consumer Archives

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Xodus Cracks Xbox Authentication and Game Package Decryption to Bring PC Game Pass to Linux

Developers of the Heroic Games Launcher have announced Xodus, an open-source project aimed at enabling access to PC Game Pass on Linux and macOS. Launched on August 10, 2026, Xodus has successfully addressed Xbox identity authentication and the decryption of MSIXVC packages, allowing local play of Game Pass titles for Linux and macOS users. Currently, the only way to access Game Pass on non-Windows devices is through Xbox Cloud Gaming, which requires a Game Pass Ultimate subscription and introduces latency. Xodus employs a layered architecture, including an Xbox Authentication Library (xal-rs) for managing Microsoft account sign-ins and license verification, and a reimplementation of the xgameruntime.dll for license checks and Xbox service access. The project can retrieve MSIXVC game packages using a valid Game Pass subscription and decrypt executables for local storage. However, it does not yet support UWP-based titles and lacks a user-friendly interface for general users. The project is under pressure due to Microsoft's upcoming transition to the MSIXVC2 package format, which Xodus does not currently support. Xodus is in early development with only a command-line interface available, and the team is working on emulating the GDK Gaming Services layer necessary for game initialization. The project is legal as it reimplements Xbox runtime behavior without enabling piracy, but it faces risks if Microsoft alters its authentication infrastructure.

Winsage

August 11, 2026

5 years later, Windows 10 refuses to die, and Microsoft just can’t push holdouts to Windows 11

Windows 11 was released in 2021, but Windows 10 remains a significant presence, with approximately 17% market share among enterprise PCs as of 2026. Lansweeper reports that Windows 10 has lost users, dropping from nearly 50% in early 2025 to around 40% by October 2025, and settling at 16.9% a year later. Key sectors using Windows 10 include healthcare (23%), consumer retail (22.7%), small and medium businesses (21.4%), manufacturing (18%), and enterprises (16.6%). Windows 10 has 1,903 active CVEs compared to 652 on Windows 11, indicating a 2.9 times higher vulnerability. About 14% of Windows 10 users receive Extended Security Updates, leaving 2% on unsupported versions. HP reports that 30% of its installed base still uses Windows 10, reflecting a core group resistant to upgrading. Microsoft states that Windows is active on 1.6 billion PCs globally, with a noted 7% decrease in Windows OEM revenue attributed to lower PC demand and the end-of-support effects for Windows 10.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Google Play Now Offers Third-Party App Stores in the U.S.

The Google Play Store has begun allowing third-party app stores in the United States, starting with Aptoide Games. This change follows a legal victory for Epic Games in the case of Epic v. Google, leading to a revised settlement that enables easier access to these app stores without the need for side-loading. Users can find and install these new app stores directly from the Play Store. Google plans to expand this initiative globally later in the year. Third-party app stores will have access to the Google Play catalog but will still be subject to Google Play's fees. Epic Games has not yet launched its own app store under this new framework, but it is expected to do so soon.

BetaBeacon

August 10, 2026

One year of updates couldn’t save the Pixel 10’s GPU — and now the Pixel 11 is at risk

The Pixel 10 series had a troubled start with issues such as antialiasing glitches and performance drops in emulators. Google issued updates to improve performance and fix bugs. Despite improvements, the Pixel 10 Pro XL still struggles with gaming performance compared to its predecessor. The upcoming Pixel 11 series is expected to have a new GPU architecture, raising concerns about performance and driver issues.

BetaBeacon

August 10, 2026

Aptoide Returns to Google Play After More Than a Decade, Opening a New Chapter for Competition on Android

Aptoide Games, the specialized games app store, has been approved for distribution through Google Play in the United States under Google's new Play Catalog Access program.

Winsage

August 10, 2026

Fixing Windows 11 now does not excuse letting it become a mess for decades

Windows 11 is undergoing enhancements, with many features currently exclusive to Windows Insiders and still in the mockup phase. Microsoft is overhauling the Windows 11 interface, integrating WinUI into components like the Start menu and File Explorer. Windows Insider participants must update their systems to a new build by August 11, 2026, to avoid expiration of builds and ensure automatic updates. Lenovo's latest BIOS update for the Legion Go gaming handheld has made some devices inoperable, prompting users to avoid the update. The modernization of Windows has been criticized for not being prioritized earlier, despite significant user feedback. The Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S is currently in short supply, and the Dell XPS 14 has a price reduction of 0.

Winsage

August 9, 2026

Microsoft confirms it accidentally installed new OneDrive app on Windows 11 PCs, and there’s no easy way to remove it yet

Microsoft has unintentionally rolled out its AI-powered OneDrive Photos app on Windows 11, affecting enterprise PCs where it is non-functional. The app was initially limited to select consumer PCs but became widely available starting August 1, 2026. Microsoft confirmed that this rollout was not intended and is working on a solution to allow users to remove OneDrive Photos independently from the OneDrive sync client. Currently, the app cannot be uninstalled without removing OneDrive entirely. OneDrive Photos serves as a centralized hub for viewing images stored locally and in the cloud, integrating with OneDrive.com’s Gallery. It appears in search results above the traditional Microsoft Photos app, even on systems not part of the Windows Insider Program. IT administrators have expressed frustration over its unexpected presence on enterprise PCs, as the app is designed for personal accounts.

Winsage

August 8, 2026

‘So glad I left Windows behind. Good riddance’: Microsoft admits it’s forcibly installing a OneDrive Photos app on PCs, and Windows 11 users are very unhappy

Microsoft is automatically installing the OneDrive Photos app on Windows 11 PCs without user consent, affecting both personal and business computers. This deployment has been acknowledged by Microsoft as unintentional, particularly on enterprise systems. Users have expressed frustration over the app's presence, especially those who do not use OneDrive. While some features of the app are opt-in, the automatic installation has led to negative reactions, with users seeking ways to remove the app. Microsoft is reportedly working on an update to allow independent uninstallation of the OneDrive Photos app.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

Take-Two CEO says he expects the games industry to be in ‘commercial streaming mode within 3 years,’ which is great news if you hate owning things

During Take-Two's earnings call, CEO Strauss Zelnick discussed the ongoing computing hardware crisis, noting that purchasing a GPU from Nvidia's QuakeCon booth is currently more economical than buying one online. He expressed concern about rising costs potentially alienating consumers but remained optimistic that this challenge is manageable, expecting more gamers to turn to streaming services. Zelnick highlighted the potential for low-latency, user-friendly gaming experiences through streaming, which could democratize access to gaming. However, he acknowledged consumer apprehensions about relying solely on streaming and subscription services, especially following Sony's decision to halt disc production. Zelnick has previously expressed skepticism about subscriptions being the primary method for delivering interactive entertainment. Ubisoft director Philippe Tremblay predicted that by 2024, gamers may become accustomed to not owning their games, suggesting a shift in consumer attitudes may be necessary if current trends continue.

Winsage

August 7, 2026

Moving the Microsoft Edge extensions ecosystem forward with Manifest Version 3

In 2020, Microsoft committed to Manifest Version 3 (MV3) for the Chromium extensions platform. As of now, 95% of the top MV2 extensions have transitioned to MV3 in the Edge Add-ons store. Starting in August 2026, Microsoft Edge will begin transitioning consumers away from MV2 extensions, aiming to complete this by the end of 2026, with enterprise deprecation expected in early 2027. Currently, only 58 MV2-based extensions show meaningful usage, and three of these lack an MV3 version. Notifications will be sent to users and developers regarding the transition, and MV2 extensions will gradually be disabled by default. Developers are encouraged to finalize their transition to MV3 and submit updates via Microsoft Partner Center.