Pirates of the Veld expands the physics-based dung beetle adventure

Dung Ho! has rolled out its biggest update yet, bringing pirate enemies, new challenges, additional items, and more than 80 cosmetics to the co-op physics game.

Lesser Weevil has released the Pirates of the Veld update for Dung Ho!, expanding the game with new enemies and activities for players tackling its strange journey alone or with friends.

The update adds pirate enemies, the new Bobbin’s Nightmare climbing challenge, a Safari expansion, additional items, achievements, and more than 80 cosmetic options.

Dung Ho! Official Launch Trailer

Want more unusual indie games?

Get more hands-on impressions, indie features, reviews, interviews, and gaming news from Fix Gaming Channel.

Wildlife provides another obstacle during the journey across the veld.

Fun for a while, but still fairly limited

After playing Dung Ho!, I found it entertaining for a while. Much of the comedy comes from the physics, awkward movement, and the simple challenge of keeping the dung ball under control while the environment and other players create problems.

The unpredictable physics can send players flying through the environment.

It reminded me slightly of Mr. Sleepy Man, mainly because both games use strange characters, clumsy movement, and unpredictable situations to create comedy.

The difference is that there is not nearly as much to do in Dung Ho!. Its main idea can be funny, particularly with friends, but the gameplay loop starts to feel limited after a while. The new update gives players more content to work through, although this still feels best suited to short co-op sessions rather than long periods of play.

Rolling home with up to six beetles

Dung Ho! can be played alone or online with up to six players. The goal is to guide a ball of dung across the African wilderness while avoiding animals, environmental hazards, deep drops, small obstacles, and friends who may be more dangerous than the wildlife.

Players must work together to guide the dung ball across difficult terrain.

Players must find additional dung to repair the ball and collect useful items along the way. Individual sessions are designed to last around 30 to 60 minutes, keeping the experience relatively quick and accessible.

Players looking for another physics-based multiplayer experience can also read our PEAK review.

Dung Ho!

Release: March 12, 2026

Genre: Adventure, Casual, Indie, Co-op Physics

Developer / Publisher: Lesser Weevil

Platforms: PC via Steam

Related Reading

Mr. Sleepy Man Brings Cartoon Chaos to Bedtime Town

PEAK Is Chaotic Climbing Co-op Madness

The post Dung Ho! Gets Its Biggest Update Yet With Pirates and More Co-op Chaos appeared first on Fix Gaming Channel.

A solo developer’s post-launch reflection on mobile design, readable pressure, and redefining when a game is finished

A game can function exactly as intended and still not be ready for the people expected to play it. In this Fix Stories submission, Jaehoon Lee of Songi Store reflects on the moment he stopped treating “everything works” as the same thing as “the game is finished.”

Work Rush is a free Android typing survival game about keeping up with an office workload that becomes increasingly difficult to control. Its central idea was simple, but bringing that idea to a real phone revealed problems that were almost invisible on a desktop screen.

Work Rush combines office-themed progression with fast mobile typing and recovery tools.

---

Want more stories from game developers?

Get more developer stories, interviews, reviews, indie coverage, and gaming news from Fix Gaming Channel.

Join Our Newsletter

Stay updated with the latest interviews, previews, and indie gaming news.

Subscribe

There was a version of Work Rush that I was ready to call finished.

The menu worked. A run could begin. Office memos arrived in a queue, the player typed them away, the score rose, and the game could end with a result screen. In a desktop browser, it had all the visible signs of a completed game: systems, effects, progression, and no obvious broken button.

Then I started treating it like a game that would actually be played on a phone.

Work Rush is a small survival game built around office work piling up. Memos arrive faster and faster; the player clears them with the phone’s software keyboard before the board overflows. The original premise was intentionally simple. I liked the idea that a familiar frustration, a task list growing faster than it can be cleared, could become a readable game loop.

What I underestimated was how easily a readable loop can become an unreadable mobile game.

As a shift continues, Work Rush increases the pressure by filling the screen with more office memos to clear.

The false comfort of a complete-looking screen

On desktop, I had been asking the wrong question. I asked whether the interface fit together. I did not ask whether a player could understand it while under pressure.

A mobile game does not give every element equal attention. The player is reading a target, watching the next memo, deciding whether to use a recovery tool, and typing at the same time. Once the phone keyboard is open, the remaining space is not just smaller; it is more expensive. Every animation, toast, badge, and panel competes with the one thing the player needs to notice next.

The first practical change was not a new mechanic. It was a testing habit.

I began running short sessions with the software keyboard open and writing down every moment where I hesitated. Not every hesitation was bad. Some belonged to the game. If the board is filling up, the player should feel pressure. But there is an important difference between “I have to make a decision” and “I cannot tell what the game wants me to look at.”

That distinction changed the layout. It changed when feedback could appear. It changed how much visual celebration a cleared memo deserved. A flashy confirmation can feel rewarding in a still screenshot, but it is not worth much if it hides the next threat for half a second.

The rule I settled on was simple: during a run, the player should always be able to answer three questions without searching the screen.

• What should I type now?
• What is about to make this run harder?
• What do I still have available to recover?

If the interface could not answer those questions quickly, the game was not difficult in an interesting way. It was merely asking the player to fight the interface.

Making a slow game tense without making a fast game unfair

Pacing was the next lesson.

Early versions of Work Rush had two opposite problems. If the opening was too calm, it felt like an office-themed typing exercise. If boss instructions, disruptive memos, and other special events arrived too close together, the run became hard for reasons that were impossible to read.

Both versions were technically playable. Neither one had a useful rhythm.

The solution was not to remove pressure. The game needs pressure; it is the entire reason the queue exists. The work was in making that pressure arrive through a pattern a new player could learn.

The opening minute now has a specific job. It has to show the basic loop, establish the pace, and let the player recognize the queue before it asks them to recover from trouble. Later, the game can accelerate and introduce more demanding situations because the player has already learned how ordinary work behaves.

That sounds like a small design adjustment, but it changed how I judged failure. A loss should still feel fair when it is sudden. The player should be able to say, “I let the board get away from me,” or “I used the wrong tool too early.” If the only explanation is that several unrelated things appeared at once, then the game has hidden the decision that was supposed to matter.

For a solo developer, this was a useful correction. It is easy to look at a growing list of features and assume more variety automatically creates more depth. In a short mobile session, variety only becomes depth when the player can recognize why each new thing matters.

A recovery tool has to answer a problem the player can see

That led to a second mistake: I had initially thought about support tools mostly as rewards.

Work Rush has ways to interrupt or soften a bad situation: clearing part of the queue, slowing the pace, pausing time, creating extra capacity, or handing selected normal work to an assistant. These sound good in a feature list. In a real run, they only become meaningful when they answer a danger the player has already noticed.

A cleanup option is useful when the board is visibly crowded. A pause matters when the player needs a moment to read again. Extra capacity matters when the player understands that one more incoming memo will end the shift.

