children Archives

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Voidwood, a Fantasy Co-Op Survival Horror Game, Announced for PC

Santa Barbara Games has announced its first project, Voidwood, developed by a team from studios like Bethesda, Riot, and EA. The game combines fantasy and horror with an art style similar to Studio Ghibli. Players can team up with up to three friends to explore a cursed forest, focusing on strategy and stealth. During the day, players gather supplies and craft tools, while at night, they must evade The Beast. Communication is crucial, as players can use proximity chat to whisper, but shouting can attract danger. Players can regroup at a camp for safety, but The Beast can still attack if it detects them. Each session lasts 20 to 30 minutes, and the game features meta progression for character development. Voidwood is currently in development for PC and is expected to release in 2027.

AppWizard

August 10, 2026

Australians must now prove their age to buy R18+ games on the Xbox store

Microsoft will require users to verify their age when purchasing games rated R18+ on Xbox and Microsoft Store starting in August 2026 to comply with Australian regulations.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

Organized crime is using encrypted messaging apps to enlist youth. This spells trouble for police

Toronto has seen an increase in gunfire incidents aimed at the U.S. consulate, leading to the arrests of a 19-year-old and a 15-year-old. These incidents are linked to alleged gun-for-hire plots that also target Jewish schools, synagogues, and waste management facilities in the Greater Toronto Area. Investigators are facing difficulties in identifying the masterminds behind these operations, partly due to the use of encrypted messaging apps to recruit young individuals. The federal government's Bill C-22 aims to provide law enforcement with tools to address these challenges, but it has faced criticism for potential overreach and privacy concerns. Police Chief Myron Demkiw emphasized the need for effective tools to prevent violence facilitated through encrypted communication. Technology analyst Carmi Levy raised concerns about balancing law enforcement needs with privacy rights. Additionally, there is a societal responsibility to protect children from online recruitment by criminal networks, with calls for proactive conversations between parents and children and educational initiatives in schools.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Fields of Mistria 1.0 changes: What’s new in the full release version?

Fields of Mistria 1.0 has been fully released after two years of early access, featuring significant updates and enhancements. The town's story is complete, with repairs following an earthquake finalized. Players can now experience ten heart events for datable characters, allowing for deeper relationships. Marriage and children have been introduced, enabling players to start families. The Saturday Market has two new merchants, Stillwell and Zorel. An achievements system rewards players retroactively, and there is no need to start a new save file to access the new content. Key updates include the completion of the Town Repair Questline, an increased Town Renown Cap, the addition of the Mistril Town Rank Event, and new quests. Beta localizations for seven languages have been added. Gameplay enhancements include new perks, customizable house exteriors, and engagement ring crafting. Quality of life improvements include player character rotation and improved drop rates from treasure chests. Art enhancements and new soundtracks have been introduced, along with substantial performance improvements and bug fixes.

AppWizard

August 4, 2026

Minecraft-themed rice paddy art reaches peak viewing in Japan’s Gyoda

The rice paddy art at Ancient Lotus Park in Gyoda, Saitama, features a design inspired by the video game Minecraft. The artwork measures approximately 180 meters in length and 165 meters in width and can be viewed from the 50-meter tall Gyoda Tower. Around 1,000 volunteers planted rice seedlings in four colors, including the "Sai no kizuna" variety, to create recognizable characters from the game and a pixelated version of Gyoda Tower. The prime viewing period is expected to last until mid-October. Admission to the tower is 400 yen for high school students and adults, 200 yen for elementary and junior high students, and free for preschool children. Inquiries can be made to the Kodai Hasu Kaikan at 048-559-0770.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Google Play Rolls Out Age Signals Worldwide: Get Tailored Per-App Safety Shields

Google has announced the global rollout of its Age Signals API for the Google Play platform, aimed at helping parents manage age-appropriate content for their children across Android applications from a single interface. Initially launched in Brazil, the tool will be extended to users in Australia and Canada by mid-August, with a full worldwide release expected later this year. The Age Signals API allows developers to customize in-app experiences based on the user's actual age, moving away from generic safety measures. Developers receive age range signals to adjust content and features accordingly, while adult users can voluntarily share their age range. Parents can centralize control through the Google Family Link app, sharing their child's age range once for automatic communication to participating apps. Age data is not shared by default, and parents can modify permissions at any time. The API enhances existing safety tools on Google Play, including mandatory standards for family-friendly apps and features in Google Family Link.

AppWizard

July 29, 2026

Google brings its age-assurance technology to Android developers worldwide

Google will globally roll out its Play Signal API by the end of 2026 to enhance age assurance for younger users. The API will first be introduced in Australia and Canada by mid-August, followed by a rollout to all markets by the end of the year. This technology allows Android developers to identify younger users without accessing sensitive personal information, enabling parents to share their child's age range directly with apps. Age details will be managed through Google's Family Link parental controls dashboard, and parents must opt in to share this information. The feature is part of broader safety tools on Google Play, which include options for developers to limit children's app discovery and parental controls for managing screen time and content filters.

AppWizard

July 29, 2026

Google Play’s got a new system for letting apps deliver age-appropriate experiences

Google Play is launching its Age Signals API globally, allowing parents to share their children's age ranges without revealing personal information. This API enables developers to customize app experiences based on broad age categories (0-12, 13-15, 16-17, and 18+), enhancing age-appropriate interactions. Users retain control over the age data shared, and parents can disable the feature if desired. The API has already been rolled out in Brazil and will expand to Canada and Australia soon, with a global launch expected by the end of the year. Developers are required to use age-related data solely to improve user experiences, with restrictions against using it for advertising or analytics.

AppWizard

July 28, 2026

Inviting beaches and delightful physics await you in literal sandbox game, Sandcastle

Sandcastle is a physics-driven sandbox game focused on building sandcastles. Players start with a small patch of sand and tools to create structures, progressing to new beach locales. The game features collectible starfishes and shells for customization and includes a realistic physics engine that simulates sand behavior with moisture. A demo is scheduled for release on August 6th, and players can add the game to their wishlist on Steam.

AppWizard

July 28, 2026

HMD Asha 305: a sub-$75 Android phone with no Google apps

HMD is reintroducing the Asha brand with the launch of the Asha 305, priced at PHP 3,999 in the Philippines and around 2,390 baht in Thailand. The phone features a Unisoc SC9832E processor, options of 2–3GB of RAM, and 16–32GB of storage. It has a 5-inch display with a resolution of 854×480 pixels, a 5MP rear camera, a 2MP front camera, and a 2,500mAh battery with 5W charging. The Asha 305 operates on Android 14 Go without Google Mobile Services, offering around 100 pre-loaded apps. HMD has not announced availability or pricing for the US or UK markets.