stagger Archives

AppWizard

December 7, 2025

World War 1 survival horror Conscript gets a ‘huge’ update that adds a hardcore mode, redesigned levels, new items and gear, and much more

Conscript, a World War I survival horror game, received a commendable score of 83 from reviewer Alexander Chatziioannou for its portrayal of a French soldier's journey through the Battle of Verdun. Developer Jordan Mochi is releasing a substantial update titled Conscript: Director's Cut, which includes new items like a craftsman's kit and a dog collar that prevents rat spawning, inspired by historical practices. The combat system has been improved with features such as moving while aiming and enhanced melee attacks. Additional updates include changes to the late-game economy, placeable map markers, and an improved records screen. To celebrate the update, publisher Team 17 is offering a 66% discount, reducing the price to $/£6.79.

AppWizard

December 2, 2025

Payday 3 tears up one of its worst systems and replaces it with a shiny new one, and it’s a huge step in the right direction

Since its launch in 2023, Payday 3 has faced challenges, with daily player counts on Steam for Payday 2 being approximately 20 times higher than for Payday 3. Starbreeze has canceled a Dungeons & Dragons project to focus on enhancing Payday 3 and has transitioned support for Payday 2 to another studio. The upcoming free update, Skills 2.0, will overhaul the skill system by eliminating the previous buffs (Rush, Edge, and Grit) and introducing a more intuitive structure with six main archetypes: Soldier, Ninja, Mechanic, Hacker, Conman, and Professional, each with three subdivisions. Players will have access to 51 skill points upon reaching Infamy level 150 and an online tool will help plan skill progression. Starbreeze has adjusted weapon damage to maintain balance and introduced various enhancements, including the ability to throw bags at enemies to stagger them and resolving a bug with throwing knives.

AppWizard

October 18, 2025

Doom: The Dark Ages gets Steam Deck verification and a bunch of portable optimisations, just in time for the launch of Microsoft’s new handheld

Doom: The Dark Ages has received Steam Deck verification. The game, known for being the first in the franchise to be fully ray-traced, faced performance challenges on the Steam Deck due to its minimum requirements. Update 2.2 has introduced optimizations for handheld devices, including general performance improvements, advanced optimization settings, and enhanced sound and visual effects. Players have reported a smoother experience on the Steam Deck, though with reduced visual fidelity compared to PC. The update also includes bug fixes for campaign mode and the Ripatorium, such as weapon balance tweaks and corrections to combat encounters. The Steam Deck version offers an appealing option for fans of first-person shooters, despite not surpassing the experience of traditional desktop gaming.

Winsage

October 8, 2025

Windows 10 EOL could generate £1.8B of e-waste in UK alone

Experts estimate that the potential recovery of precious metals from obsolete Windows 10 PCs in the UK could amount to over £1.6 billion, with approximately 14.4 million obsolete PCs in the UK, primarily 70% laptops and 30% desktops. Each ton of e-waste can yield 190.5 kg of copper, 0.28 kg of gold, and 0.45 kg of silver. The total value of recoverable materials from these devices could reach nearly £1.8 billion, including £1.6 billion from gold, almost £100 million from copper, and £33 million from silver. The calculations do not account for regional differences in readiness for Windows 11 or the adoption of Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESUs). Proper disposal methods are emphasized to avoid contributing to e-waste, and concerns are raised about smaller companies and individuals facing challenges with old hardware after the expiration of Windows 10 ESUs.

AppWizard

August 20, 2025

Hyper Light Breaker has shadow dropped a new update with floating islands, difficulty modifiers, a beefy new tank character, and a challenging duo boss that’s ‘technically 4 bosses’ depending on what order you beat them in

Heart Machine unveiled an early access update for Hyper Light Breaker at the Future Games Show, introducing several new features: a new playable character, a boss encounter with gunslinging twins, and floating islands called Sky Labs. The update includes a ramen vendor for cooking noodle dishes that provide buffs, a "Glitch bar" difficulty system affecting enemy damage and other adjustments, and platforming challenges on the Sky Labs. The update is available for players on Steam.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

FBC: Firebreak patch aims to improve the game’s early hours, which ‘do not provide a good experience,’ Remedy admits

