA/UM’s successor

The author reflects on their gaming journey, noting a significant shift after experiencing Disco Elysium. They find that Citizen Sleeper is the closest game to evoke similar engagement, despite its different gameplay. The upcoming February 2026 Steam Next Fest will showcase two games of interest: Zero Parades, a successor to Disco Elysium, and Esoteric Ebb, which combines Disco Elysium-like mechanics with a Dungeons and Dragons aesthetic. Zero Parades promises a narrative of espionage, while Esoteric Ebb features a reimagined Thought Cabinet using D&D attributes. The author expresses excitement for both titles and encourages fans of Disco Elysium to explore these upcoming games.

AppWizard

February 23, 2026

Minecraft Slimefun Dupe: Is It Real?

Slimefun is a server-side plugin for Minecraft that enhances the vanilla experience by adding new items, machines, and crafting possibilities without requiring client-side modifications. It allows players to create automated farms, develop tools, and build factories, encouraging experimentation and strategic planning through a complex crafting system. The plugin's modular design enables server administrators to customize it for different player preferences. There are rumors of item duplication glitches associated with Slimefun, with players claiming to find methods to multiply items. Historically, some legitimate glitches have existed, but developers actively patch these exploits. Engaging in item duplication is frowned upon as it disrupts the game’s economy, creates unfair advantages, and can lead to penalties such as temporary suspensions or permanent bans. Duplication undermines the integrity of gameplay, leading to disillusionment among honest players and potential technical issues on servers. Legitimate methods for duplicating items in Slimefun are largely nonexistent, as the plugin aims to maintain a balanced experience. Players are encouraged to build efficient farms and explore the game world for resource gathering, focusing on creativity and collaboration rather than unethical duplication methods.

Winsage

February 22, 2026

Opinion: Windows 11 isn’t the disaster some claim – and it’s time to say so

Windows 11 has faced challenges, including a comprehensive list of top issues identified in 2025, but it is not uniquely unstable compared to earlier versions like Windows 95, 98, XP, 7, and 10. Recent headlines have highlighted various problems such as printer malfunctions and performance issues, but these are often exaggerated due to increased visibility. Historically, Windows has experienced similar cycles of instability, and the perception of widespread failure today is amplified by rapid documentation of minor issues. User trust in Windows has eroded, with skepticism about performance stemming from cumulative updates and the personal impact of issues on over a billion users. The focus should shift to improving predictability and transparency regarding updates rather than solely counting bugs. Windows 11's frequency of out-of-band updates is comparable to that of Windows 7 and 10, with improved mechanisms for addressing problems quickly. Gamers continue to adopt Windows 11 due to enhanced CPU scheduling, improved GPU performance, and features like Auto HDR and DirectStorage. Microsoft is committed to further improving the gaming experience. The scale of Windows operations, with over a billion users and multiple concurrent releases, contributes to occasional anomalies. Despite criticisms, most Windows 11 systems operate without significant issues, performing adequately for daily tasks and gaming. Microsoft has announced plans for enhancements, including bug fixes, performance improvements, and security upgrades, indicating that Windows 11 remains a solid choice for users.

Winsage

February 20, 2026

Will Microsoft ever stop messing with Notepad? Windows 11 app could soon get another feature — and I’m predicting a backlash

Notepad in Windows 11 is expected to gain a significant enhancement that allows users to embed images, according to reports from Windows Latest. This feature aims to expand Notepad's functionality, making it more similar to Microsoft Word. Notepad has already introduced markdown support, enabling various formatting options. However, longtime users express concerns that adding features may compromise the app's simplicity and performance. Microsoft claims that users can disable certain features and that the new image support will not significantly affect performance. There are also security concerns related to vulnerabilities in the markdown formatting system. This change follows Microsoft's decision to remove WordPad from Windows 11, prompting questions about Notepad's evolving role in the Windows ecosystem.

AppWizard

February 18, 2026

How often do we see game sequels totally shift genres?

Remedy Entertainment is known for its third-person shooters and has released a new game following the success of Control, which features telekinesis and a shape-shifting pistol, emphasizing rich narratives and immersive environments. Ryu Go Gotoku Studio has transformed the Yakuza franchise from traditional brawling to an open-world, turn-based RPG format, introducing a new protagonist and quirky gameplay elements. Valve's Half-Life: Alyx has shifted the franchise to a VR experience, showcasing the company's commitment to innovation despite mixed reactions regarding VR accessibility. The Red Dead series began with Red Dead Revolver in 2004, evolving from a level-based shooter to open-world storytelling in Red Dead Redemption and its sequel. Return to Zork marked the transition from text-based to graphical adventure games, expanding storytelling possibilities while sparking debates among purists. Dune 2 transitioned from an adventure game to a real-time strategy format, influencing future RTS titles and highlighting genre-blending potential. Grand Theft Auto 3 redefined open-world gameplay, allowing players significant freedom and interaction, greatly impacting the gaming landscape and solidifying Rockstar's reputation.