closure Archives

AppWizard

November 7, 2024

Take-Two has sold Private Division

Take-Two Interactive has divested its indie publishing label, Private Division, as part of a strategic refocus on larger-scale projects. The sale price and new ownership details are undisclosed, but CEO Strauss Zelnick indicated that more information will be revealed soon. The decision aligns with Take-Two's commitment to its core and mobile businesses, aiming to create sequels to established franchises and develop new intellectual properties. The projects handled by Private Division were deemed too small to fit with Take-Two's ambitions. Private Division was established in December 2017 and has supported independent developers successfully.

BetaBeacon

November 5, 2024

Netflix to ditch interactive movies and shows, but games remain in favour

Netflix is set to end their experiment with interactive movies and television shows, with reports suggesting that they could dump their entire lineup of interactive media as soon as December 1st.

AppWizard

November 4, 2024

3 ways to stop Android apps running in the background – and why I always do

Managing the number of applications running on an Android device is important for optimizing performance and safeguarding privacy. Having multiple apps open can reduce system resources and pose security risks. To close an app from the overview, swipe up from the bottom of the display to access the app overview, scroll to locate the app, and swipe up to dismiss it. To close an app from Settings, pull down the Notification Shade twice, tap the gear icon for Settings, go to the "Apps" section, find the app, and tap "Force Stop." In Android 15, apps can be closed from the notification shade by pulling down the Notification Shade twice, tapping the pill indicating running apps, and selecting the "Stop" button next to the desired app. Choosing a method to close apps depends on specific needs, with the notification shade being the simplest for halting background services in Android 15, the app overview being the fastest for quick closures, and the Settings app being a reliable option if the app overview is inaccessible.

AppWizard

November 4, 2024

ProbablyMonsters lays off Battle Barge staff

ProbablyMonsters has laid off approximately 50 employees from its BattleBarge team as part of a strategic realignment to support smaller teams and projects. The company, founded in 2019 by Harold Ryan, aims to adapt to the evolving needs of players and the market. Firewalk, one of its notable studios, was acquired by PlayStation in 2023 but has since closed following the poor performance of its game, Concord.

AppWizard

October 31, 2024

Despite making significant changes to survival game Nightingale, developer Inflexion Games says it hasn’t been ‘commercially successful enough’ to avoid ‘dozens’ of layoffs

Inflexion Games has announced a restructuring that includes layoffs and the closure of its UK studio due to the poor commercial performance of their game, Nightingale, which has struggled with low player counts since its early access launch. CEO Aaryn Flynn stated that the company had to reduce its workforce after exhausting all options. While the exact number of layoffs is undisclosed, it is indicated that "dozens" of employees were affected. Nightingale faced challenges such as server issues and a mixed user rating on Steam, leading to a pivot in development strategies. Despite some temporary increases in player numbers from updates, the overall performance did not meet expectations. Inflexion has reassured fans that development will continue and future plans will be shared.

Winsage

October 26, 2024

Google rolling out new update for Quick Share app on Windows

The latest update for the Quick Share app on Windows, version 1.0.2002.2, focuses on bug fixes rather than new features. Key issues resolved include: - Elimination of a crashing issue related to files with non-ASCII characters. - Resolution of a problem preventing the app from saving settings upon closure. - Fixing a crash during Bluetooth usage. Additional fixes include: - Improved handling of files from unknown senders with identical payload IDs. - Resolved issues opening received files with non-ASCII characters. - Corrected problems with reading and saving user preferences on certain system configurations. - Ensured the Quick Share shortcut icon appears in the Start menu after installation. - Addressed crashes when reading input files and connecting via Bluetooth. - Fixed multiple GATT reads during device discovery and stopped Wi-Fi LAN advertising. - Resolved issues with the Wi-Fi hotspot profile, including recovery during file transfers. The Quick Share app has not yet received an update for Windows on Arm, making it incompatible with laptops using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips.

AppWizard

October 26, 2024

Igloo Drops 9-Piece MINECRAFT Collection

Minecraft has partnered with Igloo to release a collection of nine products inspired by the game, featuring personal-sized Little Playmate coolers, stainless steel drinkware, and softside cooler bags, all adorned with Mob characters: Pig, Creeper, and Enderman. Product details include: - Little Playmate 7-quart cooler: Priced at .99, it features eco-friendly THERMECOOL foam insulation, a ten-top design, and holds up to 9 cans. - Square Lunch Cooler Bag: Priced at .99, it has an insulated liner, multiple carrying options, is made from recycled materials, holds 9 cans, and includes a front zip pocket. - 16 Oz Can: Priced at .99, it is made from 304 food-grade stainless steel, features a threaded lid for a secure seal, holds 16 ounces, and has a built-in rubber coaster to prevent slipping. All items are available for purchase on the Igloo website.

AppWizard

October 25, 2024

The Sims 4: Life and Death may actually be the expansion to get the game back in my good graces

The Sims 4 expansion, Life and Death, introduces a new interactive career as a trainee reaper, allowing players to engage directly in gameplay. Players investigate the demise of a crash dummy, concluding it was killed by killer bunnies. The expansion features various death-themed experiences, including interactions with ghosts, customizable grieving rituals, and romantic entanglements with Death. New Create-A-Sim items and Build/Buy options enhance the game's aesthetic. The neighborhood Ravenwood offers events like Thinned Festiveil and Afterlife Anonymous, where ghosts share stories. Players can fulfill bucket list items for spirits to find closure and potentially be reborn. The expansion enriches the gameplay experience by integrating death into the narrative, allowing Sims to leave memorials or exist as spirits.

AppWizard

October 25, 2024

Minecraft is losing VR support next year

Minecraft will discontinue virtual reality support across all platforms by March 2025, affecting devices such as Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality headsets, and Meta Quest. This follows the earlier announcement of ending support for PlayStation VR headsets in March 2025. Players will retain access to their worlds and Marketplace purchases on non-VR devices, while the Java version of the game will still support VR through mods like Vivecraft and standalone ports like QuestCraft. Minecraft began supporting VR platforms in 2016 with Samsung's Gear VR and has since included Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR. The game previously closed Minecraft Earth in 2020 to focus on core gameplay experiences.

AppWizard

October 25, 2024

Minecraft drops VR support across all platforms

Mojang announced that Minecraft will cease support for VR headsets starting in March. The developer stated that its ability to support VR/MR devices has ended, with a final update scheduled for that month. While PC players can still access the VR version post-update, it will lack virtual reality components. This decision follows complaints from Oculus users about performance issues and aligns with a survey indicating a decline in the VR market. Meta has closed its first-party VR developer, Ready at Dawn, while Canadian studio Archiact has also shut down. In contrast, Sony is expanding its VR presence with PC support for PSVR2 and new titles, experiencing a surge in sales after a price drop.