visual storytelling Archives

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

A deep dive into Wētā FX’s visual effects for ‘A Minecraft Movie’

Wētā FX is contributing to the upcoming A Minecraft Movie, with visual effects supervisor Sheldon Stopsack and animation supervisor Kevin Estey discussing the character Malgosha, known for her comedic stabbing scenes. Stopsack shares that a 'terrible' drawing made by a piglin in the film was created by his daughter. Estey highlights the importance of subtle background elements, like the Priesty-boys, which enhance the film's visual storytelling. The podcast features captivating images of Wētā FX’s work and is edited by Justin Pamenter.

AppWizard

March 11, 2026

Even among the crowd of gorgeous illustrated games, At Fate’s End is stunning enough to stand out

At Fate's End is a game showcased at the Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco, featuring captivating artwork that stands out among competitors like Supergiant's Hades. The game features a protagonist named Shan, a young outcast from a family of demigods, and emphasizes realistic character movements and dynamic camera work. It combines 2D action with family drama, focusing on Shan's journey to reconcile with her siblings after becoming the Chosen One. The game includes a conversation system that allows players to explore family trauma. At Fate's End is expected to launch later this year, although a specific release date has not been announced.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Cozy-punk record shop sim Wax Heads is spinning onto PC and consoles on May 5, 2026

Indie developer Patattie Games, in collaboration with publisher Curve Games, will launch the game Wax Heads on May 5, 2026, available on Steam, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Players will take on the role of a team member at Repeater Records, a vinyl shop, engaging with customers and making choices that affect their experience. A playable demo will be available during Steam Next Fest from February 23 to March 3. The game features over 80 in-game records, more than 60 hand-drawn characters, and over 30 original songs. Key features include a handcrafted musical world, an emotional narrative, puzzle designs, and a comic book art style. Patattie Games is co-founded by Murray Somerwolff and Rothio Tome, while Curve Games is an award-winning publisher based in London.

AppWizard

February 14, 2026

A fraction of the most popular PC games over the past year use hardware-level ray tracing, which is far fewer than I’d predict just 24 months ago

Ray tracing technology has seen a decline in prevalence among popular new game releases as developers prioritize optimized performance due to hardware challenges. In the past year, only a few titles have utilized ray tracing, such as Monster Hunter Wilds for basic reflections and Borderlands 4 using software-based Lumen from Unreal Engine 5. Indie games are increasingly favored for their accessibility and lower development costs, often avoiding high-performance techniques. Unreal Engine 5 has led to a resurgence of software-based ray tracing, though hardware ray tracing can provide better results at the cost of performance. Upcoming titles like Elden Ring: Nightreign and Battlefield 6 have opted out of hardware ray tracing to focus on gameplay performance. Many award-winning games have also chosen not to implement hardware-based ray tracing, emphasizing gameplay experience over graphical fidelity. Despite its reduced prominence, ray tracing remains a valuable tool for enhancing gaming experiences when used thoughtfully. The potential for ray tracing to improve visual storytelling continues as hardware becomes more accessible.

AppWizard

February 12, 2026

Reanimal review

Tarsier Studios is set to release a survival horror game titled Reanimal on February 13, 2026, published by THQ Nordic. The game features a brother-sister duo navigating a fog-laden ocean to rescue three friends from a war-torn island. Players can control either character in single-player or cooperative mode. Reanimal employs a fixed 3D camera perspective and includes stealth gameplay reminiscent of Little Nightmares, focusing on atmospheric tension and simple puzzles. The game explores themes of trauma and survival, with sparse dialogue emphasizing despair. It is designed to be compatible with Steam Deck, although confirmation is pending.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Maybe I should just buy Factorio? I’d like Arknights: Endfield a lot more if it would stop trying to be Genshin Impact and just let me build

The anime gacha game market is becoming increasingly similar, with Genshin Impact as a dominant influence. New titles often struggle to differentiate themselves, leading to a saturation of open-world action RPGs with collectible anime characters. Arknights: Endfield introduces a unique factory-building mechanic, allowing players to mine materials and manage conveyor belt systems, which sets it apart from typical gacha games. Honkai: Star Rail is noted for its turn-based gameplay and humor, while other titles like Zenless Zone Zero and Genshin Impact feature vibrant character designs but face challenges with monetization strategies that can detract from gameplay enjoyment. Despite the innovations in Endfield, it still caters to the Genshin Impact audience, highlighting a desire for more engaging gameplay without the complexities of traditional action RPGs.

AppWizard

January 20, 2026

Minecraft milestone: Community recreates New York at a 1:1 scale – open for everyone to explore

MineFact is a YouTube channel focused on the mining industry, providing educational and entertaining content. It features segments such as educational series that simplify mining processes, industry news updates, and interviews with experts. The channel emphasizes quality and accuracy, using high-quality graphics and real-world examples to enhance understanding. MineFact has cultivated a community of enthusiasts who engage in discussions and share insights in the comment sections, fostering a collaborative environment.

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

A psychic baby and whacky control scheme undersell the mundane brilliance of one of my favourite games this year

Goodnight Universe is a game that utilizes webcam interaction to create an intimate connection with players, allowing them to step into the role of a six-month-old baby named Isaac, who has telekinetic abilities. The game features emotional family dynamics, where players experience tender moments and gain insight into their family's unspoken worries and dreams. Its sound design enhances the experience, and while it is not a traditional puzzle game, it offers light challenges and fosters reflection on family relationships. The gameplay encourages players to engage deeply with the narrative and the characters.

Winsage

October 3, 2025

OneDrive is getting a dedicated Windows 11 app

Microsoft is developing a new OneDrive application for Windows 11, featuring a modern interface that emphasizes photo and video viewing alongside traditional file management. The app was discovered as a separate executable file named OneDrive.app.exe within existing OneDrive program files. It will have a new icon in the Taskbar and is designed to be web-based for better cloud integration. The focus on multimedia content indicates a shift towards visual storytelling and media sharing.

AppWizard

September 2, 2025

Echoes of the End PC Performance Analysis

Deep Silver unveiled its latest third-person action-adventure title, Echoes of the End, powered by Unreal Engine 5. The game was benchmarked on a setup with an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and 32GB of DDR5 RAM, testing various graphics cards including NVIDIA's RTX 4090 and RTX 5090. Echoes of the End lacks a built-in benchmark tool, leading to performance tests in demanding areas of the game. The RTX 5090 achieved framerates exceeding 60FPS at Native 4K in less demanding regions. At 1080p/Ultra Settings, only the RTX 4090 and RTX 5090 maintained framerates above 60FPS. At 1440p/Ultra, the RTX 5090 consistently delivered above 60FPS, while no GPU sustained 60FPS during Native 4K/Ultra stress tests. Performance scaling with graphics settings showed a 24-33% boost when switching to High Settings and an 8-13% increase with Medium Settings. Lowering to Low Settings did not yield significant benefits. Myrkur Games has addressed previous stuttering issues, with minor traversal stutters remaining. The game supports NVIDIA DLSS 4 and AMD FSR 3.1 for enhanced performance.