digital

AppWizard
June 26, 2026
The annual Steam Summer Sale is currently ongoing, offering discounts of up to 80% on various video games until July 9. Notable deals include: - The Witcher III: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition: List Price: .99, Sale Price: .99. - Star Wars Jedi: Survivor: List Price: .99, Sale Price: .99. - Titanfall 2: List Price: .99, Sale Price: .49. - Burnout Paradise Remastered: List Price: .99, Sale Price: .99. - Risk of Rain 2: List Price: .99, Sale Price: .24. - Stardew Valley: List Price: .99, Sale Price: .99. - Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter: List Price: .99, Sale Price: .99. - Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana: List Price: .99, Sale Price: .99. - Hotline Miami: List Price: .99, Sale Price: [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: If you own a gaming PC, Steam Deck, or a new Steam Machine, you're in for a treat. The annual Steam Summer Sale has commenced, offering discounts of up to 80% on a plethora of beloved video games. Running from now until July 9, this sale presents an excellent opportunity to expand your gaming library without breaking the bank. For those who prefer not to sift through the extensive Steam catalog, I've curated a selection of ten standout deals that span various genres, each one a personal favorite of mine. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition Geralt is a cool guy. Credit: CD Projekt Red/Steam List Price: .99 Sale Price: .99 Chances are, you may already own The Witcher III, which has sold over 65 million copies since its 2015 release. If not, now is the perfect time to join the ranks of its fans. This RPG is widely regarded as one of the best ever made, featuring an open-world design that is both engaging and emotionally resonant. The Complete Edition includes all expansion packs, with a third expansion set to release in 2027, making it a must-have for any gamer. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Cal Kestis is also a cool dude. Credit: Respawn/Steam List Price: .99 Sale Price: .99 Among the many Star Wars titles available during this sale, Jedi: Survivor stands out as an exceptional deal. This sequel to Jedi: Fallen Order follows the charming protagonist Cal Kestis as he navigates the challenges posed by the Galactic Empire. With engaging combat mechanics and a compelling narrative, this game is a steal at just .99. Titanfall 2 One of the best shooter campaigns ever. Credit: Respawn/Steam List Price: .99 Sale Price: .49 Titanfall 2 has consistently been one of the most affordable games on digital platforms, yet many have yet to experience its brilliance. This title features one of the most creative and exhilarating single-player campaigns in the first-person shooter genre. Set aside an afternoon to immerse yourself in its thrilling gameplay. Burnout Paradise Remastered Racing games don't get much better than this. Credit: Criterion/Steam List Price: .99 Sale Price: .99 Burnout Paradise is often hailed as one of the finest games from the Xbox 360/PS3 era, and its remastered version retains all the charm of the original. With all online modes and DLC included, it redefined open-world racing long before others followed suit. It's an exhilarating experience, perfect for both short bursts and extended play sessions. Risk of Rain 2 One of the best co-op roguelikes out there. Credit: Hopoo/Steam List Price: .99 Sale Price: .24 Risk of Rain 2 is a roguelike shooter best enjoyed with friends. Players select characters and traverse procedurally generated levels, battling enemies while collecting upgrades. The difficulty ramps up over time, making for a rewarding experience, especially when you manage to create an overpowered build. Stardew Valley Cozy. Credit: ConcernedApe/Steam List Price: .99 Sale Price: .99 As one of the most successful indie games of the last decade, Stardew Valley remains a top choice in the farming/life simulation genre. With its charming characters, delightful music, and numerous activities to engage in, it's easy to lose hours in this enchanting world. The vibrant modding community adds even more replayability for PC players. Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter Some of the best RPG combat around. Credit: Falcom/Steam List Price: .99 Sale Price: .99 This remake of the first game in the acclaimed Trails series is a fantastic entry point for newcomers. With a rich narrative and engaging combat, it sets the stage for a sprawling interconnected story that spans multiple titles. The game eases players into its world beautifully, making it an excellent choice for RPG enthusiasts. