competitive Archives

BetaBeacon

March 28, 2026

This $74 gaming handheld runs Android and supports retro emulation

- Banggood is an e-commerce platform founded in 2006 that sells a wide variety of products from electronics to fashion and home goods. - Banggood stands out for offering high-quality products at affordable prices by working directly with manufacturers. - The company is known for its excellent customer service and fast shipping, with warehouses located around the world to ensure quick order fulfillment.

AppWizard

March 28, 2026

This one small mod makes Crimson Desert a must-buy game

Crimson Desert offers a blend of solid gameplay and a captivating combat system, though it has received mixed reviews from critics, being described as merely 'okay.' The game features a frustrating stamina system that hampers exploration, leading players to consider mods. A 200KB mod for infinite stamina was found on Nexus Mods, which significantly enhanced the gameplay experience by removing the stamina constraint. Despite this improvement, the game still has issues such as fetch quests, crashes, and visual glitches. The narrative is often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics. The game is available for purchase at Fanatical for .49 / £46.74, with a 15% discount using the code 'FANATICAL15.' The player has logged over 20 hours in the game since its launch.

AppWizard

March 28, 2026

“We’ll keep making Warframe if there’s one player count,” Digital Extremes’ Megan Everett asserts. “I don’t care what SteamDB says”

The gaming industry has seen a shift in how success is measured, particularly focusing on initial player counts since the launch of games like Marathon and Highguard in 2026. Warframe, which launched in 2024 with a peak player count of 22,000, has grown to reach 175,546 players on PC after the release of The Old Peace in December 2025. Community director Megan Everett noted that the game has achieved new internal records despite not hitting its all-time high. Creative director Rebecca Ford humorously suggested a new release titled 'Player Count' to address the ongoing debate about player metrics. She highlighted the competitive landscape, noting that Warframe launched amidst 435 titles, compared to 20,014 games released in the same year today. Everett emphasized the importance of ongoing growth and player engagement over mere numbers, stating that a poor launch does not equate to a dead game. The success of The Old Peace was attributed to the introduction of content skips, which allowed players to bypass extensive story content. The team is committed to community engagement and innovation, with new characters and mechanics being introduced to keep the game fresh.

AppWizard

March 28, 2026

Deus Ex: Human Revolution could’ve had a track from the original game’s composer but it was rejected for not being the ‘right fit,’ and in hindsight he says they were right

Deus Ex is celebrated for its impactful soundtrack, which contributes significantly to the game's emotional resonance. Eidos Montreal featured the theme song in their 2010 announcement of the franchise's return, evoking nostalgia among fans. Initially, creative director Jeffrey Birns envisioned composer Brandon for the score of Deus Ex: The Fall, but the task was ultimately assigned to Mike McCann. Brandon expressed disappointment but acknowledged the unpredictability of the industry. McCann's contributions to Human Revolution have been well-received, maintaining the essence of the Deus Ex universe. Brandon respects Szczepkowski, who offered him a role on Human Revolution, and humorously noted their differing career paths. Since his layoff from Frost Giant in 2025, Brandon has submitted around 50 resumes but has only secured one interview, highlighting the challenges faced by creatives in the current job market.

Tech Optimizer

March 28, 2026

Don’t miss out: Bitdefender, One of the World’s Best Antiviruses, Is Now on Sale

Bitdefender is known for its effective early threat detection and elimination, reflected in high scores from independent lab evaluations. The current deal offers the complete all-in-one security suite at a competitive price, allowing users to upgrade from standard protection. Bitdefender operates in the background, providing real-time scanning of files, links, and downloads for safe browsing. The suite includes virus detection, web protection, ransomware defenses, a built-in VPN, a password manager, and anti-tracking capabilities. It offers proactive protection, such as scanning downloads on public Wi-Fi to prevent security risks. Bitdefender is resource-efficient, allowing users to run it without significant impact on system performance. The current sale makes it easier to justify moving from free tools to a comprehensive solution, especially given the sensitivity of information stored on devices.

AppWizard

March 27, 2026

Android 17 might finally fix Android’s most embarrassing camera problem

Android 17 introduces support for vendor-defined camera extensions, allowing manufacturers like Samsung, Google, and Xiaomi to share unique camera features with all Android applications. This enhancement aims to improve photo and video quality in apps like Instagram and Snapchat. The implementation depends on collaboration with Google's hardware partners and requires app developers to adapt their applications. Updates for Android 17 are expected to roll out in the summer, with speculation about enhancements for Google's Pixel devices, particularly the upcoming Pixel 11 in August.

AppWizard

March 27, 2026

OpenAI discontinues Sora app just 13 months after UK release

Sora, an AI program for generating short video clips from user prompts, launched in December 2024 and became available in the UK in February 2025. OpenAI announced the discontinuation of the Sora app on March 24, 2026, citing a strategic pivot towards projects focused on real-world tasks. The decision includes the termination of a content partnership with Disney, which allowed users to create videos featuring Disney characters.

AppWizard

March 27, 2026

Pro World of Warcraft player disconnects mid-fight because he forgot to renew his subscription before Midnight’s world first race: ‘I actually bought a WoW token, I forgot to use it’

During a live-streamed raid in the World of Warcraft community, a player named Imfiredup was logged out mid-boss fight due to an expired subscription. This incident occurred during the world first race for the Midnight expansion and was witnessed by viewers on Twitch. The raid leader, Maximum, humorously acknowledged the situation, prompting laughter from the team. Imfiredup later admitted he had purchased a WoW token but forgot to use it. The incident reflects a common issue in high-level gameplay where players manage multiple accounts, leading to potential oversights regarding subscription statuses. Other players in the raid also expressed concerns about their own account statuses.

AppWizard

March 27, 2026

Valve veteran slams Tim Sweeney and Epic Games for laying off 1000 people while making ‘as much money as possible… and hey Tim, Gabe’s better at that than you’

Chet Faliszek, a former Valve writer, expressed concerns about the recent layoffs at Epic Games, where over 1,000 employees lost their jobs. He questioned the motivation for employees to remain dedicated to their work after such significant layoffs and highlighted the closure of projects like Fortnite Rocket Racing and Ballistic. Faliszek contrasted his experience at Valve, where he felt a sense of ownership and pride, with the current situation at Epic, suggesting that the lack of agency could lead to a diminished work ethic. He warned that the layoffs could negatively impact the gaming industry's culture, resulting in a loss of passion and care among employees. Faliszek criticized Epic's strategic decisions and emphasized the importance of recognizing and rewarding employees' hard work. Epic Games did not provide specific feedback on his comments but referred to a recent post addressing the layoffs. The atmosphere at Epic is tense, with concerns about the future of Fortnite amid the workforce reductions.

AppWizard

March 26, 2026

Serious Sam is being turned into a run-based roguelite multiplayer shooter later this year, and seriously—this one might not suck

Devolver Digital announced Serious Sam: Shatterverse during the recent Xbox showcase, introducing a run-based multiplayer first-person shooter for up to five players, where each player takes on a different version of Sam in a multiverse affected by the villain, Mental. The game features expansive battlefields and a variety of weapons, maintaining the series' tradition of absurdity. Notably, John J. Dick returns as the voice of Sam. Serious Sam: Shatterverse is being developed by Behaviour Interactive, not Croteam, which is focused on Talos Principle. Croteam supports this collaboration, expressing excitement for a fresh take on the franchise. A release date is yet to be announced, but it is expected later this year, and gamers can wishlist it on Steam. The entire Serious Sam franchise is currently discounted during the Steam Spring Sale.