That sounds obvious, but it gave me a much better test than “Is this upgrade strong enough?” The better question was, “Can a player see the situation this tool is meant to solve?”

If the answer was no, the tool was not strategy. It was just inventory.

The last ten seconds matter as much as the first ten

I also had to rethink the end of a run.

Short mobile games are often judged at the moment of failure. A player may only spend a few minutes in a session, so a confusing result screen or an abrupt interruption can erase the clarity built during the run itself.

I wanted a lost shift to give the player a useful next thought: what went wrong, what they earned, and what they might do differently next time. A revive needed to feel like a deliberate chance to recover, not a screen that simply appeared because the run had ended. Rankings needed to reflect completed attempts rather than rewarding a half-finished situation.

None of that is as immediately visible as a new enemy or a new skill. But it changes whether a player restarts because they are curious, or closes the app because the game has not explained itself.

What “finished” means now

The premise of Work Rush is still the same. It is a game about typing through an increasingly impossible office day. The part that changed was my definition of polish.

I used to think a game was finished when all its parts were present and working. Now I think it is closer to finished when a person on a real phone can see the pressure, understand their choices, make a mistake, and still feel that another run is worth trying.

That lesson is less glamorous than a new feature announcement, but it has shaped every later change I make. Mobile constraints are not details to hide after the design is complete. They are part of the design itself.

Work Rush

Genre: Typing Survival Game

Developer / Publisher: Jaehoon Lee / Songi Store

Platform: Android

Availability: Free via Google Play

Related Reading

Fix Stories — Real Stories From Game Developers and Creators

Fix Stories: I Always Wanted to Run a Band, So I Built One

Fix Stories: Where Spears & Spirits Came From

---

Written by Jaehoon Lee of Songi Store for Fix Gaming Channel.

Send developer stories, corrections, tips, or game pitches to contact@fixgamingchannel.com.

Support independent games coverage on Ko-fi.

The post Fix Stories: The Day I Stopped Calling Work Rush Finished appeared first on Fix Gaming Channel.

A ticking descent through Purgatory, devastating builds, and Brazil’s War of Canudos

Hell Clock is Fix Gaming Channel’s Game of the Week #64, combining fast roguelike runs, deep action RPG builds, and a dark fantasy retelling of Brazilian history.

Plenty of action RPGs send players into dark dungeons filled with loot, monsters, and increasingly destructive abilities. Hell Clock immediately separates itself by building that familiar structure around the history and culture of Brazil.

Developed by Brazilian studio Rogue Snail, the game transforms the late 19th-century War of Canudos into a supernatural fight through Purgatory and Hell.

Following Legends of Castile as Game of the Week #63, this week’s selection replaces quiet investigation and hand-drawn folklore with relentless combat, ticking clocks, and builds designed to tear through entire groups of enemies.

You can browse more weekly selections through our Game of the Week archive.

Hell Clock Official Launch Trailer

Want More Games Worth Playing?

Get more Game of the Week features, reviews, interviews, previews, and independent gaming coverage from Fix Gaming Channel.

Every second pushes the run forward

Players control Pajeú, a warrior fighting to rescue the soul of The Counselor, his fallen mentor.

Each descent sends Pajeú deeper into a distorted underworld filled with undead forces, demons, and nightmarish versions of Brazil’s past, present, and future.

The Hell Clock restricts how long Pajeú can remain in the depths. That pressure encourages aggressive movement, quick decisions, and builds capable of clearing enemies before time runs out.

Players who do not enjoy fighting against a timer can remove the time pressure through Relaxed Mode. Those seeking a harsher challenge can move in the opposite direction through Hardcore options and increasingly difficult endgame content.

Builds designed to become completely unreasonable

The combat is fast, but the build system gives Hell Clock its staying power.

Players collect Relics, Skills, Blessings, gear, and other modifiers that can be combined into increasingly destructive setups. Knife attacks can cut rapidly through groups, firearms provide ranged pressure, and abilities such as the great bell of Canudos can smash through enemies with overwhelming force.

The strongest combinations do more than increase a few numbers. They can alter how attacks behave, cover large parts of the screen, trigger additional effects, or turn one basic ability into the center of an entire build.

The Constellation Map unlocks new bonuses through different devotion paths.

That constant search for the next Relic or unexpected combination gives every descent another reason to continue. Even failed runs can reveal a new interaction worth building around.

Brazilian history is more than background decoration

The War of Canudos was fought in northeastern Brazil during the 1890s after the settlement of Canudos and its people came into conflict with the newly established Brazilian Republic.

Hell Clock does not attempt to recreate those events as a conventional historical game. Instead, it turns their violence, resistance, injustice, and cultural memory into dark fantasy.

Animated cutscenes connect Pajeú’s journey to the history and mythology behind Hell Clock.

That gives the action a stronger identity than another randomly generated trip through Hell. The enemies, locations, characters, music, language, and story are connected to a specific part of Brazilian history that remains largely unexplored in games released internationally.

Cursed War expands the campaign

Hell Clock arrived on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on July 9, 2026, alongside its first major expansion, Cursed War.

The expansion adds a fourth campaign act exploring Pajeú’s origin story during the Paraguayan War and the pestilence surrounding it.

It also introduces new biomes, enemies, bosses, Skills, Relics, and further opportunities to create combinations capable of breaking through the game’s toughest encounters.

The new Endless Nightmares mode expands the endgame further, giving established characters another increasingly difficult challenge after completing the main campaign.

Hell Clock: Cursed War Official Launch Trailer

Why Hell Clock is our Game of the Week #64

Hell Clock earns our Game of the Week #64 selection because it combines familiar action RPG satisfaction with a setting and cultural identity rarely represented in the genre.

The ticking timer keeps combat moving, the Relic and Skill systems encourage experimentation, and the option to remove the time limit prevents the central mechanic from excluding players who prefer a slower approach.

Most importantly, its interpretation of Brazilian history gives the action a purpose beyond collecting stronger loot. The supernatural retelling of Canudos, Pajeú’s fight for The Counselor, and the continued story in Cursed War create something more distinctive than another descent through a generic underworld.

That is why Hell Clock is Fix Gaming Channel’s Game of the Week #64.

Hell Clock

Release: July 22, 2025

Genre: Action RPG, Action Roguelike, Dungeon Crawler

Developer / Publisher: Rogue Snail / Mad Mushroom

Platforms: PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S

Related Reading

Legends of Castile Sends an Aspiring Nun After Spanish Folk Monsters

Why Enshrouded Earned Our Game of the Week #62 Pick

Explore More Fix Gaming Channel Game of the Week Selections

The post Hell Clock Sends Brazilian History Into Purgatory — Game of the Week #64 appeared first on Fix Gaming Channel.

Facility 3826 opens its doors to Reverse: 1999 players

The Reverse: 1999 x Atomic Heart collaboration is now live with The Twins, free character Nora, a new story, and more than 110 free pulls.

