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AppWizard

January 16, 2026

2023 PC Game Now 100% Free on Steam for 48 Hours

RewindApp's Initial Drift Online is available for free on Steam for approximately 48 hours until January 18. Players can claim the game during this period, and it will be theirs to keep after downloading. The game features street racing in Japan and has received 792 user reviews with an overall approval rating of 79%, though it currently sits at 58% during the promotional period. Some users have reported server issues due to an influx of new players, while others have had a smooth experience.

BetaBeacon

January 16, 2026

Cooperative Puzzle Pepelo 2: Around the World Now Available on iOS and Android

Tafusoft studio has launched Pepelo 2: Around the World, an adventure puzzle game available for iOS and Android users. The game offers the first ten levels for free, with the full version priced at 199 rubles. Players can solve logic puzzles in real-world locations like Quebec, New York, Thailand, India, and Australia. There are 50 unique levels with skins inspired by traditional costumes. The developers aim to surpass the success of the original Pepelo game released in 2021.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

‘Fail To Shut Down’—Microsoft Issues Windows Update Warning

Microsoft has raised concerns about the shutdown process of Windows PCs, indicating complications following the January 13, 2026, security update. PCs with Secure Launch may fail to shut down or hibernate, instead restarting unexpectedly. A temporary solution is to use the Command Prompt with the command shutdown /s /t 0 for shutting down, but there is no workaround for the hibernation issue. Microsoft recommends saving work and shutting down devices to avoid power loss. Additionally, some users are facing credential prompt failures during Remote Desktop connections, affecting services like Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365. Alternatives include using the Remote Desktop client for Windows or the Windows App Web Client. An emergency update is expected to resolve these issues.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Running Factorio from over 1,000 floppy disks is a masochistically manual process that surely sets a new record for game load times

YouTuber DocJade is running the game Factorio on 1,000 3.5-inch floppy disks instead of a conventional hard drive. He developed a custom file system called Fluster using the RUST programming language, which divides each floppy disk into 512-byte blocks, allowing for a total of 2,880 blocks per disk and approximately 90 GB of storage. Fluster is open-sourced and available on DocJade's GitHub. Factorio's design allows it to load most content before the title screen, making it suitable for this unconventional method.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

A Steam glitch convinced some Fallout fans a New Vegas remaster was imminent, only to have the rug yanked out from under them: ‘Slowly turning into r/HalfLife’

The gaming community is speculating about potential remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas following the successful remaster of Oblivion. Bethesda is currently focused on developing Starfield and Elder Scrolls 6, and any announcements regarding the remasters may take time. A glitch on Steam prevents users from leaving reviews for Fallout 3 and New Vegas, stating, "You must wait until this product has been released before writing a review for it," which has fueled speculation about imminent remasters. This glitch has also affected other games, such as Kerbal Space Program, and discrepancies in search results for Fallout games on Steam may be due to region-specific packages. Some fans are hopeful for announcements at the upcoming Xbox Developer Direct, while others advise caution regarding the excitement surrounding the remasters.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Megabonk review

Megabonk is a 3D auto-attacker game set to be released on September 18, 2025, priced at £8.50. It is developed and published by vedinand and will be available on platforms like the Asus ROG Ally and Steam Deck. The game features a skateboarding skeleton named Calcium who battles monsters while performing kickflips. Players explore procedurally generated maps filled with treasures and enemies, with a ten-minute time limit to locate and defeat a boss. The gameplay includes auto-attacking, collecting experience gems, and enhancing skills. Megabonk has a lo-fi aesthetic that allows for many enemies on screen without performance issues and offers achievements and unlocks for players. The game encourages exploration and experimentation, with challenges that provide speedrunning opportunities.

BetaBeacon

January 16, 2026

AYANEO hits pause on Pocket Play campaign as part of its ‘Service Improvement Plan’

AYANEO has paused its Kickstarter campaign for the Pocket Play smartphone as part of its "Service Improvement Plan" to address community complaints about unfulfilled orders and delays.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Paint: Your guide to drawing software

Windows 11 includes Microsoft Paint, which is easily accessible and offers a user-friendly environment for creativity. The updated interface features a sleek layout, making tools readily available for experimentation. Paint has refined brushes and inking tools that provide a smooth, responsive drawing experience, especially with stylus use, incorporating pressure sensitivity for more authentic strokes. It also offers advanced color tools, including support for RGB, hex, and HSV color options, allowing users to maintain consistency in their projects. Users can create a mini color palette on the canvas and utilize the eyedropper tool to extract colors from references or generated images.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Owner of big gaming platform can’t believe how bad Windows 11 is – and hints are dropped about big things for Linux gamers this year