Remedy has acknowledged that FBC: Firebreak did not meet expectations but believes many issues are fixable. A recent patch introduces balance changes to improve gameplay, including making Lost Assets easier to locate and allowing new players to start at Clearance Level 3 for the introductory job, Hot Fix. The patch also includes significant overhauls to core systems, enhancing progression and rewards, with recalibrated unlockable costs and streamlined gear progression. New players can now begin at Clearance Level 3 for the first Job, and must complete a full three-zone run at CL3 to unlock subsequent Jobs. The Operational Requisition has been divided into two categories: Essentials and Expressions, allowing players to access essential gear without unlocking unrelated items. Balancing changes include reduced construction times for certain items, increased health for enemies, and improved accessibility for the Stapler Corrupted Item. Audio issues have been addressed, including missing sound effects and music transition problems. User interface corrections include XP level indicators and crash issues in the Loadout menu. Gameplay improvements involve enhanced haptic feedback and visibility for Lost Assets. Visual enhancements include performance improvements and updates to environmental elements.

AppWizard

May 17, 2025

World of Warcraft game director on the woeful patch 11.1.5: ‘It’s not the experience our players are expecting or deserve’

World of Warcraft's patch 11.1.5 has faced backlash from players due to numerous bugs and the implementation of time-gated content. Senior game director Ion Hazzikostas acknowledged that the launch did not go as planned and highlighted issues with the Flame's Radiance events, which were a key feature of the patch. Other anticipated features, including a bad-luck protection system and a dual-boss raid mode, experienced delays, leading to player disappointment. Hazzikostas noted that the decision to stagger releases aimed to prevent player overwhelm but resulted in frustration over the lack of content at launch. Bugs from previous patches re-emerged, attributed to the accelerated eight-week patch schedule, which is the fastest in the game's history. Developers are using hotfixes to address issues quickly, but this can complicate resolutions. Hazzikostas emphasized the importance of quality over quantity and stated that the team is committed to improving their processes based on the challenges faced with this patch.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

Skyrim stealth archers and NCR Ranger wannabes rejoice: I’m 45 hours into Avowed’s hardest difficulty as a glass cannon gunslinger and I’ve loved every minute of it

Avowed is a wizard-themed game that features unique spells and action-oriented gameplay, inspired by Pillars of Eternity. Players can utilize various spells, including the Pull of Eora, which creates an anti-gravity vortex to ensnare enemies. The game allows for a ranger-style playstyle, where players can engage in stealthy combat as a pistol-wielding archer. After over 45 hours of gameplay, the ranger build proves effective even on the challenging "Path of the Damned" difficulty. Combat is dynamic, with enemies exhibiting impressive tracking abilities, requiring active engagement. The game includes unique weapons, such as flaming swords and lightning pistols, and features companions like a spirit bear that can deal significant damage. Avowed combines elements of traditional RPGs with exhilarating shooter mechanics, catering to players who enjoy stealthy sniper gameplay.

Winsage

October 24, 2024

Microsoft releases Windows 11 update with revamped Start menu, printer fixes, and new Copilot button remapping

Microsoft has released the KB5044380 update for Windows 11, which includes the ability to remap the Copilot key on newer keyboards. This update addresses issues with multi-function printers, Microsoft Teams, and excessive battery consumption, but does not include security fixes. Key fixes include reducing battery consumption during Modern Standby, resolving issues with joining Teams meetings via Outlook reminders, introducing new phone numbers for product activation, and correcting printing issues with multi-function printers. Some features will be rolled out gradually, including a new Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard, the ability to disable notification suggestions from specific apps, renaming the “All apps” section in the Start menu, and new shortcuts for the Narrator feature. Users can manually search for updates or use the Microsoft Update Catalog to explore the update.

AppWizard

September 30, 2024

9 minutes of gameplay from the PC version of Phantom Blade Zero

At the Tokyo Game Show 2024, S-Game showcased a playable demo of its action RPG, Phantom Blade Zero, specifically for PC gamers. The game features fast-paced combat influenced by Chinese martial arts and steampunk aesthetics, with a unique combat system that includes various combos and stagger mechanics, similar to those in Sekiro. The demo was powered by Unreal Engine 5 and performed well on high-end PC systems, although specific hardware details were not provided. There is no confirmed release date for Phantom Blade Zero, but anticipation is high, with comparisons being made to the successful title "Black Myth: Wukong."