video gaming Archives

AppWizard

April 17, 2026

Alexander Morton, the voice of Geralt’s pal Zoltan in The Witcher games, has died

Alexander Morton, known for voicing Zoltan Chivay in The Witcher video games, has passed away. CD Projekt, the game's developer, expressed their sorrow in a tribute. Morton was also recognized for his role as Golly Mackenzie in the series Monarch of the Glen, which significantly contributed to the show's success. Louise Thornton from BBC Scotland highlighted his impact on Scottish television and theatre. Morton's career spanned several decades, starting in the 1970s, and he was celebrated for his theatrical performances. Fellow actor Robert Carlyle praised him as a brilliant actor and a kind person. Alexander Morton was 81 years old at the time of his passing.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

Revisiting the last truly great Call of Duty

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2019 has seen a resurgence in interest due to a sale on Steam. The game is praised for its visual quality, sound design, and gameplay experience, setting high standards for first-person shooters. Its Create-a-Class system encourages strategic gameplay, and the attachment mechanics require meaningful choices, preventing any single weapon configuration from dominating. Despite some flaws, the game retains distinct weapon characteristics. Modern Warfare 2019 is viewed as both a high point for the franchise and a catalyst for challenges, particularly with the introduction of Warzone. The decision to separate Modern Warfare from Warzone has been positively received. Activision's recent discount indicates an effort to rekindle excitement for the game, which continues to be a benchmark for future titles.

AppWizard

February 12, 2026

Logitech G reveals gaming couples enjoy higher relationship satisfaction

A survey by Logitech G and Antenna Insights involving 1,500 participants aged 18 to 45 found that couples who game together at least once a week experience a 47.3% increase in relationship satisfaction, compared to 24.0% for those who play together infrequently. Nearly 44% of respondents enjoy gaming with their partners, while 22% play infrequently and 34% do not game at all. Couples who game weekly spend about 17 hours of quality time together each week, which is approximately 3.8 hours more than those who game occasionally. Reasons for enjoying gaming together include teamwork (52%), stress relief (47%), and closeness (46%). Other benefits noted are quality time at home (39%) and playfulness in the relationship (36%).

AppWizard

December 9, 2025

In the wake of Bloodlines 2’s struggles, Vampire The Masquerade’s most famous face is leaving Paradox

Vampire: The Masquerade has a significant narrative in tabletop role-playing games, with many fans, including the author, drawn in by the series LA By Night. Jason Carl has played a crucial role in revitalizing the franchise since 2010, transitioning from CEO of By Night Studios to a game producer and brand marketing manager. Despite the success of LA By Night and New York By Night, recent video game projects like Bloodlines 2 have faced challenges, including a disappointing 57% score on Steam and a million write-down by Paradox Interactive. Carl announced his departure from the World of Darkness in a message on Discord, expressing pride in the community's contributions and confidence in the future leadership. He will be joining Tabletop Vacations as Dean of Dungeon Master University, focusing on helping Dungeon Masters enhance their skills.

AppWizard

November 9, 2025

Game Review: Slots and Daggers (PC)

Slots and Daggers is a PC/Steam game developed by Friedemann and published by Future Friends Games, set to release on October 24, 2025, priced at .99. The game combines roguelite RPG mechanics with slot machine elements, focusing on in-game currency for character enhancement rather than monetary gain. Players navigate through ten dungeons, facing various enemies and earning coins to upgrade their characters. The game features a progression system that allows players to unlock permanent upgrades and experiment with different builds. After completing the dungeons, players can access Arena Mode for additional challenges. The visuals are retro-inspired with modern touches, and the game includes a catchy soundtrack. It is noted for its simple gameplay, addictive nature, and replayability, although it may be considered short in length.

AppWizard

October 6, 2025

After 14-and-a-half years and over $500k raised for charity, Minecraft YouTuber KurtJMac finally reaches the Far Lands

YouTuber KurtJMac reached the Far Lands in Minecraft after nearly 15 years of exploration, starting his journey in March 2011 with a project called "Far Lands or Bust." He adhered to a no-mods policy and traveled in a straight line to uncover this glitched area. He achieved this milestone during Day 69 of a 2025 sub-a-thon, revealing the floating land masses at 3:43:30 into the stream. The Far Lands are a glitch from earlier Minecraft versions, resulting in surreal landscapes, and while they have been patched in later updates, they remain a significant part of Minecraft lore. Kurt's journey was marked by challenges, including vast expanses of instability, and he was accompanied by his dog, Wolfie. A former co-creator of Path of Exile commented that Minecraft is a hardcore action RPG in disguise, claiming it to be more challenging than Path of Exile.

AppWizard

September 27, 2025

Kids growing up with ‘Minecraft’ and ‘Fortnite’ are particularly…

Concerns about the impact of video gaming on mental health include increased anxiety, depression, eye strain, and obesity. Certain popular games like Minecraft and Fortnite may expose children to gambling-related behaviors through features such as loot boxes, which can influence young minds and predispose them to gambling. Young men are particularly at risk due to the development of their prefrontal cortex, with a recent poll showing that 10% of men aged 18 to 30 exhibit signs of a gambling problem compared to 3% in the general population. The Entertainment Software Rating Board has introduced a warning label for games with gambling-like features, but critics argue this is insufficient. Epic Games settled with the Federal Trade Commission for million over allegations of deceptive practices related to loot boxes. Parents are advised to avoid normalizing gambling, monitor competitive behavior, watch for financial red flags, be vigilant about gaming habits, and observe changes in attitude in their children.

AppWizard

September 23, 2025

As one of 2025’s most promising RTS games falters, its anti-cheat is still a way off

Steel Balalaika has acknowledged the importance of enhancing the anti-cheat system for the game Broken Arrow, stating it is a top priority. The developer plans to focus on banning cheaters in multiplayer modes after the rollout of patch 1.09, while choosing to overlook cheating in campaign mode to streamline appeal management. A dedicated team member has been added to manage cheat reports and appeals, and advanced tools will be developed to analyze gameplay statistics for anomalies. Additionally, Steel Balalaika is introducing a leaver's penalty and a surrender option to promote fairness in matches. Update 1.09 will mainly include a minor balance patch, adjustments to the lobby creation window, and the ability to restart campaign missions.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

SAG-AFTRA members approve new video games deal

SAG-AFTRA members voted 95.04 percent in favor of a new contract with video game companies, which includes a 15.17 percent pay increase and additional raises of three percent scheduled for November in 2025, 2026, and 2027. The agreement also introduces protections against the influence of artificial intelligence in the industry. The strike began in July 2024 and lasted for 11 months, emphasizing the need for updated protections in the face of technological advancements.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

PC gaming figures fall again in Germany, down to just 13.1 million — marking a 20% decline since 2019

PC gaming in Germany has declined by 20% since 2019, with 13.1 million active PC gamers by the end of 2024, a decrease of 400,000 from the previous year. In 2019, there were 16.3 million PC gamers compared to 15.9 million console gamers, but the gap has now widened to over 7 million in favor of consoles, which currently have 20.5 million users. Game sales have decreased by 17% and hardware sales by 10%, while online gaming services have grown by 12%. Factors contributing to the decline in PC gaming may include shortages of new components, particularly GPUs.