Bluepoch has launched the crossover worldwide on PC, iOS, and Android, bringing the retrofuturistic world of Facility 3826 into the time-travel RPG.

Atomic Heart previously passed 10 million players, while Mundfish is continuing the universe with Atomic Heart 2 and other announced projects.

The Twins Trailer – Graceful Weapons

Want more RPG updates and gaming collaborations like this?

Get more game features, reviews, interviews, mobile coverage, and gaming news from Fix Gaming Channel.

The Twins and free Nora

The Twins arrive as a limited six-star character through the Analysis of Metallic Dramaturgy banner. They are the game’s first dual-Afflatus character, combining Star and Mineral types while using two exclusive Psychubes.

Nora, the repair cabinet from Atomic Heart, also becomes playable and can be recruited for free through the collaboration’s Phase II activities.

A new story inside Facility 3826

The original Polymerized Dreams story sends Vertin, X, Madam Lucy, and Mesmer Jr. into the world of Atomic Heart.

Players can also explore Back to Chelomey, solve challenges, fight enemies, upgrade the Polymer Glove, and collect collaboration cosmetics and event rewards.

More than 110 free pulls

The event offers more than 110 free pulls, a free monthly pass worth up to 2,700 Clear Drops, additional Unilogs, free character Nora, and a free garment for Brimley.

Reverse: 1999

Collaboration Launch: July 23, 2026

Genre: Free-to-Play Turn-Based RPG

Developer / Publisher: Bluepoch

Platforms: PC — Steam, iOS, and Android

Related Reading

Atomic Heart Blasts Past 10 Million Players

Mundfish Returns With Atomic Heart 2, The CUBE, and ILL

The post Reverse: 1999 x Atomic Heart Crossover Is Live With The Twins and Free Nora appeared first on Fix Gaming Channel.

Your ultrawide resolution decides how powerful the GPU needs to be

Ultrawide gaming can mean anything from a 3440×1440 display to a demanding 5120×1440 super ultrawide monitor. Before buying a graphics card, check the exact resolution, refresh rate, games you play, and whether you expect ray tracing or native-resolution performance.

I have used both 32:9 and 3440×1440 ultrawide monitors for years, going back to when the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti was still on the market. Once you become used to the wider view, extra screen space, and greater immersion, returning to a standard display feels restrictive. For me, there is no way back.

That does not mean every ultrawide monitor needs a flagship graphics card. A typical 34-inch 3440×1440 display and a 49-inch 5120×1440 monitor may both be called ultrawide, but the GPU workload is very different.

The larger 32:9 resolution renders almost 49% more pixels than 3440×1440. That can move a graphics card from comfortable performance into a situation where settings, upscaling, VRAM, and frame generation become far more important.

As discussed in our feature on why there is no going back after playing in ultrawide, the format can transform both immersion and everyday desktop use. The next question is whether your GPU can handle it.

Ultrawide gaming in action

Building an ultrawide gaming setup?

Get more hardware guides, ultrawide gameplay tests, reviews, interviews, and independent gaming coverage from Fix Gaming Channel.

Not every ultrawide resolution is equally demanding

The physical size and width of the monitor do not determine the GPU workload by themselves. The number of pixels being rendered is the more useful comparison.

One surprise is that 3840×1080 is easier to run than 3440×1440, despite being the wider 32:9 format. At the other end, 5120×1440 is only around 11% lighter than standard 4K.

Quick ultrawide GPU recommendations

These are practical tiers, not guarantees of a fixed frame rate. Performance changes significantly between games and depends on graphics settings, ray tracing, upscaling, the processor, and the refresh rate you are trying to reach.

What GPU do you need for 3440×1440 ultrawide?

For most players, a normal ultrawide monitor means a 34-inch 3440×1440 display. It renders around 34% more pixels than standard 2560×1440, but remains considerably easier to drive than 4K.

A 16GB Radeon RX 9060 XT or GeForce RTX 5060 Ti is a reasonable entry point for players willing to adjust demanding settings or use quality-focused upscaling.

For a stronger and more balanced 3440×1440 setup, the Radeon RX 9070 and GeForce RTX 5070 provide more breathing room.

Players targeting high refresh rates, heavier ray tracing, or fewer compromises should look toward the Radeon RX 9070 XT, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, or GeForce RTX 5080.

3440×1440 ultrawide gameplay

What GPU do you need for 3840×1080 super ultrawide?

A 3840×1080 monitor can look demanding because of its extreme width, but it renders fewer pixels than 3440×1440.

The 16GB versions of the Radeon RX 9060 XT and GeForce RTX 5060 Ti are sensible modern starting points. The Radeon RX 9070 and GeForce RTX 5070 offer more room for high-refresh gaming and demanding releases.

This is a good reminder that the physical width of the monitor does not automatically require an extreme graphics card. The exact resolution is far more useful when judging performance requirements.

What GPU do you need for 3840×1600 ultrawide?

The 3840×1600 resolution sits between 3440×1440 and 5120×1440. It provides more vertical screen space than the standard 34-inch format while placing a noticeably heavier load on the GPU.

The Radeon RX 9070 and GeForce RTX 5070 are reasonable starting points when settings and upscaling remain flexible.

For demanding games, high refresh rates, or stronger ray-tracing performance, the Radeon RX 9070 XT, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, and GeForce RTX 5080 are better suited to the resolution.

What GPU do you need for 5120×1440 super ultrawide?

This is the resolution I currently use for PC gaming and 32:9 testing. At 7.37 million pixels, 5120×1440 is much closer to 4K than standard 1440p.

The Radeon RX 9070 XT and GeForce RTX 5070 Ti are practical current starting points, especially when using optimized settings and quality-focused upscaling in demanding releases.

For fewer compromises, the GeForce RTX 5080 is the stronger step up. The 24GB Radeon RX 7900 XTX also remains highly capable at 5120×1440 and is the graphics card used in my own 32:9 system.

I do not run every game at maximum settings simply because the card is powerful. At this resolution, reducing a few expensive settings can produce a far better balance between image quality and frame rate without noticeably damaging the experience.

The GeForce RTX 5090 is the maximum-performance option for players chasing very high refresh rates, demanding ray tracing, or the fewest possible compromises. It is not required simply to use a 5120×1440 monitor.

5120×1440 super ultrawide gameplay

How much VRAM should an ultrawide GPU have?

For a new 3440×1440 gaming build, I would favor at least 12GB of VRAM and choose 16GB when the budget allows. For 3840×1600 or 5120×1440, 16GB is a stronger target.

That does not mean every 8GB card immediately stops working. It means a new 8GB purchase may leave less room for future releases, high-resolution textures, ray tracing, mods, and games with poor memory management.

The current GeForce RTX 5070 carries 12GB, while the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, GeForce RTX 5080, Radeon RX 9070, and Radeon RX 9070 XT carry 16GB.

The Radeon RX 7900 XTX provides 24GB, while the GeForce RTX 5090 provides 32GB. Those larger capacities can be useful at extreme resolutions, but VRAM alone does not make one graphics card faster than another.

