videogame Archives

AppWizard

May 11, 2025

MechWarrior 5’s beefy story expansion is out, and it has the most videogame title I’ve ever had the pleasure to read

The latest expansion for Piranha Games' mech shooter, MechWarrior 5: Clans, is titled MechWarrior 5: Clans – Ghost Bear: Flash Storm. This expansion introduces eight new pilotable mechs, including four OmniMechs: Night Gyr, Ebon Jaguar, Fire Moth, and Huntsman, as well as four battlemechs: 100-ton Kodiak, 35-ton scout Jenner IIC, 50-ton Hunchback IIC, and 65-ton Rifleman IIC. Players can customize these mechs in an expanded mechlab. The expansion is available for £16.75. PC Gamer contributor Jonathan Bolding previously praised the original MechWarrior 5: Clans for its focused narrative campaign, despite the lack of sandbox play.

AppWizard

May 9, 2025

Quake finally makes it into the World Videogame Hall of Fame

Quake has been officially recognized as one of the four inductees into the World Videogame Hall of Fame for 2025. It is a pioneering first-person shooter that introduced mouse controls and real-time 3D graphics, and its extensive mod support contributed to its longevity. Quake's server-client architecture laid the foundation for online gaming and esports. The game's legacy code has influenced many franchises, including Heretic, Hexen, Doom, and Call of Duty. John Romero, co-creator of Quake, expressed his delight at the induction. The 2025 inductees also include Defender, GoldenEye 007, and Tamagotchi.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Peak Sekiro-like Nine Sols gets a 40% price cut ahead of its 1-year anniversary, and if you’ve ever liked parrying in a videogame, you need to play this thing

Nine Sols is an indie game developed by Red Candle Games, released in May 2024. It combines metroidvania elements with parry-timing combat inspired by Sekiro. The game is currently available at a 40% discount until May 12. Players are encouraged to experience the gameplay before exploring supplementary materials like the prelude manga.

AppWizard

March 30, 2025

SAG-AFTRA makes exception for student devs and game jams in 8-month videogame performance strike: ‘I’m thrilled that these types of projects can now be accommodated’

SAG-AFTRA has introduced new waivers, the Student Interactive Waiver Agreement and the Game Jam Waiver Agreement, allowing union actors to participate in student projects and game jams during its ongoing strike. The waivers aim to support both actors and emerging game developers while adhering to strike protocols. SAG-AFTRA has been on strike for eight months, primarily due to concerns over artificial intelligence and its impact on video game actors' careers. The strike has led to game studios recycling old voiceover clips, affecting new project developments.

AppWizard

March 29, 2025

Co-op hit Split Fiction now holds three Guinness World Records that seem destined to be won specifically by co-op hit Split Fiction

Hazelight Studios released the co-op game Split Fiction, which has received critical acclaim, including praise from PC Gamer editor Fraser Brown. The game set three Guinness World Records within a week of its release: most played local co-op videogame on Steam, most sold local co-op videogame within 48 hours, and most sold local co-op videogame within one week. It peaked at 197,434 concurrent players on Steam within the first 24 hours. The studio plans to adapt the game for film and employs a "friend's pass" model, allowing one player to share the game with a partner who doesn't own it. Split Fiction is available for purchase on Steam.

AppWizard

March 28, 2025

Activision user research workers form union

Activision's user research division staff voted to form a union, named the Activision User Research Union-CWA, with a supermajority in favor of unionization. Microsoft has recognized the union as part of its labor neutrality agreement with the Communication Workers of America (CWA). The motivation for unionization was influenced by anticipated layoffs in 2023 and 2024. CWA Local 9400 president Maurice Washington emphasized the need for a protected voice for workers and expressed pride in welcoming the new members into the CWA. This development follows the establishment of the United Videogame Workers-CWA, reflecting a trend of unionization in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

United Videogame Workers union launches with CWA backing

United Videogame Workers has been launched as a new initiative for professionals in the gaming industry, backed by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM). The union aims to empower marginalized workers, including laid-off employees, contractors, and freelancers. Its mission is to reclaim the contributions of the workforce from higher-ups. Tom Smith, CWA’s senior director of organizing, emphasized that the union's creation is a collective effort by video game workers. CWA president Claude Cummings Jr. noted the significance of the union in helping video game workers build power amid troubling trends of consolidation in the industry, which have led to layoffs and the sidelining of creative workers.

AppWizard

March 6, 2025

A demo for a lost videogame based on George Orwell’s 1984 has emerged from the memory hole

In the mid-1990s, MediaX, a US-based studio, conceptualized a video game titled Big Brother, inspired by George Orwell's 1984. Players would assume the role of Eric Blair, navigating a dystopian landscape with government installations to sabotage, across twelve levels filled with puzzles and challenges. The game was initially unveiled at E3 in 1998, with a planned release in September of that year, but faced delays and was ultimately canceled by 1999 or 2000 due to licensing issues. Despite its cancellation, a video showcasing its gameplay has been preserved by the Internet Archive. The game resembled a first-person adventure similar to Myst, with a graphical style like Quake, and included tasks such as locating tools and manipulating environmental elements. Another adaptation of 1984 is currently in development by the Narrative Designer behind games like Subnautica and Talos Principle.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

The BAFTAs dares to ask the internet: ‘What is the most influential videogame of all time?’

The BAFTAs are engaging the gaming community by asking, "What is the most influential videogame of all time?" This initiative invites diverse responses, with participants like Ted Litchfield suggesting Pong for its impact on mainstream gaming. Neil Newbon has chosen not to name a specific game, while Jane Douglas has made a bold choice that has received lighthearted criticism. The nominations will be announced on March 4, and the community's choice will be revealed during the awards ceremony on April 11.

AppWizard

December 7, 2024

Weekend PC Download Deals for Dec. 6: Steam Autumn Sale aftermath

The Steam Autumn Sale has concluded, but games like Frostpunk 2, Palworld, and Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster are still available at discounted prices. Free weekends for Cities: Skylines 2 and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege are also offered. Humble Bundle features collections of cozy games and a new LEGO bundle. Blizzard, Epic Games Store, Fanatical, Gamebillet, Gamersgate, GamesPlanet, GOG.com, and Green Man Gaming provide various deals and game selections. Green Man Gaming offers a 15% discount with the code DEC15. Humble Choice subscription at .99 per month includes titles like Bomb Rush Cyberfunk and Old World, with additional savings on the Humble Store. LEGO game collections are available for a payment of or more. Ubisoft Store and Steam continue to offer competitive prices on games.