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RPG players are conditioned to think they're 'built different', says Josh Sawyer, so some of them hate it when games like Pillars of Eternity tell them they can't do something
AppWizard
July 15, 2026

RPG players are conditioned to think they’re ‘built different’, says Josh Sawyer, so some of them hate it when games like Pillars of Eternity tell them they can’t do something

Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is ranked #40 on the PC Gamer Top 100 and is favored by RPG enthusiasts, though it has received criticism for its unsatisfactory conclusion. The game's narrative revolves around the resurrection of the god Eothas and the protagonist's mission to stop him, which ultimately proves futile. Director Josh Sawyer explained that players cannot stop Eothas, as he exists on a plane beyond their capabilities, challenging the conventional RPG expectation that players can overcome any obstacle. While players can influence the game world and make impactful choices, the gods, including Eothas, remain indifferent to mortal concerns. This theme highlights the limitations of power and the complexities of human challenges, which may have contributed to mixed reactions regarding the game's ending.
2026's best RPG might look like Disco Elysium, but it was heavily inspired by Deus Ex, and its creator wants 'to do a first-person game at some point'
AppWizard
July 12, 2026

2026’s best RPG might look like Disco Elysium, but it was heavily inspired by Deus Ex, and its creator wants ‘to do a first-person game at some point’

Christoffer Bodegård began his journey into PC gaming with a DOS machine from his father and first played Disney's The Jungle Book. His passion for role-playing games was ignited by Dragon Age: Origins, which led him to explore many titles, including Planescape: Torment. After eight years of development, his game Esoteric Ebb launched in March to critical acclaim. Currently, he is playing Victoria 3, having logged around 400 hours, and previously played Abiotic Factor. The oldest games on his PC are Heroes of Might and Magic 3, King of Dragon Pass, Deus Ex, and Diablo 2, with Heroes 3 being a favorite. He has logged around 1,000 hours in Esoteric Ebb and is particularly fond of Europa Universalis IV, especially the Anbennar mod. Bodegård has never uninstalled Deus Ex, which greatly influences his design philosophy. He relies on Notepad++ for scripting and has improved his desktop organization from a cluttered state to a cleaner setup.
Sand publisher celebrates 300,000 copies sold: 'We getting a half hour of air conditioning tonight!'
AppWizard
July 4, 2026

Sand publisher celebrates 300,000 copies sold: ‘We getting a half hour of air conditioning tonight!’

Sand: Raiders of Sophie, a steampunk-mechs-in-the-desert game, sold 300,000 copies after its early access launch. An update released on July 2 caused connection issues, leading to a rollback of changes. The game ranks among the top 100 most played games. The second update on June 2 faced backlash due to connectivity problems but was quickly addressed. The update included fixes for server availability, enhanced BattlEye functionality, refined character movement, and various balance changes. Known issues include characters getting stuck on ladders and transparency issues in spectator mode.
Giving Graveyard Keeper away for free apparently earned its publisher 'almost 250k'
AppWizard
April 15, 2026

Giving Graveyard Keeper away for free apparently earned its publisher ‘almost 250k’

Graveyard Keeper 2 was announced at the Triple-I Initiative, leading to the original game being offered for free for a limited time to attract new players. This strategy resulted in nearly 0,000 in DLC sales on Steam, where the DLC is currently discounted by 80%. The giveaway successfully highlighted the sequel, which has become one of Steam's top 100 most-wishlisted games with 450,000 wishlists. Some players expressed concerns about the artistic direction of the sequel, fearing a shift to a more generic style, but developers assured fans that AI is not being used in the game's development.
Kerbal Space Program rockets to its highest concurrent player count on Steam in more than 10 years
AppWizard
April 8, 2026

Kerbal Space Program rockets to its highest concurrent player count on Steam in more than 10 years

The space simulation game Kerbal Space Program (KSP), released in April 2015, is experiencing its highest concurrent player count on Steam since its launch, driven by renewed interest due to the Artemis 2 mission. Discussions on the KSP subreddit indicate that players are returning to the game, with many sharing their experiences and excitement related to Artemis. KSP has become a source of creative engagement for players, with some using it to simulate Artemis-style missions. Additionally, Kerbal Space Program 2 has also seen an increase in player numbers, peaking at 370 concurrent players, up from 118 a month earlier.
In 2007, two game music GOATs collaborated on the criminally underrated soundtrack to a similarly underrated D&D RPG
AppWizard
April 5, 2026

In 2007, two game music GOATs collaborated on the criminally underrated soundtrack to a similarly underrated D&D RPG

Critical Hit, formerly Soundtrack Sunday, explores video game music and audio design, highlighting titles like Neverwinter Nights, which has a dedicated fanbase. The first expansion of Neverwinter Nights 2, Mask of the Betrayer, is noted for its mature narrative and impactful music, which plays a significant role in the game's atmosphere. Brandon, the audio director at Obsidian during the late 2000s, discussed the development of Mask of the Betrayer and its soundtrack, which he collaborated on with Womb Music's Rik Schaffer and Margaret Tang. The main theme of Mask of the Betrayer is described as mysterious and epic, with a darker reinterpretation for the DLC. The theme for Mulsantir captures the city's duality, blending inviting and sinister elements. Brandon aimed to encapsulate the medieval sound of Dungeons & Dragons, resulting in a soundtrack that enhances gameplay and leaves a lasting impression on players.
Google is optimizing Android's core to make your phone feel faster
AppWizard
March 11, 2026

Google is optimizing Android’s core to make your phone feel faster

Google is implementing Automatic Feedback-Directed Optimization (AutoFDO) within the Android kernel to enhance the performance of Android devices. The Android kernel accounts for approximately 40% of CPU time, and improvements in this area can significantly boost overall performance. AutoFDO uses real-world data to optimize code based on actual smartphone usage patterns, rather than general assumptions. Tests conducted on Pixel phones analyzed kernel usage with the top 100 popular Android applications, identifying frequently accessed code segments for targeted optimization. This approach is expected to lead to faster app launches, smoother transitions, and improved battery life. The kernel AutoFDO is currently being deployed in the android16-6.12 and android15-6.6 branches, with plans to extend optimizations to additional kernel components and hardware drivers.
Vote now for this year's RPS 100: Reader Edition
AppWizard
December 9, 2025

Vote now for this year’s RPS 100: Reader Edition

RPS has curated a list of the top 100 PC games over the past five years, reflecting the team's evolving tastes. They have invited readers to vote for their favorite PC games through a Google form, allowing fans to select up to ten games. The scoring system awards points based on the ranking, with 10 points for the top choice and 1 point for the 10th. Votes from game series will be combined for diversity, and a breakdown of votes will be shared later. Readers can optionally share reasons for their selections, and the voting deadline is 5 PM GMT on December 14th.
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu on Arattai app dropping out of top 100 list: ‘I literally told our employees…’ - The Times of India
AppWizard
November 13, 2025

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu on Arattai app dropping out of top 100 list: ‘I literally told our employees…’ – The Times of India

Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho Corporation, addressed the decline of the company's messaging app, Arattai, from the top 100 apps list, viewing it as a normal part of business evolution rather than a setback. He emphasized the importance of a long-term perspective in business, asserting that successful companies endure fluctuations. Vembu stated that Zoho has invested a decade in developing messaging technology, making the recent ranking drop insignificant. He mentioned the company's commitment to rolling out frequent updates for Arattai and highlighted the necessity of credible competition in the messaging app market to keep monopolistic entities accountable.
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