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'Steam is winning with its ease of use,' GOG's new owner says, but he's not interested in picking a fight: 'I think much can be done in GOG without losing its core values and the way it operates'
AppWizard
January 13, 2026

‘Steam is winning with its ease of use,’ GOG’s new owner says, but he’s not interested in picking a fight: ‘I think much can be done in GOG without losing its core values and the way it operates’

CD Projekt sold its DRM-free digital storefront, GOG, to co-founder Michal Kiciński at the end of 2025. GOG has transitioned from focusing solely on classic titles to including newer releases, but it remains a niche player in the gaming market and has not generated substantial revenue for CD Projekt. Kiciński and GOG's managing director, Maciej Gołębiewski, expressed optimism about GOG's potential, emphasizing its unique position and mission to ensure games endure over time. GOG is expanding its catalog of new releases, particularly from independent studios, without aiming to compete directly with Steam in terms of volume. GOG is known for being a curated platform, contrasting with Steam's high volume of releases, and Kiciński acknowledged the need for GOG to improve its user-friendly features while maintaining its core values. GOG will continue to uphold its commitment to being a DRM-free platform, which Kiciński stated is a core value that will not change in the foreseeable future.
Gabe Newell wanted this cult-classic FPS to be one of the first games to launch on Steam, but its creator said "ehhh" nah
AppWizard
December 27, 2025

Gabe Newell wanted this cult-classic FPS to be one of the first games to launch on Steam, but its creator said “ehhh” nah

Steam was launched in 2003 as a platform for updates to Valve's games and became a full-fledged storefront in 2005. Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve, reached out to Adrian Chmielarz in the early days to feature the game Painkiller on Steam, but Chmielarz was hesitant as they did not hold the rights to the game. Painkiller's Black Edition was eventually released on Steam in 2007. The emergence of digital storefronts like Steam has transformed game development, allowing smaller developers greater access to audiences without the need for traditional publishers. Steam has revolutionized video game distribution, despite challenges like game discoverability, and has become essential to the PC gaming ecosystem.
2D ARPG 'Fantasy Journey' Slated For 2026 Steam Release
AppWizard
December 26, 2025

2D ARPG ‘Fantasy Journey’ Slated For 2026 Steam Release

Developer XiangziArtStudio will release their 2D action role-playing game, ‘Fantasy Journey,’ on PC via Steam in June 2026. The game features a combat system that allows for various playstyles, including parrying, dodging, and blocking. Playtests and a demo version are currently available for players to provide feedback. Visual materials, including images and a video, have been released to showcase the game's world and mechanics.
Android Prepares Satellite App Hub for Connectivity
AppWizard
December 17, 2025

Android Prepares Satellite App Hub for Connectivity

Android is introducing a central "Satellite connectivity" hub in its latest Canary build, designed to enhance user experience by identifying applications that can operate over satellite networks. The hub includes a Quick Settings tile that displays the status of satellite connectivity and a dedicated Settings page for discovering "satellite apps." Initial testing shows core integrations with apps like Emergency SOS, Google Messages, and Maps, with plans for broader support. The system differentiates between narrowband and LTE-based satellite networks, affecting the types of applications available. Users with compatible plans will have access to features, while those without will be informed of limitations. The development aims to transition satellite connectivity from emergency use to everyday functionality, aligning with advancements in satellite-to-device connectivity standards. The hub is currently available only in the Android Canary channel, with a market-ready product expected as carrier partnerships and API integrations develop.
Fortnite Returns to the Google Play Store in the United States
BetaBeacon
December 15, 2025

Fortnite Returns to the Google Play Store in the United States

Fortnite has officially returned to the Google Play Store in the United States after being absent for more than five years. This change eliminates the need for Android users to sideload the game and comes as a result of legal battles between Epic Games and Google over app store policies and in-app billing rules. The return of Fortnite to the Play Store is a result of a settlement that required Google to adjust its policies to allow for greater competition and alternative payment methods. This victory for Epic highlights their argument against Google's alleged monopoly over app distribution and billing on Android.
More than 19,000 games launched on Steam this year—but almost half have fewer than 10 reviews
AppWizard
December 12, 2025

More than 19,000 games launched on Steam this year—but almost half have fewer than 10 reviews

In 2025, over 19,000 video games were released on Steam, but nearly half received fewer than ten user reviews. Specifically, 9,327 of these games garnered little to no attention, with 2,229 titles remaining entirely unreviewed. This indicates that more than one in ten games released that year did not receive any user feedback. Developers are seeking ways to improve visibility through third-party sales and genre tagging, while Steam's algorithms for discoverability remain complex and challenging.
Google will now warn about battery-hungry Android apps
AppWizard
November 17, 2025

Google will now warn about battery-hungry Android apps

Google is enhancing the Android user experience by addressing battery drain caused by applications. The company is collaborating with developers to create power-efficient apps and has introduced new "technical quality metrics" to identify apps that excessively drain battery life. A specific focus is on "excessive partial wake locks," developed in partnership with Samsung, which can significantly escalate battery usage. A new beta metric for excessive partial wake locks has been refined and will soon be available as a core vital for all developers. Starting March 1, 2026, Google will implement new standards that could affect app visibility on the Play Store. Apps that do not meet the quality threshold for excessive wake locks may be excluded from prominent discovery surfaces and could receive warnings about potential battery drain. An app is considered to have excessive wake lock usage if it holds more than 2 cumulative hours of non-exempt wake locks in a 24-hour period, with a threshold for "bad behavior" set at exceeding 5% of user sessions classified as excessive over the past 28 days. Developers will receive alerts if their app surpasses this limit.
The Google Play Store Is Making It Easy to Remotely Uninstall Apps From Your Other Android Devices
AppWizard
November 13, 2025

The Google Play Store Is Making It Easy to Remotely Uninstall Apps From Your Other Android Devices

Users can now uninstall apps from multiple Android devices directly through their smartphones using the updated Play Store version 48.8. This version introduces a "Available on more devices" section on an app's Play Store page, allowing users to easily uninstall or install apps across connected devices. Additionally, Google plans to penalize apps that excessively drain battery power starting next year, potentially removing them from discoverability pages or alerting users about their high battery consumption.
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