continuity Archives

AppWizard

July 26, 2026

J.K. Simmons hasn’t played Baldur’s Gate 3 or any of his games, but he loves Portal 2: ‘I could have done the feature film, or the play, or whatever’

J.K. Simmons discussed his experiences with video games on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, particularly his role in Portal 2, which he found impactful despite not being an avid gamer. He shared a humorous interaction with actor Tom Britney regarding his character from Baldur's Gate. Eric Wolpaw, the writer of Portal 2, is returning for the upcoming game Aperture Desk Job. Other actors in the gaming industry include Elias Toufexis and Konatsu Kato, while Steven Ogg humorously suggested players read Dostoevsky instead of gaming.

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

India orders takedown of Jack Dorsey’s bitcoin-linked messaging app Bitchat

India's Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has ordered GitHub to remove Bitchat, an offline messaging app created by Jack Dorsey, due to its use by anti-government demonstrators in Delhi. The order, issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, targets three GitHub repositories linked to Bitchat and requires action within three hours. The app enables anonymous communication without registration, posing challenges for law enforcement regarding lawful interception and investigation. Bitchat is a decentralized messaging tool that uses Bluetooth mesh networks for encrypted communication without internet access, and it also supports offline bitcoin transactions, ensuring continuity during outages or shutdowns.

AppWizard

July 18, 2026

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse isn’t technically connected to the Netflix anime, but its cinematography was inspired by the show

Konami has confirmed that its upcoming Castlevania game will not have a direct continuity with the Netflix anime series, but the artistic choices are designed to resonate with fans of the show. Series producer Tsutomu Taniguchi stated that they want to welcome anime fans who have never played the games. Creative director Emmanuel Nouaille mentioned that while there are no specific references to the anime in the game, Belmont's Curse, the art style of the Netflix series served as inspiration. He emphasized the importance of cinematography over specific references. There is uncertainty about the future of the Castlevania series on Netflix, with speculation about a new season based on Symphony of the Night. Taniguchi noted that there is no barrier between the game and the anime, hoping that anime viewers will enjoy the game.

AppWizard

July 16, 2026

Amnesia: What If a Messenger Was Designed to Forget?

In digital communication, traditional messaging platforms act as persistent archives of user data, including accounts, devices, contacts, and interactions, which can hinder the essence of communication. While end-to-end encryption enhances privacy, it does not eliminate data retention. Amnesia is a concept that proposes a messaging platform emphasizing temporary communication with no permanent accounts or conversation histories. The initial prototype allows users to create one-time sessions using QR codes, ensuring that all data is destroyed once the session ends. Each session generates unique identity keys, preventing credential reuse and session token theft. The system does not retain any conversation history, reinforcing the principle that once a session is terminated, the data is irretrievable. Amnesia's relay facilitates communication without retaining user accounts or histories, and its design minimizes durable information to reduce risks. The project is currently an architectural concept and an early prototype, not ready for production or sensitive communications.

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

Survey suggests readers treat their core Android apps like a comfy couch

A poll conducted with over 1,700 participants revealed that 50.1% of users only switch apps when absolutely necessary, while 40.6% prefer to maintain their current applications for stability. Only 9.4% of respondents embrace change for novelty. The discussion highlighted the significance of app loyalty as users integrate certain applications into their daily routines.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Obsidian game director is sick of hearing bad takes about the state of the studio: ‘The through line from KotOR2 to our current games is pretty clear’

Microsoft has restructured Xbox, resulting in significant layoffs affecting thousands of employees and the disbanding of four game studios, including Double Fine and Compulsion Games returning to indie status, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs were sold. Obsidian Entertainment, initially thought to be unaffected, also faced layoffs but is reportedly developing a new Fallout game with Josh Sawyer as director. A member of Obsidian's leadership, Adler, expressed frustration over misconceptions about the studio's evolution, emphasizing that key figures from its past successes remain. He reassured fans that the core essence of Obsidian is unchanged, despite recent challenges. Adler acknowledged the emotional toll of the layoffs and expressed support for departing employees. Anticipation for Obsidian's new Fallout title is growing.

Winsage

July 11, 2026

This Windows feature has been eating users’ RAM for years, Microsoft still hasn’t fixed it

Memory leaks have been reported with the Phone Link feature in Windows 11, specifically the Cross Device Service, which is consuming excessive amounts of RAM. Users have noted that this service can use between 15 to 30GB of RAM, leading to significant system slowdowns and reduced internet speeds. Complaints about this issue have been ongoing since early 2023, with users often needing to manually intervene via Task Manager to restore system performance. The Cross Device Service is intended to facilitate features like clipboard sharing and notification syncing but appears to malfunction and enter a loop that increases memory usage. Microsoft has not officially acknowledged the problem, and while generic troubleshooting steps have been suggested, they may not resolve the issue for all users. Disabling the Phone Link feature has been proposed as a potential solution to mitigate memory consumption.

AppWizard

July 10, 2026

My favorite game of 2026 so far just got a major free expansion — and you don’t even need to own the actual game to play it

Zero Parades for Dead Spies has launched a free tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) adaptation, available at zeroparades.com/one-shot, which includes a core rulebook and a premade one-shot adventure set 30 years before the main game. This adaptation provides an accessible entry point for newcomers and enriches the lore for existing fans. The game retains the post-Soviet aesthetic of its predecessor, Disco Elysium, while introducing refined mechanics. On the announcement day, the full game is offered at a 10% discount, with a 20% discount for Disco Elysium owners during the Steam Summer Sale.

Winsage

June 29, 2026

Microsoft keeps Windows Server 2022 hotpatching alive into 2027

Microsoft has extended the availability of Windows Server 2022 hotpatching until 2027, specifically for the Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition. Mainstream support for Windows Server 2022 will end on October 13, 2026, while extended support will last until October 14, 2031. Hotpatching allows administrators to apply security updates without server downtime, although quarterly cumulative updates requiring a reboot will still occur. This feature is exclusive to Azure Edition users, with no similar support for on-premises users of Windows Server 2022. Additionally, hotpatch updates are being introduced for Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise clients and are now the default for Windows Autopatch.

AppWizard

June 23, 2026

Google is putting more of Gemini’s best features right at your fingerprints

Google has updated its Gemini overlay, introducing an expanded Plus (+) menu that includes new tools such as video generation, music creation, Canvas, and Guided Learning. The redesigned layout allows users to perform common actions directly from the overlay, enhancing accessibility and usability. The Plus (+) button now serves as a more robust entry point, although the repositioning of the feature carousel may slightly hinder one-handed usability on larger devices. Familiar shortcuts like Photos, Camera, Files, and Drive remain, ensuring continuity for users. The updated overlay integrates more deeply into the Android ecosystem, reducing the need to launch the main app and aiming to make Gemini a more integral part of users' daily tasks.