studio Archives

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

The Elder Scrolls Online’s devs are pushing through hard times after layoffs and delays: ‘We didn’t want to rush to just hit a date’

The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) has faced significant challenges, including the cancellation of Project Blackbird in July 2025, which led to the layoff of 62 employees. In July 2026, Xbox's restructuring resulted in a reduction of 213 positions at Zenimax Online, shrinking the studio's workforce by approximately 60% within a year. Despite expressing optimism earlier in the year about refreshing animations and introducing new gameplay mechanics, the layoffs have led to the postponement of several updates until 2027. A representative from the development team emphasized the importance of maintaining quality over meeting deadlines.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

8 strong Elder Scrolls opinions: With over 2,500 combined hours (and not all as stealth archers), we shout at each other about Skyrim, Morrowind, and Oblivion

Players in The Elder Scrolls series have taken on roles such as the Nerevarine and defeated characters like Dagoth Ur and Mehrunes Dagon. They have collectively spent over 2,500 hours reflecting on the franchise's past and future. Notable quests include Oblivion's The Ultimate Heist, Morrowind's atmosphere, and Skyrim's side quests, particularly A Night to Remember. Some players prefer older RPGs for their depth, while there are mixed feelings about Bethesda's recent titles, with calls for improved storytelling in games like Starfield. The editors advocate for a focus on interactivity, highlighting the immersive experience of manipulating the game environment. They also express interest in an Elder Scrolls television series, suggesting it could explore the franchise's lore while fans await The Elder Scrolls 6.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

Experimental RPG developer Summer Eternal: ‘We’re giving away 5% of our studio to you, the Players’ in order to ‘mend the trust broken in this industry a thousand times over’

Aleksandar Gavrilović has introduced a governance model at Summer Eternal that incorporates the interests of all stakeholders, including a player cooperative within a non-profit organization. Players will not profit personally but will have a say in how the organization’s income is allocated, aiming to rebuild trust in the gaming industry. Summer Eternal is pioneering a model that provides ownership stakes and profit-sharing to freelancers and customers, with players having a democratic influence supported by 5% of the profits. The studio will launch the Summer Eternal Anthology Vol. 1, featuring essays from notable contributors, available for preorder for one more day.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

Tim Cain: ‘Among other things that Steve Jackson Games didn’t like about Fallout was Vault Boy’

The Fallout video game was initially developed with the intention of using the GURPS (Generic Universal Role-Play System) license from Steve Jackson Games. However, misunderstandings led to the dissolution of the licensing agreement, which Steve Jackson learned about from a press member rather than Interplay directly. Jackson's objections were primarily due to creative differences, particularly regarding the violent opening cutscene, character design, and the whimsical style of the mascot, Vault Boy. After extensive discussions, Jackson threatened legal action if Interplay continued with Fallout in its current form, prompting Interplay to abandon the GURPS license. This decision significantly impacted the future direction of the Fallout franchise.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

Authors Silent Hill: Townfall We’re working on fixing FPS drops on PC.

Official representatives of the Silent Hill series have acknowledged technical challenges with the PC versions of Silent Hill: Townfall and are working on a patch to address performance issues reported by early users. This update will target the game versions on Steam and the Epic Games Store, with a release date to be announced once finalized. Players have reported significant frame rate drops, frequent stutters, and unstable optimization, with some experiencing processor temperatures reaching 90°C and spiking at 100°C. There are concerns about refund requests and negative impacts on user ratings due to the lack of fixes since the launch of version 1.0. Despite these issues, some players appreciate the game's atmosphere and gameplay. The development team is prioritizing the resolution of these performance problems, with updates to be provided on the studio's official website and social media.

BetaBeacon

September 25, 2026

Pokémon-Like RPG ‘Aniimo’ Launches on iOS and Android After Huge PC and Console Debut

Aniimo, a new creature-catching game, has been released on iPhone by Pawprint Studio. The game allows players to capture over 200 creatures known as Aniimo and merge with them to utilize their abilities for combat, traversal, and puzzle-solving. Aniimo has gained popularity with over 100,000 concurrent Steam players and positive reviews for its art style and combat mechanics. The mobile release offers full cross-platform play and cross-progression with PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, as well as online co-op, PvP modes, and a Homeland system. The game is available for free on the App Store with in-app purchases and is accessible on Android, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.

Winsage

September 24, 2026

Poll: Which new Surface device are you most excited about?

Microsoft has updated its Surface lineup, introducing the refreshed Surface Pro with a 12-inch display and the Surface Laptop with a 13-inch screen, both powered by Snapdragon X2 processors. The Surface Mouse has been revived as part of this update. Microsoft will showcase the Surface Laptop Ultra at an upcoming event. The Surface portfolio has undergone significant changes, including the discontinuation of the Surface Hub, Surface Go, Surface Laptop Go, Surface Studio, Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Duo, Surface Book, Surface Headphones, and Surface Earbuds. The current lineup is more focused, allowing Microsoft to concentrate on delivering high-quality devices.

AppWizard

September 24, 2026

Survival RPG Everwind introduces a Minecraft-style sandbox mode in major new update

Everwind's latest update, Winds of Creation, introduces a sandbox mode that allows players to explore creativity without survival constraints. The update enhances the game with new features such as a revamped starting island for Arcanists, Wolverine-style claws for melee combat, and a Steamer Localizer device for locating points of interest. It also includes quality-of-life improvements like health and stamina restoration upon leveling up, streamlined item placement, and refreshed item icons and enemy names. The update is available as of September 24, and future developments are planned, including inter-ship teleportation and modding support.

AppWizard

September 24, 2026

Microsoft files patent for “ad-credit” system to show ads on PC and Xbox without disrupting gameplay

Microsoft has patented an "ad-credit" system to integrate advertisements into PC and Xbox gaming without interrupting gameplay. The patent, named 'Contextually Aware Management of Interactive Software Application Access', identifies natural pauses in gameplay to display ads, rewarding players with credits for uninterrupted playtime after viewing. In 2022, Microsoft began testing ad-supported game streaming on Xbox. Additionally, new monthly cloud gaming limits for Game Pass subscribers will take effect in November 2026, with Essential subscribers limited to five hours, Premium to ten hours, and Ultimate to fifteen hours per month. Xbox has also announced layoffs affecting 268 positions across various studios as part of restructuring efforts.

BetaBeacon

September 24, 2026

Aniimo Launches On Mobile For IOS And Android

Pawprint Studio releases free-to-play creature-catching open-world RPG Aniimo for mobile platforms, featuring cross-platform and cross-progression capabilities. Players can collect and merge over 200 Aniimo, explore the world of Idyll, and customize their own slice of the world. Multiplayer features include the ability to call for help, invite others to locations, and follow other players.