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VR studio Toast Interactive lays off most of its staff
AppWizard
February 20, 2025

VR studio Toast Interactive lays off most of its staff

Toast Interactive has announced a major reduction in its workforce, including the shutdown of its office and layoffs of a substantial portion of its staff. Founded in 2016, the studio is known for titles like Max Mustard and Richie's Plank Experience. The founders, Toni and Richard Eastes, expressed sorrow over the decision and noted that the majority of their talented staff have suffered redundancies. They plan to continue enhancing their existing projects despite the challenges.
Does Avowed have multiplayer or co-op?
AppWizard
February 20, 2025

Does Avowed have multiplayer or co-op?

Avowed is designed strictly as a single-player title and does not support multiplayer functionality. Obsidian Entertainment, the developer, confirmed that initial plans for a co-op feature were scrapped to focus on refining the RPG systems for a cohesive single-player experience. While there is a possibility that modders could create an unofficial co-op function in the future, Obsidian has not indicated any plans to introduce co-op features. Avowed is available on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC through various platforms, and it is priced at .99, with a promotional deal bringing the price down to .89 at CDKeys.
GTA 6 could reach PCs in early 2026 according to Corsair – but I'm already sick of waiting
AppWizard
February 20, 2025

GTA 6 could reach PCs in early 2026 according to Corsair – but I’m already sick of waiting

GTA 6 is set to launch on consoles in late 2025, as confirmed by Take-Two Interactive. Andy Paul, CEO of Corsair, suggested that the PC version might arrive as early as early 2026. There are concerns about potential delays in the console release, and fans are awaiting further updates from Rockstar. Historically, Rockstar has staggered releases, with PC versions following console launches, which raises uncertainty about the timeline for GTA 6. The optimization process for PC games can be time-consuming, and there are concerns about technical issues at launch. Additionally, the lack of cross-save functionality complicates the transition between platforms for players who may purchase the game on both consoles and PC.
New PC Game Sale Includes Hundreds Of AAA Hits For Low Prices
AppWizard
February 20, 2025

New PC Game Sale Includes Hundreds Of AAA Hits For Low Prices

Fanatical has launched the Gaming Legends Sale, offering discounts of up to 90% on a wide range of PC games, including AAA titles and indie games. Customers spending over a certain amount will receive a bonus game or coupon code. Featured discounts include: - Control Ultimate Edition for .19 (originally .99) - Lies of P for .99 (down from .99) - System Shock Remake for .99 (previously .99) - Frostpunk for .44 (was .99) - Frostpunk 2 for .99 (originally .99) Major publishers like Capcom, Sega, and Bethesda are also participating, with discounts on titles such as: - Skyrim Anniversary Edition for .49 (down from .99) - Dragon's Dogma 2 for .39 (originally .99) - Metaphor: Refantazio for .99 (was .99) Preorders are available for upcoming titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Lika A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, along with additional preorder discounts on games such as Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and Elden Ring: Nightreign. Bundle deals also qualify for the bonus promotion on orders exceeding a certain amount.
Clues in Windows 11 suggest Microsoft has a nifty plan to help you move all your stuff from an old PC to a new computer more easily and conveniently
Winsage
February 20, 2025

Clues in Windows 11 suggest Microsoft has a nifty plan to help you move all your stuff from an old PC to a new computer more easily and conveniently

A new 'Migration' tool has been introduced in Windows 11, integrated within the Backup app, allowing users to wirelessly transfer files and settings between two PCs connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This feature, discovered through code analysis and community collaboration, is expected to utilize Nearby Sharing, similar to Apple's AirDrop, facilitating direct local transfers without relying on cloud storage. The Migration tool is still in the conceptual phase and not yet available for testing, but it aims to enhance the Backup app's capabilities by providing a more efficient transfer process. There is potential for the Migration feature to support third-party software, broadening its utility for users.
I’ve been waiting for this possible Windows 11 transfer tool
Winsage
February 20, 2025

I’ve been waiting for this possible Windows 11 transfer tool

A new transfer application for Windows 11 has been discovered in a preview build, potentially allowing users to migrate data without external storage or cloud services. Features may include "Back up to this PC" and "Transfer files to a new PC," utilizing a wireless transfer mode that requires both PCs to be on the same Wi-Fi network. The app could leverage technology similar to Nearby Sharing for an intuitive interface. Users may need to pair their devices and connect to a power source for the transfer, though it might not show available controls or a list of files for transfer. The app is integrated into Windows 11’s Backup app, but its development status is uncertain, with no official announcement from Microsoft. The project is not currently undergoing active testing, leaving its future unclear. If released, it could simplify the transition to new devices without additional charges for larger file sizes.
Minecraft Snapshot 25W08A Brings New Wolf Sounds, Spawn Egg Changes, and More
AppWizard
February 20, 2025

