success Archives

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Steel City sets up new studio in Leamington Spa

Steel City has established a new studio in Leamington Spa, UK, to enhance its creative capabilities and talent pool. The leadership team includes Nathan Fisher (Head of Art), Alison Beasley (Head of Marketing and Communications), Sylvain Cornillon (Head of Technology), Todd Matherne (Head of Quality Assurance), and Anna Lapworth (Head of People and Culture). This studio will collaborate with the existing team in Sheffield. Tim Coupe, Vice President of Studio, stated that the expansion aims to attract senior talent and strengthen the studio network. Clive Moody, Vice President of Product Development, emphasized Leamington Spa's importance in the UK gaming industry.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

If “good is the new bad” in games, flawed experiments won’t have time to grow into future GOTYs

The BioShock series is experiencing significant narrative revisions for BioShock 4 following an internal review, as noted by Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, who highlighted the industry's shift towards higher standards in gaming. Players now expect exceptional experiences, with the phrase "good is the new bad" reflecting the competitive market where only remarkable titles succeed. The gaming industry has historically benefited from innovative yet imperfect games, like Divine Divinity, which eventually led to the success of Baldur's Gate 3. The current trend towards polished games may hinder creativity and limit the development of new genres, as the industry thrives on iteration and experimentation.

Winsage

August 12, 2025

Windows 11 KB5063878 (24H2) boosts performance, direct download links (.msu)

Windows 11 KB5063878 is a mandatory update that introduces features such as Quick Machine Recovery, improved stability, and enhanced system performance. The update will automatically download and install, identified as the 2025-08 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5063878), advancing systems to Windows 11 Build 26100.4946. It addresses stability issues reported after the May 2025 updates, particularly in gaming scenarios. Direct download links for offline installers (.msu) are available on the Microsoft Update Catalog. The update includes a new Settings UI with an AI-powered search bar, enhancements for handheld gaming, a redesigned Black Screen of Death (BSOD), and Quick Machine Recovery for unbootable systems. Users in Europe with Copilot+ PCs gain new AI features like Recall, which can be disabled through Privacy & Security settings. Fixes in this update include resolving Windows Firewall errors, issues with the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS), visibility problems in File Explorer, and bugs affecting the Settings app and laptop lid options. Microsoft is unaware of any current issues with the update and will continue testing.

AppWizard

August 12, 2025

CHARTS: Mafia The Old Country debuts at No.3 on Steam

Mafia: The Old Country debuted on August 7th and became the third highest-grossing title on Steam despite mixed reviews. Counter-Strike 2 remained the top title, followed by Battlefield 6 in second place. The Steam Deck was fourth, and Cyberpunk 2077 returned to the Top Ten in fifth place due to a strategic discount. Marvel Rivals rose to sixth place, while Peak climbed to seventh. Apex Legends moved up to eighth place with a new season, Rust surged to ninth place after a 50 percent price reduction, and Street Fighter 6 rounded out the Top Ten with a 25 percent discount. The Steam Top Ten for the week ending August 12th includes: 1. Counter-Strike 2, Valve 2. Battlefield 6, EA (P) 3. Mafia: The Old Country, 2K Games 4. Steam Deck, Valve 5. Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt 6. Marvel Rivals, NetEase 7. Peak, Aggro Crab 8. Apex Legends, EA 9. Rust, Facepunch 10. Street Fighter 6, Capcom

AppWizard

August 12, 2025

Remedy revenue up 63.5% despite Firebreak underperforming

Remedy Entertainment reported a 63.5% increase in revenue for the second quarter, totaling €16.9 million, due to increased game sales, royalties, and reduced development costs. The CEO, Tero Virtala, noted that the new title FBC: Firebreak contributed significantly to this growth, supported by minimum guarantees from Microsoft and PlayStation. However, the game has not met expectations on the Steam platform, with most players engaging on PlayStation and Xbox. Remedy is committed to improving the game based on player feedback and has started rolling out patches for ongoing development.

Tech Optimizer

August 12, 2025

Your antivirus is under attack from new “killer” tool – here’s what we know

Cybercriminals are enhancing their capabilities to disable antivirus and endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems, with a new malware tool called EDRKillShifter being circulated in underground forums. This tool can neutralize EDR systems from vendors like Sophos, Bitdefender, and Kaspersky, using obfuscation techniques and signed drivers that may be stolen or compromised. EDRKillShifter was found embedded in the legitimate Clipboard Compare tool from Beyond Compare, indicating sophisticated tactics to evade detection. The malware emerged in mid-2024 after an unsuccessful attempt to disable antivirus software and deploy ransomware, revealing evolving strategies among attackers. To mitigate risks, Sophos recommends enabling tamper protection, maintaining robust security hygiene, and keeping systems updated, particularly regarding outdated signed drivers.

AppWizard

August 11, 2025

Nancy Drew Series Still #1 in PC Games

Nancy Drew debuted in 1930 during the Great Depression, providing an escape for families and inspiring readers with her ingenuity and bravery. She transitioned into video games in the late 1990s, with HeR Interactive launching over 30 titles starting in 1998, allowing players to embody her character without seeing her physical form. However, after 2015, the franchise faced challenges, including layoffs and a decline in game quality, as the company shifted focus to attract younger mobile audiences. Despite these changes, the games are now appealing to a broader audience, including adults. Nancy Drew symbolizes the potential for female protagonists to inspire through intelligence and determination rather than violence.

AppWizard

August 11, 2025

Rod Fergusson is leaving Blizzard

Rod Fergusson, the general manager of the Diablo franchise, has announced his departure from Blizzard Entertainment. He joined Blizzard in February 2020 after over 15 years with the Gears of War franchise. Fergusson expressed fulfillment in his time at Blizzard, having driven the Diablo franchise forward with four major launches. Xbox head Phil Spencer acknowledged Fergusson's contributions to the franchise. The future leadership of the Diablo franchise at Blizzard remains uncertain.

AppWizard

August 11, 2025

Bithell Games laying off 11 staff

Bithell Games is reducing its workforce by parting ways with 11 employees due to difficulties in securing new projects. This decision follows the launch of their title, Tron: Catalyst, in June. Founder Mike Bithell highlighted the challenges faced by smaller studios in finding financial backing for future projects. He emphasized communication with affected staff and offered severance packages to ease the impact of the layoffs. Bithell praised the skills of his team and encouraged other developers to consider the laid-off employees for future opportunities. Despite the layoffs, the studio's existing self-published games will remain available, and ongoing support for them will continue.

AppWizard

August 11, 2025

Sega’s games business reports 13% dip in sales

Sega reported a 13 percent decrease in sales for the first quarter of its fiscal year, with the Consumer segment generating ¥44.6 billion, down from ¥51.3 billion the previous year. The operating income for the gaming division dropped 66 percent from ¥8.9 billion to ¥5.2 billion. Sales of new games declined by 33 percent from ¥3.9 billion to ¥2.6 billion, while catalogue sales decreased by 21.4 percent from ¥11.2 billion to ¥8.8 billion. Sega Sammy, the parent company, experienced a 22.7 percent decline in net sales, totaling ¥81 billion for the quarter.