Countdown Archives

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Gardaland Resort Launches Minecraft Meet The Mobs — an Italian exclusive event, coming to real life for the first time this summer

Gardaland Resort is hosting the Minecraft Meet the Mobs event, running until 28 August 2026, making it the only location in Italy and one of two in Europe to feature this event. Guests can interact with Minecraft characters like Steve, the creeper, and the chicken jockey, and participate in themed activities. The event includes the Minecraft Hub, where visitors can take photos and enjoy themed snacks, and the Baby Mobs Trail, an interactive adventure across six areas featuring baby mobs. Completing the trail rewards guests with a digital prize. Additional activities include Mob Hunt and Zombie Freeze, and exclusive merchandise is available for purchase.

AppWizard

July 21, 2026

Gardaland unveils “Minecraft Meet the Mobs”: the Minecraft world comes | inItaly | Ambasciatori del Territorio

From July 20 to August 28, 2026, Gardaland Resort will host the "Minecraft Meet the Mobs" event, featuring interactive experiences for families and children. Attendees can meet characters like Steve, Creeper, and Chicken Jockey, visit a themed area with merchandise and snacks, and explore a Baby Mobs Trail with six game-inspired environments. Families can participate in group games such as Mob Hunt and Zombie Freeze. The event emphasizes collaborative play and offers collectible rewards. It is advisable to check Gardaland's official channels for details on opening times, ticketing, and accessibility, and booking in advance is recommended. The location is Via Derna, 4, 37014 Castelnuovo del Garda VR, Italia, with coordinates 45.4562903, 10.7133011.

Winsage

July 16, 2026

This surprisingly useful Windows 11 tool helps me block distractions

Microsoft's Focus Mode, integrated into Windows 11, includes features like Do Not Disturb and Focus Sessions, which help users maintain concentration by silencing notifications and providing a countdown timer for focused work periods. The Focus Sessions feature is located in the Clock app and allows users to customize session durations and breaks, effectively replacing traditional productivity tools like Pomodoro timers and sticky notes. It integrates with Microsoft To Do and can automatically launch Spotify during focus sessions. The app tracks daily progress and stores data locally for privacy, deleting it every 90 days. Customization options are available for alert tones and app theming, though some settings are located in separate menus. The app operates without elevated permissions and does not include distraction-blocking features.

AppWizard

July 14, 2026

Ascend to ZERO: A Time-Bending Roguelike Sharpened to the Last Second

Ascend to ZERO has launched on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, and XBOX Cloud, and is part of the XBOX Play Anywhere initiative, accessible through XBOX Game Pass. The game features a 30-second countdown timer for each run, with damage taken reducing the time. A unique Time-Stop feature allows players to freeze everything while they move, enabling strategic positioning and action planning. Combat mechanics focus on autonomous targeting, allowing players to concentrate on strategy. The leveling system enables rapid progression from level 1 to hundreds of thousands. The game includes a new difficulty system for tailored challenges and an in-game play guide for player support. The late-game experience is designed to maintain excitement with strategic decision-making and culminates in a boss battle.

AppWizard

June 30, 2026

Summer Sale 2026

The Minecraft Summer Sale 2026 will start at 10 AM on June 30 and end at 10 AM on July 28. The sale will last for four weeks and feature discounts on popular Marketplace items such as RealismCraft, Huggy & Friends, and Biomes O’ Plenty. The first two weeks will offer additional personal items at discounted prices until July 14. From June 30 to July 14, there will be two Doorbuster deals each day with discounts up to 75% on various add-ons, texture packs, and mini-games, available for 24 hours each.

AppWizard

June 22, 2026

After a delay in 2025 and two delays this year (plus two more short delays this morning) mech fortress-builder Sand has finally launched

Sand: Raiders of Sophie is a PvPvE extraction shooter set in an alien desert where players build and pilot mechanical bases while battling rivals and their own creations. The game's early access launch was initially scheduled for April 2025 but was postponed to March 2026, then to June 10, and finally delayed to June 22, reverting to an early access model. On the launch day, technical issues caused a delay of "an hour or two" before the game was released on Steam after a countdown. The game is currently available at a 21% discount for two weeks.

