solo play Archives

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

FF14 Fanfest will look more into the MMO’s future than you might expect, director Naoki Yoshida teases

The NA Fan Festival in Anaheim is scheduled for April 24-25 and will unveil the title and narrative of the FF14 8.0 expansion. Game director Naoki Yoshida suggests attendees may be surprised by the announcements during his keynote address. The FF14 patch 7.5 is set to release on April 28, shortly after the festival. Yoshida aims to provide insights into the future of FF14 and hints at early gameplay demonstrations during the festival. He describes the Beastmaster as a limited job for solo play and addresses the upcoming ultimate raid, indicating a desire for a grand presentation at Fanfest. The event will be streamed on the official FF14 YouTube and Twitch channels.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

New Marathon update takes a leaf out of Arc Raiders’ book and encourages you to play nice

A recent update to Marathon has introduced the 'CARRI' system, which stands for the "CyberAcme Runner Reinforcement Initiative," encouraging cooperative gameplay among players. This system rewards both solo players and teams for completing contract objectives and successfully exfiltrating together. Players can earn CyberAcme Commendations, which can be spent in the CARRI Armory for various rewards, including weapons and salvage crates. Solo players can earn commendations by completing individual objectives and can receive extra commendations when extracting with others. A new 'toggle to open' setting for proximity chat and an end-of-run feature called 'Stay Together' promote friendly interactions. The update also includes a 'Mercy Kit' for reviving downed players from other teams and introduces eleven new Deluxe Unique weapons, balance changes, and adjustments to gameplay mechanics, such as railgun charging and extraction timers. The update is now live.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

After 4 hours of pirate survival in Windrose, I’m reinstalling Sea of Thieves

After four hours of gameplay in Windrose, the player has engaged in activities such as felling trees, collecting seashells, and constructing grass huts, while also facing challenges from various creatures. The player is currently stranded on an archipelago and must rescue their crew from different islands. Windrose has seen nearly 70,000 concurrent players and received around 1,500 positive reviews on its first day on Steam, despite being in early access. The game lacks a wind system for sailing, and the player feels it resembles a survival game with pirate aesthetics rather than an authentic pirate experience. In contrast, Sea of Thieves is noted for capturing the essence of piracy through its multiplayer experience and physical gameplay mechanics. Sea of Thieves has evolved over time with new content and features, while Windrose has faced technical issues that hinder the experience. The player expresses skepticism about investing time into Windrose, despite the potential for building a pirate fortress.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

Slay the Spire 2’s team is already cooking on 3 ideas for new game modes, each offering ‘ways to interact with Slay the Spire that don’t exist right now’

Casey Yano, co-founder of Mega Crit, revealed that Slay the Spire 2 will enter early access in the next year or two and will feature three new modes, including a co-op mode. This addition aims to attract both seasoned players and newcomers. The team is exploring new gameplay dynamics, which may include collaborative gameplay, dynamic challenges, and experimental features that could surprise players.

AppWizard

March 31, 2026

The first Elder Scrolls Online season is upon us, but I’m already more excited for the second

The Elder Scrolls Online is launching a new seasonal model starting with Season Zero on April 2, 2026. This model consists of approximately 90-day cycles, including Season Zero, Season One, and Season Two, with all seasonal content available for free to players who own the game. Season Zero will feature the Night Market, a limited-time event zone in the Daedric realm of Fargrave, available for seven weeks, where players can align with one of three NPC factions. The season will also introduce challenge difficulty options for overland experiences and improvements to combat, including a new test for the large-scale PvP mode, Vengeance. Season One will see the return of the Thieves Guild with new gameplay elements and dynamic world events. Additionally, a new base-game trial, the Crimson Veldt, will be introduced later in the year.

BetaBeacon

March 31, 2026

Tom Clancy’s THE DIVISION RESURGENCE Is Now Available On iOS And Android Devices

Ubisoft has released Tom Clancy’s The Division Resurgence on mobile platforms, offering a new standalone experience set in a collapsing New York City during the early days of the Green Poison outbreak. Players can choose from five specializations, engage in solo or co-op gameplay, and participate in various activities such as Dark Zone, Conflict, and open world missions. The game is free-to-play with in-game purchases available for cosmetic items and convenience options.

AppWizard

March 29, 2026

Minecraft Fans Split Over Update 26.1 and Chaos Cubed Reveal

Mojang has released Minecraft update 26.1, known as the Tiny Takeover, which includes new sound variants for animals, redesigned baby mobs, and the Golden Dandelion flower that stops mob aging. The upcoming Chaos Cubed update has generated significant debate, with criticism focusing on the new mob, the Sulphur Cube, which some players feel lacks utility in single-player mode. Suggestions have been made to enhance the cube's functionality, such as introducing a craftable material from it. Community reactions to Chaos Cubed are based on a preview, and the final details may change before its release. Some players acknowledge that Mojang is currently working on back-end updates, which may result in fewer content additions. The juxtaposition of the smaller update with the anticipation for Chaos Cubed has led to mixed reactions from the community.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

How multiplayer works in Slay the Spire 2

In Slay the Spire 2, co-op gameplay allows one player to host a multiplayer save, with up to three additional players joining as long as they are Steam friends. There are no password-protected lobbies or matchmaking queues. Players must select a save profile with an unlocked character and choose 'Multiplayer' from the main menu. Each player has three profiles, can only host one campaign at a time, and must be present from the beginning of the game. Multiplayer campaigns feature individual inventories, and enemy stats scale with party size. Energy is not shared among players, and loot is distributed individually. Ascension progression in multiplayer is separate from single-player achievements, and players must complete all three acts as a team to earn Ascension levels, which apply to all characters in multiplayer.

AppWizard

March 24, 2026

There’s a new Payday game coming later this year, and it’s VR

Starbreeze is launching a virtual reality game titled Payday: Aces High, part of the Payday franchise, developed by Fast Travel Games. The game features co-op multiplayer for up to four players and allows for solo play. Players assume the roles of elite bank robbers in chaotic heists, maintaining the series' elements of planning and teamwork. Payday: Aces High is set to release in the third quarter of 2026, specifically between July 1 and September 30, and will be available exclusively for Meta Quest and SteamVR headsets. Starbreeze's CEO stated that this game is part of a strategy to expand the Payday franchise through new formats. The studio is currently facing challenges, including issues with Payday 3 and layoffs, while the success of Aces High remains uncertain amid a reevaluation of VR investments in the industry.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

RedOctane’s ‘next evolution in rhythm gaming’ sure looks a lot like 2007’s Rock Band

RedOctane became a significant player in the gaming industry in the early 2000s, peaking in 2005 with the release of Guitar Hero. Activision acquired RedOctane in 2006, but by 2010, the company was closed due to declining interest in rhythm games. In 2025, Embracer Group revived the brand as RedOctane Games, announcing a new title called Stage Tour, which resembles Guitar Hero but introduces new features and game modes. Stage Tour will function as a "band game" with solo play options, and a closed alpha test is planned ahead of its holiday season release. RedOctane Games aims to create a sustainable experience rather than a series of sequels, and there is uncertainty about the demand for a new rhythm game experience. Details on pricing and song availability are still pending.