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Fallout co-creator Tim Cain is out of 'semi-retirement' and back at Obsidian
AppWizard
December 6, 2025

Fallout co-creator Tim Cain is out of ‘semi-retirement’ and back at Obsidian

Tim Cain has returned to full-time work at Obsidian Entertainment after a period of semi-retirement. He is now an in-office employee, having relocated back to California. Cain has hinted that he is working on a new project but has not disclosed specifics, advising against speculation related to the Fallout franchise. He mentioned that a game he contributed to during his contract work will be released soon. Additionally, he will continue to produce content for his YouTube channel.
Amazon Prime members can get these 12 Steam Deck-compatible games for free for a limited time
AppWizard
December 6, 2025

Amazon Prime members can get these 12 Steam Deck-compatible games for free for a limited time

Amazon Prime members currently have access to a selection of free Steam Deck-compatible games, which must be claimed through third-party launchers like Heroic Games Launcher or GOG. The available games include: - Gas Station Simulator (Playable, Amazon Prime – For Epic Games, Offer ends on Jan 7, 2026) - New Tales from the Borderlands (Playable, Amazon Prime – For Epic Games, Offer ends on Feb 4, 2026) - Lovecraft’s Untold Stories (Verified, Amazon Prime – For Epic Games, Offer ends on December 10, 2025) - PlateUp! (Verified, Amazon Prime – For Epic Games, Offer ends on December 24, 2025) - LEGO 2K Drive (Verified, Amazon Prime – For Epic Games, Offer ends on March 4, 2026) - Dream Tactics (Verified, Amazon Prime – For GOG, Offer ends on December 24, 2025) - EMPTY SHELL (Verified, Amazon Prime – For GOG, Offer ends on December 17, 2025) - XCOM 2 (Playable, Amazon Prime – For GOG, Offer ends on January 7, 2026) - Fort Solis (Verified, Amazon Prime – For GOG, Offer ends on January 14, 2026) - Another World: 20th Anniversary Edition (Verified, Amazon Prime – For GOG, Offer ends on December 17, 2025) - GYLT (Verified, Amazon Prime, Offer ends on Feb 4, 2026) - Dark City: Kyiv – CE (Playable, Amazon Prime, Offer ends on Jan 14, 2026) Additionally, Amazon is offering a six-month free trial of Prime membership for individuals aged 18 to 24 and students, allowing them to explore these gaming benefits without initial commitment.
Established sports franchises lost ground to newcomers on PC in 2025
AppWizard
December 6, 2025

Established sports franchises lost ground to newcomers on PC in 2025

In 2025, PC gaming has seen a resurgence in sports titles, with notable trends emerging. EA's free-to-play skateboarding game, Skate, achieved the most successful launch of any sports game on Steam this year, peaking at 134,901 concurrent users (CCU) but has since dropped to weekly peaks of 8,000 to 10,000 CCU. EA Sports FC 26 peaked at 100,283 CCU, lower than its predecessors, and maintains weekend peaks of 60,000 to 80,000 CCU. Rematch peaked at 92,841 CCU but has only retained around 4,000 players during peak times. Umamusume: Pretty Derby reached 87,453 CCU globally and attracts 17,000 to 20,000 PC players each weekend. Football Manager 26 launched with 84,909 CCU and maintains weekend peaks of around 60,000 CCU. Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road achieved 52,795 CCU with a user rating of 90 percent. NBA 2K26 peaked at 32,081 CCU, down over 20,000 from its predecessor, while F1 25 peaked at 22,595 CCU. Madden NFL 26 peaked at 6,600 CCU, while Madden NFL 24 remains the most popular entry with 9,526 CCU.
Microsoft is too busy with AI to fix Windows 11's design — so developers stepped up
Winsage
December 5, 2025

Microsoft is too busy with AI to fix Windows 11’s design — so developers stepped up

FluentFlyout is a new application for Windows 11 that enhances media control by introducing customizable flyouts activated by media keys. It integrates well with the Windows 11 aesthetic and offers a premium version for .96, which includes a taskbar widget, while a free version is available on GitHub. The app features options for previewing upcoming media, personalizing content display, adjusting flyout position, and selecting themes. Despite improvements in design from Microsoft, such as updates to the Run dialog box and dark mode, users have expressed frustration with the pace of these updates and inconsistent design elements. Third-party developers like those behind FluentFlyout are addressing these gaps and improving the user experience on Windows 11.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
December 5, 2025

Fallout co-creator Tim Cain is out of ‘semi-retirement’ and back at Obsidian

Tim Cain has returned to Obsidian Entertainment as a full-time in-office employee after a period of semi-retirement and contract work. He announced this change in a recent video, stating he is no longer a contractor. While he did not disclose specific projects, he hinted that he is working on something unexpected and mentioned that a game he contributed to during his contract work will be released soon. Cain's YouTube channel will continue, with support from his colleagues at Obsidian.
The guy responsible for the whole battle engine in Total War since Rome 1 had 'never worked writing game code' when he got the assignment
AppWizard
December 5, 2025

