weapons Archives

AppWizard

August 18, 2026

Sword & Shield Simulator Now Available on PC

Sword & Shield Simulator is a PC game currently in Early Access, developed by Wildlands Interactive and co-published with Ultimate Games S.A. Players assume the role of a medieval blacksmith, forging weapons and armor while gathering resources from battlefields. The game features advanced blacksmithing mechanics, including modular sword and shield assembly, and incorporates resource gathering activities like tree felling, hunting, and mining. It includes mini-games such as lockpicking and crossbow shooting, and players can manage their smithy and engage in trading. The game world consists of three regions—Danburg, Bloodlands, and Grainmill—offering over 140 story missions and side quests. Future updates will add the Talstein region and new content. The game is expected to remain in Early Access for about six months, with plans to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2026/2027. Minimum system requirements for PC include Windows 10 64-bit, Intel Core i5-10400F or equivalent CPU, 8 GB RAM, NVIDIA GTX 1070 8GB or equivalent GPU, and 8 GB of available SSD space.

AppWizard

August 18, 2026

Star Wars: Galactic Racer’s multiplayer ‘tour’ mode is a chaotic arcade racer spliced with a MOBA, and that somehow works brilliantly

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is an upcoming racing game developed by Fuse Games, featuring a single-player campaign with roguelike elements and an online multiplayer mode structured like a MOBA. Players can race across six planets in 12-player races or eight-player podracing, selecting characters with unique loadouts. After each race, players can upgrade their vehicles and choose parts inspired by the single-player campaign. The game emphasizes player agency, with choices affecting gameplay outcomes, and balances accessibility with depth. Environmental hazards add chaos to the gameplay, although the lack of a catch-up mechanic can hinder those falling behind. The game is set to release on October 6.

AppWizard

August 18, 2026

Phantom Blade Zero finally shows off its interconnected game world, with exploration ‘guided by 8 authentic hand-painted Chinese ink wash maps’

S-Game revealed eight distinct maps for Phantom Blade Zero that connect into a single world, emphasizing a rich environment for players. The game features optional areas and formidable bosses that serve as diversions from the main narrative. Phantom Blade Zero is described as neither an open-world game nor a strictly linear adventure, incorporating a light metroidvania-style progression system that allows players to revisit areas. Donnie Yen has been involved in the game's development since 2023.

AppWizard

August 17, 2026

Here are the PC game settings you should always turn on, and the ones to switch off

PC gaming allows customization of graphics settings to improve performance and visual experience. Certain settings can degrade image quality, while others enhance immersion. Settings to disable include: - Motion blur: Can create a blurry visual experience, especially during fast movements. - VSync: Synchronizes frame rate with monitor refresh rate but can introduce latency; alternatives like Adaptive Sync are more effective. - Depth of field: Can obscure details and consume resources, particularly in clarity-focused scenarios. - Chromatic aberration, bloom, lens flare, and film grain: These post-processing effects can detract from clarity and hinder performance, especially in competitive play. Settings to enable or tweak include: - ML-based upscaling (DLSS, FSR 4, XeSS): Enhances visual stability and boosts performance without sacrificing image quality. - Textures: Higher quality textures improve realism and detail, especially with sufficient VRAM. - View distance: A higher setting enhances immersion by rendering distant objects, reducing distracting pop-ins. - Shadows: Higher quality shadows add depth and realism, enhancing the overall visual experience despite potential performance costs.

AppWizard

August 17, 2026

5 Best Video Games Like Quake

In 2021, interest in the first-person shooter "Quake" from the '90s surged, leading to discussions about similar games. "Doom II," released in 1994, featured larger levels, new enemies, and enhanced multiplayer options, becoming one of the best PC games of the '90s. "Heretic," also from 1994, allowed players to control Corvus, an elven warrior, and included multiplayer combat, with innovations like an inventory system and secondary fire options. "Duke Nukem 3D," released in 1996, introduced a humorous protagonist and featured cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, becoming a nostalgic classic. "Turok 2: Seeds of Evil," the 1998 sequel to "Turok: Dinosaur Hunter," included multiplayer modes and showcased advanced graphics and level design, remastered in 2017. "Unreal Tournament," launched in 1999, emphasized multiplayer combat in an arena shooter format, marking a significant moment for Epic Games and showcasing impressive visuals and performance.