AppWizard

June 19, 2026

Google shares updated timeline for rolling out Android developer verification

Google, Honor, OPlus, Samsung, Transsion, vivo, and Xiaomi are key players in enhancing app distribution platforms. Google is introducing new APIs to simplify the registration process for developers, including the Android Developer ID Status API and the Android Developer Console API. This month, Google will implement a new system service (com.google.android.verifier) on Android 8 or later devices to restrict the installation of unverified applications, although it will remain inactive until verification is launched in specific regions. In July, new developer APIs will roll out, and testing for "limited distribution" accounts will begin, allowing hobbyists to share apps without fees or ID verification on up to 20 devices. By August, an advanced app verification flow will be globally accessible, allowing users to bypass verification through a complex process. In September, Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand will start verifying app installation status, with plans for expanded developer verification by 2027.

AppWizard

June 14, 2026

3D narrative adventure game Sesame Street: Friends & Fun announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Switch, and PC

Outright Games, in collaboration with Infinigon, has announced the release of Sesame Street: Friends & Fun, a 3D narrative adventure game for up to two players. The game will launch on October 9 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam. Players will explore the Sesame Street neighborhood, customize characters, and interact with characters like Elmo and Grover. The game is designed for young children, featuring intuitive controls, light challenges, and educational mini-games. Sesame Street has been a trusted brand in children's media since 1969, reaching over 300 million households worldwide.

AppWizard

June 7, 2026

Every game, trailer, and announcement in the PC Gaming Show 2026

The PC Gaming Show 2026 featured over 60 games, including more than 20 world premieres. Notable titles include: - Wielders of the Essence: Available now on Steam. - Warhammer 40,000: Darktide - Skitarii Class: Debuts on June 23; wishlist available on Steam. - Spellsided: Demo available on Steam. - Serious Sam: Shatterverse: Playtest sign-up available on Steam. - Control Resonant: Releases on September 24; pre-orders available on Steam. - There Are No Ghosts at the Grand: Demo available; wishlist on Steam. - Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions: Early access launches on June 11; demo available on Steam. - Happy Bastards: Combat demo available on Steam. - AfterQuest: Wishlist available on Steam. - SlashZero: Wishlist and playtest sign-up available on Steam. - Void/Breaker: Significant update available on Steam. - Wind Runners: Demo available on Steam. - Planet Zoo 2: Pre-orders open on Steam. - Empulse: Early access launches on June 24; explore during Steam Next Fest on June 15. - Arkheron: Playtest sign-up available on the game's website. - ReVamp: Playtest sign-up available on Discord. - Wardogs: Wishlist and playtest sign-up available via trailer's QR code. - Shroom and Gloom: Demo available. - Rivage: Demo available. - Mr Magpie’s Harmless Card Game: Wishlist available on Steam. - Ascenders: Beyond the Peak: Demo available on Steam. - Outward 2: Beta currently accessible. - Exo Rally Championship: Available on Steam. - Beast of Reincarnation: Launches on August 3; pre-orders available on Steam. - Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent: Shadow dropped; available now. - To Kill a God: Demo available. - Armatus: Wishlist available. - Dave the Diver In the Jungle DLC: Wishlist available on Steam. - Total War: Warhammer 40,000: Beta opportunities forthcoming; wishlist on Steam. - About Fishing: Demo available on Steam. - Vampire the Masquerade: Eternal Whispers: Details not specified. - Valheim 1.0: Launches on September 9, 2026; new update features. - P.O.N: Wishlist available on Steam. - Locator: The Search for Abigail Lidari: Wishlist available on Steam. - Exodus: Wishlist available on Steam. - Remothered: Red Nun's Legacy: Wishlist available on Steam.

AppWizard

June 7, 2026

Halo: Campaign Evolved Launches July 28, Pre-Orders Available Now

Halo: Campaign Evolved features a new three-mission story arc titled Operation: METEORITE, which includes Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. The narrative takes place a year before the original game and involves a covert UNSC mission aboard a Covenant research vessel. The gameplay includes battles with UNSC forces, exploration of new locations, and encounters with new enemies like the Brute Berserker. The story was developed with sci-fi author Troy Denning. Pre-orders are available for three editions: Standard Edition (.99), Premium Edition (.99), and Collector’s Edition (9.99), each offering different bonuses. The game launches on July 28, 2026, with early access for Premium and Collector's Edition owners starting July 23. It supports cross-play and cross-progression across multiple platforms and will be available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.