The guy responsible for the whole battle engine in Total War since Rome 1 had ‘never worked writing game code’ when he got the assignment

Scott Pitkethly started at Creative Assembly in 1999, initially working on sports games, which he had little passion for. He faced challenges transitioning to the Total War series, a genre he was excited about, despite having never written game code before. He eventually contributed to the Total War franchise, which received accolades and a remaster in 2021. The engine developed for Total War was used in the BBC's Time Commanders, which was based on a deceptive premise. Pitkethly has worked on every project at Creative Assembly since his arrival, except for Medieval 2, which is considered a favorite among fans.
December’s Humble Choice Lineup Is Live, Featuring Nine Sols, Streets of Rage 4, and More
AppWizard
December 5, 2025

December’s Humble Choice Lineup Is Live, Featuring Nine Sols, Streets of Rage 4, and More

As of December 2025, Humble Choice offers a selection of eight games, including Nine Sols, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, and Streets of Rage 4. New members can subscribe for .99 to receive a month of IGN Plus. The games include: - Nine Sols - Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name - Streets of Rage 4 - Lost Skies - Intravenous II - Dungeon Tycoon - Beholder Conductor - Godlike Burger Nine Sols is recognized as one of the top ten indie soulslikes, while Like a Dragon Gaiden and Streets of Rage 4 received scores of 7/10. Humble Choice members receive discounts of up to 20% on select titles and contribute 5% of their membership fee to charity, with December's contributions going to Save the Children. The IGN Plus subscription offers an ad-free experience and access to free games. There are also ongoing discounts on games and accessories following Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
From $6.99 to $0: Classic point-and-click adventure now free to claim on Android and iOS
BetaBeacon
December 5, 2025

From $6.99 to $0: Classic point-and-click adventure now free to claim on Android and iOS

The Darkside Detective is a popular game with high ratings on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. A mobile giveaway for the game will be available until December 11 at around 16:00 UTC. Additionally, the game can be added to the Epic Games Store library for a discounted price when redeeming it for both Android and iOS platforms.
RIP Windows: Linux GPU Gaming Benchmarks on Bazzite
Winsage
December 5, 2025

RIP Windows: Linux GPU Gaming Benchmarks on Bazzite

The shift from Windows to Linux, particularly with SteamOS, has increased interest in Linux testing among gamers. After three weeks of testing the Bazzite distribution, initial GPU results were obtained, revealing various issues such as crashes and lengthy shader compilation times. Bazzite was chosen for its popularity and developer engagement, offering two main versions: NVIDIA and non-NVIDIA, both with pre-installed drivers. The testing methodology was sensitive to change and not directly comparable to Windows due to different measurement tools. Benchmarking results showed that the RTX 5090 achieved an average of 176 FPS in Dragon’s Dogma 2 at 1080p, while performance disparities were noted in Black Myth: Wukong, where NVIDIA cards struggled with consistency. AMD GPUs often outperformed NVIDIA counterparts in several titles, indicating that while high-end NVIDIA hardware is capable, the Linux software environment may not fully utilize its potential. Ray tracing benchmarks in Cyberpunk 2077 also highlighted inconsistencies in performance. Overall, the Linux gaming environment is evolving, with expectations for improved compatibility and performance in the future.
Banned and blocked. Russia says good-bye to messaging apps
AppWizard
December 5, 2025

Banned and blocked. Russia says good-bye to messaging apps

Russia's censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, has banned several popular communication platforms, including Snapchat, WhatsApp, and FaceTime, citing their use in organizing terrorist acts, recruiting criminals, and committing fraud. The ban on WhatsApp, a widely used messaging app in Russia, is expected to have significant implications. This decision follows a pattern of increasing digital restrictions, with other services such as Facebook, Instagram, Signal, Viber, and Google Meet also being blocked. Russian authorities are promoting a national messaging app called Max, which is set to become mandatory in public sectors by January 1, 2026. Max will require full access to users' devices and will collect telemetry and metadata, raising privacy concerns due to its integration with government systems.
Microsoft Confirms New Upgrade Decision For All Windows Users
Winsage
December 5, 2025

Microsoft Confirms New Upgrade Decision For All Windows Users

Approximately 500 million users have PCs that qualify for Windows 11 but have not yet upgraded. Microsoft has announced that all supported systems can download and install Windows 11 version 25H2, available for both Windows 11 and Windows 10 users with the necessary system requirements. The update may encounter installation errors, such as the 0x80070306, and users may experience issues like disruptions to dark mode in File Explorer and complications with Intel Arc GPU drivers. Microsoft is working on a resolution for these problems, but a specific timeline for fixes is not provided. Users can check for the Windows 11 upgrade by going to Settings > Windows Update and selecting "Check for updates." This feature is exclusive to qualifying PCs.
Hytale lead isn't putting his Minecraft competitor on Steam at launch because "everything is wrong" with it, and Palworld lead "totally" understands his hesitance
AppWizard
December 5, 2025

