team Archives

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

You got Nightreigned: Elden Ring’s spinoff is the most aggravating, player-hostile FromSoft game I’ve played, but I keep staying up past 3 AM for ‘one more run’

The author has logged 42 hours playing Elden Ring Nightreign, often sacrificing sleep to sync with friends during the pre-launch phase. Despite its punishing difficulty and reliance on random number generation, the game captivates the author, who finds joy in its challenges and surprises. Key aspects that keep the author returning include the game's unique pace, unexpected twists, and the camaraderie fostered by playing with friends. The author expresses eagerness for potential DLC and values the rewarding nature of victories amidst the struggles faced in the game.

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

NYC students use Minecraft to reimagine inclusive, sustainable spaces in citywide challenge

The all-girl team from P.S. 86 participated in the Minecraft Education Challenge for the second year, focusing on designing a sustainable and inclusive space at Orchard Beach. The challenge, part of the Battle of the Boroughs, had 3,259 applicants, with 175 students in the semi-finals. The team, consisting of sixth graders Yoselin, Zeynabou, Pearl, Emily, and Sadika, was guided by their teacher Kim Judin. They proposed features like solar panels, wheelchair accessibility, and bilingual signage. Although they did not advance to the finals, the experience was valuable for team bonding. The Mayor’s Cup Finals are scheduled for May 31.

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

Elden Ring Nightreign Already Has A Two-Player Co-Op Mod On PC

Modder Luke Yui has released a Duos mode mod for Elden Ring Nightreign, available on the Elden Ring Nightreign Nexus for PC users. This mod allows players to team up with a friend without needing a third player, addressing player demand for a feature that was missing from the game's initial design. Elden Ring Nightreign was primarily designed for three-player co-op or solo play, leading to disappointment among fans. Game director Junya Ishizaki acknowledged that the duos option was overlooked and hinted at potential future support for it. The game is available on multiple platforms, including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

Ubisoft marks 10 years of trolling Splinter Cell fans with a new tease and I can’t believe I’m saying this but they used the wrong picture of Sam Fisher

Fans of the Splinter Cell series have been waiting for a remake announced nearly four years ago, but June 2024 passed without significant updates. Instead, an animated series on Netflix was announced, which will not feature Michael Ironside's voice, and a Splinter Cell movie starring Tom Hardy received a formal nod after being announced in 2012. The remake was unveiled in December 2021, but updates have indicated it is being rewritten for a modern audience, and the director has stepped down, leading to fan disillusionment. Speculation exists that Ubisoft may reveal news at the Summer Game Fest or an upcoming Ubisoft Forward event, but concerns about disappointment are growing. Ubisoft shared an image of Sam Fisher that confused fans, as it was from Pandora Tomorrow instead of Chaos Theory, raising doubts about the company's commitment to the franchise. The ongoing situation has led to speculation that it may be an elaborate prank, while fans continue to hope for the remake's eventual release.

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

Two Legends Of UK Game Development Team Up For New Spectrum Next & PC Game

Tony Warriner and Stoo Cambridge are developing a new action-arcade adventure game titled UrbX Warriors for Spectrum Next and PC. The game features two urban explorers, Alejandro and Ramona, who discover a perilous Mayan temple. Players will battle various adversaries and solve traps and puzzles. The project is currently on Kickstarter, having exceeded its funding goal of £6,000, with rewards including digital copies, standard editions, deluxe editions, and premium editions with a custom joystick. A demo is available on itch.io, and there are plans for potential releases on other platforms such as PSX, Switch, Dreamcast, and Amiga.

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

Atomic Heart studio Mundfish moves into publishing

Mundfish, the developer of Atomic Heart, is launching a publishing label called Powerhouse to support collaboration between developers and investors for innovative game releases. CEO Robert Bagratuni stated that Powerhouse aims to partner with projects that have significant potential and to deliver ambitious titles. Additionally, Atomic Heart has sold over ten million copies since its release in 2023. Bagratuni credited the team's dedication and the players' enthusiasm for the game's success.

Tech Optimizer

May 30, 2025

Dutch police takes Counter Antivirus service AVCheck offline

The Dutch Team High Tech Crime, in collaboration with international partners, has dismantled the counter-antivirus service AVCheck, which was used by cybercriminals to make malware undetectable. AVCheck was one of the largest services of its kind, allowing malware developers to test their software against antivirus programs. The operation involved cooperation from the Netherlands, the United States, and Finland, and was executed by the High Tech Crime Team under the National Public Prosecutor’s Office. The investigation not only shut down AVCheck but also gathered evidence against its administrators and users, including those of related services like Cryptor.biz and Crypt.guru. Additionally, a fake login page was launched to deter AVCheck users, and collaborations with antivirus organizations were established as part of Project Melissa. This action is connected to Operation Endgame, which previously targeted other malware services.

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

Digital Domain vs. the Nether Horde: Behind the VFX of Minecraft

VFX Supervisor Piotr Karwas and Animation Supervisor Liz Bernard discussed the visual effects of Minecraft: The Movie, which includes 187 shots completed in 25 weeks. Karwas, with experience from films like World War Z, served as Cinematic Director, merging CG storytelling with Minecraft's aesthetic. Bernard, with a background from The Lion King, was the Previs Supervisor, focusing on visual planning and comedic tone. Digital Domain assisted with the final battle sequence, and Karwas learned about Minecraft lore from his children. The team worked to balance humor and visuals, ensuring consistency across departments. They faced technical challenges in creating custom VFX shots and animating characters like Piglins and Iron Golems, navigating the constraints of their blocky designs. Karwas is also exploring generative AI to enhance creativity in visual effects workflows.

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

Ready at Dawn and Ubisoft vets found new studio Atlantis

A new gaming venture, Atlantis Studio, has been formed by former employees from Ready at Dawn, Ubisoft, and Midgar Studio. It is led by Ru Weerasuriya, founder of Ready at Dawn, and writer Nico Augusto. Weerasuriya previously worked at Blizzard and was the studio head at Ready at Dawn until March 2025, after its acquisition by Meta. Atlantis Studio aims to create a collaborative environment for game development and will focus on titles for PC and console platforms using Unreal Engine 5.

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

Vietnam to block messaging app Telegram over ‘anti-state’ contents

The Vietnamese government has instructed telecommunications companies to block the Telegram messaging app, citing security concerns and the dissemination of "anti-state" content. This directive was issued by the Telecommunications Department and requires service providers to report compliance by June 2. A document from the Ministry of Public Security indicated that 68% of approximately 9,600 Telegram channels and groups in Vietnam were classified as “bad and toxic,” involved in activities such as anti-state messaging, fraud, and drug trafficking. The government referenced Article 9 of the Telecommunications Law and Decree 147 to justify the ban, claiming Telegram had not complied with regulations. Despite the ban, Telegram remained accessible in Vietnam as of the report date. Telegram expressed surprise at the government's actions and confirmed it is responding to legal requests from Vietnam.