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My plea to Xbox fans of the divested studios — put your money where your mouth is
Winsage
July 6, 2026

My plea to Xbox fans of the divested studios — put your money where your mouth is

The Xbox community is reacting to the announcement of a restructuring that will eliminate 3,200 roles within Xbox. CEO Asha Sharma has introduced a strategy to mitigate losses, with Compulsion Games and Double Fine operating independently, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs will seek new publishing partners. No projects have been canceled, and no studios have closed. State of Decay 3 is no longer required to launch on Xbox Game Pass, which may also apply to future Ninja Theory projects. Undead Labs must decide whether to launch titles on Xbox Game Pass or independently. Players are encouraged to support studios by purchasing games at retail prices. State of Decay 3 is gaining popularity on the Steam Most Wishlisted games list, highlighting interest in mid-sized and experimental games. The success of these studios now depends on community support.
Nightdive says compatibility with fan missions was a big priority for Thief Remastered, and there's one massive mod in particular it knew it had to get working
AppWizard
June 28, 2026

Nightdive says compatibility with fan missions was a big priority for Thief Remastered, and there’s one massive mod in particular it knew it had to get working

Thief: The Dark Project has a vibrant mapping community known for its creativity and ambition, producing content that often surpasses the original game. Nightdive Studios is remastering the game and emphasizes the importance of fan-created content in this process. A highly anticipated addition is The Black Parade, a fan-made campaign featuring ten missions designed by Romain Barrilliot, which won ModDB's number one mod of the year in 2023. The community is excited about its integration into the remaster, and Nightdive is committed to making fan-favorite missions accessible. Additionally, Eidos Montreal is developing a graphic novel set between the first two games and releasing related merchandise, including a new soundtrack.
The best D&D videogame you've never played is one guy's outsider art, personal Baldur's Gate saga
AppWizard
June 21, 2026

The best D&D videogame you’ve never played is one guy’s outsider art, personal Baldur’s Gate saga

Swordflight is a mod campaign for Neverwinter Nights, developed by Rogueknight333 since 2008. It consists of multiple modules, with the latest released in 2022, focusing on low-level gameplay and character customization. The mod emphasizes strategic gameplay through resource management, extending potion durations and limiting resting opportunities. Its narrative features moral dilemmas and character interactions influenced by race, class, and alignment, creating a dynamic environment. Swordflight is compatible with the Enhanced Edition of Neverwinter Nights and can be downloaded for free from the Neverwinter Vault. Players can support the developer through Patreon.
1 Million Users Donate To Rescue Session Messenger From Shutdown
AppWizard
June 16, 2026

1 Million Users Donate To Rescue Session Messenger From Shutdown

Session, a decentralized encrypted messenger, has over a million monthly users and has secured its future through community donations after facing a funding crisis earlier this year. The Session Technology Foundation had to reduce its paid staff and warned of a potential closure in July due to a significant financial shortfall. However, the community raised sufficient funds to prevent shutdown, allowing development to continue until at least 2027. The majority of contributions came from everyday users passionate about privacy communication. Session operates without requiring phone numbers and uses a decentralized network to enhance privacy. Under the leadership of Jason Rhinelander, the team is focusing on new features like post-quantum encryption. The organization also aims to achieve self-sustainability with a new paid Pro tier. Co-founder Chris McCabe's public appeal for support in March preceded staff layoffs on April 9, and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin previously donated 128 Ether (ETH) to assist the foundation.
Neon vs Supabase 2026: $1B Deal, Scale-to-Zero
Tech Optimizer
June 14, 2026

Neon vs Supabase 2026: $1B Deal, Scale-to-Zero

Neon and Supabase are two managed PostgreSQL platforms with distinct approaches. Neon adopts a serverless architecture that separates storage and compute, allowing databases to scale to zero when idle and enabling rapid database branching. Supabase, in contrast, provides a comprehensive backend-as-a-service that includes authentication, file storage, real-time subscriptions, and edge functions, all built around PostgreSQL. In 2025, Databricks acquired Neon for approximately billion, motivated by the observation that around 80% of databases created on Neon were generated by AI agents. Post-acquisition, users experienced reduced storage costs and improved pricing structures, although concerns arose regarding Neon's independence. Neon features instant database branching and a scale-to-zero capability, while Supabase offers a fully integrated backend with built-in authentication and storage. Neon operates on a usage-based pricing model, whereas Supabase has a flat-tier pricing structure. Both platforms support the pgvector extension for AI applications, but Supabase is fully open-source and allows for self-hosting, unlike Neon. The developer community recognizes Supabase for its ease of use and rapid application development capabilities, while Neon is praised for its innovative serverless features and cost efficiency. Migration between the two platforms is simplified due to their shared PostgreSQL foundation.
Vanillaware seemingly want their other games on PC too, but if you want that to happen, talk to their publishers
AppWizard
June 13, 2026

Vanillaware seemingly want their other games on PC too, but if you want that to happen, talk to their publishers

Vanillaware has announced that Muramasa: The Demon Blade will be released on PC, addressing the long-standing issue of their games being inaccessible on this platform. George Kamitani, Vanillaware's founder, expressed a desire to see more of their titles on PC, but stated that the decision depends on the publishers who finance the ports. Fans are encouraged to express their interest in bringing other titles like 13 Sentinels, Dragon’s Crown, Unicorn Overlord, and Odin Sphere to PC. There was some confusion regarding Atlus's statement about Unicorn Overlord, which led to misconceptions about Vanillaware's interest in PC ports; however, it was clarified that Vanillaware is not reluctant to pursue this option. Community support may play a crucial role in the future of these potential PC ports.
‘Minecraft’ Streamer GrammaCrackers Targeted in Swatting Incident During Charity Livestream
AppWizard
May 22, 2026

‘Minecraft’ Streamer GrammaCrackers Targeted in Swatting Incident During Charity Livestream

An 81-year-old "Minecraft" content creator known as GrammaCrackers experienced a swatting attack during a livestream, leading to a significant police response at her home. The false emergency report resulted in police vehicles, SWAT teams, and aerial surveillance units arriving at her residence. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and GrammaCrackers humorously reflected on the incident afterward. The online community has since rallied to support her fundraising efforts for her grandson's cancer treatment.
Minecraft-playing grandma swatted when livestreaming to raise funds for grandson’s cancer treatment
AppWizard
May 22, 2026

Minecraft-playing grandma swatted when livestreaming to raise funds for grandson’s cancer treatment

An 81-year-old Arizona grandmother, Sue Jacquot, known as “GrammaCrackers,” was involved in a swatting incident during a Minecraft fundraiser for her grandson's cancer treatment. Jacquot streamed her gameplay for 15 days to raise funds for her grandson, Jack Self, who has sarcoma cancer, garnering significant community support. On a recent Monday, police responded to a false report claiming Jacquot had been shot, leading to a tactical response from law enforcement. The malicious call falsely alleged that Jack had harmed his grandmother and threatened to take his own life. Despite the incident, Jacquot remains committed to her gaming and fundraising efforts. Police are investigating the swatting call.
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