Refresh rate changes the recommendation

Running a game at 60 frames per second and trying to fully use a 165Hz or 240Hz ultrawide monitor are completely different targets.

A midrange card may run 3440×1440 comfortably at sensible settings while still falling far short of the monitor’s maximum refresh rate. At 5120×1440, sustaining very high frame rates in visually demanding games can require a high-end GPU, reduced settings, upscaling, or a combination of all three.

Competitive games are often easier to run than cinematic open-world releases, but they can become limited by the processor. Buying the fastest GPU available will not guarantee 240 frames per second if the CPU or game engine cannot keep up.

Ray tracing can change the answer

A graphics card that performs well at native 3440×1440 or 5120×1440 without ray tracing may need upscaling or lower settings once demanding ray-traced effects are enabled.

This is why a GPU recommendation cannot be based on resolution alone. Someone playing competitive shooters at medium settings has very different requirements from someone trying to run a cinematic single-player game with full ray tracing.

Before choosing between AMD Radeon, NVIDIA GeForce, and Intel Arc, check the games you play most often and which upscaling or frame-generation technologies they support.

Upscaling is useful at ultrawide resolutions

NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS can be especially useful at 3840×1600 and 5120×1440.

At these resolutions, quality-focused upscaling begins with a large amount of image information. It can be a far more sensible compromise than reducing every graphics setting or spending considerably more money only to remain at native resolution.

Frame generation can improve visible smoothness, but it should not be treated as a replacement for a stable base frame rate. The game should already feel responsive before generated frames are added.

Do not replace a strong older GPU without a reason

Players already using a GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, GeForce RTX 4080, GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, GeForce RTX 4090, Radeon RX 7900 XT, or Radeon RX 7900 XTX do not automatically need a new card for ultrawide gaming.

A newer generation may offer improved features, efficiency, ray tracing, or frame generation, but an upgrade should solve a real limitation. If your current games already run well at your preferred settings, keeping the card is often the smarter decision.

The simple answer

For 3440×1440, start around the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB or GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB. The Radeon RX 9070 and GeForce RTX 5070 provide a stronger overall balance.

For 5120×1440, look toward the Radeon RX 9070 XT or GeForce RTX 5070 Ti as practical starting points. The Radeon RX 7900 XTX, GeForce RTX 5080, and GeForce RTX 5090 provide more room for demanding games, ray tracing, and higher settings.

Most importantly, check the monitor’s exact resolution before buying. Choosing a graphics card for “ultrawide” without knowing whether the display is 3440×1440, 3840×1080, or 5120×1440 can lead to overspending or buying a GPU that struggles with the screen you intended to use.

For me, the extra demand is worth it. After years of using both 3440×1440 and 32:9 monitors, the wider view has become the way I want to play. There is no way back.

Related Reading

Once You Play Games in Ultrawide, There’s No Going Back

Seven 32:9 Super Ultrawide Games You Need to See in 5K

Why New PC Games Still Fail Ultrawide Players

Best Ultrawide Gaming Monitors in 2026

The post What GPU Do You Need for Ultrawide Gaming? 21:9 and 32:9 Explained appeared first on Fix Gaming Channel.

A three-year GPU warranty can still leave you without support

Graphics card warranties can look simple until something goes wrong. The number of years is only one part of the coverage. Your country, retailer, proof of purchase, product registration, and even whether the card was bought used can decide whether a claim is accepted.

When choosing a graphics card, most buyers compare performance, cooling, noise, VRAM, and price. Warranty support often comes much further down the list, even though replacing a failed GPU can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.

That risk is even harder to ignore in markets where imported PC hardware already carries higher costs. As covered in our guide to why PC parts remain expensive in the Philippines, shipping, tax, distributor costs, and warranty risk can all become part of the final price.

Buying a GPU or planning your next PC upgrade?

Get more practical hardware guides, PC gaming coverage, reviews, interviews, and independent gaming news from Fix Gaming Channel.

Start with the country and the seller

GPU warranties are rarely identical worldwide. A graphics card brand may offer three years in one country, two years in another, or require the original retailer or regional distributor to handle the claim.

This is especially important when importing a discounted GPU. A card bought through an overseas marketplace may not qualify for local service, even when the same model is sold in your country.

Before ordering, confirm where the warranty is valid, who handles the claim, whether international shipping is required, and whether the seller is an authorized retailer.

Current GPU warranty examples

These are regional examples, not universal promises. Always open the warranty page for your country and check the exact graphics card before buying.

Register the GPU and save your proof of purchase

Some manufacturers offer extended coverage only after online registration. Waiting until the card fails may be too late because registration windows can be as short as 30 days.

Once the GPU has been installed and tested, save digital copies of:

• The original receipt or invoice
• The retailer’s order confirmation
• The card’s serial number
• A photograph of the serial-number label
• The warranty-registration confirmation

Receipts fade, online accounts can become inaccessible, and retailers can close. Keeping your own copies gives you a stronger record if a claim is needed later.

A used GPU may not carry its remaining warranty

A seller advertising a used GPU with “two years of warranty remaining” does not guarantee that the next owner can use it.

PowerColor states that its US and Canadian coverage applies only to the original owner. Sapphire also says its limited warranty is non-transferable and requires proof of purchase from the original buyer.

Before purchasing a used graphics card, ask for the original invoice and check the manufacturer’s transfer rules. A screenshot showing an expiration date is not enough by itself.

Can you repaste or open the graphics card?

Older GPUs may benefit from fresh thermal paste, replacement thermal pads, or a full cleaning. Opening a card that is still under warranty can create problems, however.

Sapphire states that dismantling the card or removing its heatsink invalidates the limited warranty. Other manufacturers may use different rules, but damage caused during disassembly is unlikely to be covered.

Check the official regional policy before removing the cooler, fitting a water block, replacing thermal pads, flashing a custom BIOS, or making any physical modification.

Mining and commercial use may be excluded

Standard consumer warranties are normally written around ordinary desktop use. Cryptocurrency mining, blockchain computing, server deployments, and other commercial workloads may be excluded.

Gigabyte states that using its standard desktop graphics cards for blockchain computing or cryptocurrency mining renders the warranty void. Zotac and PNY also include restrictions covering mining or enterprise-style use in some regional policies.

The retailer can be as important as the manufacturer

A helpful retailer can replace a faulty card during its initial return window without forcing the buyer through a long manufacturer RMA process.

Before purchasing, check the store’s dead-on-arrival policy, replacement window, authorized-retailer status, and whether it handles warranty claims directly. This is particularly important for brands such as Sapphire, which directs buyers to the original dealer or reseller.

A GPU failure can also resemble a driver or game problem. Before submitting a claim, it can be worth checking our guide to why new PC games crash and how to troubleshoot them.

