active users Archives

AppWizard

July 3, 2025

Wall’s Mines Sweet Gold with Minecraft Ice Cream

Wall’s is partnering with Minecraft to launch a co-branded ice cream product, available exclusively at Morrisons starting July 1st. The ice cream stick is 75ml, has 73 calories, and features a layered design with green vanilla, cocoa, and blue crunchy inclusions. The collaboration aims to leverage Minecraft's global appeal, with plans for further rollout in The Netherlands, Italy, Poland, and Spain later this year. The product will be supported by in-store promotions and a TikTok-first influencer campaign. It will be sold in four-pack multipacks for £3.00.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

Steam is down — live updates on outage

Reports of an outage on the Steam platform began around 9:50 a.m. Pacific Time, peaking at approximately 3,000 reports by 10:30 a.m. The Steam Store was marked as offline, while other services were functioning normally. The Steam Charts page was also experiencing issues, despite over 32 million users being online. The Steam Summer Sale was ongoing, with significant discounts, which may have contributed to the server overload. Down Detector reported over 4,400 outage reports, with users unable to purchase games or access their wishlists. Users encountered problems loading their carts and wishlists, and the outage continued for several hours, with reports climbing to nearly 5,000. After a couple of hours, users noticed improvements, and reports on Down Detector decreased to around 1,200, indicating that the platform was returning to normal.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

Newzoo: Top 20 PC/Console Games of May 2025 by Revenue and MAU

In May, three new titles entered the revenue rankings: Elden Ring Nightreign (4th place), DOOM: The Dark Ages (9th), and FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time (20th). Elden Ring Nightreign sold over 3.5 million copies across six markets. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 returned to the top 10, while Destiny 2 jumped 30 positions to 11th place due to pre-orders for its expansion. On PlayStation, F1 25 debuted at 15th place, and on Xbox, RoadCraft entered at 18th. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was not listed on Xbox due to Game Pass availability. On PC, Helldivers II returned to the top 20 at 19th place after an update. For Nintendo Switch, FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time was the only newcomer, with ten Nintendo titles remaining in the top 20. In MAU rankings, DOOM: The Dark Ages reached 16th place, and Elden Ring Nightreign appeared in the top 20 on PC. Star Wars: Battlefront II re-entered the top 20 due to promotional discounts, and Helldivers II climbed to 14th place in MAU rankings.

Tech Optimizer

June 25, 2025

Meet the new features for Avast Free AV and Avast Premium Security

Avast has millions of active users and is recognized in the cybersecurity field for its effective solutions and commitment to user security. Avast Free Antivirus includes real-time behavioral analysis for proactive malware detection, enhanced Network Inspector and Firewall modules for network security, improved intelligent quarantine and cloud scanning, and the new Scam Guardian feature, which includes Web Guard for browsing protection and Avast Assistant for scam guidance. Avast Premium Security offers additional features for heightened privacy, including Sensitive Data Shield, Webcam Shield, Data Shredder, and Hack Alerts for monitoring password leaks. The Pro version introduces Email Guard, which uses AI for intelligent email filtering to detect phishing attempts. Avast's tools enhance online shopping safety, email security, public Wi-Fi connections, and protection of sensitive files and credentials.

AppWizard

June 23, 2025

Iran encourages citizens to use a messaging app previously flagged as a state surveillance tool

Iranian authorities are promoting the domestic messaging app Bale for communication with family abroad amid a near-total internet blackout since June 18, 2025. Bale has 16.5 million monthly active users as of May 2023, with increased adoption following restrictions on Western apps after 2022 protests. A security audit by the Open Technology Fund revealed critical vulnerabilities in Bale and two other Iranian messaging apps, Eitaa and Rubika, including the lack of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and potential state surveillance through a state-owned service called the Message Exchange Bus (MXB). Bale's encryption could compromise sensitive data and shares location data during authentication. Experts recommend more secure alternatives like Signal and advise against using Bale for sensitive communications. Since the blackout, internet connectivity remains poor, with the government urging citizens to delete WhatsApp and imposing restrictions that have increased VPN usage by over 700%.

AppWizard

June 22, 2025

Monster Hunter Wilds review bombed over PC performance issues and lack of challenging endgame

Monster Hunter Wilds is facing significant criticism on Steam due to performance issues such as frequent crashes, frame rate drops, and stuttering, even on high-end systems. The game has seen a decline in active users, falling behind its predecessor, Monster Hunter World. Players have also expressed dissatisfaction with the endgame content, feeling it lacks depth and replayability. Capcom has acknowledged the issues and plans to release patches, but the slow rollout has increased frustration among players. Community sentiment is divided, with some labeling the game a "betrayal" of the series while others believe the backlash is exaggerated.

AppWizard

June 17, 2025

WhatsApp to introduce adverts as Meta pushes to monetise messaging app

WhatsApp, with nearly three billion monthly active users, is set to introduce paid advertisements for the first time, moving away from its previous ad-free policy. This initiative, led by its parent company Meta, will include ads in the app's "status" section, similar to Instagram Stories, while ensuring that private conversations remain secure and encrypted. Businesses can promote content in the updates tab and charge users for premium content, with WhatsApp taking a 10 percent commission. Limited metadata, such as location and user interactions with ads, will be shared with advertisers, but sensitive information will remain confidential. Users who do not engage with status updates or channels will not see ads in their inbox. Meta's decision comes amid competition from platforms like TikTok and YouTube and regulatory scrutiny, including a lawsuit from the FTC regarding its acquisition of WhatsApp and Instagram. The introduction of advertising and subscription features aims to tap into WhatsApp's business potential, although it may face mixed reactions from users concerned about privacy.

AppWizard

June 16, 2025

Russian Lawmakers Authorize Creation Of National Messaging Service

Russian lawmakers passed legislation on June 10 to establish a national instant messaging service, envisioned as a multifunctional information exchange service similar to WhatsApp. The service aims to facilitate bureaucratic and legal functions, including electronic document signing. VK, a Kremlin-aligned social media platform, is reportedly developing a new digital platform named Max, which will include chat, messaging, and payment services. The Russian government has previously launched the Gosuslugi e-government service portal, which serves around 100 million citizens and is being integrated with VK. President Vladimir Putin has expressed support for the new messaging service, instructing officials to transition services from government agencies to the platform.

AppWizard

June 14, 2025

Meta’s Threads app to test direct messaging in some countries

Meta Platforms is rolling out direct messaging on its Threads app, starting in select markets like Hong Kong and Thailand, to boost user engagement. The feature will not be encrypted initially. Threads, launched in 2023, has over 350 million monthly active users but is not expected to significantly drive revenue growth by 2025. eMarketer projects a 17.5 percent increase in U.S. monthly active users for Threads, reaching 60.5 million, while X is expected to decline by 14.4 percent to about 50 million users.

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

Minecraft mobile revenue surges 44% following movie release

Mobile in-app purchases for Minecraft increased by 44% following the release of A Minecraft Movie. There was a 9% rise in active users on mobile platforms and a 41% increase on consoles. From January to mid-May 2025, daily active users for Minecraft on mobile fluctuated between 8.5 million and 10.5 million, with a peak above 10.5 million in early April. In April, Minecraft’s mobile revenue reached a three-year high of 9,000 in gross player spending. For Fallout, the release of the Fallout TV show led to a 77% rise in daily active users for Fallout Shelter and a 150% increase in in-app purchase revenue, reaching nearly 0,000 in daily mobile IAP revenue. Fallout 4 on PC saw daily unit sales peak at over 25,000 units. This engagement peak for Fallout titles occurred around mid-April and returned to baseline levels by July 2024.