standalone titles Archives

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

Forget Steam Frame, you can get up to $70 off the Meta Quest 3S in this early Black Friday sale

The Meta Quest 3 is highlighted for its affordability, solid hardware, and a rich library of exclusive games. The Meta Quest 3S, a budget-friendly alternative, is currently available at a discount as part of early Black Friday promotions. It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor, 8GB of RAM, and improved weight distribution. The Meta Quest 3S is rated 7/10 and is recommended for first-time buyers or those upgrading from the Quest 2. It supports standalone and PCVR gaming, allowing access to titles like Batman: Arkham Shadow and Deadpool VR, as well as streaming PCVR games. The 128GB model is priced at 9.99 on Amazon, bundled with a Gorilla Tag skin and a three-month trial of the Horizon+ service, while the 256GB version is available for 9.99, including the same trial and a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow. The discount is part of an early Black Friday sale, suggesting availability until December 1, 2025.

AppWizard

November 16, 2024

Half-Life 2 gets a major 20th Anniversary Update and bundles Lost Coast with episodes —the game is now free on Steam until November 18

Half-Life 2 celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a comprehensive update on Steam, introducing free content including elements from the Lost Coast expansion and Episodes One and Two until November 18. The Orange Box bundle, which includes these titles along with Portal and Team Fortress 2, is available for .99 until November 22. Most mod support for Half-Life 2 is now integrated into the main game, and standalone store pages for expansions have been delisted. The update features a complete visual overhaul, enhancing graphics to match Lost Coast's fidelity, and introduces a new High Quality mode for improved model rendering and shadow effects. User interface improvements include compatibility with modern controllers and three and a half hours of developer commentary added to Half-Life 2.

AppWizard

August 27, 2024

Techland says short standalone titles may be “the future of games”

Polish developer Techland is suggesting that shorter, standalone titles may become more common in the gaming industry. Tymon Smektała, director of the Dying Light franchise, discussed this trend in a conversation with GI.biz, highlighting the release of a new standalone entry in the Dying Light series called The Beast. He noted that as players age and face increasing distractions in their lives, the appeal of lengthy games requiring 50 to 100 hours to complete diminishes. Smektała reflected on his own experience with long games like Assassin's Creed Origins and Odyssey, which became challenging to commit to. He believes the industry's focus on game length is starting to shift towards offering shorter, more meaningful interactive experiences that align with players' evolving lifestyles.