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Steam Week in Review: Once positioned as mainstream-friendly PC gaming solutions, can Valve's hardware survive the memory crisis?
AppWizard
August 3, 2026

Steam Week in Review: Once positioned as mainstream-friendly PC gaming solutions, can Valve’s hardware survive the memory crisis?

Last week, a discussion arose regarding the decline in Steam Deck sales, as noted by PC Gamer's Andy Edser. An analysis by Boiling Steam questioned the mathematical accuracy of the sales figures, leading to concerns about Valve's hardware future. Gabe Newell's million donation to OpenAI in 2018 has been suggested to negatively impact Valve's hardware ambitions. The price of the anticipated Steam Deck OLED increased significantly in May, with the 1TB model rising from 9 to 9 and the 512GB version from 9 to 9, causing potential buyers to reconsider. The Steam Machine's projected retail price has also surged from around 0 to ,049. In gaming, Mistfall Hunter has quickly reached the third spot on the live concurrent players list. The latest Steam deep cuts ranked Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Palworld as the top three games. Despite new releases, Counter-Strike 2 remains at the top of the rankings. DragonSword: Awakening and Shift at Midnight have gained attention for their unique gameplay. A notable Steam review of Alien Kink VR expressed a darkly humorous sentiment.
Linux didn't just eat 10% of Windows market share, AI bots are inflating the numbers
Winsage
August 3, 2026

Linux didn’t just eat 10% of Windows market share, AI bots are inflating the numbers

The Linux desktop market share has not exceeded 10% in North America, and Windows is not experiencing a significant loss of users. Recent claims about Linux's market share reaching over 10% are based on misinterpreted data from StatCounter, which tracks page views rather than actual users. StatCounter's methodology can lead to inflated Linux numbers due to increased bot activity. In July 2026, it was reported that Windows market share remained above 60%. Cloudflare Radar also noted a spike in Linux usage, but this was largely attributed to automated traffic, with human-only traffic showing Linux at approximately 4.7%. Microsoft reports that Windows 11 is currently operating on 1.6 billion PCs.
These Android Phones Are Losing YouTube App Access In 2026
AppWizard
August 1, 2026

These Android Phones Are Losing YouTube App Access In 2026

By 2026, certain smartphones will no longer receive support for popular applications like YouTube. Users can still access YouTube via the web version if their app is no longer supported. Google will not disable these devices remotely. Users are advised to check for software updates by navigating to Settings, selecting System, and tapping on Software Updates. Devices running Android 7.0 or later may have better app functionality, while those on Android 6.0 should consider upgrading. Current Android smartphones from Google and Samsung will receive up to seven years of software updates.
How do PC player demographics change at 50 hours vs. 30 minutes?
AppWizard
August 1, 2026

How do PC player demographics change at 50 hours vs. 30 minutes?

GameDiscoverCo newsletter has reached 45,000 subscribers. The Video Game History Foundation launched a ‘history of E3’ collection, including an introductory video, vintage footage, and a podcast. Microsoft reported a decline in Xbox revenue for four consecutive quarters, with Content & Services revenue at approximately .75 billion (down 10% year-over-year) and hardware revenue around million (down 13% year-over-year). Asha Sharma noted over 200 million new players joined Xbox in FY2026, but the business did not grow. PlayStation's PS5 sales reached 95.3 million, with a 1.6 million increase for the quarter but a 36% year-over-year decline. Active PSN users rose to 125 million, and profit surged by 37%. Meta's Reality Labs reported a loss of .6 billion in Q2, despite million in revenue. Slotbound, a roguelike auto-battler game, achieved 50,000 wishlists and 2,900 peak demo concurrent users. Over 1,000 PC games now operate direct channels, saving developers an estimated billion in platform fees in 2025. GameDiscoverCo’s Steam Fan Snapshot data revealed that the average age of players is 31 for Clair Obscur and 25 for R.E.P.O. 37.5% of respondents find games through short-form video, while 27.9% use traditional media websites. Players of ARC Raiders show a strong preference for the Steam Deck, and as playtime increases, console playtime declines.
AI and cloud drive 90% of Microsoft's annual growth while Xbox and Windows profits fall
Winsage
July 31, 2026

AI and cloud drive 90% of Microsoft’s annual growth while Xbox and Windows profits fall

Microsoft reported an 18% revenue increase for the fiscal year ending June 30, totaling 1.8 billion, driven primarily by cloud services and AI monetization. Server products and cloud services contributed significantly, reaching .4 billion, nearly 40% of overall revenue, with Azure surpassing billion in annual revenue for the first time. Microsoft 365 Commercial grew by .2 billion, a 16% increase, aided by AI solutions. In contrast, revenue from Windows and devices decreased by 0 million to .1 billion, while Xbox revenue fell by .7 billion to .8 billion, marking the first annual decline since the Activision Blizzard acquisition.
China's H1 game market sees mobile growth, PC boom, continued slump in web and console games · TechNode
AppWizard
July 30, 2026

China’s H1 game market sees mobile growth, PC boom, continued slump in web and console games · TechNode

