watches Archives

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Microsoft just released my favorite old-school Xbox game on PC

Microsoft is reviving classic Xbox titles for PC gamers through an initiative called "Xbox Backwards Compatibility on PC." The initial rollout includes four games: Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live & Reloaded, and Fusion Frenzy, all designed to run natively on Windows PCs. Crimson Skies is priced at ten dollars but is currently available only for streaming via Game Pass. Accessing these titles requires the latest version of the Xbox Insider build, leading to some user difficulties. Despite this nostalgic initiative, Xbox faces challenges in maintaining competitiveness against rivals like PlayStation and Valve's Steam, compounded by recent layoffs within its development teams.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Marathon’s experimental PvE mode is live, immediately tripling its daily player count

Bungie released Marathon's 1.1.5 update, introducing the Vault Breaker experimental PvE mode, allowing players to explore the Cryo Archive map for two weeks without competitive interference. Following this update, concurrent player counts on Steam exceeded 14,800, marking a threefold increase compared to the previous week and the highest activity since a decline after the June free weekend.

AppWizard

July 20, 2026

Gears of War’s creator is considering returning to game development, but whatever he makes won’t be PvP like his last efforts: “Good look to anyone in that space.”

Cliff Bleszinski, known for creating the Gears of War franchise, is considering a return to game development after an eight-year break following the closure of his studio, Boss Key Productions, in 2018. During his time away, he wrote an autobiography, produced a Tony Award-winning musical, and addressed his alcoholism, which included a hospitalization earlier this year. He expressed a desire to create characters and worlds again, focusing on player-versus-environment (PvE) experiences rather than PvP multiplayer games. Although he has not disclosed specific projects, he indicated that he is inspired and open to new creative endeavors in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

July 18, 2026

I’m not worried about Fallout: New Vegas 2, because Obsidian knows how to make the best out of a bad situation

Obsidian Entertainment, founded in 2004, is known for titles like Knights of the Old Republic 2, Fallout: New Vegas, and Pillars of Eternity. The studio was acquired by Microsoft in late 2018, leading to a cautious approach in its development, as seen in The Outer Worlds and the reimagined Avowed. Despite recent challenges, including layoffs, Obsidian has produced successful titles outside its traditional RPG genre, such as Grounded and Pentiment. The studio is currently working on New Vegas 2, generating optimism among fans and industry observers.

AppWizard

July 18, 2026

As Google sits back and watches, terrible ads are ruining Android’s free app ecosystem

The mobile advertising landscape has shifted from simple banner ads to aggressive monetization tactics that often manipulate users. Common intrusive ad experiences include unclosable interstitial ads, interactive playable ads that mislead users, and unsolicited notifications promoting unrelated games. This shift has negatively impacted independent developers, who struggle to compete against large ad networks and feel pressured to adopt disruptive ad practices. Google, which controls the Play Store and ad services, benefits financially from these intrusive ads but has not effectively addressed the issue, allowing low-quality ads to proliferate. The current state of advertising is eroding user trust in free applications, threatening the integrity of the Android ecosystem.

AppWizard

July 15, 2026

Fighting game developer previously accused of sexual harassment confirmed to be working on Avatar Legends a week before release

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is set to be released on July 23, developed by Gameplay Group International. Mike Zaimont, known for his work on Skullgirls and Indivisible, is involved in the game's development, which has sparked controversy due to past allegations of sexual misconduct. The game's publisher, Paramount, confirmed Zaimont's participation, leading to disappointment among fans of the Avatar franchise. Koh, a contributor to the Korra comics, expressed his dismay over Zaimont's involvement. The development team faces the challenge of addressing public perception while aiming to meet high expectations for the game.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Obsidian game director is sick of hearing bad takes about the state of the studio: ‘The through line from KotOR2 to our current games is pretty clear’

Microsoft has restructured Xbox, resulting in significant layoffs affecting thousands of employees and the disbanding of four game studios, including Double Fine and Compulsion Games returning to indie status, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs were sold. Obsidian Entertainment, initially thought to be unaffected, also faced layoffs but is reportedly developing a new Fallout game with Josh Sawyer as director. A member of Obsidian's leadership, Adler, expressed frustration over misconceptions about the studio's evolution, emphasizing that key figures from its past successes remain. He reassured fans that the core essence of Obsidian is unchanged, despite recent challenges. Adler acknowledged the emotional toll of the layoffs and expressed support for departing employees. Anticipation for Obsidian's new Fallout title is growing.

AppWizard

July 11, 2026

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced sells 2 million copies in 1 day and achieves the ‘highest concurrent player count ever recorded for an Assassin’s Creed title’ on Steam

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced sold over two million copies within 24 hours of its launch, surpassing newer franchise entries like Assassin's Creed Shadows in player engagement on Steam. Ubisoft expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic response from players, highlighting the game's nostalgic appeal since its original release 13 years ago. The emphasis on two million copies sold rather than player count raises questions about the comparative success of Black Flag Resynced and Shadows. Industry analyst Joshua Wolens noted that nostalgia is a powerful motivator in gaming, and Martin Schelling, the brand boss of Assassin's Creed, emphasized the significance of the game's revival and its connection to players.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

MindsEye developers protest against a fan event their own studio is hosting

MindsEye, an action game from Build a Rocket Boy, is set to have a playtest at the studio's Edinburgh headquarters, inviting community members and covering their travel costs. This comes after significant layoffs that affected over 400 employees, leading to protests organized by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, which criticizes the studio for spending on the playtest while having recently laid off staff. The union also alleges the studio has engaged in questionable practices, including employee surveillance. The playtest is seen as a strategy to regain favor with fans amid concerns about the studio's management and treatment of its workforce.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

Are you excited for a new Fallout game from Obsidian? You know, given everything

Microsoft has acquired Bethesda, leading to speculation about a new Fallout RPG being developed by Obsidian, with Josh Sawyer, director of Fallout: New Vegas, at the helm. Reports indicate that Obsidian has paused the production of an Avowed sequel and other projects to focus on this new Fallout game. However, this development occurs amidst significant layoffs at Xbox, raising concerns about team morale and stability.