concern Archives

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

Google flips the script, reportedly considers putting ads in Gemini app

Philipp Schindler, Google's chief business officer, indicated during Alphabet's earnings call that the company is revisiting the possibility of integrating advertisements into the Gemini platform as it explores new advertising formats for its AI Mode. Discussions about incorporating ads into Gemini first emerged in late 2025 but were previously dismissed. While there are ongoing discussions about ad integration, Ginny Marvin, Google Ads product liaison, stated that there are currently no ads in the Gemini app and no plans to change that. Alphabet reported .9 billion in revenue, a 22% increase year-over-year, with the success of Gemini contributing to growth in Search, Cloud, and subscription services.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

Subnautica 2 dev confirms there’s no gen AI “at all” in its survival sequel

The development of Subnautica 2 faced challenges between Unknown Worlds and its publisher, Krafton, but these issues have been resolved. The game is set to release in two weeks, and Scott MacDonald, Creative Media Producer at Unknown Worlds, confirmed that no generative AI was used in its development. He stated that the studio opted for traditional development methods, with all work being done by human programmers. Design Lead Anthony Gallegos noted that Krafton recognizes that mandating AI tools could disrupt the development process. Following a legal ruling reinstating Unknown Worlds president Ted Gill, Krafton is committed to supporting the game's Early Access launch.

BetaBeacon

May 1, 2026

Survey reveals how Pixel fans truly feel about the Tensor G5’s lackluster gaming power

A majority of respondents in a reader poll feel that performance deficits in Google's Pixel devices are not enough to deter them from buying one. Many value the "Pixel experience" and cohesive software over raw horsepower. Some users prioritize better power efficiency and less overheating over raw performance. However, a third of readers are deterred by Google's inability to match the competition at flagship price points, fearing for the device's longevity and performance in the future.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

007 First Light perfectly balances cinematic Bond action with Hitman’s signature sandbox freedom

The game "007 First Light" features a balance between open-world exploration and linear action, successfully merging Bond-style storytelling with gameplay mechanics. Players experience three distinct levels, including a narrative introduction, an MI6 training arena, and a museum setting that encourages strategic gameplay. The museum level allows for various approaches to objectives, such as stealth and impersonation. Combat mechanics differ from the Hitman series, with Bond engaging in stylish confrontations rather than relying solely on stealth. Players can utilize gadgets, including a laser watch, which require resource management. The game boasts impressive visuals and character portrayal, with a focus on realism and immersion. The developers aim to appeal to a broad audience of Bond fans, ensuring an engaging experience.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

Subnautica 2 is the latest behemoth to mess with other games’ launch plans at the last minute: ‘we need to dodge the Leviathan’

Subnautica 2 has a release date set for May 14 and is currently the most-wishlisted game on Steam. Other games launching on the same day include Outbound, the 13th most wishlisted game on Steam, which has decided to avoid direct competition with Subnautica 2. Dark Light: Survivor is another contender with promising wishlist numbers. The game’s design lead, Anthony Gallegos, has discussed its exploration-first approach to survival.

AppWizard

April 30, 2026

The Truth About PC Game Optimization: Why Your FPS Counter Is Lying About What’s Actually Broken

The term "badly optimized" in PC gaming is often used when a game does not meet players' expectations for frames per second (FPS) after release. Game performance is influenced by various factors beyond the graphics processing unit (GPU), including central processing unit (CPU) workloads, shader compilation, memory usage, and GPU driver behavior. Frame consistency is crucial; a game may have a high average FPS but still feel unsmooth due to inconsistent frame pacing. Performance is not dictated solely by the GPU; modern games require a balance across the entire system, including CPU and memory management. When a game exceeds its video RAM (VRAM) capacity, it can lead to stuttering as the system resorts to slower memory. Storage devices also impact performance, as modern games stream large amounts of data. Average FPS can be misleading; consistent frametimes are more indicative of a smooth experience. Benchmarks often include 1% and 0.1% lows to account for stuttering. Visual quality should align with performance demands, and well-optimized games allow players to achieve good visuals without significant performance loss. Shader compilation stutter can occur if shaders are compiled during gameplay, leading to interruptions. Technologies like NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR can improve performance but should not mask underlying optimization issues. The belief that older games were better optimized is a myth, as many faced significant performance issues at launch. Perceptions of optimization can vary among players, influenced by individual sensitivities to FPS and frametime fluctuations. A more nuanced approach to evaluating game optimization is needed, considering multiple criteria such as the scope of the game, performance data beyond averages, and the balance between visuals and performance demands.

