December Archives

AppWizard

July 19, 2025

More than a year after its last update, this forgotten RTS from the makers of Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak is being removed from Steam

The development team behind Crossfire: Legion announced they will cease active development and support for the tactical RPG. The game was initially introduced during the 2022 PC Gaming Show and launched in early access in May 2022, transitioning to full release in December 2022. Despite its potential, it struggled to build a dedicated player base. Players who own the game will retain access, but without future updates or support, which may affect multiplayer functionality over time. A demo is available on Steam, and a budget-friendly option for purchasing a Steam key is offered through Fanatical for .49.

AppWizard

July 17, 2025

Beeper’s all-in-one messenger updated with better encryption and paid perks

Beeper is enhancing user experience and security by rolling out new security features to improve chat encryption. The platform is transitioning from using Beeper Cloud for message relaying to direct connections with individual messaging applications, enabling end-to-end encryption across supported platforms. Previously, Beeper provided encryption for select services with a two-step process, but the update allows for more efficient delivery directly to app servers. Beeper is introducing a premium subscription model, Beeper Plus, at .99 per month, which includes features like support for up to three accounts from the same app, message scheduling, incognito mode, voice note transcriptions, custom app icons, and the ability to add up to ten accounts. A second tier, Beeper Plus Plus, is available for .99 per month, removing all account limits. Existing free tier users can now add up to 12 accounts at no extra cost, and early adopters of Beeper will receive lifetime free access to Beeper Plus. However, Beeper does not support iMessage due to unsuccessful integration attempts, and it has open-sourced its iMessage bridge in December 2023 following its acquisition by Automattic.

AppWizard

July 15, 2025

Minecraft adds the viral Lava Chicken song from the movie into the game, but to get it you’ll need to defeat a foe so rare I’ve not even seen one in my 16 years of playing

The Lava Chicken song, created by Hyper Potions, has been added to Minecraft as an 8-bit-style instrumental track in the 1.21.94 Bedrock update. Players can obtain this music disc by defeating a chicken jockey, which has a low spawn rate of 0.25% to 0.4875%. To find a chicken jockey, players can breed chickens and wait for zombies to spawn at night.

TrendTechie

July 13, 2025

Государственное ТВ открыло торрент-портал

Radio stations from Bashkortostan, Mari El, Mordovia, Tatarstan, Udmurtia, Chuvashia, Perm Krai, Kirov, Nizhny Novgorod, Orenburg, Penza, Samara, Saratov, and Ulyanovsk are invited to participate in a competition. The categories are Online and Radio. The deadline for submissions is December 18, 2018. The finals will occur during the "Together Media. Volga" festival in Ufa from January 25 to 27, 2019, which will include discussions and jury voting to determine winners. A ceremony for the winners will be held at the end of the second day of the educational program. More information can be found at www.radiofestival.ru. The "Together Media" festival has been held annually since 2002 and has evolved from a forum for radio journalists to a festival for the entire media industry. The organizing committee can be contacted at +74995515700.

Winsage

July 8, 2025

Firms on Windows 10 will get more time before support runs out

The end of support for Windows 10, originally set for October 14, 2025, has been postponed for certain users, particularly accounting firms, allowing them more time to upgrade. Microsoft has introduced an Extended Security Updates program for select Windows 10 users, which requires a fee per device for continued security updates, but does not include new features or general tech support. A December 2023 report indicates that 47% of accountants still rely on Windows 10, with approximately 25% of Windows 10 PCs actively used in accounting firms. Over half of all devices have migrated to Windows 11, which holds about 52% of the market. Experts recommend delaying upgrades to Windows 11 in favor of Windows 12, expected to be more optimized for AI, with potential hardware investments needed for the transition.

