boundaries Archives

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

Final Fantasy 14 has finally added the class I’m always asking for: a viking with two shields, laser cannons, and Wolverine claws

A new character concept in fantasy role-playing games features a viking with triple-barreled laser guns and dual shields with metal claws. In the upcoming expansion of Final Fantasy XIV, titled Evercold, the first new job introduced is the bastion, a main tank that combines blocking, shooting, and stabbing using a new weapon called "skyltborg." This weapon draws inspiration from oversized gunshields used by characters like Rhitahtyn Arvina. The bastion will be available exclusively in the evolved mode of the game, with further details to be revealed at the Tokyo Fan Festival and a full launch scheduled for January 2027.

Winsage

July 25, 2026

Microsoft finally found a Windows ad it doesn’t like

Users of LG monitors have reported frustration over unsolicited McAfee pop-up ads that automatically appear during the Windows Update process. This issue arises from the installation of the "LG Monitor App Installer," which includes promotional software alongside the standard monitor driver. Reports indicate that this software installs without user consent, even when only a video cable is connected. Following an investigation by Gamers Nexus, Microsoft announced that LG has agreed to disable the McAfee pop-up, although the LG Monitor App Installer will still be automatically downloaded via Windows Update.

Tech Optimizer

July 24, 2026

How we pushed CDC into Postgres, and turned replication into clockwork

Making data from transactional databases accessible to analytical databases is essential in modern data architecture, but it faces challenges such as fragile tooling, high costs, and complex operations. Snowflake has developed a Postgres service that addresses these issues by reimagining Postgres replication. Postgres is a strong operational database, but its change data capture (CDC) capabilities need improvement. Many data pipelines are fragile due to complexities in managing continuous data flow, schema changes, snapshots, and failures. To enhance user experience with Snowflake Postgres, a complete reinvention of the replication process was necessary. A new feature called data mirroring is in public preview, allowing resilient data replication into Snowflake with low cost, minimal lag, and transactional consistency. This feature directly pushes changes from Postgres into Apache Iceberg™ tables in transactional batches, which are then automatically applied to Snowflake tables without extra infrastructure. Change data capture records changes from a transactional database for replay on another system, primarily using logical decoding in Postgres. This method decodes WAL records into logical operations, but the client bears the responsibility for subsequent steps like backfilling, managing schema changes, and handling failures. Built-in logical replication in Postgres only addresses some complexities. A limitation of logical decoding is that the external system does not recognize the state of Postgres, making it difficult to detect schema changes or correlate snapshots with changes. The solution is to push changes from Postgres into a data lake, specifically into Iceberg tables using compressed Parquet format, with object stores like Amazon S3 as the destination. The mirroring process uses a new Postgres extension called snowflake_cdc, which continuously pushes batches of changes into per-table change logs and a meta log. This extension understands the Postgres environment, coordinating schema changes and complex transactions while ensuring alignment between snapshots and changes.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

It’s now easier to gift Steam games, even if you don’t have an account.

Valve has improved the gifting process on Steam, allowing users to purchase and send full games, gift cards, or hardware, even to email addresses not linked to a Steam account. The update also enhances cross-region gifting capabilities, enabling users to send games across different geographical boundaries.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Unity demonstrates ‘an Unreal character running through a Unity world’ for the first time

Unity has demonstrated a Unity Engine game operating within an Unreal Engine environment at the Unite Seoul keynote. This collaboration with Epic Games aims to allow Unity developers to publish games directly within Fortnite. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney expressed support for this integration, highlighting the importance of connectivity among game engines. Unity's Fortnite integration is set to enter early access in 2027, and Unity 7, the next version of its game engine, will be released next year, featuring enhanced rendering, improved monetization options, collaboration tools, and a protocol for integrating generative AI coding agents.

AppWizard

July 21, 2026

The best Deus Ex sequel is a 2009 fan-mod set in a living forum where you attack enemies with sporks and foons, and no I am not joking

The Nameless Mod (TNM) is a fan mod for the game Deus Ex, developed over seven years within a forum community. It features a chaotic power struggle among factions such as goat worshippers and llama devotees, with characters using sporks as weapons and quirky phrases like "What the radish?" The mod is considered a strong contender for the best sequel to Deus Ex, alongside Mankind Divided. It was first highlighted in PC Gamer in June 2010 for its adventurous spirit. TNM expands on the original game's elements, offering a unique experience in the gaming landscape of 2026. It is available on ModDB and the Steam Workshop for Deus Ex: Revision.

AppWizard

July 21, 2026

No exclusive games for Steam Machine: “How is this even a question?”

Valve is set to unveil a new feature aimed at enhancing user engagement and interaction across its platforms. Key aspects of this feature include enhanced user interaction for players, innovative gameplay mechanics that may challenge traditional norms, and cross-platform compatibility to allow seamless engagement across different devices.

AppWizard

July 20, 2026

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed review (2018)

The latest review of Crossworlds highlights the vibrant fangame scene for Sonic racing enthusiasts, mentioning projects like Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers. The game was released on January 31, 2013, developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. It was reviewed on a system with a Core i7-6700K, 16GB RAM, and GTX 980, and is verified for Steam Deck. The review describes imaginative gameplay scenarios, such as executing drifts on an aircraft carrier and combining characters from various games like Company of Heroes and Total War. A standout character from Racing Transformed is a Football Manager character who transforms from a car to a boat. The commentary emphasizes the creativity and nostalgia within the gaming community.

AppWizard

July 14, 2026

How The Coalition and NVIDIA are Building Gears of War: E-Day for PC

Gears of War: E-Day is being developed by XBOX and The Coalition as the most immersive and technically advanced entry in the franchise, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and DirectX 12, optimized for various PC hardware. NVIDIA is the exclusive PC partner, focusing on integrating GeForce RTX technologies for performance enhancements and launch support. The game emphasizes emotional storytelling, intense combat, and cinematic visuals, featuring advanced rendering capabilities like hardware ray tracing and NVIDIA RTX enhancements. It incorporates NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, Dynamic Multi Frame Generation, Super Resolution, and NVIDIA Reflex for improved gameplay performance. The game will also support AMD FSR, Unreal Engine TSR, Intel XeSS, and Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) to optimize performance and visual fidelity. Gears of War: E-Day will be available on multiple PC storefronts, including the Microsoft Store and the XBOX PC app, with Early Access to the Open Beta starting August 6 and the official launch on October 6.

AppWizard

July 14, 2026

The designer of cult classic King of Dragon Pass says his upcoming hellish heist game is pushing the boundaries of a concept he invented in 1999: ‘There’s really nothing else quite like it’

In 1999, designer David Dunham and his studio A Sharp released King of Dragon Pass, which combines mythic fantasy RPG and cattle management simulation. Although it initially faced commercial disappointment, it gained a dedicated following for its narrative experience. Later in 2023, Dunham and A Sharp will launch Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists, described as a "systemic storybook experience" by its publisher, Kitfox Games. Dunham calls it a "tactical narrative game," emphasizing its unconventional classification. The game features gameplay elements where players use traits of party members in conflict resolution, set in a fantastical representation of Byzantium. It introduces conditional, rearrangeable storytelling elements, which Dunham claims to have pioneered in the '90s, although he acknowledges that King of Chicago may have predated him. Thousand Hells offers a unique experience in each playthrough and can be completed in one to two hours, contrasting with the longer narratives of its predecessors.