Valorant Archives

AppWizard

July 22, 2025

Newzoo: Top 20 PC/Console Games of June 2025 by Revenue and MAU

Newzoo's market analysis indicates a significant shift in the gaming landscape across the US, UK, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France, with an increase in new titles in revenue rankings and monthly active users (MAU). In June, notable revenue rankings included: - Dune: Awakening at 5th place - Rematch at 9th - Death Stranding 2: On the Beach at 15th - SCUM at 17th - Deltarune at 20th - Valorant climbed to 7th place due to its 5th anniversary. - A collaboration between Dead by Daylight and Five Nights at Freddy's achieved the highest monthly revenue growth since April 2020. - Rematch and SCUM are independent IPs, while others are based on established franchises. Platform-specific revenue rankings showed: - MindsEye entered PlayStation's top sales at 18th despite a 2.3 out of 5 rating. - Lies of P rose to 20th due to its prequel release. - On PC, newcomers included Dune: Awakening (#1), SCUM (#7), Rematch (#8), Deltarune (#13), PEAK (#10), Stellar Blade (#14), and Date Everything! (#17). - Nintendo platforms featured Mario Kart World at 2nd, Deltarune (9th), Cyberpunk 2077 (14th), and Date Everything! (15th). In MAU rankings: - Elden Ring Nightreign and Splitgate 2 were among late-May releases. - Rematch was included, likely counting its closed beta audience. - PEAK ranked 5th on PC, surpassing games like Marvel Rivals, Valorant, and Overwatch. - For Nintendo Switch 2, new titles included Mario Kart World (1st), Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour (8th), and Deltarune (20th).

AppWizard

July 15, 2025

Games & Numbers (July 2

Rust has surpassed 20 million copies sold on Steam. Lords of the Fallen has attracted 5.5 million players. Peak has sold 4.5 million copies. Sultan's Game has achieved 1 million copies sold. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach sold over 674,000 copies in its first three days, with total sales exceeding 1 million. The Alters sold 280,000 copies in under a month. Mafia: The Old Country has over 2.5 million wishlists. Pokémon GO has generated over billion in revenue. Whiteout Survival has surpassed billion in gross revenue. Zenless Zone Zero generated .1 million in its first year. Clash Royale earned .8 million on July 8. Wittle Defender achieved million in gross revenue. Sky: Children of the Light has surpassed 270 million mobile downloads. MLB Rivals reached 5 million installs. Valorant Mobile in China has over 40 million pre-installs. Destiny: Rising has 5 million pre-registrations. The Nintendo Switch 2 has over 5 million units sold, with 1.8 million in the U.S., 1.47 million in Japan, and 1.18 million in Europe.

Winsage

July 4, 2025

I can’t escape Microsoft because I’m hooked on these 5 apps

The author expresses frustration with Windows 11, citing its clunky interface and issues with updates, yet continues to use it daily due to its compatibility and driver support. They also rely on Microsoft 365 products, including Outlook, OneDrive, Phone Link, and Excel, for various tasks. Outlook is preferred for managing correspondence, OneDrive allows access to PC folders from a phone, Phone Link facilitates easy communication between devices, and Excel is favored for its extensive functionality in spreadsheets. Despite considering alternatives, the author remains committed to these Microsoft applications due to their integral role in their workflow.

AppWizard

July 3, 2025

10 PC-only games that made me move from PlayStation to PC

In 2017, the author transitioned from a gaming PC to a PS4 Slim due to the failure of their PC and the demands of finals and a new job. They enjoyed the PS4 but felt drawn to PC-exclusive titles, leading them to build a new gaming rig. Notable PC games mentioned include Black Mesa, a fan-made remake of Half-Life, which features expanded levels and improved AI, and GTFO, which inspired the author to return to PC gaming after its reveal at the 2017 Game Awards. The author built their gaming rig in December 2020 to play GTFO and Cyberpunk 2077. They also noted a shift in gaming preferences after playing Valorant, which launched in June 2020, and highlighted Escape from Tarkov as a unique PC experience due to its high-stakes gameplay and design tailored for PC. The author appreciates the diverse experiences offered by PC gaming compared to consoles.