Michał Kiciński, the new owner of GOG, expressed surprise at the longevity of Windows, criticizing it as poor-quality software. Maciej Gołębiewski, managing director of GOG, noted the company's strategic shift towards Linux, driven by increasing game compatibility and the success of SteamOS. This pivot is part of a broader industry trend as developers recognize the value of alternative operating systems. GOG plans to embrace Linux more fully by 2026. Meanwhile, Microsoft has focused on integrating AI into Windows 11, which has faced criticism for not addressing foundational issues, particularly in performance and functionality.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Your Android App Needs Scanning – Best Android App Vulnerability Scanner in 2026

The past year saw a 45% increase in new vulnerabilities targeting Android. By the end of 2024, there are projected to be 2.87 million apps on Google Play, with 66% of American employees using personal smartphones for work. Mobile applications are responsible for 70% of digital interactions, and vulnerabilities in these apps contributed to approximately 40% of data breaches involving personal data in 2023. Effective Android App Vulnerability Scanners analyze app security by identifying insecure local storage, hardcoded credentials, weak cryptography, insecure network configurations, broken authentication flows, and misconfigured components. AI-powered scanners, like AutoSecT, can autonomously generate new scanning protocols quickly, detect zero-day vulnerabilities, automate penetration testing, and operate with near-zero false positives.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Minecraft inspired Hytale starts 2026 with a comeback story, becoming the most popular game on Twitch hours after entering Early Access

Hytale was developed by Hypixel Studios, established in 2018 as a spinoff of the Hypixel server. The game features procedurally generated biomes with unique quests and monsters. In 2020, Hypixel Studios partnered with Riot Games, which later acquired the studio. However, in July 2025, Riot Games announced the cancellation of Hytale due to escalating costs. In November 2025, Hypixel Studios regained the rights to the game. Hytale entered Early Access on January 13, 2026, with pre-purchases ensuring development funding for at least two years. Upon release, it peaked at over 420,000 viewers on Twitch, although viewership dropped to just under 100,000 by January 14.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

An 81-year-old grandma has been streaming Minecraft to pay for her grandson’s cancer treatment, and he is now “cancer free”

An 81-year-old grandmother from Arizona, Sue Jacquot, started a YouTube channel called GrammaCrackers to support her grandson Jack, who was diagnosed with sarcoma in 2024 and has undergone over 200 chemotherapy treatments. The channel has nearly 200,000 subscribers, with proceeds directed towards Jack's medical expenses. The family has raised over 0,000 through a GoFundMe campaign for Jack's treatment. Recently, Jack has been declared "cancer free" and is "feeling great."

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Hytale Early Access Review So Far

Hytale, developed by former Minecraft modders, is a survival crafting game that serves as a spiritual successor to Minecraft. It retains familiar block-breaking and building mechanics but streamlines gameplay by allowing players to craft basic tools from easily collectible materials. Movement is enhanced with the ability to jump higher and utilize parkour mechanics. The game runs smoothly on high-performance systems, maintaining framerates above 60 even at maximum draw distance. Hytale features an engaging combat system with various weapon types and a diverse range of enemies. Building mechanics offer a broader selection of components, though some classic techniques may become obsolete. The Early Access version currently lacks clear direction, with the main hub area under construction and exploration revealing barriers in dungeons. Overall, Hytale presents thoughtful enhancements and a refreshing take on the survival crafting genre.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Hytale Feels Like Little More Than A Neat Minecraft Texture Pack

Hytale is an early access game that has been in development for a decade, facing a cancellation by Riot Games before its revival in November. The game features mechanics such as jumping two blocks high and a combat system that requires timing for attacks, which are similar to potential mods in Minecraft. Hytale includes familiar mobs like skeletons, spiders, zombies, and golems, alongside new creatures like goblins and Kweebecs, and a mysterious area known as the Void. Crafting in Hytale is more complex than in Minecraft, requiring multiple workstations, and workbenches can recognize adjacent chest contents. Despite its unique elements, Hytale often feels derivative of Minecraft, with similar sounds and inventory mechanics. Future updates, including an anticipated Adventure Mode, aim to introduce RPG-like storylines and quests. The game currently faces balancing issues but remains visually appealing, though it has not surpassed Minecraft's foundational elements.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

