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I'm fed up with gaming on Windows 11 — here's how Valve's Steam Machine can fix PC gaming
AppWizard
December 3, 2025

I’m fed up with gaming on Windows 11 — here’s how Valve’s Steam Machine can fix PC gaming

Microsoft's Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) was rolled out to all Windows-based handhelds on November 21, followed by a broader release for gaming rigs and laptops for Windows Insider members. The update process on Windows 11 was slow, causing frustration for users. Accessing the Xbox FSE through various shortcuts was unsuccessful, and the experience was marred by instability and frequent updates. A recent system update (KB5066835) resulted in a significant drop in gaming performance. The author expressed a preference for Linux and SteamOS due to their stability and user-friendly interface compared to Windows. The upcoming Steam Machine is anticipated for its compact design and potential for a hassle-free gaming experience.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 PC Performance Analysis
AppWizard
November 17, 2025

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 PC Performance Analysis

Activision has released Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, utilizing the IW Engine. Performance benchmarks were conducted using high-end hardware, including the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and various graphics cards such as the AMD Radeon RX 6900XT and NVIDIA RTX 4090, on a Windows 10 system. The game features over 300 customizable settings for PC gamers and supports Intel XeSS and AMD FSR 4.0. Ray Tracing is available in Multiplayer and Zombies modes but not in the Campaign. All tested GPUs achieved over 60 FPS at 1080p on maximum settings, with AMD hardware showing superior performance. At 1440p, most GPUs maintained smooth gameplay, except for the NVIDIA RTX 2080Ti. At Native 4K, the top five GPUs exceeded 60 FPS, with AMD GPUs performing well against NVIDIA counterparts. The game has visual appeal but suffers from pop-in issues and inconsistent texture quality. Gameplay is smooth with minimal stuttering and responsive controls. Overall, the game performs well across various PC configurations, though its visual quality may not meet franchise expectations.
Former id Software artist argues performance and optimization is 'as much of an art problem' as a tech one: 'Killzone 2 looks incredible today. FEAR looks incredible today'
AppWizard
November 15, 2025

Former id Software artist argues performance and optimization is ‘as much of an art problem’ as a tech one: ‘Killzone 2 looks incredible today. FEAR looks incredible today’

Emanuel Palalic, the game director of Defect, discussed the game's optimization, highlighting that it has lenient system requirements with an RTX 2060 as the minimum specification. This contrasts with the trend of mandatory ray tracing in many contemporary titles. The game's soundtrack is described as "really exploring the extremes of distortion." Defect does not have an official release date, but players can add it to their wishlist on Steam.
Arc Raiders and Battlefield 6 prove that great performance and low system requirements are king for multiplayer PC games in 2025
AppWizard
November 4, 2025

Arc Raiders and Battlefield 6 prove that great performance and low system requirements are king for multiplayer PC games in 2025

Arc Raiders had over 350,000 simultaneous players during its launch weekend. It is designed to run on older hardware, requiring a minimum CPU of Intel Core i5 6600K and a GPU like the GTX 1050 Ti or RX 580. The RTX 3060 is the most commonly used desktop GPU among gamers, while the RTX 4060 is gaining popularity. The high cost of PC upgrades and inflation make it difficult for many players to keep up with the latest hardware. Battlefield 6 is playable on older hardware like the 4 GB AMD Radeon RX 570, while Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford described Borderlands 4 as "a premium game for premium gamers," which may limit its audience. Performance optimization is crucial for attracting a broad player base in multiplayer games.
Minecraft Snapshot 25w44a
AppWizard
October 29, 2025

Minecraft Snapshot 25w44a

In the latest Snapshot release, a new undead passive mob called the camel husk has been introduced, which spawns in desert areas and is often accompanied by hostile riders. The camel husk is unaffected by sunlight and typically appears with a husk wielding a spear and a parched skeleton. It is passive when unmounted but becomes hostile if ridden by a hostile mob. The Snapshot also features a new variant of skeleton called the parched, which appears in low-light conditions and is resistant to sunlight. The spear's lunge enchantment has been adjusted to reduce hunger consumption, and mounts such as horses, mules, donkeys, and camels can now float in water while ridden. New advancements have been added to incorporate the camel husk and parched, along with a new graphical option called "Anisotropic Filtering" to enhance visual quality. Parrots can now mimic sounds from various mobs, and environmental fog in the Nether is consistently applied. Ridden mounts will no longer sink in water, and chunks fade in smoothly. The Data Pack and Resource Pack versions have been updated, and several game rules have been renamed and organized into a registry. New limits for game rules have been established, and modifiers for ARGB color values have been introduced. Numerous bugs have also been fixed in this release.
Arc Raiders' most daring and lucrative exploit is being patched before launch, but Embark's impressed by your efforts
AppWizard
October 22, 2025