Five checks before buying a graphics card

1. Confirm the warranty period for your country.
2. Check whether product registration is required.
3. Find out whether the retailer, distributor, or manufacturer handles claims.
4. Check whether coverage transfers to a second owner.
5. Read the rules covering disassembly, mining, modifications, and imported products.

Warranty support should not decide the purchase alone, but it belongs in the comparison. When two graphics cards offer similar performance and pricing, stronger local support can be the better long-term value.

Official warranty sources

ASUS Singapore graphics card warranty

Gigabyte Singapore graphics card warranty

Zotac UK and Nordic warranty policy

PowerColor US and Canada warranty policy

PNY GeForce warranty information

Sapphire consumer warranty policy

MSI regional warranty information

Related Reading

Why Are PC Parts Still So Expensive in the Philippines?

Why New Games Crash on PC and How to Fix Them

Once You Play Games in Ultrawide, There’s No Going Back

The post GPU Warranties Explained: What to Check Before Buying a Graphics Card appeared first on Fix Gaming Channel.

A shamanic legend, seventeenth-century Siberia, and a tactical combat system built around Health and Spirit.

Fix Stories is a developer-authored series where creators share the ideas, experiences, setbacks, and decisions behind their games in their own words.

In this story, the team at Go North Studio explains how an old shamanic legend and the idea of physical and spiritual combat became the foundation of Spears & Spirits.

The following story has been lightly edited for grammar and readability while preserving the developer’s voice.

---

Want more developer stories like this?

Get more developer interviews, personal stories, reviews, indie coverage, and gaming news from Fix Gaming Channel.

Join Our Newsletter

Stay updated with the latest interviews, previews, developer stories, and indie gaming news.

Subscribe

Where Spears & Spirits Came From

Spears & Spirits has two roots: one comes from the story, and the other from the game design.

Some time ago, I came across a book on shamanic legends published in Yakutia. It contained many stories, one of which stayed with me.

It was about a young woman said to have been destined to become a great shaman. Evil spirits were after her and trying to prevent her initiation, her spiritual “dismemberment,” and her transformation into a shaman. I will try not to give too many spoilers!

The girl had been chosen by spirits, but in many ways was also their victim. She went through one disaster after another, found people who helped her, and thus survived to be reborn as a powerful shaman.

I kept thinking about that story for years and wondering how it could become a game.

The other root of the project came from our attempts to make tactical combat feel more layered.

On the surface, the idea was simple: small groups of fighters, compact battlefields, and relatively clear rules. But underneath that, we wanted several layers of tactics.

We wanted to make combat happen on two levels: the physical and the spiritual. You might have warriors who are physically weak but very strong in spirit, and you could choose whether to attack an enemy’s body or try to break their will.

At some point, these two ideas came together. The legend of the young shaman and the idea of physical and spiritual combat became the starting point for Spears & Spirits.

Building the Setting

Before starting work on the game, I had already made several documentaries about Yakutia, so I knew quite a bit about the Sakha people, their beliefs, and their metalworking traditions.

But the legend that inspired the game was about the Evenki. Their shamans were often considered particularly powerful, so we were happy to explore a subject that was new to us.

We began collecting material: historical timelines, articles, dictionaries, photographs, ethnographic studies, and anything else we could find.

This is how the fictional Kětengir clan appeared. The name means “The Numerous.” Our protagonist became Erumi, a name that can be translated from Evenki as “Misfortune.”

The story takes place somewhere in the northwestern part of present-day Yakutia, but we do not say exactly where. It could be near the Yana, the Indigirka, or the Kolyma rivers. We wanted the setting to feel real without tying it to one exact river.

The year, however, is more specific: 1684.

At that time, the territory of modern Yakutia was part of the frontier of the Tsardom of Moscow. Many different peoples, cultures, beliefs, and ways of life were meeting there, trading, fighting, adapting, and trying to survive.

That gives us a lot to work with.

We are interested in what happens when different beliefs and cultures collide, and whether people can find any kind of common ground during a time of fear and upheaval. It is an old subject, but it hardly feels outdated.

History, but Also Fantasy

The game is historical, but it is still fantasy.

Our main goal is to tell a good story in a setting that feels fresh. Traditional fantasy is full of the same landscapes, creatures, and cultural references, and we wanted to look somewhere else.

There is already more than enough fantasy about Vikings. The North is almost automatically associated with them.

So why not make fantasy about the real far North and the people who lived there? Compared with the peoples of northeastern Siberia, Vikings were practically warm-weather southerners.

We are not trying to turn the game into a history lesson. It should work first as a game, with characters, battles, difficult choices, strange spirits, and a strong atmosphere.

But if someone plays it and then becomes curious about the peoples and cultures of Siberia, that would be a very good result.

Health and Spirit

As the story developed, the combat system also became more practical.

The original idea of fighting in two separate planes was probably too complicated. In the end, it became two main resources: Health and Spirit.

Physical attacks reduce Health. Fear, supernatural pressure, and shamanic powers reduce Spirit.

A character whose Spirit falls to zero may lose the ability to keep fighting, even if they are still physically unharmed.

For example, Erumi can summon the spirit of someone who died without finding peace. That spirit can terrify an enemy, break their will, and force them out of the fight.

Shamanic magic is built around card-game mechanics.

To us, that makes sense because spirits are as temperamental and unpredictable as a deck of cards.

The cards represent amulets attached to a shaman’s clothing. Each amulet is connected to a spirit. During combat, the shaman calls on those spirits and tries to awaken them.

But you never know exactly who will answer.

And it is not only the shaman’s own spirits who are listening. Every battlefield has its own deck of local spirits. The spirits of the place can also respond, sometimes helping and sometimes making the situation worse.

Wounds That Stay With You

We also wanted the game to reflect how harsh life in the North could be.

Characters do not simply lose Health in battle. They can suffer injuries to different parts of the body, and some of those injuries may remain after the fight.

Healing them costs resources, and resources are limited.

Erumi can use her shamanic abilities to treat her companions, but she cannot help everyone. Time in Camp is limited, so helping one person may mean leaving someone else untreated.

There is also another problem: she cannot fully help a companion until she has earned their Trust.

Trust and Camp

Trust is one of the most important systems in the game.

In some ways, Spears & Spirits is structured like a road movie. A group of very different people are thrown together by circumstance and forced to travel toward the same goal.

They do not all like each other. They do not share the same beliefs or background. Some of them may not trust Erumi at all.

The player will need to build relationships with the members of the Party in order to unlock new abilities, choices, conversations, and forms of help.

Trust can change because of what happens in battle, but we want most of it to develop through conversations around the campfire.

This is where players will learn who their companions are, what they fear, what they want, and why they joined the journey.

But Camp time is limited.

You will not be able to speak to everyone, heal everyone, or solve every problem. Some relationships will grow stronger, while others may remain distant.

You probably will not be able to make everyone happy.

That is part of the point.

What We Are Working On Now

Right now, we are building the campaign for the Spears & Spirits demo and trying to bring all these systems together in a form that feels clear and playable.

