agreement Archives

BetaBeacon

August 9, 2025

Itch.io Is Restoring NSFW Games—as Long as They’re Free

Itch.io has re-indexed some adult content that was delisted last month due to pressure from conservative groups and payment processors. The move only impacts free content, with paid content being reintroduced slowly. Valve also delisted games with adult content in response to pressure from payment processors. The removals have affected thousands of creators, including marginalized developers. Itch is seeking alternative payment processors to continue supporting a wide range of creators.

AppWizard

August 5, 2025

Raven union secures Microsoft contract

Unionised employees at Raven Software have secured their first contract with Microsoft after nearly three years of negotiations involving 19 quality assurance staff members. The contract includes a ten percent compensation increase over the next two years, allows for permanent work-from-home arrangements, and reduces mandatory overtime while requiring a minimum of seven days' notice for any required overtime work. The unionisation process began in 2022, with Activision Blizzard recognizing the bargaining unit shortly after. However, in August 2024, the union accused Microsoft and Activision Blizzard of negotiating in "bad faith."

Winsage

August 3, 2025

Microsoft Weekly: 10 years of Windows 10

Windows 10 celebrated its 10th anniversary, while Windows 11 SE is being discontinued and will not receive the upcoming Windows 11 version 25H2, with support ending in October 2026. Microsoft plans to open-source WinUI, the user interface framework for Windows 11. The Flyoobe tool has been updated to assist users switching from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. Recent data shows a gradual increase in Windows 11's market share, while Microsoft Edge struggles in the desktop browser market. Microsoft provided guidance on upgrade paths for businesses transitioning to Windows 11. Updates for Windows Insiders include general fixes and new features across various channels. Microsoft reported a record-high profit of .2 billion and revenue of .4 billion for the last financial quarter. A new Surface Laptop Smurface Edition was announced, and Adobe has made creative applications available natively on Windows on ARM devices. Microsoft Edge introduced an AI-driven feature called Copilot Mode, while Opera filed a complaint against Microsoft in Brazil regarding unfair practices. Microsoft banned the developer account of LibreOffice for violating the Service Agreement. In gaming, Microsoft released the July 2025 update for the Xbox app, allowing game streaming through Xbox Cloud Gaming, and is preparing for the Gamescom show. EA decided to maintain game prices and announced a remaster of Plants vs Zombies: Replanted. A public beta for Battlefield 6 is forthcoming. Valve revealed updates for the Steam client, including a revamped store interface. Special discounts are available for the Back to School season.

BetaBeacon

August 2, 2025

Google has 3 weeks to make these major Android and Play Store changes in Epic loss

Google has been ordered to make major changes to the Play Store and Android as a whole following a lawsuit with Epic Games. The changes include not sharing revenue with partners, allowing third-party payment methods, and resolving disputes with Epic Games. The changes must be implemented by August 8, 2025.

AppWizard

July 31, 2025

Atari to buy Thunderful, company undergoes another round of restructuring

Atari has entered an agreement to acquire the European firm Thunderful Group through a directed share issue valued at SEK 50 million, gaining control over 82 percent of Thunderful's outstanding shares, with Thunderful's board approving the transaction. CEO Wade Rosen highlighted the acquisition as a milestone for Atari's expansion in Europe, while Thunderful has initiated a restructuring operation aimed at achieving cost savings of SEK 6 to 8 million for the latter half of the 2025 financial year and SEK 40 to 45 million during 2026, which will involve job cuts. CEO Martin Walfisz will step down as part of this transition, marking the third round of restructuring for Thunderful in recent years.

TrendTechie

July 31, 2025

Torrent Pharma заплатит $1,4 млрд за контрольный пакет акций JB Pharma | Новости

Torrent Pharmaceuticals is acquiring a controlling stake of 46.39% in JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals from KKR for ₹119 billion, positioning JB Pharma's market capitalization at ₹256.89 billion. Following this acquisition, Torrent may purchase an additional 26% of shares from minority shareholders and up to 2.8% from JB Pharma employees. This move aims to strengthen Torrent's domestic business and enhance its presence in new therapeutic areas, particularly ophthalmology. JB Chemicals has a strong position in hypertension treatment and operates in Russia and South Africa. Torrent Pharmaceuticals has eight manufacturing facilities, five FDA-approved, and is prominent in cardiology, gastroenterology, and neurology in India, with a research and development center employing over 750 scientists.

AppWizard

July 26, 2025

Kaysville woman sentenced to 6 years to life in prison for sexually abusing boy

Racquel Couch, a 39-year-old woman from Kaysville, has been sentenced to a prison term ranging from six years to life for her involvement in the sexual abuse of a 13-year-old boy in 2020. Initially charged with multiple serious offenses, including four counts of child rape and one count of sodomy, she entered a guilty plea to a single count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child as part of a plea agreement. This agreement resulted in a continuous protective order for the victim and a lifetime requirement for Couch to register as a sex offender. The abuse occurred between January and March 2020, during which Couch allegedly took the boy to secluded locations and instructed him to keep the incidents secret. She also sent nude photographs and engaged in inappropriate texting with the victim. Although she initially denied the allegations, Couch later admitted to inappropriate touching and acknowledged her position of "special trust" and "undue influence" over the boy.

AppWizard

July 23, 2025

The Girl From Arkanya Gets August 2025 Steam Release After Publisher Split

Developer Arkanya Games has announced that The Girl from Arkanya will be released on PC via Steam on August 21, 2025. The studio has shifted to self-publishing after ending its partnership with Top Hat Studios. A new trailer showcases the game's pixel art adventure, featuring puzzle-solving, dungeon crawling, and light combat, with the protagonist Marisa and her capybara companion. The game is inspired by The Legend of Zelda series and has faced delays since its initial announcement in 2020. The decision to self-publish was made due to disagreements over the project's direction, allowing Arkanya Games to set their own release timeline. The PC version will be released independently while discussions for console adaptations are ongoing.

AppWizard

July 22, 2025

Adidas x Minecraft 2025: New kids collection drops for back-to-school

Adidas has launched a collaboration with Minecraft, creating a collection of clothing and footwear for kids and juniors. The collection includes green and white sneakers with pixelated designs, black sweatshirts with green striped sleeves, Minecraft-themed graphic t-shirts, and backpacks featuring the Minecraft logo. Each item displays both the Adidas logo and Minecraft characters in a blocky style, characterized by bold colors and playful designs.

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

Simple Modern launches Minecraft product line

Minecraft has partnered with Simple Modern to launch a new line of themed merchandise for the back-to-school season, which includes a Minecraft-themed Fletcher backpack, Hadley lunchbox, and an insulated stainless-steel water bottle. Simple Modern has established collaborations with over 100 colleges and universities and major sports leagues, as well as brands like Disney, Marvel, and Fortnite.