building Archives

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

Metro 2039 is “much darker” than its predecessors, but most importantly it’s a statement of intent

Anticipation is high for Metro 2039, the next installment in the Metro series, following the release of Exodus in 2019. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic Russia, specifically around a devastated Saint Basil's Cathedral, and will explore themes of death, tyranny, and political manipulation. Players will assume the role of The Stranger, who must dismantle the authoritarian regime of the Novoreich, led by Hunter. Metro 2039 will feature a fully voiced protagonist, enhancing immersion, and gameplay will include close-quarters shooting and survival horror elements. The game is expected to launch in winter 2026, likely between October and December, and aims to reflect the experiences of its Ukrainian developers amid ongoing conflict.

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

FF14 Fanfest will look more into the MMO’s future than you might expect, director Naoki Yoshida teases

The NA Fan Festival in Anaheim is scheduled for April 24-25 and will unveil the title and narrative of the FF14 8.0 expansion. Game director Naoki Yoshida suggests attendees may be surprised by the announcements during his keynote address. The FF14 patch 7.5 is set to release on April 28, shortly after the festival. Yoshida aims to provide insights into the future of FF14 and hints at early gameplay demonstrations during the festival. He describes the Beastmaster as a limited job for solo play and addresses the upcoming ultimate raid, indicating a desire for a grand presentation at Fanfest. The event will be streamed on the official FF14 YouTube and Twitch channels.

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

’90s style Command and Conquer spiritual successor DORF smashes its Kickstarter to raise $300,000

DORF is a real-time strategy (RTS) game inspired by '90s titles, currently funded on Kickstarter, raising nearly 0,000. It features three factions: the Union of Imperial States, the Collective, and the Warbands. The game includes single-player campaigns, skirmish modes, online multiplayer, and a map editor. Additional content from the funding includes special online co-op campaigns, unique voice lines for units, and new environmental zones like snowy regions and megacities. DORFteam is expanding their development team, particularly seeking dedicated mappers. The tentative release date is set for 2028, but they aim for a 1.0 launch by 2027. Players can wishlist DORF on Steam for updates.

BetaBeacon

April 16, 2026

The Best Mobile Games on Google Play Are Becoming Harder to Put in One Box

Developers in mobile gaming are now more comfortable borrowing from different genres across the industry, resulting in games that offer a variety of experiences within a single title. Mobile games are designed to cater to different levels of commitment simultaneously, with simple mechanics for beginners and deeper systems for more serious players. The Play Store landscape is becoming less predictable as games borrow concepts from console design, PC live-service loops, tabletop mechanics, and social media behavior. The best mobile games are those that can accommodate multiple habits and playstyles, providing players with a diverse and versatile gaming experience.

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

Introducing the ultimate college bundle: built for student life

Eligible U.S. students can access significant discounts on select Windows 11 PCs and the Microsoft College Offer, which includes over 0 in complimentary value. This offer provides a full year of Microsoft 365 Premium, a year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a complimentary design-your-own Xbox Wireless Controller. Notable discounted PCs include the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x for 9, HP OmniBook X Flip for 9, and HP Victus for 9. Students can find qualifying devices from brands like Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Microsoft Surface at various retailers. Additionally, 86% of students report using AI to support their studies, and Microsoft 365 Premium includes features like Copilot for organizing notes, aiding in budget tracking, generating presentation drafts, and summarizing emails. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers access to hundreds of games, including new titles like Forza Horizon 6, with unlimited cloud gaming.

Tech Optimizer

April 15, 2026

Bitdefender Total Security

Bitdefender Total Security includes features such as a network security inspector, advanced ransomware defense, a hardened browser, and an active Do Not Track system. It offers a two-tier pricing model: an individual subscription for .99 per year for five licenses and a family subscription for .99 for 25 licenses, which includes parental controls. The software features an interface similar to Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, with user-configurable buttons for quick access to features. It boasts high scores from independent antivirus testing labs and excels in malware protection and antiphishing tests. Bitdefender includes a SecurePass password manager, firewall protection, spam filtering, webcam protection, and cryptomining protection. The parental control features allow parents to manage their children's online activities, but they may not be as effective as dedicated solutions. Bitdefender Total Security provides protection for macOS and Android, with high ratings for its performance on these platforms. The Android app includes malware scanning, web protection, and anti-theft features. The Bitdefender Central app allows users to manage their security settings from mobile devices.

Tech Optimizer

April 15, 2026

Postgres to Iceberg in 13 minutes: How Supermetal compares to Flink, Kafka Connect, and Spark

Supermetal introduced Iceberg sink support, allowing for data transfer from Postgres to Iceberg. In a performance comparison, Supermetal completed snapshotting in 13 minutes, while Flink took 90 to 116 minutes, Kafka Connect required 120 minutes, and Spark exceeded 3 hours. The tests focused on throughput during the snapshotting phase rather than latency. The setup used the TPC-H dataset with a scale factor of 50 and involved AWS infrastructure. Supermetal operates independently of Kafka, enabling direct data delivery from source to sink. It utilizes a JSON configuration file for deployment, supporting various catalogs and advanced configuration options. Supermetal's Iceberg writer can adjust settings based on the CDC source phase. Throughout the tests, Supermetal maintained low CPU and memory usage, while other tools faced challenges with performance and resource management. Data synchronization was validated across all tools, with Supermetal achieving at least 7x faster snapshotting performance without tuning.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

TommyInnit Presenting ‘100 Questions’ YouTube Series With Stephen Fry

TommyInnit, whose real name is Tom Simons, is launching a new series called 100 Questions with Tom Simons as part of Sony’s international digital initiative. The show will feature TommyInnit engaging in conversations with various guests, asking exactly 100 questions before concluding the interview. The inaugural episodes will include guests such as British actor Stephen Fry, physicist Professor Brian Cox, and content creators like Stampy, James Marriott, and Sweet Anita. The series is designed for digital audiences and will air on Sony's YouTube channel as well as TommyInnit's personal platforms. TommyInnit has over 50 million followers across various platforms and holds the Guinness World Record for the most-followed Minecraft channel on Twitch. The initiative is part of Sony Pictures Television International Production’s digital arm, led by Matt Ford and Sacha Khari, aiming to create original concepts for digital audiences. TommyInnit is represented by MonRae Management.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Future Games Show returns this summer with more than 50 games: here’s how to watch

A trio of gaming showcases is scheduled for this summer, starting with the Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 6 at 12 PM Pacific, 3 PM Eastern, and 8 PM UK, followed by FGS Live from Los Angeles. The PC Gaming Show will take place on June 7 at the same times. Tom's Guide encourages followers to add them on Google News, subscribe on YouTube, and follow on TikTok for updates.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Subnautica 2 multiplayer explained – crossplay and four-player co-op

Subnautica 2 introduces multiplayer functionality, allowing players to explore underwater landscapes with up to three friends. The game maintains a design that ensures all single-player features are available in multiplayer without exclusive elements. Players can switch between single-player and multiplayer modes, converting existing saves or creating new ones. Friends can join a player's world but may be able to take resources. The game is fundamentally designed as a single-player experience, preserving moments of solitude. Subnautica 2 supports cross-play between Xbox and PC users, with a friends list system for connecting across platforms. Future expansions to other platforms are expected to maintain this cross-play capability. Players should check system requirements for compatibility.