BetaBeacon

August 16, 2026

An adventure in the spirit of classic The Legend of Zelda with 86% positive reviews on Steam is being ported to Android

- Publisher FDG Entertainment has announced a mobile version of the pixel adventure Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King, inspired by A Link to the Past - The main character is Knight Lily who must save the Kingdom of Blossom from eternal darkness - Players will explore an open world, complete dungeons, fight monsters and bosses, find weapons and spells, and solve puzzles - The original game was released on PC in March 2017 and has positive reviews on Steam - The mobile version is available for pre-registration on Google Play, with no exact release date announced

AppWizard

August 16, 2026

Xbox Game Pass September 2026: Dune Awakening, Minecraft Dungeons II Confirmed

Subscribers who opted out of Dune: Awakening due to its multiplayer requirement can access a single-player mode starting September 22, 2026, coinciding with the Xbox console launch. This mode allows players to explore the narrative at their own pace, with adjustable difficulty settings and no multiplayer interaction required. Both Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers will have access to this feature from day one. Additionally, the confirmed Game Pass lineup for September includes: - Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault on September 2 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch 2, and PC. - SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed on September 3 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch, PC, and Cloud. - Dune: Awakening on September 22 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud. - Minecraft Dungeons II on September 29 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud. Minecraft Dungeons II will also launch on September 29 across multiple platforms, with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers receiving day-one access.

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

Palworld fans ‘do not realize the sheer number of collabs we’ve rejected’ even with the survival game’s ‘fun-first approach’

The landscape of gaming collaborations is shifting towards the number of partnerships a game can establish rather than player counts or Metacritic scores. Palworld, a survival game featuring critters with weapons, is selective about its collaborations. John 'Bucky' Buckley, head of publishing and communications for Palworld, stated that coherence in partnerships is crucial, and many potential collaborations have been rejected for not making sense. Successful collaborations include one with Terraria, integrating its creatures and items like the Meowmere, and another with UltraKill, where weapons such as the Marksman Revolver fit well within the game's existing arsenal. This indicates that Pocketpair has a clear vision for enhancing the gaming experience through thoughtful collaboration choices.

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

Next Week on XBOX: New Games for August 17 to 21

Next week, several games are set to launch for Xbox platforms: - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope - Release Date: August 20, Developer: GSC Game World. - Backyard Baseball - Release Date: August 18, Developer: Playground Productions, Price: .99. - The Sinking City 2 - Release Date: August 18, Developer: Frogwares, Price: .99. - Mortal Shell II - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Playstack, Price: .99. - Black Flower - Release Date: August 17, Developer: Triomatica Games. - Archerio - Release Date: August 18, Developer: Webnetic s. r. o., Price: .99. - Driving is Hard - Release Date: August 18, Developer: Elegant Horse Studios, Price: .99. - Arcade Archives 2 CYBER CYCLES - Release Date: August 19, Developer: HAMSTER Corporation. - Cloudy Day - Release Date: August 19, Developer: RainForest Game Studio. - Dark Reflection - Release Date: August 19, Developer: Stamina Zero LLC, Price: .99. - Dungeon Antiqua 2 - Release Date: August 19, Developer: AMATA K.K. - Grim Trials - Release Date: August 19, Developer: Soft Source Pte Ltd., Price: .99. - Hidden Cats in Barcelona - Release Date: August 19, Developer: Silesia Games Sp. z o.o. - WonderCat Adventures - Release Date: August 19, Developer: Obscure Cloud. - Berry Bury Berry - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Black Lantern Collective. - Educational Family Games - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Crazysoft Limited. - Emoji Killer – Casino Massacre - Release Date: August 20, Developer: EpiXR Games, Price: .99. - Find The Cats 2 - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Ember Box Studio. - Gallipoli - Release Date: August 20, Developer: BlackMill Games. - Ground Zero Hero - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Acclaim, Inc. - Wings of Beyond - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Little Giant, Bad Minion. - Yet Another Zombie Survivors - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Awesome Games Studio, Price: .99. - Creepy Shift: Uncle Joe’s Motel - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Red Limb Studio. - Dark Dungeon Head Haze - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Sweet Bread Games. - KEYQUACK QUEST - Release Date: August 21, Developer: YUME GAME STUDIO. - Mega City Force - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Ravenage Games. - No More Slimes!! - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Minimum Studio. - Pay To Path - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Afil Games. - Psalm 5:9-13 - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Axyos Games. - With Eyes of Ice - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Ratalaika Games S.L.

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

Stalker 2’s imminent free update aims to make the sequel more atmospheric and less relentlessly hostile: ‘The Zone isn’t one constant gunfight’

Stalker 2, the sequel to the 2007 game, has faced challenges such as bugs and performance issues. GSC Game World is releasing a significant 2.0 patch alongside the first story expansion, which includes a complete overhaul of the lighting system, enhancing both indoor and outdoor environments. The A-Life system will also be improved to make the game world feel more alive, with new locations for creatures and increased conflict opportunities. The patch will feature a custom difficulty setting, new weapons, dynamic fog, and binoculars for tactical gameplay. The expansion, titled 'Cost of Hope,' will launch on August 20, focusing on the 'Duty' faction within the game.