That includes physical and spiritual combat, shamanic cards, local spirits, lasting injuries, limited Camp time, and trust between characters.

We hope to finish the demo and open the game for public playtesting soon.

Follow our progress and add Spears & Spirits to your wishlist.

---

Spears & Spirits

Release: To be announced

Genre: Tactical RPG, turn-based strategy, deckbuilding

Developer / Publisher: Go North Studio

Platform: PC via Steam

Related Reading

Fix Stories: I Always Wanted to Run a Band, So I Built One

Archor Games Hits 100 Steam Releases — Fix Stories

---

Developer story by Go North Studio for Fix Stories.

Edited and published by Ronny Fiksdahl, Founder & Editor of Fix Gaming Channel.

Send interview pitches, corrections, tips, or developer stories to contact@fixgamingchannel.com.

Support independent games coverage on Ko-fi.

The post Fix Stories: Where Spears & Spirits Came From appeared first on Fix Gaming Channel.

A Game About Penguins Sets August 10 PC Release Date

The cozy multiplayer sandbox is heading to Steam, while a free standalone prologue is available now.

A Game About Penguins will launch on PC via Steam on August 10, 2026, publisher Ultimate Games S.A. has announced.

Developed by Turkish indie studio CO’s Entertainment, the relaxing sandbox can be played solo or through online co-op for up to 12 players. Penguins can explore the snowy island, fish, swim, ice skate, throw snowballs, play minigames, and customize their appearance.

For more lighthearted multiplayer games, read our Flock Around review and our review of the chaotic party game WHAT THE PAK?!.

A Game About Penguins Trailer

Want more indie gaming news?

Get the latest game announcements, reviews, interviews, and indie coverage from Fix Gaming Channel.

Free Prologue Available Now

A Game About Penguins: First Catch launched as a free standalone prologue on July 22. It lets players test the main mechanics, several minigames, penguin customization, and online co-op before the full release.

Players can catch 30 different sea creatures, earn Penguin Coins, unlock cosmetics, complete quests, play arcade games, and adopt a pet. Progression is capped at level three, with additional areas, items, NPCs, and activities reserved for the complete game.

A Game About Penguins is also planned for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at a later date.

A Game About Penguins

Release: August 10, 2026

Genre: Cozy, Co-op, Sandbox, Adventure, Indie

Developer / Publisher: CO’s Entertainment / Ultimate Games S.A.

Players: Single-player, 2–12 player online co-op

Platforms: PC via Steam; PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S later

Related Reading

Flock Around Review: A Charming Birdwatching Collectathon With Real Heart

WHAT THE PAK?! Review: Free-to-Play Indie Mayhem on Steam

The post A Game About Penguins Brings Cozy Multiplayer Chaos to Steam appeared first on Fix Gaming Channel.

Codename CURE II is live now, and the base game costs nothing

A new free-to-play zombie shooter has landed on Steam with five-player co-op, five distinct classes, procedural missions, and offline bot support.

Codename CURE II is available now as a free-to-play game on Steam. The cooperative first-person shooter from two-person UK developer Raptor Byte lets up to five players form a squad and fight through objective-driven missions filled with infected enemies.

Unlike temporary demos and tests, this is the full base-game launch. Players looking for more games they can try without paying can also check our guide to free Steam playtests and how to request access.

Codename CURE II Launch Trailer

Want more game coverage like this?

Get more game features, reviews, interviews, indie coverage, and gaming news from Fix Gaming Channel.

Five classes against procedural zombie missions

Players can choose between the Pointman, Support, Assault, Technician, and Sniper classes. Each role brings different equipment and abilities, giving squads room to build around healing, firepower, defenses, or long-range attacks.

Missions combine dynamic objectives with maps assembled from procedural tilesets. The developers say this is designed to keep routes and encounters less predictable between runs. Solo players can also enter missions offline with AI-controlled bots instead of relying on matchmaking.

The game also includes several infected enemy types, weapon customization, character progression, reactive gore, and a headquarters that expands as players continue fighting. With no entry price, the real question is how well the mission variety, bots, and class balance hold up after the first few hours.

The base game is free, but optional paid DLC is listed separately

The free claim applies to the complete base version of Codename CURE II. Steam also lists a separate Combat Specialist Pack as optional paid DLC, adding more weapons, tactical attachments, and military-themed cosmetics.

That distinction is worth knowing before installing: no purchase is required to play the base game, while the additional pack is sold separately. We have not tested the launch build, so it is too early to judge how the DLC weapons compare with the free arsenal.

For another recent indie multiplayer test, read our WHAT THE PAK?! review.

Codename CURE II

Release: July 24, 2026

Genre: Cooperative FPS, Action, Survival Horror

Developer / Publisher: Raptor Byte / indie.io

Platforms: PC via Steam

Related Reading

Free Steam Playtests: How to Request Access

NightSpawn First Impressions

WHAT THE PAK?! Review

The post Steam Just Got a FREE Five-Player Zombie Shooter You Can Play Right Now appeared first on Fix Gaming Channel.

Black Flag’s Success Creates a Tempting Opportunity for Ubisoft

The remarkable launch of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced has proved that players will return to an older adventure when the overhaul offers more than sharper textures. The question is whether Ubisoft will now give another established entry the same treatment.

Ubisoft took a calculated risk by rebuilding one of the strongest entries in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Based on the early figures, that decision appears to have paid off.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced sold two million copies on its first day following its July 9, 2026 release. Within its first week, sales had passed three million. The game also reached 99,451 concurrent players on Steam during its opening 24 hours, setting a new franchise record on the platform.

Those figures become even more impressive when the game being rebuilt originally launched in 2013. As we covered in our earlier look at Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, this is a complete remake rather than a routine resolution upgrade.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Trailer

Want more game coverage like this?

Get more game features, reviews, interviews, indie coverage, and gaming news from Fix Gaming Channel.

Why the Resynced Approach Worked

The performance of Black Flag Resynced shows why the idea has more potential than a conventional remaster. Ubisoft did not simply increase the resolution and send Edward Kenway back to sea.

The remake was rebuilt using the latest version of the company’s Anvil engine. It introduced parry-driven combat, expanded stealth options, improved parkour, deeper naval mechanics, updated environments, new story scenes, and additional missions.

A new endgame chapter also expands Blackbeard’s story through eight additional missions. These additions give returning players something unfamiliar to discover instead of asking them to purchase the same adventure with cleaner lighting.

That distinction is likely one of the main reasons the remake avoided feeling like another routine re-release. Players already knew the characters, world, and central story. The new version gave them a reason to experience those elements again.

The project also brought together teams across Ubisoft’s international network. Our feature on the Filipino developers behind Black Flag Resynced examined how Ubisoft Philippines contributed to locations, animation, naval systems, and other parts of the remake.

A Safer Bet Than Building Something New?

For executives examining development budgets, the attraction is clear. Building a new franchise requires players to accept an unfamiliar world, cast, story, and gameplay structure. A remake begins with something the audience already recognizes.