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana I can hear this screenshot. Credit: Falcom/Steam List Price: .99 Sale Price: .99 This vibrant RPG is an inviting entry point for those new to the Ys series. With its colorful world, engaging combat, and a soundtrack that energizes the gameplay, it offers a satisfying experience that appeals to both veterans and newcomers alike. Hotline Miami I can also hear this screenshot. Credit: Dennaton/Steam List Price: .99 Sale Price: [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Do you like Star Wars? We have good news.  By  Alex Perry Alex Perry Tech Reporter Alex Perry is a tech reporter at Mashable who primarily covers video games and consumer tech. Alex has spent most of the last decade reviewing games, smartphones, headphones, and laptops, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. He is also a Pisces, a cat lover, and a Kansas City sports fan. Alex can be found on Bluesky at yelix.bsky.social. Read Full Bio  on June 25, 2026 This game rules. Credit: CD Projekt Red/Steam If you have a gaming PC, a Steam Deck, or even a brand new Steam Machine, you can currently get a whole lot of great video games for almost no money right now.That's because the annual Steam Summer Sale kicked off on Thursday, with offers lasting until July 9. That means you have a couple of weeks to get as much as 80 percent off on some of the best games ever made. But if you don't feel like combing through the entire Steam interface to find deals, I've curated 10 of them that I think are definitely worth checking out. These range from mainstream hits to smaller indie games across a variety of genres, but one constant is that I've played and adore all of them. Recommended deals for you Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $179.00 (List Price $249.00) Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds With Active Noise Cancellation — $148.99 (List Price $179.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB Wi-Fi Retina Tablet (Silver, 2025 Release) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $279.00 (List Price $399.00) Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB Unlocked Phone (Black) — $669.99 (List Price $899.99) Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones — $378.00 (List Price $459.99) 55" Amazon Ember 4-Series 4K HDR10+ Smart Fire TV (2025 Model) — $279.95 (List Price $459.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Plus Streaming Player With Remote (2025 Model) — $24.99 (List Price $49.99) Meta Quest 3S 128GB With 3-Month Trial of Meta Horizon+ — $296.79 (List Price $349.99) Products available for purchase through affiliate links. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Here are 10 of the best deals in the Steam Summer Sale. You May Also Like SEE ALSO: 'Star Fox' for Nintendo Switch 2 is a magnificent Hollywood take on a classic The Witcher III: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition Geralt is a cool guy. Credit: CD Projekt Red/Steam List Price: $49.99Sale Price: $9.99There's a decent chance you already own The Witcher III, given that it's sold 65 million units since its launch in 2015. But if you don't, there really is no better time than now to hop on the bandwagon.This is, without sugarcoating it, one of the best RPGs ever made, and you can enjoy it just fine even if you never played its two predecessors or read any of the Polish fantasy novels on which the game series is based. It combines some of the best open-world quest design ever with an emotional, mature story that's more about being a good father than saving the world (though there's some of that, too). The Complete Edition comes with both existing expansion packs, which are 100 percent worth playing, and there's actually a third expansion coming out in 2027 to look forward to, as well. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Cal Kestis is also a cool dude. Credit: Respawn/Steam List Price: $69.99Sale Price: $13.99There is a litany of Star Wars games available in the Steam sale, but Jedi: Survivor is probably the best deal here, for my money. The sequel to 2019's Jedi: Fallen Order follows surprisingly endearing protagonist Cal Kestis and friends as they search for safe haven from the evil Galactic Empire. It's got great combat, compelling level design, and honestly one of the best stories in any Disney-era Star Wars production. For $13.99, this is a must-buy, as far as I'm concerned.Titanfall 2 One of the best shooter campaigns ever. Credit: Respawn/Steam List Price: $29.99Sale Price: $4.49Titanfall 2 has been one of the most perpetually dirt-cheap games on digital storefronts for the past decade, but somehow, there are still people who have never played it. Don't be one of them.Put simply, this is one of the greatest first-person shooter single-player campaigns ever made. Every moment of it oozes with creativity and excitement, making the best out of extremely fun shooting and traversal mechanics in every mission. You should seriously just block out an entire Saturday afternoon and play it in one sitting. Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter Use this instead By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! Burnout Paradise Remastered Racing games don't get much better than this. Credit: Criterion/Steam List Price: $19.99Sale Price: $3.99Burnout Paradise has a real argument as being one of the four or five best games of the entire Xbox 360/PS3 era, and it's held up beautifully. The remastered version includes all online modes, as well as all of the DLC that was made for the original game. Paradise redefined what an open-world racing game could be, years before games like Forza Horizon carried the torch for the genre. It's simply a lot of fun and very easy to pick up and play in short bursts or long sessions.Risk of Rain 2 One of the best co-op roguelikes out there. Credit: Hopoo/Steam List Price: $24.99Sale Price: $8.24Risk of Rain 2 is a shooter roguelike that can be enjoyed solo, but is best played with up to three friends in co-op fashion. You choose from one of several characters and run around procedurally generated levels killing enemies and collecting a wide variety of stacking upgrades, all while contending with a mechanic that increases enemy difficulty the more time elapses. It can get extremely challenging, but also very rewarding, especially if you manage to make a super broken build that basically plays the game by itself.Stardew Valley Cozy. Credit: ConcernedApe/Steam List Price: $14.99Sale Price: $8.99One of the biggest breakout indie hits of the last decade, Stardew Valley is still maybe the very best farming/life sim game in a market full of them. Filled to the brim with charming characters, great music, and a large variety of ways to spend your precious time (be it in solo play or multiplayer), it's shockingly easy to lose dozens of hours to this game without even thinking about it. It's also got a vibrant mod scene on PC, if you're into that sort of thing.Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter Some of the best RPG combat around. Credit: Falcom/Steam List Price: $59.99Sale Price: $29.99Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter made it onto Mashable's best games of 2025 list because I made sure it did, and I'm going to evangelize it here, too, especially now that it's half off. It's a spiffy new remake of the first game in the long and storied Trails series of Japanese RPGs. There are 13 games in total, with more to come, and all of them are part of a big, sprawling, interconnected story with hundreds of characters spread across a huge, lore-rich continent. But you don't need to worry too much about that with this game, since it's the first one. It eases you into the setting beautifully and will leave you very excited for the remake of the second game in the series, due out this September. The combat is also incredibly fun. One word of warning, though: You need a healthy tolerance for anime to enjoy this series.Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana I can hear this screenshot. Credit: Falcom/Steam List Price: $39.99Sale Price: $19.99Ignore the roman numerals in title for this game. Yes, it's the eighth entry in the long-running Ys series, but it's also a perfect entry point for newcomers with minimal narrative connection to any other entries. Do you like running around a vibrant, colorful world while hitting monsters with a sword and listening to some of the most energetic, catchy music in video game history? Do you like RPGs where you don't spend a lot of time in menus and every system fits together cleanly to produce a super satisfying experience? Even if you don't think you like those things, this is really one of the most newcomer-friendly (and also best) RPGs ever made. Hotline Miami I can also hear this screenshot. Credit: Dennaton/Steam List Price: $9.99Sale Price: $0.99Once a pillar of trendy indie game success, Hotline Miami's zeitgeist nonetheless ended many years ago. Still, for less than a dollar, you really have no choice but to at least try it out, especially if you missed it in 2012. Hotline Miami is a super fast and twitchy top-down action game filled with pixelated hyper-violence and one of the best video game soundtracks ever. It's like playing through a drug-fueled murder haze, but, you know, a fun one. It's really good, I swear.American Truck Simulator Sometimes this country is beautiful. Credit: SCS Software/Steam List Price: $19.99Sale Price: $4.99American Truck Simulator is, indeed, an in-depth simulation of long-haul trucking in the United States. If you want to customize every part of your rig, you can do that. But if you just want to vibe out and listen to internet radio country music stations while driving across Kansas (do not drive across Kansas, it's so boring), you can also do that. It's best played on a racing wheel accessory, but a controller or even keyboard and mouse will do the job, too. As a bonus, developer SCS Software has developed literally dozens of expansions to add new states to the game over the years. You