Minecraft Snapshot 25W08A Brings New Wolf Sounds, Spawn Egg Changes, and More

Minecraft Snapshot 25W08A introduces several new features, including six sound variants for wolves that allow them to express different traits through barks, growls, pants, and whines. The original white wolf retains its classic sounds, while the new variants include big, cute, public, angry, grumpy, and sad. Spawn eggs have been visually updated with unique textures and size variations corresponding to the mobs they spawn. Sheep wool color rules have been refined: in cold biomes, black wool is most common, followed by gray, light gray, white, and brown; in warm biomes, brown wool is most common, followed by gray, light gray, white, and black. Pink wool is the rarest across all biomes. Leaf litter now features shades that correspond to their respective biomes, and sheep can have dyed undercoats and consume fern blocks, aligning their behavior more closely with the Bedrock edition.
First Minecraft Club at VTSU
AppWizard
February 20, 2025

First Minecraft Club at VTSU

The Castleton Minecraft Club has nearly 20 sign-ups and is focused on creating an inclusive gaming experience by accommodating both Bedrock and Java editions of Minecraft. The club faces financial and technical challenges, particularly regarding server costs, and is currently distributing a survey to gauge student preferences. Plans are underway to operate primarily online, with the potential use of an eSports platform for meetings. The club aims to host various in-game activities and aspires to connect students across all Vermont State University campuses. Promotional efforts include flyers and the creation of an Instagram page to attract new members.
Firefox extends Windows 7 support for at least another six months
Winsage
February 20, 2025

Firefox extends Windows 7 support for at least another six months

Mozilla has extended support for Firefox on older Windows operating systems, with the new deadline for Firefox Old ESR set to August 19, 2025. Official support for Firefox on Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 will continue until September 2025, with a reassessment of this timeline planned for August. The extended support applies to Firefox 115 (Old ESR) and Firefox 128 (ESR), which will be deprecated on September 16, 2025. After this date, users must upgrade to a newer version of Windows and transition to Firefox 140 ESR to continue using the browser.
Хакеры заражали гаджеты российских пользователей криптомайнером под видом игр-симуляторов
TrendTechie
February 20, 2025

Хакеры заражали гаджеты российских пользователей криптомайнером под видом игр-симуляторов

Experts from Kaspersky GReAT have identified a scheme where cybercriminals distribute malware disguised as free versions of popular computer games via torrent trackers. This malware downloads a modified version of the XMRig cryptocurrency miner onto users' devices. The distribution began on December 31, 2024, and continued until the end of January 2025, with the first infected files appearing on torrent sites in the previous autumn. Affected countries include Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and Germany. The XMRig miner exploits the computational power of infected devices to mine Monero and was embedded in files associated with games like BeamNG.drive, Dyson Sphere Program, Universe Sandbox, Plutocracy, and Garry’s Mod. Kaspersky reported that 70.5% of users encountered infected versions of BeamNG.drive. The malware causes overheating, decreased performance, and increased electricity consumption without immediate signs of infection. Tatyana Shishkova from Kaspersky noted that the timing of the campaign coincided with the holiday season and that gaming applications were targeted due to their high performance. She advised users to avoid downloading software from unreliable sources.
EDB Postgres® AI Significantly Outperforms Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, and MySQL in New Benchmark Study
Tech Optimizer
February 20, 2025

EDB Postgres® AI Significantly Outperforms Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, and MySQL in New Benchmark Study

EnterpriseDB (EDB) has released findings from a benchmark study by McKnight Consulting Group, showing that EDB Postgres AI outperforms Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, and MySQL in various workloads, including transactional, analytical, and AI tasks. Key performance metrics include being 150 times faster than MongoDB in processing JSON data, 4 times faster than MySQL in handling insert operations, and outperforming Oracle by 17% and SQL Server by 30% in processing New Orders Per Minute (NOPM). EDB Postgres AI also offers 7 times better price performance than Oracle and 6 times better than SQL Server. The study highlights the challenges enterprises face with legacy systems consuming 55% of IT budgets, which hampers modernization efforts. EDB Postgres AI aims to address these challenges by streamlining data infrastructure, reducing total cost of ownership, and facilitating AI capabilities in a secure environment.
PostgreSQL vulnerability exploited in US Treasury attack
Tech Optimizer
February 20, 2025

PostgreSQL vulnerability exploited in US Treasury attack

In December 2024, suspected state-sponsored Chinese hackers executed a sophisticated cyber attack on U.S. Treasury employees' workstations, utilizing a dual vulnerability strategy involving CVE-2024-12356 and CVE-2025-1094. CVE-2024-12356 is an unauthenticated command injection flaw in BeyondTrust Remote Support SaaS, while CVE-2025-1094 is a PostgreSQL zero-day vulnerability that allows SQL injection attacks through the psql tool. The PostgreSQL team released a fix for CVE-2025-1094 on February 13, 2025, and BeyondTrust issued patches in December 2024 to mitigate the vulnerabilities. PostgreSQL users are advised to upgrade to fixed versions: 17.3, 16.7, 15.11, 14.16, or 13.19, and BeyondTrust users should implement the December 2024 fix. Rapid7 has provided advisories and indicators of compromise related to these vulnerabilities.
Magaya enhances performance with Tessell's PostgreSQL
Tech Optimizer
February 20, 2025