The mobile gaming sector in China generated RMB 135.21 billion (approximately .98 billion) in sales revenue during the first half of the year, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 7.9%. The PC gaming market achieved RMB 45.29 billion (around .69 billion) in sales revenue, marking a year-over-year increase of 27.92%. The web game market generated RMB 2.02 billion (about [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Market Performance Overview Recent insights from the China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference (ChinaJoy) reveal a dynamic landscape within China's gaming industry. The mobile gaming sector has emerged as a robust performer, generating an impressive RMB 135.21 billion (approximately .98 billion) in actual sales revenue during the first half of the year. This figure reflects a commendable year-over-year growth of 7.9%, underscoring the continued popularity and engagement of mobile gaming among consumers. In contrast, the PC gaming market has also shown significant momentum, achieving RMB 45.29 billion (around .69 billion) in actual sales revenue. This marks a remarkable year-over-year increase of 27.92%, indicating a resurgence in interest and investment in PC gaming experiences. However, not all segments of the gaming market are experiencing growth. The web game market has faced challenges, generating only RMB 2.02 billion (about 0 million) in actual sales revenue. This represents an 8.47% decline compared to the previous year, extending a downward trend that has persisted for three consecutive years. Similarly, the console gaming market has encountered its own hurdles, recording RMB 961 million (approximately 2 million) in actual sales revenue. This reflects a decrease of 7.06% year-over-year, suggesting that the console segment may need to innovate further to capture the attention of gamers. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, these figures highlight the contrasting fortunes of different market segments, painting a complex picture of consumer preferences and industry dynamics in China." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million), representing an 8.47% decline compared to the previous year. The console gaming market recorded RMB 961 million (approximately [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Market Performance Overview Recent insights from the China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference (ChinaJoy) reveal a dynamic landscape within China's gaming industry. The mobile gaming sector has emerged as a robust performer, generating an impressive RMB 135.21 billion (approximately .98 billion) in actual sales revenue during the first half of the year. This figure reflects a commendable year-over-year growth of 7.9%, underscoring the continued popularity and engagement of mobile gaming among consumers. In contrast, the PC gaming market has also shown significant momentum, achieving RMB 45.29 billion (around .69 billion) in actual sales revenue. This marks a remarkable year-over-year increase of 27.92%, indicating a resurgence in interest and investment in PC gaming experiences. However, not all segments of the gaming market are experiencing growth. The web game market has faced challenges, generating only RMB 2.02 billion (about 0 million) in actual sales revenue. This represents an 8.47% decline compared to the previous year, extending a downward trend that has persisted for three consecutive years. Similarly, the console gaming market has encountered its own hurdles, recording RMB 961 million (approximately 2 million) in actual sales revenue. This reflects a decrease of 7.06% year-over-year, suggesting that the console segment may need to innovate further to capture the attention of gamers. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, these figures highlight the contrasting fortunes of different market segments, painting a complex picture of consumer preferences and industry dynamics in China." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].14 million) in sales revenue, reflecting a decrease of 7.06% year-over-year.
How to Stop Scammers From Showing You Ads on Your Android After Every Phone Call
AppWizard
July 29, 2026

How to Stop Scammers From Showing You Ads on Your Android After Every Phone Call

Android users experiencing unexpected ads after phone calls are encountering a form of ad fraud linked to applications on the Google Play Store that utilize a tactic called AfterCall. These applications, often benign utility apps, request overlay permissions to display ads over the Android interface. They can launch full-screen advertisements disguised as call information screens after detecting the end of a call. Overlay permissions are categorized as "special permissions" and require users to enable them in system settings, rather than through typical installation pop-ups. Users are advised to check for apps with overlay permissions by navigating to Settings > Apps > Special app access and uninstall any unfamiliar applications. Regular audits of these permissions are recommended to disable unnecessary ones. While these apps primarily serve as an annoyance, they can waste advertising dollars and potentially harm brand reputations.
There's Not Much Room For Improvement In Halo: Campaign Evolved's PC Settings
AppWizard
July 29, 2026

There’s Not Much Room For Improvement In Halo: Campaign Evolved’s PC Settings

Microsoft is delivering a second remake of Halo: Combat Evolved using Unreal Engine 5, which offers stunning visuals but poses challenges for players with older or lower-end hardware. The game performs well on high-end systems, such as an RTX 3090 running smoothly at 60 fps in 4K with the High preset. However, it lacks flexibility for performance adjustments, making it more efficient to use higher presets rather than fine-tuning settings. Key settings include: - Effects Quality: Keep high unless performance issues arise. - Geometric Quality: Maintain high until VRAM limitations are a concern. - Global Illumination Quality: Can be kept high without significant performance impact. - Lighting Quality: Adjust for substantial performance gains if frame rates dip below 60 fps. - Texture Quality: Adjust based on available VRAM. - Reflections: Dial down to medium or low to enhance frame rates. - Atmospheric Quality: Based on personal preference. - Post-Processing Quality: Can be adjusted down with minimal performance impact. - Screen Shake: Toggle based on personal preference. - Motion Blur: Consider turning off due to intensity. - Upscaling Technique: Choose based on GPU brand. - Async Compute: Keep off unless using a high-end graphics card and CPU. - Low Latency Mode: Select based on GPU for optimal responsiveness. - Frame Generation: Can enhance frame rates but may introduce latency.
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