weekend Archives

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

Hytale’s mammoth pre-orders have covered “the next two years of development,” proving the Minecraft challenger is really here to stay

Hytale is set to launch on January 13, 2026, and is expected to attract over one million players on its early access release day, according to Simon Collins-Laflamme, founder of Hypixel Studios. The game's development has been ongoing for over a decade, and its financial backing for the next two years has been secured through pre-sales. After Riot Games discontinued its involvement, Collins-Laflamme resumed development with a focus on community collaboration. He announced that pre-orders have ensured a solid foundation for the project, expressing optimism about Hytale's future.

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

AU Deals: Today’s Best Value Game Deals on Console and PC Hunted Down for You

Assassin's Creed Chronicles India celebrates its tenth anniversary, while Lost Planet turns 18. Discounts for Nintendo Switch include: - Crisis Core: FF7 Reunion (-45%) - Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (-35%) - Diablo III Eternal Collection (-27%) - Hot Wheels Unleashed (-85%) - This War of Mine Complete Edition (-90%) Discounts for Xbox include: - Assassin's Creed Mirage (-69%) - Persona 5 Royal (-51%) - Star Wars Jedi Survivor (-63%) - Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate (-32%) - Star Wars Squadrons (-38%) - For Xbox One: Dishonored 2 (-77%), Spyro Reignited Trilogy (-37%), Diablo III Eternal Collection (-59%) Discounts for PlayStation include: - Ghost of Yotei (-13%) - Spider-Man: Miles Morales (-48%) - Elden Ring (-53%) - Returnal (-43%) - Tekken 8 (-45%) - For PS4: BioShock Collection (-57%), Persona 5 Strikers (-58%), Batman: Arkham Collection (-90%) Discounts for PC include: - Pacific Drive (-60%) - South Park: The Fractured but Whole (-70%) - SteamWorld Dig 2 (-94%) - A Plague Tale: Innocence (-80%) - Little Nightmares Complete Edition (-75%) LEGO deals include: - Minecraft: The Creeper (-29%) - 3in1 Wild Animals Panda (-35%) - V-19 Torrent Starfighter (-30%) - Balrog Book Nook (-25%)

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

Minecraft Bedrock Realms crash over the weekend; Reddit and social media erupt with complaints – The Times of India

Minecraft Bedrock Realms experienced significant connectivity issues over the weekend, preventing thousands of players from accessing their worlds. Reports of server connection failures and loading issues began on Saturday afternoon, with over 4,000 players reporting difficulties at the peak. Players expressed frustration on social media and forums, sharing their experiences and concerns about the outage, particularly during weekends when they typically play. Some players highlighted issues connecting with friends across different platforms, while others voiced dissatisfaction with the subscription value due to the outage occurring during peak gaming times.

Winsage

January 7, 2026

“Microslop”: Infuriating Video Sums Up How Microsoft Is Ruining Windows With AI

Programmer Ryan Fleury criticized Windows 11's AI-powered search feature in a video, highlighting a suggestion that users ask, “My mouse pointer is too small,” which yielded no results after a ten-second wait. In contrast, a simple search for the word “test” produced three relevant outcomes. Microsoft is committed to enhancing Windows 11 with AI, having ended support for Windows 10 to encourage users to transition to the new system featuring a virtual assistant called Copilot. New features include a Copilot icon on the taskbar and integration into Windows Explorer for generating document summaries. However, security concerns persist due to past incidents where sensitive information was saved in unsecured locations. Discontent with Microsoft's AI direction has grown since the discontinuation of Windows 10, and CEO Satya Nadella's comments against the term “slop” have led to increased use of the term “Microslop” on social media. Fleury's sarcastic remarks about AI's coding capabilities reflect skepticism about the effectiveness of AI in delivering quality results.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

Hytale’s Vampire Survivors Mod Shows Why Fans Are So Hyped

Hypixel Studios has revealed a 40-second gameplay clip showcasing the modding potential of Hytale, a Minecraft-inspired survival game, ahead of its Early Access launch on January 13. The clip features a character battling voxel-based enemies in a top-down arena and was created by a team member as a proof-of-concept for the game's diverse modding capabilities. While this specific mod will not be included in the official release, Hypixel hinted at the possibility of publishing it for community inspiration. The studio recently reacquired the rights to Hytale from Riot Games, which had previously halted the project. Hytale will not be available on Steam at launch due to concerns about first impressions and modding feature limitations, with plans to engage Valve to address these issues.

