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Star Wars Zero Company is a very safe XCOM descendant, but its most interesting parts are found in its Midnight Suns DNA
AppWizard
August 11, 2026

Star Wars Zero Company is a very safe XCOM descendant, but its most interesting parts are found in its Midnight Suns DNA

Star Wars Zero Company features turn-based combat and soldier management, drawing comparisons to the XCOM series. Developed by Bit Reactor, founded by former Firaxis staff, the game offers a tactical experience but lacks some depth found in XCOM 2. Early gameplay reveals concerns about its mechanics, with instances of frustrating misses during combat. The game emphasizes teamwork, with classes like astromech droids providing support roles. However, it lacks elements like fog of war and diverse combat arenas, and the enemy variety is limited. While inspired by Midnight Suns, the execution does not reach the same depth, and the game's base is smaller. Players can disable permadeath, and squad management systems allow for creative builds. Overall, while enjoyable, Zero Company has not yet met expectations for evolution in the tactics genre.
3 months after the release of Directive 8020, Supermassive Games is laying off even more people
AppWizard
August 11, 2026

3 months after the release of Directive 8020, Supermassive Games is laying off even more people

Supermassive Games is reducing its workforce by up to 75 employees three months after the launch of Directive 8020, citing the need for long-term sustainability. This is the third round of layoffs in under three years, with previous cuts occurring in 2024 and 2025 due to challenges in the gaming industry. The parent company, Nordisk Film, reported an operating profit of €140 million on revenues of €2.2 billion in 2025. The number of employees remaining after the layoffs is currently unclear.
Voidwood, a Fantasy Co-Op Survival Horror Game, Announced for PC
AppWizard
August 11, 2026

Voidwood, a Fantasy Co-Op Survival Horror Game, Announced for PC

Santa Barbara Games has announced its first project, Voidwood, developed by a team from studios like Bethesda, Riot, and EA. The game combines fantasy and horror with an art style similar to Studio Ghibli. Players can team up with up to three friends to explore a cursed forest, focusing on strategy and stealth. During the day, players gather supplies and craft tools, while at night, they must evade The Beast. Communication is crucial, as players can use proximity chat to whisper, but shouting can attract danger. Players can regroup at a camp for safety, but The Beast can still attack if it detects them. Each session lasts 20 to 30 minutes, and the game features meta progression for character development. Voidwood is currently in development for PC and is expected to release in 2027.
A Space for the Unbound Brings Its Emotional Adventure to Android
BetaBeacon
August 11, 2026

A Space for the Unbound Brings Its Emotional Adventure to Android

A Space for the Unbound is now available on Android devices through the Google Play Store. Players can download the game for free and play the first chapter before unlocking the full experience for US.99. The game follows high school sweethearts Atma and Raya in a small Indonesian town during the late '90s, exploring themes of memory, identity, and emotional connection. The game's strong sense of place in rural Indonesia and its narrative-driven gameplay make it a standout indie release.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
August 11, 2026

Meet Snowflake Volunteer: Tor’s Android app that lets you help people bypass censorship

The Tor Project has launched the Snowflake Volunteer app, an Android application developed in collaboration with Bloco, aimed at helping users in restricted regions bypass internet censorship. This app enhances the existing Snowflake capabilities, allowing users to share their internet connections through volunteer-operated proxies to access the Tor network. In June, the number of unique proxy IP addresses used daily increased from approximately 1,300 to 1,700, marking a 29% rise. The Tor Browser operates as a free, privacy-focused network, routing traffic through volunteer-run secure computers. The Snowflake Volunteer app employs "domain fronting" to connect users to various proxies and is designed for those with limited technical skills, simplifying the process of becoming a proxy. Users can download the app from F-Droid or Google Play, run it in the background, and set usage restrictions. While Tor generally advises against using VPNs, some experts recommend them for users in highly censored regions, though this approach has its own challenges.
1666: Amsterdam has the makings of something brilliant but I came away from its preview with a bad feeling as it's early access release creeps too close for comfort
AppWizard
August 11, 2026

1666: Amsterdam has the makings of something brilliant but I came away from its preview with a bad feeling as it’s early access release creeps too close for comfort

1666: Amsterdam is a game developed by Patrice Désilets at his indie studio, Panache Digital Games, after a legal battle with Ubisoft for the rights. The studio produces 15 to 20 builds a day, focusing on progression over perfection. The game features a vast map, a compelling narrative, and innovative exploration mechanics, with an early access launch scheduled for August 25. The protagonist, Noa, embarks on a quest with her feline companion, who contains the soul of a man named Aaron from the 1990s, to uncover demonic Originals and reclaim their powers while facing witch hunters.
There was originally supposed to be a 'much bigger' reveal of Light No Fire: here's why Sean Murray changed his mind
AppWizard
August 10, 2026

There was originally supposed to be a ‘much bigger’ reveal of Light No Fire: here’s why Sean Murray changed his mind

Hello Games has been working on a project titled Light No Fire for nearly three years, following the success of No Man's Sky. Studio founder Sean Murray indicated that there was an intention to showcase more content at the Summer Game Fest 2024, but the positive reception of the initial teaser, which received 20 million views and made it the number two game on the Steam wishlist, led to a change in plans. Murray emphasized a cautious approach to sharing information, stating that they prefer to let the game speak for itself and avoid unnecessary press communication. He mentioned having played Light No Fire recently and noted that the current state of the game exceeds typical expectations for what a studio would reveal at this stage.
Project Xodus Brings Native Xbox PC and Game Pass Games to Linux
AppWizard
August 10, 2026

Project Xodus Brings Native Xbox PC and Game Pass Games to Linux

Project Xodus is an open-source initiative focused on reverse-engineering Xbox PC and Game Pass titles to enable their use on Linux and Mac systems. The project has made significant progress in Microsoft authentication and package decryption, allowing Linux users to download and process Xbox subscription games locally. The team has successfully reverse-engineered Microsoft’s identity services and license verification systems, unlocking encrypted MSIXVC game files and enabling the verification of game licenses and decryption of installation packages on non-Windows operating systems. Xodus serves as a translation bridge for Microsoft’s proprietary ecosystem services, providing custom proxy libraries for games to function as if they are running in a native Windows environment. It specifically targets modern games built on Microsoft’s GDK framework, excluding older titles using the Universal Windows Platform and those dependent on kernel-level anti-cheat mechanisms. The project aims to improve access to Xbox Game Pass on devices like the Steam Deck by facilitating direct local hardware execution, reducing reliance on cloud streaming and enhancing portable gaming experiences. Community feedback has been positive, with developers actively sharing updates and engaging with inquiries.
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