NewApp Digest
search bot

analytics

Steam just made $11 billion in the last 6 months, and most of it came from older games
AppWizard
July 14, 2026

Steam just made $11 billion in the last 6 months, and most of it came from older games

In the first half of 2026, Steam generated an estimated .1 billion in gross revenue from game sales, setting a record for the platform. This amount is nearly equal to Steam's total revenue for all of 2021. Only 21% of this revenue came from games released in 2026, with the majority from Steam's back catalog. The top new release, Forza Horizon 6, earned approximately .7 million, followed by Resident Evil Requiem at .5 million and Crimson Desert at [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Steam Achieves Record-Breaking Revenue in First Half of 2026 Steam has marked a significant milestone, reporting its most successful half-year performance to date. In the first six months of 2026, the platform is estimated to have generated an impressive .1 billion in gross revenue from game sales, setting a new record for the PC storefront. This remarkable figure is nearly equivalent to the total revenue Steam achieved throughout all of 2021, a year that saw a surge in gaming activity due to pandemic-related lockdowns. Notably, only 21% of this revenue stems from games released in 2026, with the majority coming from Steam's extensive back catalog. According to Alinea Analytics, the standout title for new releases on Steam this year is Forza Horizon 6, which has amassed an estimated 7.7 million in revenue since its launch. Following closely behind are Resident Evil Requiem at 4.5 million and Crimson Desert at 0.1 million. These figures underscore the impact that a few blockbuster releases can have on the overall revenue generated by the platform. The report identifies several key trends contributing to this revenue surge. One significant factor is the growth of the user base in Asia, particularly in China, which has emerged as a vital source of new players and increased spending. Additionally, publishers are increasingly releasing high-priced games and leveraging prominent partnerships to enhance their market appeal. Interestingly, many publishers who initially sought to direct users to their own PC launchers have returned to Steam, as gamers have shown a preference for the established platform. Steam has cultivated a sense of stability and reliability, offering features such as backward compatibility, regional pricing, frequent sales, and dependable access to past purchases. This ensures that players can revisit games they purchased years ago without the concern of hardware or operating system changes. Valve has also been proactive in expanding Steam's compatibility beyond the Windows ecosystem. Initiatives like SteamOS, Proton, and related compatibility layers are designed to enable Windows-based PC games to run on various hardware and operating systems, including handheld devices and non-Windows platforms. While these advancements may go unnoticed by the average user, the overarching aim is to allow gamers to purchase a title once and enjoy it across multiple devices. In contrast, other storefronts have adopted different strategies. The Epic Games Store, for instance, has attracted users by offering free games. However, former employees have noted that many players tend to claim these free titles only to return to Steam for the majority of their gaming and spending activities. Alinea's long-term projections illustrate the evolution of Steam's market position over the past decade. The firm's analysis indicates that Steam's annual revenue has surged from approximately .5 billion in 2017 to an estimated billion in 2025. With .1 billion already recorded in the first half of the year and continued robust spending on older titles, Valve's influence in the PC gaming landscape continues to expand." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].1 million. The growth of Steam's user base in Asia, particularly China, has significantly contributed to this revenue increase. Many publishers have returned to Steam due to user preference for the platform, which offers features like backward compatibility and frequent sales. Valve is also expanding Steam's compatibility with initiatives like SteamOS and Proton. Steam's annual revenue has grown from approximately .5 billion in 2017 to an estimated billion in 2025.
Релиз BATorrent 4.0 — BitTorrent-клиента, созданного на C++, Qt 6 и libtorrent-rasterbar
TrendTechie
July 12, 2026

Релиз BATorrent 4.0 — BitTorrent-клиента, созданного на C++, Qt 6 и libtorrent-rasterbar

In mid-June 2026, BATorrent released version 4.0, a lightweight BitTorrent client developed with C++, Qt 6, and libtorrent-rasterbar. The source code is available on GitHub under the MIT license, with builds for Windows, Linux, and macOS. Key features include support for magnet links, resumable downloads, sequential downloading, customizable file priorities, and an automatic RSS download feature. The client prioritizes user privacy with no telemetry or analytics, and the only outgoing request is a release check on GitHub. The user interface includes three themes, a real-time speed graph, a detailed tabbed panel, drag-and-drop support, and multilingual options. Privacy features include a PT mode for anonymous connections and a one-click Tor proxy setup. Notifications are integrated with Telegram and Discord, and key improvements in versions 4.0 and 4.1 include an interactive tour, automatic launch after updates, refined protection against automatic updates, and the ability to add torrents via URL.
What Is Serverless PostgreSQL?
Tech Optimizer
July 12, 2026

What Is Serverless PostgreSQL?

