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AppWizard
July 3, 2026

The latest Chinese PC gaming hit is an indie game that spent the last 8 years growing into something you’ve never played before

The Scroll of Taiwu is a Chinese indie game that debuted in early access on Steam in 2018 and has recently reached its 1.0 release after eight years of development. It offers an immersive experience rooted in Chinese mythology, contrasting with the fast-paced action of many contemporary games. The game features an expansive open world where players can hone martial arts skills, manage towns, and navigate conflicts. Despite its popularity among Chinese gamers, the lack of English localization has limited its reach, but the recent full release includes ongoing English translation efforts. The game has over 5 million words in its script, making complete translation challenging. The game's publishing advisor, Leye "Yager" Yu, has invested over 1,200 hours into it and believes in its potential to attract a broader audience. The developers are focused on improving localization and addressing bugs post-launch, while Yager plans to promote the game through collaborations and word-of-mouth.
Windows 11 finally climbs over 70% of all users on Steam
Winsage
July 3, 2026

Windows 11 finally climbs over 70% of all users on Steam

Valve's June 2026 Steam Hardware & Software Survey shows that Windows 11 has a user base of 70.44%, up 0.68 percentage points from May, while Windows 10 is at 23.56%, down 0.43%. Windows accounts for 94.10% of users, macOS is at 2.21%, and Linux is at 3.69%. SteamOS Holo leads among Linux distributions with 0.84%. In hardware, 16GB of RAM is present in 41.57% of systems, and 1920x1080 resolution is favored by over half of users. The RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is now the most common GPU at 3.81%, surpassing the RTX 3060 at 3.73%. 24.50% of users utilize 16GB of VRAM, a 0.45% increase. Intel holds 54.01% of the CPU market share, while AMD has 45.99%, narrowing the gap from Intel's 68.8% in January 2025.
Google must pay €4.1bn fine for using Android to 'block' rivals
AppWizard
July 2, 2026

Google must pay €4.1bn fine for using Android to ‘block’ rivals

Europe's highest court has ordered Google to pay a fine of €4.1 billion (£3.5 billion) for practices related to the Android operating system that stifled competition. The European Commission initially imposed a €4.3 billion fine in 2018, later adjusted to €4.1 billion in 2022, which the court upheld after Google's appeal. This is the largest fine ever levied against Google by the Commission. Google expressed disappointment with the ruling, stating it does not recognize their investments in Android. The original fine was based on allegations of three illegal practices, although it was noted that Android allows users to download alternative web browsers and use other search engines. Additionally, the European Commission previously fined Google €2.4 billion in September 2024 for abusing market dominance and €2.95 billion in September 2025 for breaching competition laws in online advertising. A Russian court also fined Google two undecillion roubles in October 2024 for restricting Russian state media channels on YouTube.
'The problem with Windows machines is that they have Windows on them': Microsoft clearly faces an uphill struggle as it defends Windows 11 laptops, firing shots at MacBook Neo
Winsage
July 2, 2026

‘The problem with Windows machines is that they have Windows on them’: Microsoft clearly faces an uphill struggle as it defends Windows 11 laptops, firing shots at MacBook Neo

A viral video on X showcased the MacBook Neo's superiority over a generic Windows laptop, specifically an HP Victus gaming model, which raised questions about the fairness of the comparison. Microsoft responded by highlighting the Dell XPS 13's features and competitive pricing, especially as Apple increased the MacBook Neo's price. However, Microsoft is facing challenges with its Surface lineup, including price hikes and rumors of discontinuing more affordable models like the Surface Go 4 and Surface Laptop Go 3. Reports indicate that these devices are becoming harder to find, and the Surface Laptop Go 3 has been replaced by a more expensive model. Additionally, public sentiment on platforms like Reddit reflects skepticism towards Windows laptops, with concerns about Windows updates and overall reliability persisting despite improvements in Windows 11.
'They refuse to offer a meaningful alternative': Game preservation leader agrees that piracy is the only preservation option for a discless future
AppWizard
July 2, 2026

‘They refuse to offer a meaningful alternative’: Game preservation leader agrees that piracy is the only preservation option for a discless future

Sony plans to discontinue the production of physical game discs for the PlayStation 5 by 2028, shifting towards a fully digital licensing model. Frank Cifaldi from the Video Game History Foundation has raised concerns about the preservation of video game history, stating that piracy may become the only means of safeguarding digital works. He criticized the Entertainment Software Association for resisting efforts to create a legal framework for preserving digital content. Cifaldi highlighted that museums and archives are preparing for this digital future, questioning the industry's expectations for cultural institutions as physical media is phased out. The transition to digital ownership has sparked discussions in the gaming community, particularly regarding the lack of backward compatibility in the PlayStation ecosystem and the challenges posed by the closure of digital stores for older consoles. The urgency for solutions to protect video game history is increasing as the industry moves towards a digital-only future.
Microsoft hits back at viral MacBook Neo mocking Windows hardware, but the Windows 11 reputation is the real fight
Winsage
July 1, 2026