AppWizard

July 3, 2025

10 PC-only games that made me move from PlayStation to PC

In 2017, the author transitioned from a gaming PC to a PS4 Slim due to the failure of their PC and the demands of finals and a new job. They enjoyed the PS4 but felt drawn to PC-exclusive titles, leading them to build a new gaming rig. Notable PC games mentioned include Black Mesa, a fan-made remake of Half-Life, which features expanded levels and improved AI, and GTFO, which inspired the author to return to PC gaming after its reveal at the 2017 Game Awards. The author built their gaming rig in December 2020 to play GTFO and Cyberpunk 2077. They also noted a shift in gaming preferences after playing Valorant, which launched in June 2020, and highlighted Escape from Tarkov as a unique PC experience due to its high-stakes gameplay and design tailored for PC. The author appreciates the diverse experiences offered by PC gaming compared to consoles.

Winsage

July 1, 2025

Don’t buy into Microsoft’s “Windows 11 PCs are up to 2.3x faster than Windows 10 PCs” claim — Here’s why it’s stretching the truth

Microsoft's Windows 10 is approaching its "End of Life" on October 14, 2025, prompting the company to promote Windows 11 and encourage users to upgrade. Microsoft has introduced an "Extended Security Updates" (ESU) program, available at no cost for users who sync their Windows 10 settings to the cloud via a Microsoft Account, extending support until 2026. A campaign titled "Stay secure with Windows 11" highlights advantages of Windows 11, including claims that Windows 11 PCs are up to 2.3 times faster than Windows 10 PCs, based on testing conducted in December 2024 using Geekbench 6. This testing compared Windows 10 PCs with older Intel processors to Windows 11 machines with newer Intel processors. The performance gap is influenced by hardware specifications, and users are advised to critically evaluate performance claims, especially those using the phrase "up to."

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

Stardew Valley creator plays down reports he could help resurrect cancelled Minecraft-like Hytale

Riot Games has decided to cease development on Hytale after more than a decade of effort. The game, which began development in 2015 by Hypixel, was intended to combine mini-games from its Minecraft server with an RPG-style sandbox experience. Despite initial excitement and Riot's acquisition of Hypixel in 2020, the project could not meet expectations, leading to unsuccessful attempts to find new investors and resulting in layoffs. Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, creator of Stardew Valley, clarified that he is not actively pursuing involvement in Hytale's revival, as he is focused on his current project, Haunted Chocolatier. Simon Collins-Laflamme, the original founder of Hypixel, has expressed interest in approaching Riot with a potential investment proposal to revive Hytale, while cautioning fans to manage their expectations regarding the project's future.

AppWizard

June 30, 2025

NDreams vet Tamsin O’Luanaigh founds new advisory studio Wise Cat

Tamsin O'Luanaigh, co-founder of a VR specialist, has launched an advisory firm called Wise Cat Strategy to improve working environments for game studios and businesses. She has over 20 years of experience as chief people officer at NDreams and received multiple awards for her contributions to workplace culture in the gaming industry. O'Luanaigh emphasizes the need for clear frameworks in people and culture strategies, noting that many employers struggle with implementing meaningful change. Wise Cat Strategy aims to provide tailored solutions to address the unique challenges faced by game studios as they grow.

Winsage

June 28, 2025

Microsoft’s sketchy Win 10 vs Win 11 performance claims pit a 9-year-old PC against a modern machine to claim 2.3X gain

Microsoft is discontinuing support for Windows 10 in October and is encouraging users to transition to Windows 11, highlighting the risks of unsupported systems that will no longer receive security updates. Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's Executive Vice President, claims that PCs running Windows 11 can be up to 2.3 times faster than those running Windows 10, based on benchmarking tests comparing older Windows 10 PCs with newer Windows 11 machines. The performance metrics come from tests conducted in December 2024 using the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core measurement tool. Windows 11 is also noted for its security advantages, including features like TPM 2.0 and Smart App Control, and a reported 62 percent reduction in security incidents. For users not ready to upgrade, Microsoft offers an Extended Security Updates subscription for Windows 10 PCs.