assets Archives

AppWizard

May 13, 2026

Playground Games confirms Forza Horizon 6 hack came from the inside

A 155 GB unencrypted build of Forza Horizon 6 has leaked online ahead of its release, confirmed by Playground Games to have originated from a reviewer, influencer, or industry insider, not a Steam employee or technical glitch. The leak includes thousands of assets, granting unauthorized early access to the game's content. This incident raises concerns about the handling of unreleased game builds and could impact future release plans and the game's success. Playground Games may be able to identify the source of the leak through attached identifiers in the early access copies sent for review.

AppWizard

May 12, 2026

Valve made more than 27 million unique images for Counter-Strike listings as part of its new ‘major update’ to Steam’s Community Market

Valve has initiated a beta test for a significant update to the Steam Community Market, which now includes over 13,000 games and more than 700 with in-game items. The update features a new layout with a full-width grid display to enhance user navigation. Counter-Strike players will be the first to experience these changes, including specially generated images for individual items that showcase their characteristics. Valve has created over 27 million unique images for Counter-Strike listings. The updates are set to go live today, and all marketplace users can access the beta, with an option to opt out.

Tech Optimizer

May 12, 2026

Trend Micro Inc stock (JP3180400008): Trading at premium to fair value estimate

Trend Micro Inc (TSE: 4704) is trading at ¥6,178.00, which is a 698% premium over Morningstar's estimated fair value of ¥8,415.77 for May 2026. The company specializes in cybersecurity solutions, including antivirus software and cloud security, with a subscription-based business model. Its core markets include Japan, North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, with significant revenue from enterprise security solutions like the Trend Micro Vision One XDR platform. The company has a Price/Earnings ratio of 20.02, a Quick Ratio of 1.10, and a Return on Assets of 13.52%. The rising demand for cybersecurity, particularly in North America, is a key revenue driver. Trend Micro's portfolio includes AI-powered threat intelligence and mobile security solutions, targeting sectors like finance and healthcare. The company is positioned favorably against competitors and offers U.S. investors access through American Depository Receipts (ADRs).

Winsage

May 11, 2026

Why Windows 11 users are switching to Fluent Cleaner, the sleek CCleaner alternative that actually feels native

Fluent Cleaner is a maintenance and cleanup tool for Windows 11 available as a self-contained Zip file from its official GitHub page. Users can download and extract the FluentCleaner-win-x64.zip file, then launch the application by double-clicking FCleaner.exe. The interface is modern and utilizes the WinUI framework, allowing users to analyze and optimize various components of the system. Fluent Cleaner uses the Winapp2.ini database for cleaning routines, with options to switch to Winapp3 or Winappx databases for more aggressive cleaning or bloatware removal. Users can also add custom databases using ".ini" files. The tool supports extensions, enabling integration with additional scripts and tools. To perform a cleanup, users click "Analyze" to scan for junk files, with Fluent Cleaner identifying 19.43GB of junk files in testing, which is more than the 15.9GB detected by Windows 11's built-in tool. After reviewing the analysis, users can click "Run Cleaner" to execute the cleanup.

Winsage

May 7, 2026

Upwind expands runtime protection to Windows Server VMs

Upwind has expanded its runtime protection and visibility offerings to include Windows Server virtual machines (VMs) on major cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. This integration applies to Windows Server 2016 and later versions and enhances runtime monitoring and detection workflows. Upwind's Windows Sensor provides visibility into host activities, including process executions, network connections, and DNS requests, while also conducting continuous assessments for vulnerabilities and configuration issues. The telemetry collected aids in real-time detection of potential security threats and supports ongoing vulnerability scanning. The integration of Windows Server VMs into Upwind's Runtime Map, Detections, and Sensor components allows for unified monitoring and risk prioritization across cloud environments. This expansion aims to address the critical need for runtime behavior insights in cloud security, particularly for businesses relying on Windows Server for essential applications.

Tech Optimizer

May 6, 2026

How Aurora Blue-Green Upgrades Cut Our Postgres Downtime by 50X

Paxos has implemented Blue-Green upgrades to improve database maintenance for asset trading, achieving a 50-fold reduction in downtime from 30-120 minutes to approximately one minute. This upgrade strategy allows for real-time synchronization between a blue cluster handling production traffic and a new green cluster with the updated version. Challenges included issues with CREATE ROLE statements disrupting upgrades due to temporary roles and the necessity to drop replication slots before PostgreSQL 17, which could lead to data loss. Additionally, upon the green cluster becoming primary, it acquires a new cluster ID, requiring updates for clients using RDS IAM authentication. The transition to PostgreSQL 17 is anticipated to resolve the need to drop logical replication slots, preserving Change Data Capture (CDC) continuity.

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

Classic First-Person Shooter PC Game Now 100% Free on GOG

A classic first-person shooter from 1995, Citadel Remonstered, is now available for free download on the GOG platform, celebrating its 31st anniversary. This remastered version retains original assets and maps while incorporating modern gameplay mechanics and graphic enhancements. It features updated level graphics, rebalanced difficulty settings, additional training levels, quicksave and quickload functionality, mouse wheel support, and full-screen mode compatibility. The game was originally developed by Virtual Design and published by Arrakis Software for the Amiga 500. The remaster is exclusive to GOG and has received positive feedback from the gaming community. Speculation exists about the future of the Citadel franchise and the ownership of its license.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Hack-and-Slash “SoulQuest” Vows Retribution Against the Gods Today on PC

SoulQuest, a hack-and-slash action adventure game developed by TomasJPereyra and published by Indie.io, was released on PC via Steam on May 1, 2026. Players control Alys, a widowed warrior seeking to reclaim her husband's soul from the Celtic gods, battling undead foes and confronting the goddess Morrigan. The game features fluid combat mechanics, a retro-styled world inspired by Celtic folklore and Arthurian legends, and a medieval soundtrack. SoulQuest is priced at .99 with a 20% launch discount and supports multiple languages. It is compatible with Steam Deck and can be wishlisted on Steam. SoulBlade Studios, founded in 2023, is the developer behind SoulQuest.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Stardew Valley’s OG Rival Gets Surprise Free PC Release Coming Soon

Harvest Moon 64 is being developed as a free PC game by a developer known as SrBananaMan64, referred to as both a recompilation and a PC port. The project aims to enhance the user interface for ultrawide displays and will offer day-one mod and texture support through N64Recomp. A trailer has been released showcasing gameplay footage that closely resembles the original game's graphics. The project does not yet have a release date, and players will need a legally obtained ROM file to launch the game, as it will not include any original game assets. This initiative is part of a trend of unofficial PC ports based on decompilations of classic titles.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

Hogwarts Legacy is free on Epic Games Store again, and tinfoil Sorting Hat on, I think it’s time for a sequel reveal

Hogwarts Legacy is available for free on the Epic Games Store until May 3. This is not the first time the game has been offered for free, as a similar promotion occurred in December 2025. The timing of the giveaway coincides with Harry Potter Day on May 2, leading to speculation about the intentions of Warner Bros. Games. Avalanche Games has a new Community Manager, which may indicate positive developments for the franchise. A potential release for Hogwarts Legacy 2 could be around 2028, although it might arrive sooner due to asset reuse.