Classic experience Archives

AppWizard

September 14, 2026

Warcraft 3: Reforged adds always-online requirement, removes LAN mode

The 3.0 patch for Warcraft 3: Reforged has introduced the Forsaken Kingdom expansion, which includes bug fixes and new features. A significant change is the requirement for an internet connection to play, even in single-player mode, which removes local area network (LAN) functionality. Blizzard has provided access to the legacy Warcraft 3 client with the purchase of Reforged, allowing offline play and LAN support. The patch also adds a new graphics mode for improved visual fidelity and doubles the unit selection cap from 12 to 24. Full patch notes are available on the Blizzard forums.

BetaBeacon

September 9, 2026

Temple of Osiris Comes to iOS, Android: Check What’s New

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is now available on mobile for iOS and Android, offering players the chance to try out the first level for free before purchasing the full game for USD 9.99, EUR 8.99, or GBP 7.49. The game features touch controls, controller support, single-player, and multiplayer modes, as players team up with Lara, Carter Bell, Isis, and Horus to search for the lost Fragments of Osiris and battle enemies.

AppWizard

August 25, 2026

Commodore Announces Alien Breed 35th Anniversary Collection for PC, Consoles

Commodore is set to launch the Alien Breed 35th Anniversary Collection, featuring the original six titles from the series, reimagined for modern platforms including PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Switch 2. The collection includes enhancements such as dual-stick control support, new game modes (Horde and co-op Rush), save states, screen filters, and rumble support. The titles included are Alien Breed, Alien Breed: Special Edition 92, Alien Breed 2: The Horror Continues, Alien Breed: Tower Assault, Alien Breed: 3D, and The Killing Grounds. A virtual museum will also be part of the collection, showcasing original media and insights into cancelled projects. The release is scheduled for September 24 on Steam, GoG, and the Epic Games Store, with availability on Xbox and PlayStation, while Nintendo Switch users will see it in Fall 2026. The collection will not be available for current or historical Commodore hardware.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

GTA: Vice City gets free DLC-sized story content ahead of GTA 6 launch

Fans of Grand Theft Auto can download a free mission pack titled Vice City: New Legacy for GTA: Vice City, created by modder Rohansrinivasan123. This DLC includes 25 original story missions featuring gang wars, heists, and shootouts, along with new characters and storylines. The mod is designed using Sanny Builder and CLEO and is available on the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Nexus Mods page, specifically for the original version of the game. Rockstar Games is preparing to release Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with pre-orders available for the Standard and Ultimate Editions. Pre-loads will begin on November 12, 2026.

Winsage

June 4, 2026

Windows 8’s codename was “Modern Experience” — Microsoft says it lacked creativity

Raymond Chen, a Microsoft software engineer, reflected on the development of Windows 8, which was announced on June 1, 2011, and had its support withdrawn on January 12, 2016. The development team initially referred to Windows 8 as "the modern experience" to distinguish it from Windows 7, known as "the classic experience." This led to the creation of abbreviations like "MoSh" for the modern shell and "ClaSh" for the classic shell. Other terms included "MoGo" for the new Start menu and "MoSet" for the settings control panel. Microsoft has since introduced Windows K2, an internal project aimed at addressing issues in Windows 11, and has made changes based on user feedback, such as allowing indefinite postponement of updates. Users can engage in discussions about Windows K2 on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral.

Winsage

June 3, 2026

Microsoft’s veteran engineer says Windows 8 was all built around “modern” codenames — including the polarizing Start menu

Microsoft unveiled Windows 8 on June 1, 2011, and ceased support for it on January 12, 2016. During its development, the team referred to it as "the modern experience" to distinguish it from Windows 7, known as "the classic experience." The new shell was called "modern shell" or "MoSh," while the old shell was referred to as "classic shell" or "ClaSh." The Start menu was initially called "Go page" and later renamed "MoGo." Other components were similarly named, such as "MoSet" for the settings control panel and "MoCo" for the ListView control. Microsoft is currently working on a project called Windows K2 to address issues in Windows 11, allowing users to postpone updates indefinitely and reducing the visibility of Copilot based on feedback. A status tracker for Windows K2 is available.

Winsage

April 27, 2026

Windows 11’s hidden modern Run dialog (Win+R) gets a slimmer design, but it’s still not rolling out

Windows Run, accessed via the Win + R shortcut, is being tested for a modern design update in newer preview builds of Windows 11. The updated version features a slimmer design similar to a floating search bar, with a new 'Run' icon and a centered text field. This modern variant will be optional, allowing users to switch back to the classic version if desired. Microsoft is also exploring additional advanced features for the modern Run dialog, which maintains comparable performance to the legacy version.

AppWizard

April 19, 2026

Turtle WoW classic server announces shutdown after Blizzard wins injunction

Blizzard Entertainment issued a cease and desist order to Turtle WoW, a private server for World of Warcraft, following a ruling in a copyright infringement lawsuit. The Turtle WoW team announced the complete shutdown of the project after reaching a settlement contingent upon certain actions. Developer Torta expressed the project's significant impact on their lives and the fond memories created over eight years. Turtle WoW offered a nostalgic experience reminiscent of the pre-expansion era of World of Warcraft without raising the maximum level or incorporating recent lore. The shutdown parallels the fate of another private server, Nostalrius, which closed before the announcement of World of Warcraft Classic. While some fan servers have received publisher approval, the Turtle WoW team's appeal for a licensing framework was unsuccessful, highlighting the challenges faced by independent developers in navigating intellectual property laws.

Winsage

April 7, 2026

Notepad (25H2)

Microsoft has transformed its Notepad text editor in Windows 11, introducing features such as a tabbed user interface, basic session state management, a "Recent files" option, and AI-driven writing tools. Notepad now supports Markdown markup language for light formatting and includes customizable settings for themes, fonts, document opening preferences, and the ability to disable certain features. Users can access AI writing tools through a Copilot button, which requires a Microsoft account and an active Microsoft 365 subscription. The classic Notepad version is still available, allowing users to revert to the previous interface, although it cannot be set as the default app for text files.

AppWizard

March 7, 2026

The Legacy of Kain: Defiance remaster does the best thing possible—it gets out of the way

Legacy of Kain: Defiance, a 2003 video game, has been successfully remastered by Crystal Dynamics. The remaster maintains the original's gothic charm and narrative while enhancing graphics for modern displays. It introduces a new third-person camera option, allowing players to switch between this and the original fixed-camera angles. The remaster balances new features with the classic experience, refining gameplay and addressing bugs without overshadowing the original game.