challenge Archives

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

A new Crimson Desert update just fixed its empty world problem, and added two legendary pets

Crimson Desert has received a significant update (version 1.05) that introduces two new features: 'rematch' and 're-blockade' options. The rematch feature allows players to re-engage with any previously defeated boss at the original battle site using a Memory Fragment, with 69 bosses available and two modes—'Reminisce' for original encounters and 'Resonate' for scaled challenges. The re-blockade feature lets players adjust enemy respawn rates in strongholds, with three settings: 'Conflict,' 'War,' and 'Stable,' affecting 23 forts and quarries. Additionally, players can now discover two legendary animals, the Iron Eagle and the Hyacinth Macaw, and interact with goose and duck pets. The update also includes various bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

Google Clock’s alarm failed me so I found 5 better apps to wake me up

Google Clock may not effectively wake heavy sleepers. Alternatives include: - Chrono: An open-source alarm app with customizable alarms and a Tasks section that requires users to complete challenges before dismissing the alarm. - Sleep As Android: A comprehensive sleep health app that tracks sleep patterns and offers wake-up tasks (CAPTCHAs) and a Smart Wake Up feature for a gentler waking experience. - NFC Alarm Clock: A lightweight app that allows users to disable alarms using NFC tags placed around the home, promoting physical activity to get out of bed. - Alarmy: An app designed for heavy sleepers, featuring various wake-up tasks, including physical challenges and notifications, to ensure users wake up. - Sun Alarm: An app that allows users to set alarms for astronomical events like sunrise, suitable for photographers and weekend mornings.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

Total War: Warhammer 40k’s map reveals fill me with faith that Creative Assembly can handle the setting’s absurd scale

Creative Assembly is developing Total War: Warhammer 40k, leveraging its experience from Total War: Warhammer. The game will feature destructible elements like buildings and forests, altering battle dynamics. Maps will reflect different planetary biomes and allow for various deployment options, enhancing tactical depth. Players can navigate maps in multiple orientations and engage in both assault and defense scenarios. The studio aims to make the gameplay engaging and replayable, with more information expected in June.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

There’s a new Vampire The Masquerade game in the works, and its setting is my absolute favorite

Vampire: The Masquerade - Oaths and Ashes is an upcoming visual novel set in Berlin, developed by Revive The Spark. Players can choose to play as two characters: Alice, a Camarilla Ventrue, and Lenz, a Thinblood punk rocker. Alice's gameplay involves reshaping Berlin through her disciplines—Dominate, Presence, and Fortitude—while Lenz focuses on alchemical skills. The game features an evolving map influenced by player actions and introduces mechanics related to Thinblood Alchemy. It emphasizes political intrigue among factions and is scheduled for release in 2026.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

Microsoft is reportedly fixing Windows 11 to take on the Steam Machine, but here’s what else it needs to do

Microsoft is launching the Windows K2 initiative to improve the performance and reliability of Windows 11, aiming to compete with alternatives like SteamOS. The initiative focuses on addressing key complaints such as overreliance on AI, poor performance, and unreliability. It emphasizes quality over speed in updates, promotes community engagement through Windows Insider meetups, and sets ambitious goals including enhancing File Explorer performance, improving file search, eliminating ads from the Start Menu, and restoring taskbar functionality. Microsoft aims to achieve performance parity with SteamOS within two years and has already demonstrated potential improvements with a specialized gaming version of Windows. Additionally, Microsoft is encouraged to simplify account setup and reduce prompts for Office 365, CoPilot, and OneDrive to enhance user experience.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

Rocket League has a new Easy Anti-Cheat addition, and it still works on the Steam Deck — it’s about time for other game Devs to follow suit

Psyonix has integrated Easy Anti-Cheat into Rocket League while supporting Linux platforms. Although Rocket League is no longer available on Steam, it can still be played on SteamOS through the Epic Games platform using Proton for compatibility. Other titles like Battlefield 6, Call of Duty, and EA Sports FC 26 are not accessible on SteamOS due to compatibility issues with anti-cheat systems. Psyonix's efforts may encourage other developers to improve Linux support. Emerging titles like Splitgate: Arena Reloaded and Rocket League are contributing to broader Linux compatibility, but challenges remain due to some publishers' reluctance to invest in these solutions.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

Subnautica 2 is the latest behemoth to mess with other games’ launch plans at the last minute: ‘we need to dodge the Leviathan’

Subnautica 2 has a release date set for May 14 and is currently the most-wishlisted game on Steam. Other games launching on the same day include Outbound, the 13th most wishlisted game on Steam, which has decided to avoid direct competition with Subnautica 2. Dark Light: Survivor is another contender with promising wishlist numbers. The game’s design lead, Anthony Gallegos, has discussed its exploration-first approach to survival.

Tech Optimizer

May 1, 2026

Backstage Ditches Postgres for Databricks Lakebase

The divide between operational and analytical databases is diminishing, as evidenced by Databricks integrating Spotify's Backstage with its Lakebase, transitioning from PostgreSQL to a unified data platform. Lakebase now offers a serverless PostgreSQL interface within Databricks, allowing Backstage to operate without awareness of the underlying changes. The integration involved updating configurations and addressing authentication challenges using OAuth JWTs. The integration transforms the database development lifecycle by enabling near-instant database branching through Lakebase's copy-on-write architecture, allowing developers to focus on testing changes rather than safety. Branching creates a pointer to existing data, making the operation instantaneous. Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR) allows for quick restoration of data, demonstrated by a recovery process that took less than four seconds. The goal is to integrate database branching into developer workflows seamlessly, making it automatic. This change could enhance developer productivity by allowing live data testing from the start, eliminating the need for mock objects, and resolving common issues related to staging environments. The traditional constraints of slow and costly database copies will become obsolete, prompting teams to reconsider how much time they spend on workarounds for now-nonexistent constraints.

AppWizard

April 30, 2026

Google AI is creeping into every app on your phone. Here is how to disable it

Google has integrated its Gemini AI into various applications, including Gmail, Google Drive, Messages, and Google Photos. There is no universal switch to disable AI across Android devices due to varying manufacturer implementations. Users can selectively disable AI features in specific apps: - Google Messages: Disable Gemini by going to Messages settings and turning off the Gemini option. - Gmail: Turn off Smart features in Google Workspace and other Google products through the Gmail settings. - Google Photos: Disable Gemini features in Photos settings under Preferences. - Phone app: Disable AI features like Call Screen in the Phone app settings under Call Assist. - Pixel Screenshots: Disable the AI feature for searching screenshots in the Pixel Screenshots app settings. Disabling the Gemini app itself will remove its integrations and deactivate AI features on the device.

AppWizard

April 30, 2026

You don’t actually have to fight Arc Raiders deadly new robot to get its parts

Arc Turbines are formidable mechanical enemies in Arc Raiders that descend from the sky and pose a significant challenge to players. Defeating them yields valuable Turbine Compressor materials, necessary for the Avian Alarm project and crafting the Powered Descender item. Players can also obtain Turbine Compressors from Arc Couriers, which are less dangerous and spawn more frequently in areas like the swamp on Dam Battlegrounds or during the Electromagnetic Storm map condition. To effectively engage an Arc Turbine, players should wait for it to land before attacking, use Deadlines for cover, or shoot from a distance with a Hullcracker, targeting the spinning yellow cylinders at its core. Shooting while the Turbine is airborne will provoke a lightning attack.