Hytale lead isn’t putting his Minecraft competitor on Steam at launch because “everything is wrong” with it, and Palworld lead “totally” understands his hesitance

Simon Collins-Laflamme has reclaimed the rights to Hytale from Riot Games and has stated that the decision to not release the game on Steam at launch is due to his belief that "everything is wrong with the game." He plans to launch Hytale in early access on January 13, 2026, and will engage with the community for feedback during this phase. Collins-Laflamme acknowledges the current state of Hytale as "rough" but remains committed to improving the game. John 'Bucky' Buckley, a designer in the industry, supports Collins-Laflamme's transparency, emphasizing the importance of developers feeling confident about their products before release. The lead of Minecraft expressed enthusiasm for Hytale but noted the competitive landscape with many similar games available.
Best Y Level for Diamonds in Minecraft
AppWizard
December 5, 2025

Best Y Level for Diamonds in Minecraft

Diamond ore blocks can be found between Y=16 and Y=-64, with the optimal mining level being Y=-59. The ideal range for maximizing diamond yield is between Y=-53 and Y=-59. Rarer diamond ore variants can be found between Y=0 and Y=8. Effective methods for obtaining diamonds include cave exploration and strip/branch mining, with a focus on enclosed caves and mining tunnels at Y=-53. Essential items for diamond hunting include an iron pickaxe, enchantments (Fortune 3, Unbreaking, Efficiency), shield and armor, water bucket, food, torches, and night vision potions. Mining should cease at levels Y=-50 and above or below Y=-64 to avoid diminished diamond ore generation.
Hytale owner calls Minecraft "one of the greatest" games of all time, but his own sandbox is going in a "different direction" with crafting more like Terraria
AppWizard
December 5, 2025

Hytale owner calls Minecraft “one of the greatest” games of all time, but his own sandbox is going in a “different direction” with crafting more like Terraria

Hytale has been compared to Minecraft due to its similar genre of blocky sandbox games with survival elements. Simon Collins-Laflamme, the game's lead creator, acknowledges Minecraft's influence but aims to create a distinct identity for Hytale by enhancing adventure gameplay and prioritizing modders' interests. After reacquiring the rights to Hytale, Collins-Laflamme has restarted development from an older build to ensure a solid foundation. Hytale will not be available on Steam at launch, as the development team believes the platform may not be necessary for their initial release to avoid early reviews from uninformed users.
Minecraft 1.21.11 Release Candidate 2
AppWizard
December 5, 2025

Minecraft 1.21.11 Release Candidate 2

Candidate 2 has been released for Minecraft: Java Edition, addressing a critical crash issue that affected some users. The Release Candidates can be accessed by enabling snapshots in the Minecraft Launcher. Users are advised to back up their data due to potential risks of world corruption. An unobfuscated experimental version and an unobfuscated server jar are also available for download. Players are encouraged to report any bugs or provide feedback.
Cloud Gaming Is Looking More Attractive Than Ever for All the Wrong Reasons
AppWizard
December 5, 2025

Cloud Gaming Is Looking More Attractive Than Ever for All the Wrong Reasons

The cost of RAM has surged significantly, with prices for 16GB DDR4 sticks now around 0, and DDR5 sticks priced five times that amount. Micron, which held a 25.7% share of the DRAM market, announced it will discontinue its consumer-facing brand, Crucial, to focus on AI data center memory, likely exacerbating component prices. Xbox reported a 45% increase in playtime hours on its Game Pass Cloud Gaming service year-over-year, and Nvidia upgraded its GeForce Now service to support games on the latest RTX 5080 GPU. The rise in DRAM prices may persist until 2028, as major manufacturers prioritize supply for AI data centers over the PC industry.
Microsoft Silently Fixes 8-Year Windows Security Flaw
Winsage
December 5, 2025

Microsoft Silently Fixes 8-Year Windows Security Flaw

Microsoft addressed a critical vulnerability in Windows, identified as CVE-2025-9491, which had existed for nearly eight years and allowed cybercriminals to conceal malicious commands within .LNK (shortcut) files. This flaw was exploited by state-sponsored hacking groups from countries including China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, with evidence of nearly 1,000 malicious shortcut files used in various campaigns. The vulnerability was initially downplayed by Microsoft, which stated it did not require immediate servicing. However, as exploitation increased, Microsoft eventually included a fix in its November 2025 Patch Tuesday updates, which was not publicly announced. The fix allows the entire Target command to be displayed in the Properties dialog, addressing the security risk. Research indicated that around 70% of campaigns exploiting this flaw were focused on espionage and information theft across multiple sectors.
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