Arc Raiders’ most daring and lucrative exploit is being patched before launch, but Embark’s impressed by your efforts

Embark Studios is making adjustments to Arc Raiders based on player feedback from the recent Server Slam. Enhancements include improving visuals, rebalancing flying Arc machines like the Snitch and Hornet, and removing an exploit that allowed players to access the Dam Tower loot cave through parkour. The Dam Tower is a key location in the game's Dam Battlegrounds map, offering a loot room accessible via a scavenged key or defeating a player with one. Players had discovered a method to reach the loot room easily by scaling the tower. Embark acknowledged this exploit and stated it was too accessible. They also addressed concerns about the flying machines' detection capabilities and visual quality, which had been perceived as a downgrade. The game is set to launch on October 30, and players are encouraged to check system requirements.
Minecraft Snapshot 25W41A Patch Notes - Minecraft Guide
AppWizard
October 13, 2025

Minecraft Snapshot 25W41A Patch Notes – Minecraft Guide

The 25W41A Snapshot for Minecraft Java Edition introduces several new features, including: - Nautilus: A neutral aquatic mob that spawns in all ocean biomes, attacks with a Dash attack, can be tamed and mounted, and provides the "Breath of the Nautilus" effect to players. - Zombie Nautilus: An underwater mob that spawns with a Drowned rider and is only hostile when ridden. - Nautilus Armor: Equippable armor for both Nautilus and Zombie Nautilus, available in Copper, Golden, Iron, Diamond, and Netherite versions. - Spear Weapon: A new weapon that can be crafted from various materials, featuring Jab and Charge attacks, with distinct stats for each material variant. - Jab Attack: A quick attack delivering low damage with knockback effects, with cooldowns varying by material. - Charge Attack: A powerful attack activated by holding the secondary action button, with damage influenced by various factors. - Lunge Enchantment: Exclusive to the Spear, it propels the player during a Jab attack. - Advancements: Updates to existing advancements to include new mobs and effects. - Changes: Zombies and related mobs can now wield Spears, and various adjustments to gameplay and graphics have been made. - Zombie Horse: A new mob that spawns in darkness, can be tamed, and drops Rotten Flesh upon death. - Mob Spawning: Zombie Horses spawn in plains and savanna biomes with a zombie rider. - World Generation: New spears added to loot chests in various locations. - Status Effects: The Breath of the Nautilus effect pauses oxygen consumption for mounted players. - Sounds: Adjustments to anvil sound effects. - Accessibility: Customizable keys for debug features and GUI effects.
Total War modder and megafan with 7,000 hours played left frustrated by "so many issues I just couldn't ignore" across CA's strategy series
AppWizard
October 12, 2025

Total War modder and megafan with 7,000 hours played left frustrated by “so many issues I just couldn’t ignore” across CA’s strategy series

Randall Zaioczkowski, known as 'Dead Baron,' is a dedicated mod creator and player of Total War: Warhammer 3, with over 3,800 hours invested in the game. He expressed his frustrations through a negative review due to a persistent campaign AI recruitment bug affecting gameplay. Despite his admiration for the Total War franchise, he noted that there have been numerous issues he could no longer ignore. Randall has contributed to the modding community by enhancing textures and fixing visual errors, and he co-founded the Skeleton Crew Modding team. He has also updated models and textures for the game, including reviving a unique wyvern design from the first Total War: Warhammer. Randall criticized the balance between new DLC content and core fixes, expressing concern that the developers prioritize engine issues over visual quality. He advises new players to wait until the AI issues are resolved before playing. Despite his criticisms, he remains passionate about the series and continues to advocate for improvements.
Windows 11 vs Windows 10
Winsage
October 6, 2025

Windows 11 vs Windows 10

Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10, encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 11, which features improved multitasking, AI integration, and a refined interface. Windows 11 requires a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip and at least an Intel 8th-generation or AMD Ryzen 2000 series processor, meaning many older PCs will not receive security updates after October 14, 2025. The new interface utilizes the Fluent Design System and Mica, which adjusts window colors based on wallpaper. Windows 11 introduces Snap Layouts and Snap Groups for better window management, and replaces Cortana with Copilot, an AI assistant that enhances user interaction. Gaming features include Auto HDR and DirectStorage for improved performance. Microsoft is making adjustments based on user feedback, such as reinstating the search bar and making Recall an opt-in feature.
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