apology Archives

AppWizard

April 11, 2025

Zerat Games removes controversial visual novel from Steam

Developer Zerat Games has withdrawn its visual novel from the Steam platform to avoid complications with Valve, while defending the game's themes of incest and sexual violence as fetishes. The studio expressed understanding that some may find these themes disgusting but advocated for the exploration of desires without harm. The game's removal followed actions taken by Valve in the UK, Canada, and Australia, where UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the content as illegal and mentioned new regulatory measures being implemented. Zerat Games aims to promote dialogue on diverse expressions of human sexuality despite societal challenges.

AppWizard

March 2, 2025

Breaking: WhatsApp and Messenger Crash in Multiple Countries, Panic Ensues at Meta

Users of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger experienced significant outages globally, with over 4,000 reports in the U.S. for WhatsApp and more than 10,000 in India. Facebook Messenger had nearly 1,000 error reports in the U.S., while the U.K. saw over 50,000 complaints. Among the reported issues, 70% of users were unable to send messages, 22% faced connection troubles, and 19% experienced general app malfunctions. This incident follows a similar outage in December of the previous year, which garnered over 105,000 complaints for Facebook, 70,000 for Instagram, and 12,000 for WhatsApp. The hashtag #WhatsappDown became popular on social media, with users sharing humorous reactions.

AppWizard

March 1, 2025

WhatsApp down as thousands of app users struggling to send messages

On a Friday afternoon, WhatsApp experienced significant outages affecting at least 68,000 users globally, along with issues on Facebook Messenger, Facebook, and TikTok. The disruptions began around 3:12 PM, primarily impacting users in London, Manchester, and Glasgow. Users reported difficulties sending messages (55%), server connection issues (34%), and problems with the app (11%). Many turned to X (formerly Twitter) to discuss the outage. By 6 PM, WhatsApp confirmed the issue had been resolved. This incident follows previous outages at Meta, including one in December affecting over 100,000 users and another in October 2021 that left billions without access for nearly six hours, resulting in a significant financial loss for Mark Zuckerberg.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger Down? Users Report Massive Meta Outage

On Friday, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger experienced significant disruptions, resulting in over 4,000 issues reported in the U.S. and 10,000 in India for WhatsApp, while nearly 1,000 complaints were logged for Facebook Messenger in the U.S. The United Kingdom had over 7,500 reports of WhatsApp issues, with major cities like London, Manchester, and Glasgow being heavily affected. Among those reporting problems, 59% could not send messages, 22% faced server connection issues, and 19% experienced app-related difficulties. This incident mirrored a previous outage in December where over 105,000 complaints for Facebook, 70,000 for Instagram, and more than 12,000 for WhatsApp were recorded.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

N.J. teacher accused of uploading child pornography posed as a teen in chat app, officials say

Matthew Serwedes, a 48-year-old former technology educator from Union County, has been charged with second-degree distribution and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material. He allegedly posed as a teenager on an encrypted messaging platform to engage with users and had uploaded images of child exploitation. The investigation began with a tip on December 5, 2024, leading authorities to trace videos of sexual abuse to Serwedes' IP address. During a search of his home, electronic devices were confiscated, and he admitted to owning the account used for the activities. Serwedes was placed on administrative leave from his teaching position, and the school district stated there is no evidence of student involvement. He remains in custody awaiting a detention hearing and plans to plead not guilty. Additionally, he wrote a six-page apology letter to the victims and their families.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

Epic will give Fortnite cheaters ‘a second chance’ with a new, more forgiving ban policy, as long as they didn’t do anything too awful or illegal

Epic Games is implementing a new matchmaking ban policy for Fortnite, effective April, where first-time cheaters will receive a one-year ban, while repeat offenders will face a lifetime ban. The company is also pursuing legal action against Isaac Strock for stealing and selling Fortnite accounts, alleging he accessed accounts through unauthorized means and attempted to deceive player support multiple times. Strock's website previously claimed to sell account information, including sensitive data. Additionally, Epic recently settled a lawsuit with a player who shared his account for a championship, requiring him to return unfairly won prize money and issue a public apology.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

Don’t worry about missing Elden Ring Nightreign’s network test on PC—nobody could play it on console either

The Elden Ring Nightreign network test features a series of three-hour sessions, concluding on February 17. The first session faced significant connectivity issues, with many players unable to access the game. FromSoftware acknowledged server malfunctions and restarted the servers, but many players still experienced difficulties. Some players reported successful matchmaking, while others struggled. FromSoftware issued an apology for the server issues and is considering an additional test session. The next session is scheduled for 3 AM UK time, with plans to improve server stability.

AppWizard

November 22, 2024

Despite running load tests that simulated 200,000 users, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 devs admit that they ‘completely underestimated’ how many players would actually want to play their game

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has received a predominantly negative rating of 24% due to significant performance issues, including missing aircraft, cumbersome controls, and frequent disconnections. Players have reported problems such as the game freezing at 97% during startup and lengthy loading times for textures. The game's reliance on cloud streaming for assets has led to instability, overwhelming the servers with an influx of players. Despite initial improvements, ongoing technical difficulties persist. Jorg Neumann and Sebastian Wloch from Microsoft and Asobo have acknowledged these challenges and expressed their commitment to resolving them, including an apology to the community. Recent reports indicate that the queue screen has disappeared, allowing more players to access the game without delay.

AppWizard

October 11, 2024

BBC weather app issues resolved after forecasting ‘hurricane-force winds’

London was reported to have winds exceeding 13,000 mph and Nottingham was forecasted to experience overnight temperatures of 404°C, which were attributed to a malfunction in the forecasting software of DTN, the BBC’s weather data provider. The BBC confirmed that the issues with incorrect wind speeds and temperatures had been resolved and that both the website and app were functioning normally again. DTN issued an apology for the disruption. BBC meteorologist Matt Taylor reassured the public that the extreme forecasts were a result of a data glitch and that Hurricane Milton was not heading towards the UK.

AppWizard

September 27, 2024

The Day Before studio returns from the dead and asks for a ‘second chance’: ‘From now on, our development and marketing will be based on the principle of honesty’

Fntastic, the developer of The Day Before, announced its closure shortly after the game's launch due to financial issues. The studio is now seeking funding through Kickstarter for a new multiplayer co-op escape game called Escape Factory. They aim to raise ,000 and have rebranded as "Fntastic 2.0," promising a more professional approach and an end to reliance on volunteer labor. The Day Before was released in 2023 but was criticized for not meeting expectations, leading to refunds for disappointed customers. Allegations of poor management practices surfaced, including claims of fines imposed on employees. Fntastic acknowledges past mistakes and expresses a commitment to honesty in future projects. If successful in funding, they plan to develop a new game inspired by their previous title, Propnight.