characters Archives

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

‘It feels to many like a tidal wave is sweeping over the AAA game business,’ says Epic CEO Tim Sweeney in his diagnosis of the industry’s woes

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, highlighted the need for improved game development efficiency and connectivity during his remarks at Unreal Fest. He noted that many major game releases are failing to meet expectations despite increased engagement among younger audiences and Fortnite's resurgence. Epic is developing Unreal Engine 6 to enhance efficiency and interoperability, incorporating generative AI for game creation that can integrate with Fortnite and other Unreal products. The Unreal Engine is free for developers, with a 5% royalty after the first million in revenue, and the Epic Games Store waives fees for the first million earned, contrasting with higher fees on platforms like Steam. Epic and Disney released a Star Wars toolkit for Unreal Editor for Fortnite, and there are concerns about how traditional gaming experiences will adapt to a more interconnected ecosystem. Despite rising development costs, Epic is committed to supporting diverse projects while shifting towards a model emphasizing social connectivity and brand partnerships.

Winsage

June 18, 2026

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 Search will find your apps, not Bing results, even if you make typos

Microsoft has released the Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8687 for Windows 11 on June 12, 2026, which improves the Windows Search functionality. The update allows the search tool to accurately locate applications even with misspellings, omitted letters, or partial words. For example, typing “utlook” will yield Outlook as a result. Enhancements in the ranking of settings search results ensure that the most relevant options appear at the top. The update also improves local file search, allowing users to find files like “Severance-S2E5” more effectively. A new feature is being tested that will let users turn off web results in Windows Search, focusing exclusively on local content. Currently, disabling Bing results requires navigating through the Windows Registry, but a toggle in the Settings menu is being introduced for easier access. The June 2026 update has already implemented search enhancements, including returning file results after just two characters and a feature called Search by Substring, which allows users to find files using any segment of a filename.

AppWizard

June 17, 2026

I tried Bus Simulator 27 on PC, and it’s a super relaxing game… Until it just isn’t

Bus Simulator 27 is set to launch later this year, with a free demo available on Steam until June 22. The demo lacks support for DLSS or FSR, and during testing at 1440p on high settings with an RTX 5090, frame rates ranged from 70-80 FPS, with occasional drops. The AI traffic exhibits erratic behavior, often stopping abruptly and inconsistently adhering to speed limits, leading to penalties for the player in case of collisions. The voice acting can be distracting, interrupting the gameplay experience. The game is priced modestly, with additional content available for purchase, but there are concerns about optimization and AI dynamics that need addressing before the full release.

AppWizard

June 17, 2026

There’s no such thing as the Matt Mercer Effect

Tabletop roleplaying games (RPGs) have evolved significantly, with modern resources such as over 400 episodes of Critical Role and series like Dimension 20 and The Adventure Zone providing new players with engaging narratives and gameplay examples. This abundance of content contrasts with the past, where players had limited resources like rulebooks and comic ads. However, the rise of these resources has also led to challenges, including mismatched expectations between new players and the reality of gameplay, as highlighted by discussions on RPGNet about negative experiences in the gaming community. Many new players enter the hobby with high hopes for immersive storytelling but often encounter traditional gameplay that may not meet their expectations.

AppWizard

June 17, 2026

Minecraft Officially Launches The Chaos Cubed Content Drop

Minecraft has introduced an expansion called Chaos Cubed, featuring a new sulfur cave biome with sulfur springs and survival challenges. The update includes new mobs called sulfur cubes that absorb blocks and interact with the environment, as well as potent sulfur blocks that create bubbling pools and release noxious gas. The sulfur caves contain shallow water pools, glowing lichen, and abundant sulfur and cinnabar blocks. New block sets allow for creative building, while sulfur spikes and geysers add gameplay mechanics. Players can experiment with TNT and sulfur cubes for unpredictable results. The beta version of Parties for Bedrock Edition allows multiplayer experiences for up to 14 friends.

