technical hurdles Archives

AppWizard

April 25, 2025

Oblivion Remastered loses the most helpful settings on PC thanks to a botched Game Pass update

A recent update for The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered has caused dissatisfaction among PC Game Pass users, as it removed several key settings, including DLSS support, which enhances gaming performance on older hardware. Although a patch was released to address some issues, players remain frustrated with the lack of advanced graphical features. Additionally, there are limitations with cross-save functionality; while the Xbox Series X|S version supports Xbox Play Anywhere for save transfers, Steam users do not have this option, leading to further frustration in the gaming community.

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

Steel Seed has been delayed to April 22nd, gets PC requirements

Steel Seed, a stealth-action adventure game developed by ESDigital Games and Storm in a Teacup, has been postponed from April 10th to April 22nd to allow for additional game optimization. Ilia Svanidze, Head of Marketing at ESDigital Games, stated that the delay is necessary to ensure a polished experience across all platforms due to technical hurdles encountered during platform certification tests. The game will utilize Unreal Engine 5, and the minimum PC requirements are as follows: - OS: Windows 10 - Processor: Intel i7-3770K 3.50GHz or AMD equivalent - Memory: 16 GB RAM - Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1070 / Intel ARC 580 / AMD equivalent - DirectX: Version 12 - Storage: 50 GB available space - VR Support: No Recommended requirements include: - OS: Windows 10 - Processor: Intel Core i7 6700K, 4.00 GHz or AMD equivalent - Memory: 16 GB RAM - Graphics: Nvidia RTX 2070 / Intel ARC 770 / AMD RX 5700XT - DirectX: Version 12 - Storage: 50 GB available space - VR Support: No Details on targeted resolution, framerate, and graphical settings have not yet been disclosed.

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

Naughty Dog And Nixxes On The PC Port Of The Last Of Us Part II: “We Take The Steam Deck Very, Very Seriously”

The Last of Us Part II is set to launch on Steam on April 3, marking a shift in Sony's strategy to release titles across multiple platforms. The porting process involves adapting the game from PlayStation hardware to PC, which presents challenges due to differences in architecture and the need for customizable experiences for PC gamers. The development team, including members from Naughty Dog and Nixxes, has implemented a system for real-time shader compilation to enhance performance. The port will also include new characters and gameplay modes, while maintaining the original narrative. Extensive collaboration between Naughty Dog and Nixxes has ensured support for various input devices and accessibility options.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

Rise of the Ronin review

Rise of the Ronin, an action RPG set in the Edo period developed by Team Ninja, is now available on PC for £40 after its successful launch on PS5. Players have reported performance issues such as fluctuating frame rates and slow-motion movement, particularly in crowded areas, which detracts from the gameplay experience. The game features layered combat mechanics and a narrative focused on the final days of the Shogunate, where players rid villages of bandits and develop connections with NPCs. Despite initial smooth gameplay, performance deteriorated during missions, leading to inconsistent experiences. While some players have enjoyed smooth gameplay, many have faced optimization issues, raising concerns about the game's overall quality and the effectiveness of an upcoming patch from Koei Tecmo to address these problems.

Winsage

March 14, 2025

Fortnite is coming to Windows on Arm

Epic Games and Qualcomm are collaborating to enhance gaming on Windows devices with Snapdragon chips by integrating support for Easy Anti-Cheat. This partnership addresses the challenge of adapting anti-cheat software, which is primarily designed for x64 architecture, to work with Snapdragon devices. Epic aims to test and refine this support through Fortnite, which could improve anti-cheat measures for a wider range of multiplayer games on Snapdragon-powered devices.

AppWizard

February 7, 2025

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 receives first full patch for PC after problems at launch

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 was released on PC on January 30 and faced technical issues leading to mixed reviews on Steam. A major patch was released to address these problems, which included: - Resolution of multiple crash triggers based on player feedback and crash data. - Enhancement of the crash reporting system with screenshot support. - Addition of an option to toggle between Film Style Animation and Comic SFX in settings. - Revamping of the interface for easier initiation of New Game+ mode. - Implementation of a backup system for autosaves at critical narrative points. - Enabling mouse scrolling in the manual load/save menu. - Correction of visual and interface glitches related to DLSS Ray Reconstruction and ray tracing. The developers acknowledged that not all issues were resolved but committed to ongoing updates for further improvements.

Winsage

December 28, 2024

Microsoft’s wins, fails, and WTF moments of 2024

In 2024, Microsoft made significant advancements and faced challenges. The Surface Pro 11th Edition, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, showed improved compatibility with applications like Slack and Google Drive. The Microsoft Recall feature encountered skepticism due to delays and privacy concerns. The Windows 11 2024 Update confused users with multiple release channels and contradictory hardware requirements. The Surface Laptop 7 received praise for its battery life and design. Game Pass evolved into a complex array of tiers, complicating user experience. The Surface Studio 2+ was discontinued, disappointing fans. Microsoft’s Copilot initiative faced challenges, and the HoloLens 2 quietly exited the commercial market. Flight Simulator 2024 struggled with technical issues at launch. Microsoft integrated generative AI into core applications like Paint and Photos. The Windows95Man Paperclip emerged as a cultural phenomenon.

Winsage

December 20, 2024

Microsoft says Auto HDR causes game freezes on Windows 11 24H2

Microsoft has implemented a block on Windows 11 24H2 upgrades for systems with Auto HDR enabled due to reports of game freezes and graphical anomalies. Auto HDR enhances gaming visuals but has caused concerns among users regarding high-contrast and oversaturated visuals. Microsoft warned that enabling Auto HDR could lead to incorrect color representation and unresponsive games. Users experiencing issues are advised to disable Auto HDR through the 'Settings' app. A compatibility hold has been placed on devices with Auto HDR enabled, tagged with safeguard ID 55382406. Additionally, Microsoft has lifted a previous compatibility hold related to Ubisoft game bugs and blocked upgrades on systems with outdated Google Workspace Sync installations and incompatible Intel Smart Sound Technology audio drivers.

AppWizard

October 28, 2024

A PC port for Halo 5 was canceled due to technical issues

Tyler Owens, a former developer of Halo 5, revealed that plans to port the game's single-player campaign to PC have been abandoned due to unspecified technical challenges. Initially, there was speculation about a potential port following the release of Halo 5: Forge for PC in 2016. However, Owens indicated that Microsoft is reluctant to invest resources into a PC adaptation, suggesting that the complexity of the project contributed to its cancellation. The situation is reminiscent of other titles from the Xbox 360 era that faced similar challenges. Currently, the likelihood of Halo 5: Guardians being released on PC is low, especially since all other Halo titles have made their way to the platform.