Magaya enhances performance with Tessell’s PostgreSQL

Magaya Corporation enhanced its database infrastructure by using Tessell's managed PostgreSQL solution, improving database performance and operational efficiency. After being acquired by a private equity firm in 2023, Magaya migrated customers from the Classic system to the Blue Ivory platform but faced initial performance issues with Blue Ivory's database. The original PostgreSQL setup was not optimized for high-volume queries, leading to bottlenecks, and reliance on a single PostgreSQL expert posed operational risks. Tessell's managed PostgreSQL platform transformed Blue Ivory, achieving a tenfold improvement in query execution speeds and enhancing logistics operations to handle tens of thousands of rows per second. The migration to AWS was seamless, with optimizations in partitioning strategies, memory buffers, and disk I/O. Tessell provided 24/7 expert support, reducing dependency on a single in-house DBA. The optimizations prepared Magaya's Blue Ivory platform for sustainable growth, enabling quicker customer onboarding and smoother migrations, and allowing support for both multi-tenant and single-tenant deployments. This transition to a cloud-native solution met ROI expectations for private equity investors, enhancing growth and profitability. The partnership with Tessell modernized Magaya's database infrastructure and strengthened its position in the logistics and supply chain technology sector.
RTX 50-series cards have issues with older PhysX games
AppWizard
February 20, 2025

RTX 50-series cards have issues with older PhysX games

Nvidia's RTX 50-series graphics cards are facing challenges with older games that use the PhysX system, particularly titles released between 2005 and 2013 designed for 32-bit CUDA hardware. Games like Mirror’s Edge, Unreal Tournament 3, and Batman: Arkham Asylum may not perform well on the new hardware. Discussions indicate that while these games can run without PhysX, using it for enhanced effects can lead to performance drops, with an RTX 5090 showing lower frame rates in Borderlands 2 compared to the RTX 4090. Although PhysX effects were not critical to gameplay, older games often have compatibility issues with modern hardware, raising concerns about the preservation of video games as technology evolves.
The survival game with the best car ever has sold over a million copies in a year, and is now 40% off on Steam
AppWizard
February 20, 2025

The survival game with the best car ever has sold over a million copies in a year, and is now 40% off on Steam

Pacific Drive, launched a year ago, has sold over a million copies, making it a leading survival game of 2024. Developed by Ironwood Studios, the game features a station wagon that evolves into a versatile vehicle equipped with sci-fi gadgets, enhancing the gameplay experience. Players develop a bond with the vehicle, which serves as a resilient companion in the game's chaotic environment.
Top 8 mobile games like Animal Crossing for Android and iOS
BetaBeacon
February 20, 2025

Top 8 mobile games like Animal Crossing for Android and iOS

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a game similar to Animal Crossing where players can decorate a house, change outfits, explore different areas, collect animals and fish, dive in the ocean, and cook using recipes.
5 most useful SysInternals tools for optimizing your Windows PC
Winsage
February 20, 2025

5 most useful SysInternals tools for optimizing your Windows PC

SysInternals is a suite of 74 utilities from Microsoft designed to enhance the performance and reliability of Windows PCs. Users can download the entire suite or select individual tools from the Microsoft SysInternals Learn page. 1. AutoRuns: Identifies unnecessary background processes and obsolete registry entries, providing detailed information about each entry. It allows users to review installed drivers and spot potentially harmful entries. Launched via Start menu or by typing Autoruns.exe in the Run dialog. 2. TCPView: Monitors all TCP and UDP connections in real-time, categorizing them by version and displaying ports and connection timestamps. It helps identify bandwidth-hogging processes. Launched via Start menu or by typing tcpview.exe in the Run dialog. 3. RamMap: Provides an in-depth analysis of memory consumption across processes, helping identify memory-hogging applications and diagnose memory leaks. It offers options to clear memory, including emptying working sets, standby lists, and modified lists. Launched via Start menu or by typing rammap.exe in the Run dialog. 4. DiskView: Offers detailed insights into hard drive usage with a color-coded map of disk sectors, helping users identify fragmentation and unused space. Launched via Start menu or by typing diskview.exe in the Run dialog. 5. CacheSet: Optimizes the Windows file system cache by allowing users to adjust cached data management settings and clear the cache with a single click. Launched by typing cacheset.exe in the Run dialog. The SysInternals Suite is cost-free, effective, and compatible with Windows Recovery mode, making it a practical choice for users looking to enhance their PC's performance.
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