sticks Archives

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Hytale Early Access Review So Far

Hytale, developed by former Minecraft modders, is a survival crafting game that serves as a spiritual successor to Minecraft. It retains familiar block-breaking and building mechanics but streamlines gameplay by allowing players to craft basic tools from easily collectible materials. Movement is enhanced with the ability to jump higher and utilize parkour mechanics. The game runs smoothly on high-performance systems, maintaining framerates above 60 even at maximum draw distance. Hytale features an engaging combat system with various weapon types and a diverse range of enemies. Building mechanics offer a broader selection of components, though some classic techniques may become obsolete. The Early Access version currently lacks clear direction, with the main hub area under construction and exploration revealing barriers in dungeons. Overall, Hytale presents thoughtful enhancements and a refreshing take on the survival crafting genre.

AppWizard

January 15, 2026

7 Things in Hytale’s Early Game that Surprised Me as a Minecraft Veteran

Hytale has entered early access, offering players a vibrant world to explore. Early-game guides are being developed to assist newcomers with topics like smelting and server setups. The game is inspired by Minecraft but features unique elements. Key observations from the early game include: 1. Players can fell an entire tree with a single punch, resulting in an explosion of wood, sticks, and sap. 2. Overworld mobs, such as squirrels and rabbits, have more health than expected, requiring multiple hits to defeat. 3. Ores glimmer faintly in underground caves, making them easier to spot with torches. 4. The crafting system requires various materials for gear progression, making it more intricate compared to Minecraft. 5. There are enhanced decorative options, allowing for slanted roof blocks, half-block walls, and shelves with candles and books. 6. Exploration reveals unique locations like the "Forgotten Temple Gateway," which features distinctive mobs and NPCs. 7. Farming mechanics are more complex, with players able to construct animal care buildings and use farming aids, and new seeds requiring “Essence of Life.”

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

Steam Machine release date speculation, specs and latest news

Valve is set to launch the Steam Machine in early 2026, potentially up to April 2026, though delays may occur due to a RAM crisis affecting component prices. Pre-orders are currently unavailable, but customers can add it to their Steam wishlist for notifications. The Steam Machine is a PC-hybrid console, running SteamOS, and offers a desktop environment for flexibility. It has performance specifications between the Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5, with 16GB of system memory and 8GB of video memory. Key specifications include a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU, semi-custom AMD RDNA3 GPU, and storage options of 512GB or 2TB NVMe SSD. The Steam Machine will come with a Steam Controller, featuring standard controls and enhanced precision through dual trackpads and a gyroscope.

BetaBeacon

December 22, 2025

This new kind of controller fixed mobile games for me, and I’m never looking back

- The Abxylute M4 controller is small and fits effortlessly into the pocket, making it convenient for mobile gaming on the go. - The MCON controller is built like a tank and combines MagSafe magnets, Bluetooth controllers, and a PSP Go-style sliding design. - More magnetic controllers are expected to hit the market in the future as magnets become a standard feature on modern smartphones. - Magnetic controllers are seen as a natural evolution for mobile gaming, providing convenience and portability for short gaming sessions outside the home.

AppWizard

December 10, 2025

Minecraft spear crafting recipe, uses, and more

Minecraft version 1.21.11, titled Mounts of Mayhem, introduces a new weapon: the spear. The spear features a standard jab and a charged attack, inflicting half the damage of an axe but allowing players to engage enemies from a mount. To craft a spear, players need two sticks and a mineral (diamond or iron) arranged in the crafting grid. The spear is compatible with mounts like horses, camels, and the new Nautilus, enabling mounted attacks. Various mobs can spawn wielding a spear, including Zombies, Husks, Zombie horsemen, Camel husk jockeys (with iron spears), Piglins, and Zombified piglins (with golden spears). Players can also use the spear while flying with Elytra wings.

BetaBeacon

December 9, 2025

First look: Android 17 may finally let you remap buttons on your game controller

- Android 17 will introduce a game controller remapping feature - The feature will allow users to customize inputs for buttons and directional sticks on compatible gamepads - The remapping feature will change which key code or axis value is sent to Android games when a button is pressed - Google has time to enhance the feature before the Android 17 update next year

AppWizard

December 5, 2025

Cloud Gaming Is Looking More Attractive Than Ever for All the Wrong Reasons

The cost of RAM has surged significantly, with prices for 16GB DDR4 sticks now around 0, and DDR5 sticks priced five times that amount. Micron, which held a 25.7% share of the DRAM market, announced it will discontinue its consumer-facing brand, Crucial, to focus on AI data center memory, likely exacerbating component prices. Xbox reported a 45% increase in playtime hours on its Game Pass Cloud Gaming service year-over-year, and Nvidia upgraded its GeForce Now service to support games on the latest RTX 5080 GPU. The rise in DRAM prices may persist until 2028, as major manufacturers prioritize supply for AI data centers over the PC industry.

AppWizard

November 28, 2025

New Steam Deck rivals are getting ridiculous, with 9-inch screens and 5x the performance, and I need one right now

The Ayaneo Next 2 is a handheld gaming device featuring AMD's Strix Halo processor, which has a GPU over five times more powerful than the Steam Deck. It includes a 9-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2,400 x 1,504 pixels and a 165Hz refresh rate. The device has an ergonomic design, larger than many current handhelds, with features like touchpads, ABXY buttons, a d-pad, analog sticks, dual-mode triggers, and an extra-large battery. The Strix Halo chip has shown impressive 1080p gaming performance in previous reviews, while concerns exist regarding battery life, heat management, and noise levels. The Ayaneo Next 2 is expected to be priced similarly to other handhelds with the Strix Halo chip, which may exceed ,000. An upcoming video stream will showcase its features in more detail.

AppWizard

November 18, 2025

Steam Machine and Steam Frame: your questions answered

Valve is developing a game console called the Steam Machine, set to be released in early 2026. It is a compact gaming PC designed to fit into entertainment setups, resembling a 6-inch cube and running on SteamOS. The Steam Machine will feature a wireless controller and is claimed to have six times the performance of the Steam Deck while maintaining compatibility with its game library. Its dimensions are 152mm tall, 162.4mm deep, and 156mm wide. Pricing has not been disclosed, but Valve aims to keep it affordable within the entry-level PC market. Valve is also introducing a new Steam Controller that combines traditional gamepad features with advanced inputs and customization options. It includes drift-resistant joysticks and "Grip Sense" technology for enhanced gameplay. Additionally, Valve is developing a VR headset called the Steam Frame, which supports both flat-screen and VR gaming. It can stream games from a nearby PC and is designed to work with the Steam Machine for improved streaming quality. The estimated battery life for the Steam Frame is between one to four hours, depending on usage.

BetaBeacon

November 17, 2025

Android 17 update to bring native game controller remapping for mobile gamers

Android is working on a new feature for Android 17 that will allow users to remap controllers at the system level, providing a native controller area in Settings. This feature will also include a "virtual gamepad" that can map physical buttons to touch regions in games that do not have native controller support. This new feature aims to provide consistency for clip-on controllers, Android handhelds, cloud gaming players, Android TV boxes, laptops, and improve accessibility for players who rely on remapping buttons for gameplay.