can get just the base game for $4.99, but if you want to spend as much as $43.85, you can get a bundle that includes everything. Topics Video Games Alex Perry Tech Reporter Alex Perry is a tech reporter at Mashable who primarily covers video games and consumer tech. Alex has spent most of the last decade reviewing games, smartphones, headphones, and laptops, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. He is also a Pisces, a cat lover, and a Kansas City sports fan. Alex can be found on Bluesky at yelix.bsky.social. " temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].99 Despite its past prominence in indie gaming, Hotline Miami remains a must-try title, especially at its current price point. This fast-paced action game combines pixelated violence with an unforgettable soundtrack, creating an experience that is both thrilling and unique. American Truck Simulator Sometimes this country is beautiful. Credit: SCS Software/Steam List Price: .99 Sale Price: .99 Offering a detailed simulation of long-haul trucking across the United States, American Truck Simulator allows players to customize their rigs or simply enjoy the scenery while listening to music. With numerous expansions available, the base game is a great entry point at just .99, while a comprehensive bundle is also available for those looking to dive deeper." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].99. - American Truck Simulator: List Price: .99, Sale Price: .99.
AppWizard
June 26, 2026
In June, New York City celebrated the NYC Battle of the Boroughs Champions at a press conference on June 10, recognizing the winners of the 2026 Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs. Among the winners was Team Hyper Pigmentation, an all-girl squad that won back-to-back titles. The city's digital games sector supports approximately 7,600 jobs, contributing billion in wages and generating a total economic output of billion. The NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment (MOME) has established the Game Development Industry Council, launched the NYC Summer of Games campaign, and funded grants for developers. New York City's digital gaming ecosystem has an annual economic impact of .6 billion, with around 380 digital gaming firms, 65 percent of which are small or indie studios. The share of open roles in the gaming industry increased from 15.1 percent to 29.2 percent between Q3 2024 and Q1 2026. The Summer of Games features events from May through September, including the NYC Video Game Festival and the Tribeca Games Gallery. Mayor Zohran Mamdani is recognized as the first "Gamer Mayor," engaging with gaming culture and platforms like Twitch. Jones-Harvey emphasizes the importance of addressing affordability issues to retain talent in the gaming industry. She advocates for recognizing video games as a vital part of New York City's cultural landscape, alongside music, film, and theater.
Tech Optimizer
June 26, 2026
In 2026, Bitdefender, Norton 360, and McAfee each achieved a perfect score of 18 out of 18 in AV-TEST’s April evaluation. Bitdefender excels in protection technology and has the lightest footprint among paid tiers. Norton 360 offers an unlimited VPN, substantial cloud backup, and LifeLock identity theft protection, achieving the best real-world protection score in 2025. McAfee is strong in identity protection and unlimited-device pricing but falls short in core malware engine performance. Bitdefender is noted for its advanced threat detection and has a low entry price of .99 for its Antivirus Plus. Norton 360 includes an unlimited VPN and up to 250 GB cloud backup, while McAfee+ Ultimate provides identity theft coverage and three-bureau credit monitoring. All three products received perfect scores in AV-TEST’s April evaluation, but independent lab results from AV-Comparatives showed Norton and Bitdefender as Top-Rated Products, while McAfee did not achieve this status. The specifications comparison reveals that Bitdefender supports up to 25 devices, Norton 360 offers unlimited devices, and McAfee also supports unlimited devices. Bitdefender employs Advanced Threat Defense, Norton uses SONAR and Intrusion Prevention, and McAfee utilizes Real Protect. Norton and McAfee received AV-Comparatives Performance awards in 2025 for their light system impact, while Bitdefender did not receive such recognition. Pricing strategies include significant renewal increases after steep first-year discounts. Customer support varies, with Norton and McAfee providing extensive 24/7 support, while Bitdefender offers limited phone support. The ownership structures differ, with Norton under Gen Digital, McAfee as a private entity, and Bitdefender remaining independent. Real-world scenarios suggest Bitdefender is best for single users, Norton 360 or McAfee+ for families, McAfee+ Ultimate or Norton for identity theft concerns, and Norton 360 for privacy-focused users.
