announcements Archives

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

Doom director Hugo Martin says id Software is fine, and anyway, ‘what matters the most is that the games are good’

Recent layoffs at Xbox have raised concerns about id Software's ability to develop new games and maintain its idTech engine. However, id Software stated that its current workforce is comparable to that of a decade ago, during the development of the 2016 Doom reboot. Studio director Hugo Martin refuted claims that the studio has been significantly downsized, asserting that reports of having only 50 employees are false. Despite layoffs affecting the Frankfurt office, where the team was reduced from 12 to 6 employees, Martin's comments aim to reassure fans and stakeholders about the studio's stability.

BetaBeacon

July 17, 2026

This liquid-cooled Android tablet runs PC games natively, and now everyone can buy it

REDMAGIC has launched a new liquid-cooled gaming tablet called Astra 2, equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, native PC game emulation support, and a unique design with blue-hued liquid-cooling mechanism and RGB lighting. The tablet features a 9-inch OLED display with an 185Hz refresh rate, 2.4K resolution, and a split 8,300mAh battery for faster charging. It also has two USB-C ports with USB 3.2 Gen 2 and supports DisplayPort output. The tablet comes in two configurations with RAM and storage options and will be available globally next month, starting at 9 for the base variant and 9 for the higher trim.

AppWizard

July 16, 2026

OnePlus will continue software updates, all devices move to ColorOS with Android 17

OnePlus will discontinue its OxygenOS interface and transition to Oppo's ColorOS, starting with the rollout of Android 17 updates across all active OnePlus devices. Users will have the option to voluntarily update to ColorOS, which aims to streamline software development and improve update delivery and quality. Older OnePlus models not eligible for the Android 17 update will still receive maintenance support for existing OxygenOS versions. Users who update to ColorOS will have the option to roll back to OxygenOS. OnePlus has assured that all existing devices will continue to receive software updates and security patches. Additionally, Realme has also confirmed its transition to ColorOS with the Android 17 update.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Announcing new builds for July 6 2026

New Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds have been released for both the Beta and Experimental channels. The latest updates are as follows: - Beta (26H1): Build 2820.2380 - Experimental (26H1): Build 28120.2387 - Experimental (Future Platforms): No new build available today. Notable new features include: 1. Cloud Recovery: A new recovery option called Cloud rebuild allows users to restore their Windows 11 PC to a known-good state through a complete OS reinstall, downloading the necessary files directly from Windows Update without the need for USB media. 2. Account Control: The Account Control flyout has been redesigned to include a subscription badge, making account status, benefits, and upgrade options easily identifiable.

AppWizard

July 6, 2026

Epic settles with Fortnite leaker who shared South Park, Minecraft and Overwatch collabs

Epic Games has settled its legal dispute with former contractor Hayden Cohen, who was accused of leaking sensitive information about upcoming Fortnite skins and events. The settlement prohibits Cohen from possessing, accessing, using, or disclosing any of Epic's confidential or trade secret information. The case highlighted Epic's commitment to protecting its intellectual property and maintaining confidentiality in partnerships. The settlement does not involve financial compensation. Cohen had previously shared leaked information on social media before his account was deactivated.

BetaBeacon

July 1, 2026

Meccha Chameleon: Xbox and phone release plans, where you can try it now

Meccha Chameleon is currently available on PC via Steam and has sold over 10 million copies since its launch earlier this month. It is not available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or mobile devices.

AppWizard

June 30, 2026

New VR Games July 2026: Quest, PlayStation VR2, PC VR & More

As of July, several new VR games and downloadable content are set to be released across platforms like Meta Quest, Steam, and PlayStation VR2. Key upcoming releases include: - Enigmo - July 7 (PC VR) - Geronimo - July 10 (PC VR) - Fixer Undercover - July 16 (PC VR) - Roboquest VR - July 23 (Quest 3) - Puzzles of the World - July 23 (Quest 3) - Cybercore Protocol - July 26 (Quest) - Hyperstacks - July 30 (Steam) - Streets of Miami VR - July 30 (Steam) Additionally, the UploadVR Summer Showcase Humble Bundle is active until July 8, with discounts on various titles. The Steam Summer Sale and Meta Quest Summer Sale are also ongoing, with PlayStation VR2 expected to participate later in July.

AppWizard

June 27, 2026

Card Chronicles codes (June 2026)

New Card Chronicles codes are available for players to enhance their gaming experience by unlocking luck potions and free trait rerolls. The game, which is a modern version of the card RNG genre, allows players to roll dice to earn cards. Current Card Chronicles codes include: - MemoryCompensation! (requires 25k rolls) - Tyfor3kccu! (grants potions, boosts, gems, and rerolls) - Tyfor400kvisits! (requires 25k rolls) - AvailableForEveryoneNow (provides 100 trait rerolls) - EarlyAccess! (requires early access) - Sorry! (offers potions, boosts, gems, and rerolls) - Sorry2! (requires 25k rolls) To redeem codes, players must launch Card Chronicles, click the cog icon, scroll to the bottom of the settings menu, input a valid code, and press enter. More codes can be found on the Card Chronicles Discord server, particularly in the 'codes' channel, and players should also check the 'announcements' and 'update-logs' channels for new codes.

Winsage

June 27, 2026

Critics on Microsoft extending Windows 10 support for free through 2027: “Are they admitting Windows 11 isn’t good enough 5 years later?”

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft ceased support for Windows 10, affecting nearly 400 million PCs. In response to user concerns, Microsoft extended the operating system's life through the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, allowing continued access to essential patches until October 14, 2027, at no cost for users with a Microsoft account. Critics, including The Restart Project, expressed skepticism about this extension, viewing it as a temporary fix. Protests occurred in France against Microsoft's planned obsolescence strategy. Some users are considering alternatives like Linux due to hardware limitations and dissatisfaction with Windows 11. Recent surveys indicate that about 30% of HP PCs still run Windows 10, suggesting a gradual transition to Windows 11, which became the dominant desktop OS in July 2025.

AppWizard

June 24, 2026

Government’s homegrown messaging app ‘NepaConnect’ appears on google play store

A government-developed messaging application named NepaConnect has been launched on the Google Play Store, aiming to provide a secure internal communications platform for state officials in Nepal. The initiative, disclosed by Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, involves the creation of a sovereign digital infrastructure with a team of around 80 technical professionals. NepaConnect features include encrypted communication, document sharing, secure file storage, location sharing, voice messaging, document scanning, meeting scheduling, AI integration, status feeds, and ride-management services. The app is designed to centralize various workplace functions and reduce reliance on foreign communication platforms. However, details about its security standards, encryption protocols, and overall transparency remain limited. Currently, the application is in early development stages, with some features incomplete or non-functional. The future success of NepaConnect will depend on factors such as cybersecurity, user adoption, and the government's ability to encourage civil servants to switch from existing platforms.