That does not make development cheap or straightforward. A project like Black Flag Resynced still requires years of production, updated technology, redesigned systems, new content, testing, marketing, and coordination between several studios.

It does, however, remove one major uncertainty: whether players care about the original idea.

Black Flag already had a dedicated audience. The remake gave that audience a modern version while also providing a clear entry point for players who never experienced Edward Kenway’s story on older hardware.

The result may encourage Ubisoft to search its catalog for another game with a recognizable setting, a proven following, and enough room for improvement to justify a substantial rebuild.

Could Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Be Next?

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey appears to be one of the strongest commercial candidates.

Released in 2018, the game’s enormous recreation of Ancient Greece, choice-driven dialogue, naval exploration, mercenary system, and two possible protagonists gave it an identity that remained distinct as the franchise moved toward Valhalla and Shadows.

A fully resynced version could introduce denser settlements, improved facial animation, more natural crowd behavior, revised combat feedback, smoother naval movement, and a less intrusive approach to some of the original game’s progression systems.

The challenge is that Odyssey already looks and plays like a comparatively modern release. A new edition would therefore need to offer substantial mechanical and narrative additions rather than rely on technical improvements alone.

There is also a timely cultural opportunity. Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey arrived in July 2026, placing Greek mythology and the journey of Odysseus back into mainstream entertainment.

That renewed attention does not automatically translate into increased interest in the game, but it creates an obvious connection for a marketing department. Ubisoft already has one of gaming’s largest interactive recreations of Ancient Greece waiting in its catalog.

Would Assassin’s Creed III Justify Another Return?

Assassin’s Creed III presents a more complicated case.

Connor’s story has already been revisited through Assassin’s Creed III Remastered, which launched in 2019 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC before arriving on Nintendo Switch.

That version included higher-resolution textures, 4K and HDR support, updated character models, revised environment rendering, gameplay adjustments, the original single-player DLC, and Assassin’s Creed Liberation Remastered.

Because that remaster already exists, a second visual upgrade would be difficult to justify. A proper Resynced edition would need to rebuild the experience much more aggressively.

The original game had ambitious ideas. Its American Revolution setting, changing seasons, frontier exploration, naval missions, large battles, homestead community, and focus on Connor’s personal conflict created one of the broadest games in the early series.

It was also criticized for slow opening hours, restrictive mission design, uneven pacing, and objectives that frequently punished players for approaching situations differently from the intended route.

A remake could address those problems by restructuring the introduction, giving players more freedom during missions, rebuilding stealth, improving crowd behavior, and developing Connor’s relationships with greater depth.

That makes Assassin’s Creed III the more interesting creative option, although perhaps not the safest financial choice.

The Shadow of Skull and Bones

The success of Black Flag Resynced also invites an unavoidable comparison with Skull and Bones.

Skull and Bones Launch Trailer

Skull and Bones began life with connections to the naval systems of Black Flag, but eventually became a very different product. It focused on live-service progression and ship combat rather than delivering the wider pirate fantasy of exploring cities, boarding vessels, fighting on foot, and following a central character-driven story.

It found an audience, but it did not become the clear successor to Black Flag that some players had imagined during its long development.

By returning directly to Edward Kenway, Ubisoft returned to the pirate experience players had already embraced. For more games built around the same fantasy, our list of the best pirate games to play in 2026 includes both the original Black Flag and several modern alternatives.

The Risk of Turning Resynced Into a Formula

There is still a danger in repeating the approach too often.

Players are unlikely to support an endless line of full-price reissues that offer little beyond improved lighting and higher-resolution assets. The early success of Black Flag Resynced should not be interpreted as automatic approval for every remake Ubisoft could produce.

The strength of the Resynced idea is that it sits between a remaster and a completely different reimagining. It preserves the central identity of the original while correcting systems that have aged and expanding parts of the game that were previously limited by technology, budget, or production time.

Another title would need the same level of purpose.

Odyssey would need enough additional content and systemic improvement to justify rebuilding a game that remains highly playable. Assassin’s Creed III would need a deeper reconstruction capable of improving the original structure rather than simply remastering it for a second time.

Odyssey Is the Safe Choice, but Assassin’s Creed III Has More to Gain

Ubisoft has not announced that either game is receiving the Resynced treatment, so for now this remains speculation.

If the company prioritizes audience size, recognizable imagery, and an experience that still feels relatively modern, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey appears to be the safer candidate.

If it wants to demonstrate how extensively an older game can be improved, Assassin’s Creed III may offer the more valuable opportunity.

The biggest lesson from Edward Kenway’s return is not simply that nostalgia sells. Nostalgia may attract attention, but the remake still needs to respect the player’s time and offer a stronger version of the original experience.

For now, players can return to the Caribbean and enjoy the resynced adventures of Edward Kenway. Somewhere inside Ubisoft, however, it would be surprising if somebody was not already examining the numbers and asking which Assassin should return next.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

Release: July 9, 2026

Genre: Action-adventure

Developer / Publisher: Ubisoft Singapore / Ubisoft

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC

Related Reading

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Sets Sail on July 9

The Filipino Developers Behind Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

10 Must-Play Pirate Games for 2026

The post Could Assassin’s Creed III or Odyssey Be Next for Ubisoft’s ‘Resynced’ Treatment? appeared first on Fix Gaming Channel.

Max Payne turns 25 with a personal tribute from Matthew Essom

Twenty-five years after players first stepped into Max’s world, freelance illustrator and concept artist Matthew Essom has created a vivid tribute to Remedy Entertainment’s noir action classic.

The original Max Payne arrived in July 2001 and quickly established an identity unlike almost anything else at the time. Its graphic-novel storytelling, hard-boiled narration, bleak New York setting, and signature bullet-time gunplay helped make it one of Remedy Entertainment’s defining games.

To mark its 25th anniversary, Matthew Essom created an alternate-cover concept combining the game’s bitter winter atmosphere with the expressive color and cinematic composition that define much of his work.

The connection is not new. During our earlier Art in Games interview with Matthew Essom, he named the upcoming Max Payne remake as a project he would love to contribute to.

You can explore more of his illustration, concept art, commercial projects, and personal work through the official Matthew Essom portfolio.

Remember the games that shaped you?

Get more gaming news, interviews, reviews, creative features, and stories about the artists and developers behind the games.

A game that never left him

For Matthew Essom, the anniversary artwork is more than a new interpretation of a recognizable game cover. It is a personal tribute to a character, atmosphere, and experience that stayed with him long after he first played it.

“25 years ago we stepped into Max’s world. An NYPD detective who returns home one evening to find his family slain.

I remember when I first played this game, admittedly way too young but its impact on me still remains.

The gritty atmosphere, the cold shattering winter night and the ambient sounds of sirens.

Not to mention the iconic score. One which teleports you straight back into this world.

This painting is not only my take on an alternate cover for the game, it’s a tribute to the character who had an impact on me growing up.”