Microsoft hits back at viral MacBook Neo mocking Windows hardware, but the Windows 11 reputation is the real fight

A viral video comparing Apple's MacBook Neo to a Windows gaming laptop, the HP Victus, received 5.4 million views and was criticized for being an unfair comparison. Microsoft responded by showcasing the Dell XPS 13, emphasizing its features such as a touchscreen, robust build quality, and a starting price of 9 for students. The Dell XPS 13 specifications include a 13.4-inch 2.5K touch display, Intel Core 5 320 processor, 8GB of RAM, and up to 512GB SSD storage. The XPS 13 is positioned as a superior alternative to the MacBook Neo, offering more flexibility in RAM configurations and features that appeal to ultraportable laptop consumers. Despite the hardware advantages of the XPS 13, Microsoft faces challenges with the perception of Windows 11, which may affect consumer sentiment.
ESA Claims Private Minecraft Servers Are 'Illegal' and 'Piracy' in Stop Killing Games Hearing
AppWizard
June 30, 2026

ESA Claims Private Minecraft Servers Are ‘Illegal’ and ‘Piracy’ in Stop Killing Games Hearing

The California State Senate hearing on the Protect Our Games Act raised questions about the legality of private Minecraft servers. Assemblyman Chris Ward noted that games like Minecraft and Call of Duty have successfully used community servers, while Jennifer Gibbons from the ESA argued that these servers are illegal and unapproved by Microsoft, labeling them as piracy. Gibbons stated that the ESA has two lawsuits against private servers for infringing on intellectual property rights. In contrast, Minecraft's official stance encourages the creation of third-party servers, which are vetted for compliance with community standards. The ESA maintains that private servers infringe on publishers' rights. The USTR's Notorious Market Report referenced by Gibbons does not specifically target community servers for connecting friends but focuses on those bypassing subscription services. The Protect Our Games Act did not advance but will be reconsidered. An ESA representative later clarified that private servers hosting copyrighted content without authorization infringe on publishers' rights and highlighted concerns about safety standards on these platforms.
Windows 11 has three new optional updates worth installing
Winsage
June 30, 2026

Windows 11 has three new optional updates worth installing

Microsoft has released three optional updates for Windows 11: KB5095186, KB5095615, and KB5102558. - KB5095186 is for Windows 11 26H1 on Snapdragon X2 systems and upgrades the Windows recovery environment (WinRE) to version 10.0.28000.2335. - KB5095615 also improves the WinRE, updating it to version 10.0.26100.8737. - KB5102558 refines Windows setup binaries and related files for feature updates. These updates can be accessed through Windows Update in the Settings app, and no restart is required after installation.
Half-Life Sets Historic Price Record Among PC Games
AppWizard
June 29, 2026

Half-Life Sets Historic Price Record Among PC Games

A sealed copy of the game Half-Life sold for 2,725 at a Goldin auction, receiving 70 bids and starting at [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: A remarkable event unfolded recently at a Goldin auction, where a sealed copy of the iconic game Half-Life fetched an impressive ,725. This particular copy, which garnered a total of 70 bids, began its journey at a modest starting price of 0 last month. The auction not only highlighted the enduring popularity of this classic title but also set a new benchmark in the realm of PC gaming collectibles. Record-Breaking Sale This sale marks a significant milestone, as Half-Life has now become the highest-priced PC game ever sold at auction. The sealed copy received an impressive "85+" rating from the Video Game Authority, underscoring its pristine condition and collectible value. According to the lot description on the Goldin website: VGA registry reports confirm only one copy of this edition with a higher grade. Released in 1998 by Sierra On-Line, this sealed copy of Half-Life is a first-person shooter for PC (for Windows 95/98/NT) and the first game in the series. Before this auction, the record for a PC game was held by Akalabeth: World of Doom (1979), which sold for ,211 several years ago. The achievement of Half-Life is a testament to its lasting impact on the gaming community. However, the ,725 price tag, while impressive, still pales in comparison to the staggering amounts commanded by some titles from the Nintendo Entertainment System. Earlier this month, a sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. made headlines by selling for an astonishing million at a Heritage Auctions event, illustrating the vast differences in collectible values across gaming platforms." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"]. This sale makes Half-Life the highest-priced PC game ever sold at auction. The copy received an "85+" rating from the Video Game Authority and is one of only two copies of this edition with a higher grade. Released in 1998 by Sierra On-Line, it is a first-person shooter for PC. The previous record for a PC game was held by Akalabeth: World of Doom, which sold for ,211.
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