AppWizard

June 30, 2025

Betting companies can now sponsor Riot esports

Riot Games has allowed betting companies to sponsor its esports events, a decision made by John Needham, the president of publishing and esports, to create a more sustainable environment for professional gaming. This move responds to the existing prevalence of unregulated betting activities in the esports ecosystem. Riot is implementing "guardrails," including a vetting process for sponsors and integrity checks for teams, to maintain the sport's integrity. The change follows a demand from teams for a reevaluation of Riot's previous cautious stance on betting sponsorships. The esports betting market is growing, with a reported global betting turnover of .7 billion for League of Legends Esports and Valorant Champions Tour in 2024, although around 70% of bets are placed in unregulated markets.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

‘I’m a PC gamer and there are 10 video games I’ve been hooked on since 2020’

Video games have over three billion players globally and are evolving into a dominant force in the entertainment industry. The following ten standout games were released for PC since 2020: 1. Elden Ring (2022) - An action RPG known for its stunning visuals and intricate storytelling, requiring over 70 hours to complete. 2. Split Fiction (2025) - A cooperative narrative game where players battle against a machine stealing creativity, released in March 2025. 3. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (2021) - A remake of the 1997 classic, featuring updated combat mechanics and breathtaking graphics. 4. Valorant (2020) - A tactical hero shooter with a vibrant eSports scene, released in early 2021, with over 1,000 hours logged by the player. 5. Fields of Mistria (2024) - An early access farm life simulation game that allows players to cultivate crops, raise animals, and explore mystical mines. 6. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (2025) - A turn-based RPG with a blend of traditional and real-time combat mechanics, released last month. 7. Hades (2020) - A roguelike game with fast-paced combat and Greek mythology-inspired artwork, released in 2020. 8. Overwatch 2 (2023) - The sequel to Overwatch, introducing new heroes and a 5v5 format, released in 2023. 9. Visions of Mana (2024) - The fifth main installment in the Mana series, featuring familiar gameplay mechanics. 10. Marvel Rivals (2024) - A game featuring 38 Marvel characters, allowing casual play with friends, released in 2024.

AppWizard

April 22, 2025

Nike and Logitech vet Darling joins Riot as president

Hoby Darling has been appointed as the president of Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends and Valorant. He has a background in significant roles at companies like Nike and Logitech. Darling expressed a strong connection to Riot's ethos and emphasized the importance of risk-taking and challenging the status quo. Dylan Jadeja, the CEO of Riot Games, welcomed Darling, noting his experience in engaging passionate communities and his potential to inspire the team. Jadeja highlighted the importance of nurturing creativity within the company as they look forward to innovative developments under Darling's leadership.

AppWizard

April 19, 2025

The Best PC Games Right Now (2025)

PC gaming in 2025 features a mix of innovative remasters, indie titles, and new intellectual properties, providing a wide range of experiences for gamers. The most played games on Steam include Counter-Strike 2, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, and Dota 2, with Counter-Strike 2 leading in player engagement due to its esports scene. Notable new releases include Blue Prince, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and Promise Mascot Agency. Other popular games outside Steam are Minecraft, Fortnite, and Valorant. Genre-specific leaders include South of Midnight for action, Myst (Remastered) for adventure, and Street Fighter 6 for fighting. Upcoming anticipated titles include Grand Theft Auto 6 and Elden Ring: Nightreign. Trends in 2025 highlight esports engagement, indie innovation, purposeful remakes, and cinematic storytelling. Last Epoch's Season 2 update has revitalized player interest with new content and enhancements. The year 2019 was significant for PC gaming, with acclaimed titles like Resident Evil 2, Control, and Disco Elysium, and marked by the influence of digital distribution platforms.

AppWizard

April 8, 2025

I tried gaming on Linux — and it’s better (and worse) than you think

The gaming experience on Linux, particularly with Ubuntu, has been positive, with many single-player and co-op games performing well due to compatibility tools like Wine and Steam's Proton. While most Windows games can be played on Linux, limitations exist, particularly for MMORPGs and competitive multiplayer games that rely on kernel-level anti-cheat systems, rendering titles like Fortnite and Valorant unplayable. Some competitive games do offer Linux support, but this is not guaranteed. Additionally, accessory applications for gaming peripherals often lack support on Linux, although open-source alternatives exist. As of 2025, while Linux gaming has improved, significant gaps remain, particularly in compatibility with anti-cheat systems, making it less appealing than Windows for many gamers.

AppWizard

April 4, 2025

The Best PC Games to Play Right Now (Spring 2025)

PC gaming in 2025 features advanced GPUs enabling ray tracing and AI-enhanced upscaling, with tools like Unreal Engine 5 facilitating diverse game development. Platforms such as Steam and Epic Games Store host tens of thousands of titles, with over 13,000 new games launched on Steam in 2024. Notable games include Baldur’s Gate 3, Elden Ring, Disco Elysium: The Final Cut, Cyberpunk 2077, Valorant, Overwatch 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, Warframe, and Apex Legends. Key trends include cross-platform compatibility, free-to-play models, and game subscription services. Optimal gaming setups typically require a mid-range processor, a GTX 1070 or better graphics card, and at least 16GB of RAM. Popular multiplayer games include Valorant and Apex Legends, while highly rated titles include Baldur’s Gate 3, Elden Ring, and Disco Elysium. Classics worth playing today include The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Portal 2.