Serverless PostgreSQL is a fully managed cloud database model that separates compute and storage, allowing them to scale independently and automatically based on demand. It eliminates the need for manual infrastructure provisioning and capacity planning, charging only for active usage. Unlike traditional PostgreSQL setups, which require continuous resource allocation and manual scaling, serverless PostgreSQL provisions resources on demand and can scale down to zero during idle periods. Serverless PostgreSQL integrates with serverless compute platforms, enabling analytical queries to access the same data within a unified architecture. Key differences between traditional and serverless PostgreSQL include manual versus automatic provisioning and scaling, fixed versus usage-based billing, and high versus reduced operational overhead. Lakebase architecture is an emerging model that combines transactional databases with lakehouse foundations, allowing operational and analytical workloads to coexist on a single platform. This architecture minimizes data duplication and simplifies access, enhancing data management and analysis. Serverless PostgreSQL operates on a cloud-native architecture that enhances efficiency by allowing compute and storage to scale autonomously. It features scale-to-zero behavior, where compute resources are suspended when inactive and reactivated upon new queries. Major providers include Databricks Lakebase, Amazon Aurora Serverless v2, and Neon, each offering varying capabilities and integrations. Pricing for serverless PostgreSQL typically includes charges for compute resources, storage, and data transfer, with costs fluctuating based on workload activity. Cold start latency is a performance consideration, as reactivating compute resources can introduce delays. Strategies to mitigate this include keeping resources partially active or selecting providers with minimal cold start impacts. Serverless PostgreSQL is well-suited for OLTP workloads, while lakebase architecture is better for AI development, variable workloads, and environments requiring rapid iteration. Setting up serverless PostgreSQL involves choosing a provider, creating a database instance, and configuring access settings. It can also be used alongside serverless compute platforms for analytics, further extending its capabilities.
Steam has raked in an estimated $11.1 billion gross revenue so far this year, says market analyst—its 'biggest-ever six months'
AppWizard
July 11, 2026

Steam has raked in an estimated $11.1 billion gross revenue so far this year, says market analyst—its ‘biggest-ever six months’

Steam generated .1 billion in gross revenue in the first half of 2026, a 14.5% increase from the same period in 2025. Since 2017, Steam's annual earnings have risen from .5 billion to an estimated billion in 2025. In 2026, only 21% of Steam's revenue came from games released that year, down from 29% in 2024. The top five new games generating the most income in 2026 are Forza Horizon 6, Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, Slay the Spire 2, and Subnautica 2.
GigaWiper: Anatomy of a destructive backdoor assembled from multiple malware
Tech Optimizer
July 10, 2026

GigaWiper: Anatomy of a destructive backdoor assembled from multiple malware

Microsoft Threat Intelligence has identified the GigaWiper malware, which has been detected in compromised environments since October 2025. This malware has destructive capabilities and comes in two forms: standalone wiper binaries and larger binaries with backdoor functionalities, both developed in Golang. The standalone wiper operates at the physical disk level, overwriting disk content and removing partition references. The backdoor variant includes the same wiper functionality and adds persistence through a registry key and scheduled tasks, along with command and control communication via RabbitMQ and Redis. GigaWiper can execute various commands, including wiping drives, triggering a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), file encryption that mimics ransomware behavior, and managing system elements. The malware integrates components from multiple malware families, including wipers and ransomware mechanisms, and has been linked to a previous malware known as FlockWiper. To defend against GigaWiper, organizations are advised to implement security measures such as tamper protection, blocking access to known C2 infrastructure, and utilizing endpoint detection and response solutions. Microsoft Defender provides detections for GigaWiper and related malware, and threat intelligence reports are available for customers to stay informed about threats. Indicators of compromise include specific SHA-256 hashes and IP addresses associated with GigaWiper.
Garmin inReach Messenger - Garmin bets on compact satellite texting for US backcountry travelers
AppWizard
July 2, 2026

Garmin inReach Messenger – Garmin bets on compact satellite texting for US backcountry travelers

A series of unexpected fluctuations in market trends are prompting businesses to reassess their strategies. Shifts in consumer preferences driven by technological advancements and changing societal norms are reshaping the marketplace. Key factors influencing consumer behavior include the rise of digital platforms, increasing sustainability concerns, and the demand for personalized products and services. The economic landscape is unpredictable due to external factors like geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions. Companies are adopting strategies such as diversification, collaboration, and investment in technology to enhance resilience and adapt to these changes.
From monolith to Lakebase to LTAP: rethinking the database from storage up
Tech Optimizer
July 2, 2026

From monolith to Lakebase to LTAP: rethinking the database from storage up

Sixteen years ago, the author began their PhD at UC Berkeley and was advised to focus on analytics rather than OLTP databases, which were considered solved. This led to the creation of Apache Spark and Databricks. However, during the development of Databricks, it was found that OLTP databases were not solved problems; they were difficult to scale and fragile. This realization led to the development of Lakebase, a serverless Postgres database designed with modern technology. Lakebase architecture separates the write-ahead log (WAL) and data files into independent, scalable services. The WAL is externalized to a service called SafeKeeper, which uses Paxos-based replication for durability, while data files are managed by PageServer, which stores them in cloud object storage. This design addresses challenges such as data loss, scaling, and performance interference between transactional and analytical workloads. Lakebase maintains compatibility with Postgres, offers unlimited storage, serverless compute, durable writes, and simpler high availability. It also introduces LTAP (Lake Transactional/Analytical Processing), which allows both transactional and analytical processing to operate on a single data copy in real time, eliminating the need for separate data copies and reducing costs. LTAP utilizes a unified storage layer that allows data to be materialized in both row and columnar formats, optimizing it for both transactional and analytical workloads. The system ensures that analytics can access the most current data without affecting transactional performance by using a log sequence number (LSN) to retrieve the latest changes. Unlike traditional CDC approaches, LTAP requires no explicit table replication, as all data is stored in a single governed copy. This architecture circumvents common issues faced by hybrid transactional/analytical processing (HTAP) systems, such as incomplete feature sets, lack of ecosystem support, and performance contention. The Lakebase architecture has unlocked capabilities like unlimited storage, elastic compute, durable writes, and instant branching, with ongoing developments anticipated in the future.
Search