Winsage

June 17, 2026

I dug through the Windows 11 Insider builds for June 2026 and found 7 features worth paying attention to

Microsoft rolled out several preview builds of Windows 11 in early June 2026 as part of the Windows Insider Program, focusing on refining existing functionalities rather than introducing many new features. A new Beta channel for version 26H1 was launched, featuring: - Screen Tint: An accessibility feature that provides a system-wide color overlay to reduce eye strain, accessible through Settings > Accessibility > Vision > Screen Tint, offering six preset colors or custom hues. - Low Latency Profile: Temporarily boosts processor frequency for 1 to 3 seconds during interactive tasks, improving application launch times by up to 40% and interaction times by as much as 70%, operating automatically without manual toggles. - Widgets Experience Update: Widgets now open without hover activation, Taskbar badges are off by default, and alerts are limited until user interaction. The dashboard displays Widgets under "widgets," and badging aligns with the system accent color. - Magnifier Enhancements: Users can input specific zoom percentages directly and access additional zoom presets ranging from 5% to 400%. - File Explorer Changes: Improvements for compatibility, performance, and reliability, including support for paths with double backslashes and quotation marks, and middle-click support for opening folders in new tabs. - Windows Update: Unification of drivers, .NET, and firmware updates with monthly quality updates, reducing required restarts to one per month. - Windows Search Enhancements: Improved handling of typos, missing letters, and partial app names, prioritizing accurate search results even with input errors.

Winsage

June 15, 2026

Windows 11’s June update makes PCs feel faster. Here’s what’s new

On Patch Tuesday in June 2026, Microsoft released a significant update for Windows 11, designated as KB5094126. Key enhancements include: - Low Latency Profile: Boosts CPU clock speeds temporarily for specific tasks, reducing lag during operations. - Simultaneous Webcam Access: Allows multiple applications to use the webcam simultaneously. - Shared Audio: Enables two users to connect headphones to one PC for shared audio enjoyment. - NPU Usage Monitoring: Task Manager displays Neural Processing Unit usage for individual processes, with new columns for NPU and NPU Engine. - Enhanced Windows Search: Users can locate files with just two characters instead of three. The update also introduces new Secure Boot certificates for improved security. After installation, Windows 11 build numbers will show either 26200.8655 (25H2) or 26100.8655 (24H2). Updates are rolled out gradually, so some users may experience delays in accessing features.

AppWizard

June 15, 2026

Both Final Fantasy 7 remakes are dirt cheap right now in a franchise sale—but I think you should play FF12 and enjoy the series’ best combat system at a discount, too

The first installment of the Final Fantasy 7 remake is priced around £12, and its sequel, Rebirth, is approximately £16 during a sale on Steam. Final Fantasy 12 is available for £11 and features a unique combat system known as the Gambit system, which allows players to set conditional commands for party members. The Zodiac Age version includes enhancements such as accelerated gameplay. FF12 is characterized by its grand adventure, political intrigue, and the partnership between characters Balthier and Fran.

AppWizard

June 15, 2026

As Dead by Daylight turns 10, Behavior unveils game-changing overhaul that will “make the next ten better than the first”

Dead by Daylight has evolved over ten years from a lineup of three characters to 43, including iconic horror figures. The game has expanded into comic books, spin-offs, and music. Executive Producer José Ramos confirmed there will not be a Dead by Daylight 2, focusing instead on evolving the existing game. A significant visual update is planned for 2027, enhancing character animations, environments, and audio. New creative modding capabilities and prototypes for new game modes, including a 1v1 experience and a zombie mode, are in development. The anniversary event will introduce a new survivor, Shane Wiigwaas, the first Indigenous character, and improvements to voiceovers for existing survivors. A new zone related to Dwight Fairfield's backstory will be added, and upcoming content includes new horror icons and collaborations with various franchises.

Winsage

June 15, 2026

Windows 11 just fixed one of Search’s dumbest limitations

Microsoft's June 2026 Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 allows users to initiate a search with just two characters, down from the previous three-character minimum. This enhancement improves the search functionality by enabling meaningful searches with shorter inputs and enhances the ranking of search results, ensuring relevant files appear at the top. This update addresses frustrations for users who often use concise file names.