world Archives

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Coatsink’s founders are leaving the company

Coatsink, an indie game development studio, is undergoing a leadership change as its founding trio—CEO Tom Beardsmore, CDO Paul Crabb, and COO Eddie Beardsmore—will step down from their roles by the end of the year after 14 years. Richard Snowdon, who has been with Coatsink since 2015 and served as head of studio since 2022, will become the new CEO. Snowdon has prior experience at Eutechnyx, Double Eleven, and Accenture.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Epic Games Store PC Weekly Free Games 14/08/2025

The Epic Games Store is offering two free games from 4 PM BST on August 14, 2025, until 4 PM BST on August 21, 2025: Hidden Folks and Totally Reliable Delivery Service. Hidden Folks is developed by Adriaan de Jongh and involves locating hidden characters in hand-drawn landscapes. Totally Reliable Delivery Service, published by Infogrames, LLC and developed by We're Five Games, is a physics-based simulation game focused on chaotic package delivery.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Epic Games Store Gives Away $30 of Free Games for the Next Week

The Epic Games Store is offering two free games this week: 1. Hidden Folks - A puzzle game where players search for hidden characters in hand-drawn environments. It has a price of .99 on Steam, an "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating from over 7,000 reviews, and an average score of 83 on Metacritic based on eight critic evaluations. Features include 32 hand-drawn areas, over 300 targets to find, 2000+ sound effects, 500+ unique interactions, three color modes, and support for 22 languages. 2. Totally Reliable Delivery Service - A physics-based game focused on delivering packages using quirky gadgets and vehicles. It also costs .99 on Steam, has a "Very Positive" rating, and an average score of 64 on Metacritic from six critics. Features include local and online multiplayer, unpredictable ragdoll physics, a sandbox world filled with distractions, and customization options for characters.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

If “good is the new bad” in games, flawed experiments won’t have time to grow into future GOTYs

The BioShock series is experiencing significant narrative revisions for BioShock 4 following an internal review, as noted by Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, who highlighted the industry's shift towards higher standards in gaming. Players now expect exceptional experiences, with the phrase "good is the new bad" reflecting the competitive market where only remarkable titles succeed. The gaming industry has historically benefited from innovative yet imperfect games, like Divine Divinity, which eventually led to the success of Baldur's Gate 3. The current trend towards polished games may hinder creativity and limit the development of new genres, as the industry thrives on iteration and experimentation.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Telkomsel, Nuon, and Bango bring convenient and affordable Microsoft PC Game Pass access to Indonesian gamers, strengthening their digital gaming experience

Bango PLC has partnered with Telkomsel and Nuon Digital Indonesia to launch Microsoft PC Game Pass through the IndiHome Add-On in Indonesia. For a monthly fee starting at IDR 63,063, subscribers can access a library of premium PC games, including new releases from major publishers and an EA Play membership. The collaboration aims to enhance the gaming experience and broaden access to quality gaming content. Subscribers can activate the PC Game Pass via the IndiHome Add-On landing page, with the fee included in their monthly bill. A promotion for the first 500 users offers a free first month starting August 14, 2025, with automatic renewal at the standard price thereafter.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Open-world survival crafting game Of Peaks and Tides announced for PC

Chinese developer CyancookGames has announced an open-world survival crafting game titled Of Peaks and Tides, developed using Unreal Engine 5. The game will be showcased at Gamescom 2025, taking place from August 20 to 24 in Cologne, Germany. Players will explore a world influenced by Eastern mythology, featuring an interactive physics system, resource gathering, and dynamic gameplay. Key features include a responsive environment, combat against various adversaries, extensive crafting options, and survival mechanics involving relationships with wild creatures. Players will start their journey in Lushland, a realm impacted by a past war and chaotic natural forces. Trailers for the game are available, highlighting its visuals and immersive experience.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Gamescom 2025 schedule: All the showcases and events you can watch this year

Gamescom 2025 will take place in Cologne, Germany, featuring various events and showcases. Key highlights include: - Gamescom's Opening Night Live on August 19 at 8 pm CEST, with updates on Resident Evil Requiem and the World of Warcraft Midnight expansion. - The Future Games Show on August 20 at 8 pm CEST, hosted by David Hayter and Maggie Robertson. - The Awesome Indies showcase on August 21 at 6 pm CEST, focusing on indie titles. - Xbox will present broadcasts on August 20 and 21 at 6 am PT, featuring Grounded 2, Black Ops 7, and The Outer Worlds 2. - Bethesda will host broadcasts over three days starting August 22, including developer interviews and game showcases.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Avakin Life hits Steam after 200 million users on mobile

Avakin Life, a social simulation game launched in 2013 by Lockwood Publishing, has over 1.5 million monthly active users and more than 200 million registered players. It has recently debuted on Steam Early Access, allowing players to experience features such as avatar customization, apartment building, real-time events, and multiplayer social hubs. The Steam version supports cross-platform progression, enabling mobile users to link their accounts. The game is available in 14 languages and is free to download. The development team aims to gather community feedback during the Early Access phase to enhance the user experience and maintain feature parity across platforms. A full launch is expected later in the summer of 2025.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

These 7 PC Game Intros Hook You Instantly with Captivating Cinematics — Grabbing You by the Collar and Sucking You In

Final Fantasy XVI opens with themes of brotherly bond, betrayal, violence, and features a fiery Phoenix, captivating players with its intricate narrative. Fallout 4 thrusts players into a heart-wrenching scenario before a nuclear apocalypse, setting the stage for a quest to find a lost child. Marvel's Spider-Man series allows players to jump straight into action as Peter Parker battles Fisk shortly after donning his suit. Skyrim's opening features a near-execution scenario that quickly escalates with a dragon's arrival, immersing players in the game's mechanics. God of War (2018) starts with a poignant moment of mourning for Kratos's wife, leading to an intense confrontation with a Norse god. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 introduces a mysterious figure, the Paintress, and a friend's disappearance, igniting a quest filled with grotesque creatures. BioShock begins with a plane crash, leading players into the underwater city of Rapture, creating an atmosphere of curiosity and dread.

AppWizard

August 13, 2025

Influencer marketing agency Instinct3 opens new publishing arm

German influencer marketing agency Instinct3 has launched a new games publishing division called Sidekick, aimed at supporting indie and mid-tier gaming projects. The division is led by co-founders Jasmin Oestreicher and Melvin Frank. Oestreicher has been managing director since 2024 and emphasizes the need to stay relevant in the gaming industry. The first title published under Sidekick is Deadly Days: Roadtrip. Instinct3 has previously contributed to titles such as 9 Kings, Asgard’s Fall - Viking Survivors, and TerraScape. The goals of Sidekick include championing games that align with their vision and improving the quality and impact of each launch.