AppWizard

December 28, 2025

The Recap: Bridgerton, Peaky Blinders, Minecraft x Stranger Things and More!

Netflix has released a trailer for the fourth season of Bridgerton, set to premiere on January 29, with the second part on February 26. A teaser for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man has also been unveiled, with the film releasing on March 20. A special Minecraft DLC linked to Stranger Things allows players to explore new chapters in the final season and features characters with unique abilities. SEGA and RGG Studio showcased Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, set for release on February 12. Persona5: The Phantom X's Ver. 2.7 update introduces new stages and characters, with an event ending on January 22. Wuthering Waves has launched its Chapter III update, adding new areas and characters. Gachiakuta: The Game has been revealed as a survival action RPG with cel-shaded visuals, focusing on combat and missions in monster-infested zones.

AppWizard

December 23, 2025

Struggling tactical FPS reinvents itself with lengthy free trial and major update that makes it a more realistic mil sim

Exfil debuted to mixed reviews on Steam at the end of 2024 and has struggled to regain traction since its release. The game is making efforts to win back its audience with a free trial from December 22 to December 31, 2025, and a comprehensive update. The update includes two new maps, eleven new weapons, nine new attachments, eight new gadgets, enhanced FPS mechanics, reworked ballistics, improved audio and visual effects, helicopter support, and smarter enemy AI in PvPvE modes. Accessibility features such as a field of view slider and colorblind modes have also been introduced. Exfil is available for free on Steam until December 31 and is offered at a 30% discount until January 5. The game remains in early access.

AppWizard

December 23, 2025

Why A Minecraft Movie was 2025’s most important film

The film adaptation of a beloved brick-building video game, A Minecraft Movie, has become the highest-grossing film in the US for 2025 and ranks fourth worldwide, nearing the billion mark globally. It features Jack Black and includes a musical number about "lava chicken." Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, is the third highest-grossing film in 2023. A Minecraft Movie received a 48% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but exceeded audience expectations during its opening weekend in April, with active participation from viewers. Some screenings required police intervention due to the excitement, as fans engaged enthusiastically with the film.

AppWizard

December 23, 2025

Lake Oroville Surges Over 6 Feet in a Day as Powerful Storm Soaks Northern California

A significant atmospheric river has caused water levels at Lake Oroville in Northern California to rise more than 6 feet in one day, reaching approximately 781 feet. The reservoir is now at 54 percent capacity, exceeding its historical average for this time of year by 102 percent. Intense rainfall in the Northern Sierra brought up to 11 inches of precipitation within 24 hours. Lake Oroville received inflows at a rate of 67,000 cubic feet per second. Lake Shasta also rose by more than 1.5 feet during the same period. Flood-related alerts and winter storm watches are active across various parts of California.

AppWizard

December 18, 2025

A grittier take on post-apocalyptic MMOs like Fallout 76, new shooter finally lands on Steam to mixed reviews

Pioner, developed by GFA Games, is an MMO with shooter elements set in a post-apocalyptic world inspired by Stalker. It features a 50km² island that players can explore, incorporating story-driven exploration, social spaces, and PvE and PvP zones. The game includes a faction-based progression system that allows players to build reputations and unlock better items. Players must manage hunger and rest while crafting tools for survival. Launched on Steam Early Access, Pioner has over 1,200 players but faces performance issues and bugs, resulting in a user score of 50%. A hotfix has been released to address these issues, and new story content is expected by January 2026, along with a roadmap for future developments.