Unity Archives

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

Subnautica 2 dev confirms there’s no gen AI “at all” in its survival sequel

The development of Subnautica 2 faced challenges between Unknown Worlds and its publisher, Krafton, but these issues have been resolved. The game is set to release in two weeks, and Scott MacDonald, Creative Media Producer at Unknown Worlds, confirmed that no generative AI was used in its development. He stated that the studio opted for traditional development methods, with all work being done by human programmers. Design Lead Anthony Gallegos noted that Krafton recognizes that mandating AI tools could disrupt the development process. Following a legal ruling reinstating Unknown Worlds president Ted Gill, Krafton is committed to supporting the game's Early Access launch.

Tech Optimizer

May 1, 2026

Backstage Ditches Postgres for Databricks Lakebase

The divide between operational and analytical databases is diminishing, as evidenced by Databricks integrating Spotify's Backstage with its Lakebase, transitioning from PostgreSQL to a unified data platform. Lakebase now offers a serverless PostgreSQL interface within Databricks, allowing Backstage to operate without awareness of the underlying changes. The integration involved updating configurations and addressing authentication challenges using OAuth JWTs. The integration transforms the database development lifecycle by enabling near-instant database branching through Lakebase's copy-on-write architecture, allowing developers to focus on testing changes rather than safety. Branching creates a pointer to existing data, making the operation instantaneous. Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR) allows for quick restoration of data, demonstrated by a recovery process that took less than four seconds. The goal is to integrate database branching into developer workflows seamlessly, making it automatic. This change could enhance developer productivity by allowing live data testing from the start, eliminating the need for mock objects, and resolving common issues related to staging environments. The traditional constraints of slow and costly database copies will become obsolete, prompting teams to reconsider how much time they spend on workarounds for now-nonexistent constraints.

BetaBeacon

April 29, 2026

7 best casual mobile games for Android 2026

Board games remain a popular option for players in 2026, with the transition to mobile platforms giving access to timeless entertainment. Examples include Chess.com, Checkers, and Scrabble.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Escape From Tarkov Arena is free-to-play this weekend, just in time for its new season

Season 2 of Escape From Tarkov Arena has launched, introducing a new battle pass, fresh weaponry, and a comprehensive rebalancing of game elements. Players can test these features for free during a weekend event from April 24 to April 27, 2026. The game has transitioned to the Unity 6 engine for improved performance and will feature a new map called 'Factory.' A 30% discount on the full game will be available until May 3, along with a 25% discount on the Arena + Full Tactical Maps Bundle.

AppWizard

April 19, 2026

Elder Scrolls Gooners Uncover 28 Year Old Secret In Free PC Game

The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard, originally launched in 1998, has a hidden secret—a smiley face located in the mid-section of a female character, which is revealed when players attempt to look up her skirt. This detail was uncovered through the Redguard Unity project, which ports the game into the modern Unity Engine. The discovery has generated amusement and surprise among players on social media.

BetaBeacon

April 14, 2026

Another Elder Scrolls Game Set To Be Unplayable Later This Year

Google Play changes may render Daggerfall Unity Android unplayable. Google announced it will phase out sideloading apps from unverified developers on Android devices, encouraging the use of the Google Play store. This move has attracted criticism from developers and users. Daggerfall Unity Android cannot be published on the Google Play Store due to copyright reasons and cannot be emulated via a Rom. The game may become unplayable on mobile unless Google clarifies if sideloading apps will still be allowed.

AppWizard

April 13, 2026

Todd Howard says Starfield’s NG+ was misunderstood and defends Bethesda’s new U-turn on how it works: ‘You can tell us if we’re done our job right’

Starfield's Free Lanes update enhances the New Game Plus (NG+) mode by allowing players to retain up to 50 items when entering The Unity, a multiverse nexus that resets the game while keeping character skills and abilities. This change addresses player concerns about losing hard-earned possessions, which was previously seen as a daunting sacrifice. The update also introduces X-Tech for further upgrades to existing gear, aiming to reward players without frustrating them by losing progress. Bethesda's director, Todd Howard, and creative producer, Tim Lamb, emphasize the importance of evolving the gameplay experience and encouraging players to engage with the game's NG+ features.

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

This ‘highly realistic’ city-builder could be the first real competition Cities: Skylines has seen in over a decade

City Masterplan is a newly unveiled metropolis simulator that offers expansive environmental canvases measuring 24x24 km, allowing players to design urban landscapes in various architectural styles. The game features a visual aesthetic similar to Cities: Skylines 2, with realistic skies, dynamic lighting, and immersive weather conditions. It is built on the Unreal Engine, which may present performance challenges. As Cities: Skylines approaches its twelfth anniversary, there is a demand for a fresh city-building experience, with City Masterplan potentially revitalizing the genre. There is no official release date, but speculation suggests a launch not before 2027.

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

Cities Skylines 2’s performance is still struggling, and the devs need your help

Cities Skylines 2 has faced performance issues and limited content since its launch. Iceflake Studios is working on improvements, collaborating with Unity to address performance challenges. The game is CPU-intensive, with unique challenges due to its dynamic nature. Key areas for enhancement include rendering performance, simulation performance, and pathfinding. Recent changes have simplified citizen modeling and improved pathing, leading to a better gameplay experience. The game's Steam rating has shifted from 'Mixed' to 'Mostly Positive.' Iceflake has developed a benchmarking tool to collect performance data, which will be integrated into an upcoming patch.

AppWizard

April 10, 2026

Rust 2 Steam page appears, Facepunch immediately starts messing with fans about whether it’s legit: ‘Now you’re all questioning yourselves, is this real? Maybe?’

Garry Newman, the founder of Facepunch Studios, confirmed that there will be no sequel to Rust, stating "Nope" when asked about Rust 2. He expressed confusion over a rumored Steam page for the sequel, saying, "I have no idea at all." Rust was fully released on Steam eight years ago and has been a significant title since its early access launch in 2013. A Reddit post about Rust 2 sparked discussions among fans, but SteamDB flagged the app as suspicious, warning users it might be malicious. Facepunch's COO, Alistair McFarlane, commented cryptically, "You saw nothing," which added to the speculation. He later acknowledged the confusion caused by the post, indicating a playful interaction with the community. Newman previously mentioned that a sequel "definitely won't be a Unity game," leaving some room for speculation about future developments in the Rust franchise.