Development Archives

Winsage

July 8, 2026

Windows 11’s new Cloud Rebuild can fix your PC even when it won’t boot

Microsoft has introduced a new recovery feature for Windows 11 called Cloud Rebuild, aimed at simplifying the restoration of non-booting PCs without the need for physical recovery drives. Announced at the Ignite 2025 conference, it is available in the Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8772. Cloud Rebuild allows users to restore their PCs to a clean state by performing a full OS reinstall, downloading the necessary Windows image and drivers directly from Windows Update. This feature is designed for recovery scenarios and can be accessed even when the system is unresponsive. It may first attempt a Quick Machine Recovery, and if that fails, it will transition to a cloud-based reinstallation. To use Cloud Rebuild, users must navigate to Troubleshoot → Recovery and Uninstallation → Cloud Rebuild within the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), and it will erase all existing files on the computer. Currently, it is primarily aimed at system administrators, and users of Windows 11 Home may consider upgrading to Windows 11 Pro to utilize its features.

Winsage

July 8, 2026

Valve releases drivers, notes to make Windows work on Steam hardware, but refuses to support it — tells users it doesn’t offer support for ‘Windows on Steam Hardware,’ gaming company provides resources ‘as is’

Valve has launched a resource page for Windows drivers compatible with its hardware, including the Steam Deck LCD, Steam Deck OLED, and Steam Machine, facilitating the installation of Windows 11 on these devices. The drivers cover essential components such as the APU, graphics, SD card reader, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and audio. Users can revert to SteamOS if needed, with recovery instructions provided. The Steam Machine is noted for its high price and lack of subsidies from Valve, which complicates the company's ability to offer discounts. While SteamOS offers a streamlined experience, Valve is working to enhance its compatibility with more hardware. The lack of dual-boot capabilities in SteamOS limits gamers who need specific anti-cheat software, though Valve is exploring this feature without a set release date.

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

Cracked version of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced leaked days prior to official release despite Denuvo DRM protection — Denuvo unable to stop crackers, with some finding ways to completely remove it from other titles

The Denuvo anti-tamper technology has been bypassed in pre-release versions of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, allowing unauthorized copies to circulate since June 7, 2026, ahead of its official launch on July 9, 2026. This incident follows similar leaks of major titles earlier in the year, including Forza Horizon 6, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and Subnautica 2. Critics argue that Denuvo causes performance issues and intrusive online checks, raising doubts about its effectiveness and necessity in protecting single-player titles.

Winsage

July 8, 2026

Windows 95 used a very basic “trick” to detect setup files

Microsoft developed Windows 95 with innovative detection mechanisms to prevent external installers from downgrading essential system components. The team used a heuristics-based approach to identify installer files by analyzing their names for keywords like "setup," "installer," or "inst," and also considered variations in other languages. If these keywords were not present, the system would check the file path for "setup." File checks were delayed until the next start to catch improperly modified files, as some setup programs would exit Windows to run batch files. Additionally, live file checks were conducted for multimedia driver installations via INF files, which was a special exception.

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

This fan-favorite Android Auto video app is calling it quits, but with a sweet goodbye update

Fermata Xtream, a popular app for streaming videos and live television on Android Auto, is ceasing further development as announced by its developer, Malebuffy. A final update, version 2.3.1, has been released, which includes enhancements such as fixed main menu item reordering, a main menu color change option, simplified mirroring functionality, the addition of a Plex client in an experimental phase, and various bug fixes. Fermata Xtream is a paid application, with a free version available on GitHub, but users need to purchase a paid “Enabler” app to access all features. There are no plans for future updates from the developer.

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

LineageOS announces browser flashing, Android 17 plans, and new supported devices

LineageOS has released its "Summertime updates," introducing a new browser-based flashing tool for installing LineageOS directly from web browsers, supporting Fastboot, ADB, and Samsung’s Odin protocol. The Updater app has been redesigned with a Material 3 aesthetic and now displays the Android Security Bulletin (ASB) level for each update. The update process has been optimized to stream A/B OTA packages by default. LineageOS has adapted to Google’s Android 16 security patching model, focusing on quarterly releases while continuing to test and integrate monthly security patches. Development on LineageOS 24 has begun following the release of Android 17. The default Gallery app has been enhanced with features like Motion Photos and improved video playback, while other applications such as Seedvault, Etar Calendar, and the Twelve music player have also been updated. The update expands LineageOS support to new devices from Samsung, Motorola, Sony, and Xiaomi, with a full compatibility list available in the official announcement.

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

Arc Raiders reveals it’s been successfully targeting item duplication exploits as the percentage of players with ‘unusually high profit per minute’ drops below 1% for the first time in months

Duplication exploits in Arc Raiders have caused players to accumulate large amounts of in-game resources and create complex structures. Embark, the game's developer, is actively working to combat these exploits, as stated in their patch notes, and is monitoring the game economy to address issues. They have identified a spike in players with unusually high profit rates, particularly around the time of the 1.33.0 update, which banned free loadouts. This situation has become a top priority for the development team to maintain a balanced gaming environment.

Winsage

July 8, 2026

This 3KB notepad app shows exactly why modern Windows is so bloated

Dave Plummer, known for creating the Windows Task Manager, discusses software bloat in a recent video, highlighting his compact notepad application, Tiny Retro Pad, which is only 2,686 bytes. He notes that while modern applications require higher specifications due to increased complexity, the lack of optimization in code has led to performance degradation. For example, Windows 10 required 1GB of RAM for its 32-bit version, while Windows 11 requires a minimum of 4GB. Plummer emphasizes the importance of efficient coding practices and critiques the tendency of modern software to include unnecessary components, suggesting that prioritizing efficiency could improve user experience on platforms like Windows 11.

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

Former Elder Scrolls Online designer laments the destruction of layoffs: ‘There’s really no one left and no changing it now’

Yesterday, layoffs at Xbox affected ZeniMax Online Studios, with reports indicating that half of its workforce was impacted. This has raised concerns about the studio's future and morale among remaining employees. Game director Matt Firor left the studio following the layoffs, which also resulted in the cancellation of a new MMO project called Project Blackbird. The situation has drawn comparisons to Amazon's New World, which was shelved due to a reassessment of its gaming strategy. A former developer expressed deep sadness over the loss of team camaraderie and creativity.

AppWizard

July 7, 2026

Minecraft – Official Dappled Forest Biome Overview

The Dappled Forest biome is a new addition in Minecraft, featuring unique elements such as a Straw Bed, Shelf Mushroom, and an Abandoned Camp. These additions are available in both Java Snapshot and Bedrock Preview & Beta versions of the game.