spirit Archives

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

Steam Week in Review: Steam is flooded with liminal spaces games and I approve, but I think I’ve found the best to start with

Dreamcore explores "liminal spaces," featuring environments like indoor pools, low-poly suburbia, and children's play areas, with a notable "liminal hotel" inspired by the Backrooms meme. Liminal spaces evoke feelings of transition and emptiness and have gained popularity on platforms like Steam. Since its release in January 2025, Dreamcore has introduced a new map called Dead Mall, reminiscent of 1990s super malls. Other titles in the genre include Pools, Tainted Pools, and Liminal Waters, while games like Dream Logic offer a PS1-era twist. Dreamcore is noted for its diverse themes and well-optimized performance, allowing players to explore unsettling landscapes. Steam's sales chart from May 12 - 19 lists the top games by revenue, with Subnautica 2 leading, followed by Forza Horizon 6, Counter-Strike 2, and PUBG: Battlegrounds. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Night is expected to rise in the charts, and 007 First Light is gaining traction due to pre-orders. Librarian: Tidy Up The Arcane Library ranks eighth despite its April release. A humorous user review for Bubsy 4D received attention for its candidness.

AppWizard

May 24, 2026

Great moments in PC gaming: Stealing and selling someone else’s treasure in Sea of Thieves

Sea of Thieves, developed by Rare and released in 2018, is a sandbox pirate adventure game that has evolved with new enemies, factions, systems, season passes, and cosmetics. Recently, players experienced a theft during their gameplay, where another crew stole one of their chests, highlighting the game's unpredictable nature. The thrill of piracy, including both stealing from others and being stolen from, remains a central theme in the game.

AppWizard

May 23, 2026

Swatting hoax sees cops raid elderly Minecraft player’s home

Sue Jacquot, also known as GrammaCrackers, experienced a swatting incident on May 18 while she was asleep at home. Armed police officers responded to a false report, with around 20 police cars and five SWAT vans arriving at her residence. Jacquot's grandson noted the spectacle outside, and the responding officers treated her with respect, even requesting her autograph. One officer suspected the call was a hoax after seeing her livestreaming setup. Despite the incident, Jacquot resumed her Minecraft livestream the next morning, harvesting around 60 Nether warts for potions.

AppWizard

May 23, 2026

I’ll never love another RPG like I loved Neverwinter Nights

A dedicated gamer finds solace in the RPG Neverwinter Nights, released in the early 2000s, which has a vibrant modding community. The game served as a lifeline during a challenging period, allowing the player to create adventures using the Aurora Toolset. The modding scene has fostered creativity and shared experiences through Persistent Worlds. However, the gaming landscape has evolved, with new games often prioritizing profit over player-created content, leading to a longing for the past. Despite changes, the community around Neverwinter Nights remains vibrant, inviting both old players and newcomers to explore its creative possibilities.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

Minecraft-playing grandma swatted when livestreaming to raise funds for grandson’s cancer treatment

An 81-year-old Arizona grandmother, Sue Jacquot, known as “GrammaCrackers,” was involved in a swatting incident during a Minecraft fundraiser for her grandson's cancer treatment. Jacquot streamed her gameplay for 15 days to raise funds for her grandson, Jack Self, who has sarcoma cancer, garnering significant community support. On a recent Monday, police responded to a false report claiming Jacquot had been shot, leading to a tactical response from law enforcement. The malicious call falsely alleged that Jack had harmed his grandmother and threatened to take his own life. Despite the incident, Jacquot remains committed to her gaming and fundraising efforts. Police are investigating the swatting call.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

81-year-old Minecraft streamer GrammaCrackers swatted during cancer fundraiser stream

Sue Jacquot, known as GrammaCrackers, is an 81-year-old gamer who was streaming on Twitch to raise funds for her grandson's cancer treatment when she experienced a swatting incident on May 19. Law enforcement responded to a false emergency call, sending multiple SWAT vehicles and police officers to her home. Despite the situation, she described the experience as “kinda fun” and noted that the officers treated her kindly. GrammaCrackers has been creating online content since October 2025, primarily focusing on Minecraft, which remains popular among her viewers. The incident drew anger and concern from online users, but it also increased media attention, potentially boosting viewership and donations for her fundraiser. She chose to continue her Minecraft challenge despite the incident.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

Arizona gamer grandmother swatted during cancer fundraiser livestream

Sue Jacquot, an 81-year-old gamer and YouTuber known as GrammaCrackers, was the target of a swatting incident on May 18, which involved a false emergency call that prompted a significant police response at her home. She was livestreaming a "Minecraft" session to raise funds for her grandson Jack Self's cancer treatments at the time. The Queen Creek Police SWAT team arrived with full tactical gear, but the situation was resolved quickly as the report was confirmed to be a hoax. Jacquot has over 630,000 YouTube subscribers and has raised over 0,000 through her GoFundMe campaign for her grandson's medical expenses. Despite the incident, she continued her gaming activities the next day, supported by her community.

AppWizard

May 21, 2026

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a textbook remaster

Ubisoft has released a remastered version of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, titled Black Flag Resynced, after a 12-year hiatus. The game features significant upgrades, including an overhauled combat system with dynamic animations, seamless transitions between cities and the ocean, dynamic weather conditions, and enhanced lighting effects using ray tracing. New gameplay features include a crouch button, a fast travel option to the Jackdaw from the map screen, and a shanty player for selecting songs. While some systems have been reinvented, the game retains familiar elements and largely stays true to its roots, preserving the essence of the original experience.

AppWizard

May 20, 2026

Splitgate studio reveals its new game, looks a lot like its old game

1047 Games has announced a new 6v6 movement shooter titled Empulse. The game features mechanics such as wallrunning, a grapple hook, Holojumps for vertical mobility, and P.A.I.N.T. bombs for strategic surface manipulation. Empulse will also include player-controlled mechs with heavy weaponry and unique abilities. The game is set to enter early access later this year, and players can sign up for access at playempulse.com.

AppWizard

May 20, 2026

Another live service game is dead just a few months after launch

Quantic Dream has announced the discontinuation of its multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), Spellcasters Chronicles, just three months after its launch due to insufficient audience engagement for long-term sustainability. The game peaked at 888 concurrent players at launch, which quickly declined to very few active users. The studio will halt development, likely leading to layoffs, but will continue work on Star Wars Eclipse. Players can access Spellcasters Chronicles until June 19, after which the servers will shut down, and all expenditures during early access will be eligible for refunds upon request.