Winsage

April 29, 2026

Windows 11 April Patches Trigger Remote Desktop Bug

Microsoft has acknowledged a significant issue with the April updates to Windows 11, particularly affecting the Remote Desktop feature in mixed-scaling multi-monitor environments. Security warning dialogs may become unreadable, complicating the trust prompt process before initiating a connection. Temporary workarounds have been provided while a permanent solution is being developed. The issue arises from a new warning window introduced in April, which is difficult to read or interact with when different display scaling settings are used. Affected Windows 11 packages include KB5083769 and KB5082052. Users are advised to align scaling values across monitors or use keyboard navigation if the mouse fails to interact with the buttons. Microsoft added this bug to its known issues documentation on April 23 and updated it on April 27, indicating ongoing investigation and a cumulative update is anticipated to restore prompt clarity. The April release cycle also faced a separate regression related to BitLocker recovery, adding operational strain on administrators.

AppWizard

April 29, 2026

Arc Raiders’ Riven Tides update didn’t fix the game’s biggest problem: Cheaters

The Riven Tides update for Arc Raiders introduced a new map and the Turbine threat but did not resolve ongoing cheating issues, leading to player dissatisfaction, including Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins' departure from the game. Since its launch in October 2025, player engagement has declined, with the average player count dropping from 241,000 in January 2026 to 76,000 in April 2026. Cheating has become widespread, affecting many players and compromising gameplay integrity. Embark Studios has acknowledged the problem and is working on solutions, but community frustration is growing, with many players leaving the game.

Winsage

April 29, 2026

Microsoft engineer says native apps are back, and it could finally revive Windows 11’s fight against web apps

A distinguished Engineer at Microsoft has suggested that native apps are making a comeback, aligning with the company's initiatives to revitalize Windows 11. The Windows Store, currently dominated by web apps, has improved significantly in performance and offers a diverse array of applications. Microsoft expanded options for developers to create apps using preferred methods, attracting notable applications like Netflix and WhatsApp to transition to WebView2-based Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). However, this shift has led to high resource consumption issues, with WhatsApp consuming up to 600MB of RAM and Electron-based applications like Discord using as much as 4GB of RAM. Users have expressed dissatisfaction with PWAs lacking essential functionalities compared to native apps. In response to feedback, Microsoft plans to develop 100% native apps for Windows 11, with Rudy Huyn confirming this intention. David Fowler declared, “Native apps are back,” indicating a focus on restoring native applications. The Start menu is transitioning from React-based elements to WinUI to enhance performance. The recently launched .NET 10 introduces Native AOT compilation, which aims to decrease app startup times and optimize memory usage. Microsoft's web-based Copilot app has also faced criticism for high resource consumption. The company must persuade developers to prioritize native app creation and demonstrate the advantages of native apps by converting its own applications to be fully native on Windows 11.

Winsage

April 28, 2026

‘Unlimited Attack Vectors’—All Windows Versions At Risk From New Flaw

Microsoft is facing a significant security vulnerability in its Windows operating system known as PhantomRPC, which allows for privilege escalation. Cybersecurity experts have expressed concern over the company's delayed response in issuing a patch for this flaw. The vulnerability resides within the Windows Remote Procedure Call (RPC) architecture and enables processes with impersonation privileges to elevate their permissions to SYSTEM level. Researcher Haidar Kabibo identified five distinct paths for exploitation, which require user interaction, coercion, or compromise of background services. Despite disclosing the vulnerability to Microsoft in September 2025, the company categorized it as moderately severe and did not issue a patch or a Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) listing. Microsoft stated that the technique requires an already-compromised machine and emphasized the importance of following security best practices. Experts have criticized Microsoft's lack of action, arguing that it is operationally negligent and places the burden of risk management on users. In the absence of a patch, security professionals recommend focusing on access control and environmental hygiene to mitigate the risks associated with the vulnerability.