competitive Archives

AppWizard

April 7, 2026

LG’s new OLED monitor is gaming’s most-wanted panel right now, and it finally has a price

The LG Ultragear 39GX950B-B is a 39-inch ultrawide gaming monitor with a resolution of 5,120 x 2,160 (4K) and a refresh rate that can switch between 165Hz and 330Hz. It is priced at 9.99 for pre-order. The monitor features a 21:9 aspect ratio and offers exceptional contrast with true black levels, a peak brightness of 500 nits, and vibrant HDR content. The larger 45-inch 45GX950A-B OLED monitor from LG is priced just shy of ,000 and is considered less newsworthy due to its availability and size, which may not fit all gaming setups. For a more budget-friendly option, LG offers the 32GX850A-B, a 32-inch OLED monitor with a 4K resolution and similar refresh rates, priced at 9.99.

Tech Optimizer

April 7, 2026

Norton 360: Comprehensive Cybersecurity for Devices

Norton 360 is a comprehensive cybersecurity solution that protects consumers and businesses from digital threats, integrating features like a VPN and password manager. It safeguards various devices, including PCs and smartphones, and offers multiple editions for individuals, families, and small businesses. Key features include real-time threat detection, a smart firewall, a no-logs VPN, a password manager, parental controls, behavior-based detection for zero-day threats, cloud backup functionality, and performance optimization tools. The suite is effective against phishing, malware, and ransomware, with a 100% detection rate confirmed by independent tests. Norton 360 also caters to small businesses with endpoint protection, compliance tools, and secure file sharing. It employs heuristics and machine learning for threat adaptation and supports unlimited devices in premium plans. The software is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and offers a VPN service with servers in over 30 countries. Norton 360 competes in the global cybersecurity market, maintaining a strong presence in North America and Europe, with subscription models ranging from basic to deluxe editions. Demand for the product has increased due to high-profile data breaches, and it is available in over 150 countries. Common use cases include protecting home networks, securing client data for freelancers, and safeguarding school-issued laptops. Norton 360 is part of Gen Digital Inc., which focuses on consumer cybersecurity.

Winsage

April 6, 2026

Death of Windows? Cachy OS Destroys Windows 11 in Gaming Performance

Recent benchmark results show that Linux, specifically CachyOS, outperforms Windows 11 in various modern gaming titles. Tests conducted by NJ Tech used identical hardware configurations, including an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor and a Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card. In the game Crimson Desert, CachyOS achieved 63 FPS compared to Windows 11's 59 FPS, and in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, CachyOS delivered 81 FPS versus Windows' 68 FPS. In Red Dead Redemption 2, CachyOS averaged 85 FPS while Windows recorded 81 FPS, and in Cyberpunk 2077, CachyOS reached 98 FPS compared to Windows' 91 FPS. Overall, Linux showed frame rates approximately 3 to 10 percent higher across multiple tests. However, in The First Descendant, Windows outperformed CachyOS with 63 FPS to 54 FPS, and in The Division 2, both platforms had identical average frame rates of 128 FPS, though Windows had slightly more stable lows. All games on Linux were run using Proton, which has evolved into a robust solution for running Windows games on Linux. The results indicate that the performance gap between Linux and Windows in gaming is narrowing, with Linux capable of matching or surpassing Windows in certain scenarios.

AppWizard

April 6, 2026

EA just cut Apex Legends map without warning, but there is a good reason

Apex Legends has removed Storm Point from the map rotation due to crashes occurring on certain devices. This decision was made just two weeks after Storm Point's reintroduction. In its place, E-District (daytime) has been added to the rotation. EA stated that they are working on a permanent fix for the crashes and will provide updates as they become available. E-District has been well-received by players for its competitive environments and design.

AppWizard

April 6, 2026

Veteran indie developer scared to reveal new game in case it gets “slurped up by AI”

Lucas Pope is a notable game developer known for creating "Papers, Please" and "The Return of the Obra Dinn." He has since worked on smaller projects, including Mars After Midnight, but has not released anything on Steam recently. During a podcast, Pope expressed concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on game development, particularly regarding idea theft and the potential for his work to be copied or imitated. He feels uneasy discussing ongoing projects due to these risks and reflects on the pressure of following up his previous successes. Despite these worries, Pope's reputation allows him to avoid some challenges faced by less-known developers, and his next project is expected to generate significant interest.