— Matthew Essom, freelance illustrator and concept artist

His words capture much of what made the original game so memorable. The snow was not simply background decoration. The winter night, distant sirens, graphic-novel panels, music, and Max’s internal narration worked together to create a world that felt immediately recognizable.

Vibrant color inside a dark world

Essom’s interpretation preserves the snowy streets, danger, and noir mood associated with Max Payne, but presents them through intense reds, blues, purples, and textured brushwork.

That contrast also reflects what he told us during our previous interview. Essom said applying his vibrant use of color to the dark, gritty, and cinematic world of Max Payne would present an interesting creative challenge.

His wider professional work includes projects connected with Netflix, EA Sports, UFC, Paramount+, Lionsgate, and TNT Sports.

The Max Payne remake remains in development

Remedy Entertainment and Rockstar Games are developing Max Payne 1 & 2 Remake as a single title for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. No release date has been announced.

While players wait to see how Remedy rebuilds the first two games, Essom’s anniversary artwork offers a reminder of why the original remains so recognizable 25 years later: the snow, the sirens, the noir storytelling, and a detective entering the night with nothing left to lose.

Matthew Essom

Role: Freelance Illustrator and Concept Artist

Portfolio: Official Matthew Essom Portfolio

Related Reading

Matt Essom Talks Max Payne, UFC 4, AI Art, and Creative Discipline

Explore More Art in Games Interviews

The post Back to Roscoe Street: Matthew Essom Marks 25 Years of Max Payne appeared first on Fix Gaming Channel.

Directive 8020 may be the best 32:9 ultrawide experience in the series

I started Directive 8020 without knowing what to expect from its ultrawide support. Before long, I was wondering whether the game had been made with ultrawide players in mind.

I have played other games in The Dark Pictures Anthology, so I was prepared for another compromised ultrawide experience. I expected black bars, restricted framing, interface problems, or the familiar situation where a game accepts 5120×1440 without properly supporting it.

Instead, Directive 8020 immediately became one of the strongest additions to our 32:9 ultrawide gameplay coverage.

The pause menu appeared across my 49-inch display. My first thought was: Hmm, okay. Maybe the menu background just happens to work. Some standard accident.

The pause menu and interface extend correctly across the complete 32:9 display.

Then the first cutscene began. It did not fill the complete 32:9 display, but it remained ultrawide instead of falling all the way back to a standard 16:9 image.

Then the game handed over control.

Full 5120×1440 gameplay. Full 32:9. No mod, configuration edit, or external ultrawide fix required.

Directive 8020 Comply Trailer

Want more real 32:9 gameplay tests like Directive 8020?

Get more ultrawide tests, raw gameplay, reviews, interviews, indie coverage, and gaming news from Fix Gaming Channel.

The gameplay was flawless at 5120×1440

During my test, the gameplay presentation was flawless in 32:9.

The image filled the display without obvious stretching, strange cropping, broken camera angles, or important interface elements disappearing beyond the visible area. The HUD remained usable, and the wider field of view felt natural rather than forced.

Directive 8020 32:9 Ultrawide Gameplay

Gameplay fills the complete 5120×1440 display with full 32:9 ultrawide support.

Some games technically accept an ultrawide resolution but still feel designed around a smaller image in the center. Directive 8020 felt comfortable across the full display from the moment gameplay began.

The additional width also suits the game. Corridors aboard the Cassiopeia feel longer, rooms have more scale, and the darker areas of the ship remain visible in your peripheral vision.

Sci-fi horror can benefit enormously from a wider display. You see more of the environment, but that does not necessarily make you feel safer. Shadows, empty spaces, and movement at the edge of the screen have more room to unsettle you.

This is why I continue publishing ultrawide gameplay features. A screenshot can prove that the image fills a monitor, but gameplay reveals whether the camera, HUD, menus, movement, and overall presentation truly work.

The cutscenes are not full 32:9, but they remain ultrawide

The cutscenes did not extend across the complete 5120×1440 display during my test. Black bars remained at the outer sides, but the active image was still significantly wider than a normal 16:9 frame.

Cutscenes remain ultrawide but use a narrower cinematic frame than the full 32:9 gameplay presentation.

Visually, the cutscene framing appeared close to a conventional 21:9 presentation, similar to what players may associate with a 3440×1440 ultrawide display.

That difference is important on a 49-inch monitor.

Many games offer ultrawide gameplay and then compress every conversation or story sequence into a relatively small 16:9 rectangle in the center. Here, the cutscenes remain wide, making the transition between cinematics and gameplay far less disruptive.

It is not complete 32:9 cutscene support, but it is a much better compromise than returning entirely to 16:9.

The best ultrawide experience I have had with the series

Compared with the previous games in the series that I have played, this felt completely different.

I did not start Directive 8020 planning to write an ultrawide feature. I started the game to play it and record footage. The article came from the experience because the support was far better than I expected.

First, the menu caught my attention. Then the opening cinematic remained ultrawide. Finally, the gameplay opened across the full 32:9 display and continued working without the usual compromises.

For me, this is easily the strongest ultrawide presentation I have experienced from The Dark Pictures Anthology.

Strong visuals and performance

The game also looked excellent at 5120×1440, and performance remained strong throughout my test.

This was not a controlled benchmark, so I am not publishing average frame rates or claiming that the test represents every area of the full game. What I can say is that nothing significantly interrupted the experience or pulled me away from the atmosphere.

The lighting, character models, metallic interiors, reflections, exterior space scenes, and cinematic camera work all benefited from the wider presentation.

At times, it felt less like playing on a monitor and more like looking through a wide observation window aboard the ship.

Was Directive 8020 made for ultrawide?

I cannot say that Supermassive Games designed the complete game around a 49-inch 32:9 monitor.

After playing it at 5120×1440, however, it certainly feels as though ultrawide players were considered.

The menus work. The HUD works. The cutscenes remain ultrawide, even when they do not fill the complete 32:9 display. Most importantly, gameplay uses the full resolution without requiring a mod, external fix, or configuration edit.

This is not merely a game that accepts 5120×1440. It is a game that becomes more immersive because of it.

Ultrawide verdict: Highly recommended for 21:9 and 32:9 players.

This is a focused ultrawide gameplay assessment rather than a full review of Directive 8020. The game was tested on PC at 5120×1440 in a 32:9 aspect ratio without an ultrawide mod or external fix.

Directive 8020

Release: May 12, 2026

Genre: Sci-fi survival horror, narrative adventure

Developer / Publisher: Supermassive Games

Platforms: PC — Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

Related Reading

Aphelion 32:9 Ultrawide Test: Strong Atmosphere, but No Ultrawide Support

Top 10 Super Ultrawide Games Tested in Raw 32:9 Gameplay

Once You Play Games in Ultrawide, There’s No Going Back

The post Directive 8020 32:9 Ultrawide Gameplay: Was It Made for Ultrawide? appeared first on Fix Gaming Channel.