AppWizard
June 25, 2026
A new Android launcher developed by Mr. Rubik aims to replicate the look and feel of Nintendo's DS and DSi consoles. It features a home screen displaying installed apps alongside a library of DS, DSi, and GBA games, with customization options for app icons and notification badges. The launcher will operate offline without tracking or analytics, prioritizing user privacy. It includes a dark mode option and will feature PictoChat, initially limited to local networks, in version 1.0.4. A specific release date has not been announced.
Winsage
June 25, 2026
Microsoft has extended the support timeline for Windows 10 by initiating the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which provides an additional year of essential security updates until October 12, 2027. Users can enroll in the ESU program until it ends, and those already enrolled will have their coverage automatically continue through that date. The ESU program, previously a paid feature for businesses, is now available to regular consumers at no additional cost.
AppWizard
June 25, 2026
Apple has removed VKontakte (VK) from its App Store, as confirmed by VK Group. VK stated that its apps are no longer available for download or updates on Apple devices, which they claim restricts access for Russian users to popular services. Apple justified the removal by stating it complies with laws and sanctions, though VK noted it has never been subjected to U.S. sanctions. The Kremlin has called Apple's decision "bizarre" and is seeking clarification, with Russia's digital development ministry labeling the action as politically motivated and asserting there are no grounds for blocking VK apps.
AppWizard
June 25, 2026
Pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto 6 have launched, with the game set to release on November 19. There are two editions available: the standard edition priced at and the deluxe edition at . The standard edition includes the base game but restricts access to certain in-game stores behind a paywall. Currently, there is no announced version for PC gamers. Many players hope that the eventual PC release will feature enhanced graphics and additional content, with expectations for improved visual fidelity and access to various in-game shops. Players have about 18 months to prepare for the PC launch.
AppWizard
June 25, 2026
The Max messenger has blocked chat groups in at least four Russian regions—Ivanovo, Vladimir, Tver, Krasnokamsk, and Chita—where users were tracking gas availability and information about filling station queues. The chat group "Benzin 33" in the Vladimir region gained 15,000 subscribers in three days, while "Benzin Ivanovo" had around 8,000 members, and the Tver chat reached 9,000 subscribers. The blocking in Vladimir was due to a technical violation related to subscriber registration with Roskomnadzor, while the reasons for blockings in other regions are unclear. Russia is facing a fuel crisis exacerbated by Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries, leading to restrictions on gasoline sales in over 20 areas and widespread shortages at gas stations. Additionally, the Federal Antimonopoly Service has banned the sale of gasoline on digital platforms, resulting in blocked listings on e-commerce sites like Ozon and Wildberries.
AppWizard
June 25, 2026
General Motors is enhancing the digital experience in its vehicles by introducing support for over 200 new applications on its "Cars with Google built-in" platform, moving away from Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The new apps will be available on select 2024 and newer models of Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicles equipped with Google built-in. Driver-focused apps will be accessible only when the vehicle is parked, while passengers can enjoy games and streaming services during travel. The new offerings include games like basketball, chess, and solitaire for drivers, and streaming services such as Disney Plus, Hulu, Tubi, and YouTube for passengers. Music and podcast platforms like Spotify, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music will also be supported. The passenger and rear displays will support these apps in select 2025 and newer GM models, including the Chevy Tahoe, Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and GMC Yukon. Users can find these applications under a “car compatible apps” section in Google Play. GM vehicle owners are encouraged to monitor their infotainment systems for the new apps.
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