Winsage

April 6, 2026

Linux gaming reaches 5.3% on Steam, Windows drops below 93%

The Linux gaming market share among Steam users has reached 5.3%, a historic high, coinciding with Windows usage dropping below 93%. Windows 10 usage has decreased by nearly 15%, while Windows 11 has gained only 10.6%. SteamOS Holo 64-bit is the leading Linux distribution, making up 25% of all Linux users, largely due to the popularity of the Steam Deck. macOS has gained 1.2% market share, indicating a shift in gaming preferences. Valve announced plans to expand SteamOS to desktop PCs, which may further boost Linux gaming adoption.

AppWizard

April 5, 2026

10 Hacks Every Steam Gamer Should Know

- To maintain privacy on Steam, users can adjust their profile visibility settings under Steam > Settings > Account > Privacy Settings. - Steam allows family sharing of game libraries with up to five individuals in the same household through Steam > Settings > Family. - Users can customize game operations by entering commands in the Launch options box found in Properties > General of a game. - Steam enables users to add alternative storage locations for games via Steam > Settings > Storage and move games to optimize performance. - Download speed limits can be set in Steam under Settings > Downloads to ensure internet bandwidth is available for other activities. - Users can switch download servers in Steam by selecting a different server in Settings > Downloads to potentially improve download speeds. - Big Picture Mode can be activated in Steam under Settings > Interface for a user-friendly interface when using a gamepad. - Gamepad controls can be remapped by accessing Properties > Controller > Controller Configuration for any game in the library. - SteamDB provides insights into future sales, trending titles, and upcoming releases based on historical data. - The FPS counter can be enabled in Steam under Settings > In Game to monitor performance metrics like CPU, GPU, and RAM usage during gameplay.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

This Nightdive-remastered 3DO shooter shows why it took Halo to break PC gaming’s FPS hegemony

In 1993, the 3DO Company released Escape from Monster Manor, a horror-themed FPS inspired by Wolfenstein 3D, which was overshadowed by the popularity of Doom. The 3DO Company later discovered a title in development called PO'ed. Nightdive Studios recently remastered PO'ed, making it available for PC gamers. The game features a chef protagonist on a spacecraft overrun by aliens, with a quirky arsenal including a frying pan and flamethrower. However, it suffers from uninspired environments, lack of in-game music, confusing level design, and imprecise controls. Despite its flaws, PO'ed is considered a notable artifact of early FPS gaming history.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

Subscription service for indie games gets a rough reception

Indie Pass will launch on April 13, offering a subscription model for .99 per month, providing access to a curated selection of 70 indie games primarily from the indie.io catalog. Developers will be compensated based on the playtime of their games by subscribers. The service has received mixed reactions, with concerns about promoting games designed for prolonged engagement, the preference for direct purchases, and the lack of ownership of games. Critics, including George Broussard, argue that subscription models harm developers, while some see potential for discoverability for indie titles. Jess Mitchell from Indie Pass emphasized discoverability as a key incentive for developers. Publisher Devolver Digital humorously commented on the subscription model's viability. As the launch nears, Indie Pass must demonstrate its value to both developers and gamers amidst skepticism and competition in the gaming market.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

March’s top new PC/console games; Steam’s wishlist email changes

Insights from the GameDiscoverCo newsletter highlight trends in game discovery and sales data for March 2026. Key points include: - The introduction of The Rage Index and The Abandonment Leaderboard by GDCo's Insights Lab. - The U.S. PlayStation hardware price analysis indicates challenges for the PlayStation 5 due to AI-related component shortages and inflation. - Valve has updated the Steam homepage in desktop Beta with enhanced features for user navigation. - The Nintendo Switch 2 saw a 154% increase in sales month-on-month following the launch of Pokémon Pokopia. - PlayStation Plus announced its April titles, including Lords of the Fallen and Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, while Xbox introduced Barbie Horse Trails and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for Game Pass. - Antoine Mayerowitz discussed the need for better base pricing strategies for PlayStation. - Roblox’s Rivals gained popularity due to ranked play modes. - Amazon Luna is releasing a Masters Of The Universe-licensed game and free games for Prime members. - Indie.io is launching Indie Pass, a subscription service for PC indie games. - Rec Room is closing on June 1st, and Sony is acquiring Cinemersive Labs. - Slay The Spire 2 sold over 5 million copies, while Crimson Desert sold 2.2 million on Steam. - Slay The Spire 2 leads new releases revenue with over 0 million gross, followed by Crimson Desert. - MLB The Show 26 sold over 1 million units in the U.S. - Valve's changes to wishlist notification statistics aim to help developers optimize marketing strategies.