A Fortnite x Minecraft Crossover Is Reportedly in Early Development

Rumors are circulating about a potential collaboration between Fortnite and Minecraft, suggesting that Minecraft characters may soon appear in Fortnite's Battle Island. The speculation began with a post by AdiraFNInfo, shared by Fortnite leaker HYPEX, who labeled the information as 'rumored.' Other leakers, including ShiinaBR, have also supported the rumors. Fans are advised to remain cautiously optimistic until an official announcement is made by Mojang Studios or Epic Games. Currently, Fortnite is in Chapter 7, Season 2, following the Pacific Break season.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Riot Games Launches League of Legends 2026 Season 1 PC Café Event With Free Rewards, Skins and Esports Prizes

Riot Games has launched its first PC café promotion of 2026, coinciding with the Season 1 update for League of Legends. The promotion, running until January 21, offers in-game rewards, trial cosmetics, and sweepstakes for players at participating PC cafés. Players can earn tiered rewards based on playtime, with those logging 20 hours receiving up to 15 Hextech Chest and Key sets. Participants are also entered into prize drawings for tickets to major esports events. A separate reward track is available for ranked victories, offering randomized rewards. Additionally, players will have temporary access to 15 champion skins from the Demacia region until January 30.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Valheim player keeps building Dollar Generals despite friend begging them to stop: ‘I do not want to play Valheim with Greg anymore’

Greg, known as "The Sorcerer" in Valheim, has been constructing Dollar Generals in unexpected locations, which has sparked amusement and frustration among fellow players. His friend Woman Mage expressed disbelief at the absurdity of the situation, while another player, Paladin Posting, discovered multiple Dollar Generals and reacted with exasperation. Greg also built a giant emoji sign and a Waffle House in a swamp, which he humorously noted was resilient like its real-world counterpart. Paladin Posting's incredulity grew with the Waffle House, which featured a solitary skeleton as staff, leading to complaints about the service. Greg's creative antics continue to entertain and disrupt the typical gameplay experience.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Windows Remote Assistance Vulnerability Allow Attacker to Bypass Security Features

Critical security updates have been released to address CVE-2026-20824, a vulnerability in Windows Remote Assistance that allows attackers to bypass the Mark of the Web (MOTW) defense system. This affects various Windows platforms, including Windows 10 and Windows Server 2025, and is rated with an Important severity level. The flaw enables unauthorized local attackers to circumvent MOTW defenses, posing risks to confidentiality. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction for exploitation, often using social engineering tactics. Microsoft has issued security updates for 29 Windows configurations, including specific KB articles for affected versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server. Users are advised to apply the necessary patches, which are classified as “Required” customer actions. The vulnerability remains unexploited in the wild and was not publicly disclosed before the patches were released. Microsoft’s assessment categorizes it as “Exploitation Less Likely.”

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Still on Windows 10? 0patch may be your best defense in the ‘End of Support era’

In early 2023, Microsoft announced that official support for Windows 10 would end in 2025, with regular updates and security patches ceasing on October 14, 2025. Users have a little over two years to transition to Windows 11 or other operating systems. Some users have enrolled in Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which will also end in October 2026. A third-party service called 0patch offers ongoing protection for Windows 10 by providing micropatches for vulnerabilities. 0patch releases two to three micropatches each month, prioritizing vulnerabilities that are publicly known, actively exploited, and lack an official Microsoft fix. 0patch has a free version that provides critical zero-day patches and a paid Pro plan that includes legacy patches. The Pro plan costs €25 per year, while an Enterprise plan is available for €35 annually. 0patch plans to support Windows 10 until at least October 2030, depending on user demand. Users have reported some performance issues with 0patch, but the updates are lightweight and do not significantly affect system performance.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Forza Horizon 6 release date may have leaked in Forza Horizon 5

The preorder pop-up linked to Forza Horizon 5 indicated a four-day early access period beginning on May 15, with the official release set for May 19, and offered an exclusive Ferrari J50 for preorders. However, attempts to replicate the pop-up experience have been unsuccessful, raising questions about its authenticity. The Xbox Direct showcase is scheduled for January 22, where Forza Horizon 6 and other titles are expected to be unveiled.