discussion Archives

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

Random: Xenoblade Chronicles X Pops Up On Microsoft PC Game Page

Monolith Soft's game, Xenoblade Chronicles X, has appeared on a Microsoft PC webpage for "enhanced games for Microsoft Edge Game Assist," alongside titles like World of Warcraft and Half-Life 2. The listing suggests that Microsoft Edge Game Assist will provide tips and guides for popular PC games. This unexpected appearance has led to speculation among fans about its validity, with some considering it a possible error. Monolith Soft is now owned by Nintendo, which recently released Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition for the Switch. While it seems unlikely that major Nintendo titles will be available on Xbox, Microsoft has shown interest in bringing select first-party games to Nintendo platforms.

TrendTechie

May 30, 2025

Релиз Elden Ring Nightreign: высокий онлайн, много критики и появление на торрентах

FromSoftware has released Elden Ring Nightreign, a game featuring roguelike elements and cooperative action set in the universe of Elden Ring. Players explore the lands of Limvelda, engaging in battles against bosses and navigating procedurally generated environments. The game offers a solo mode and allows players to choose from eight unique characters. At launch, it achieved a peak of 313,593 concurrent players on Steam, but only 68% of players recommend it. Critics noted the absence of a two-player mode, excessive pace for solo players, lack of gameplay variety, and insufficient support for ultra-wide monitors. The game received a score of 80 on OpenCritic and a 78% recommendation rate. FromSoftware released patch 1.01 to address player concerns and Bandai Namco promoted the game with a trailer featuring a new character and a music video for Evanescence's "Bring Me to Life."

Tech Optimizer

May 30, 2025

Don’t get scammed! McAfee’s new AI tool sounds great, but you will need to pay for it

McAfee has integrated its Scam Detector feature into all core antivirus plans, achieving a 99% accuracy rate in identifying scams, including deepfakes on video platforms. The tool provides real-time scanning for text messages, emails, and video content on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, and extends protection to applications such as WhatsApp, Messenger, and Gmail. On Android, it automatically scans SMS messages, while iPhone users can perform manual scans. The feature includes customizable sensitivity settings and an on-demand check option for users to analyze messages or screenshots. Access to the Scam Detector requires a paid McAfee antivirus subscription. In contrast, Bitdefender offers a free tool called Scamio, which scans links, texts, screenshots, and QR codes for scams but does not detect video deepfakes. Google has developed an AI-based scam detector for Pixel phones that scans audio from incoming calls for scam language. Norton has also integrated its Genie Scam Protection into its plans, focusing on identifying scam language and requiring a subscription for comprehensive coverage. McAfee's Scam Detector is less accessible than free alternatives like Scamio.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

I love that DOOM: The Dark Ages requires ray tracing, and I hope more games follow

DOOM: The Dark Ages requires a graphics card with ray tracing hardware, specifically at least an NVIDIA 20-series card, making older models like the GTX 1080 incompatible. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle also necessitates ray tracing capabilities, raising concerns about performance on existing hardware. Billy Khan from id Software stated that ray tracing significantly reduces game development time, allowing for real-time adjustments. Ray tracing has been part of the graphics card landscape for over seven years, with all current consoles supporting it. NVIDIA's latest RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 cards have faced driver issues affecting gameplay, while alternatives from AMD and Intel, as well as NVIDIA’s 30 and 40-series cards, can still provide good performance. Other studios, like 4A Games, have begun incorporating ray tracing into their development processes.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

4 years after being delisted, Lost Planet 2 finally got a Steam update to remove Games for Windows Live—but it also removed online multiplayer and blew up everyone’s saves

Lost Planet 2, a sci-fi third-person shooter from Capcom, was removed from Steam in 2021 due to issues with the discontinued Games for Windows Live (GFWL). A recent update lifted GFWL but disrupted online multiplayer functionality and erased local save files. Initially launched in 2007, GFWL aimed to merge multiplayer services for PC but ultimately failed, leading to many games, including Lost Planet 2, being left in disrepair. Despite being delisted, players found ways to keep the game alive, though installation issues hindered the multiplayer experience. Guides have emerged to revert the game to its previous state to restore GFWL. There is speculation that Capcom may be working on a comprehensive Steamworks update, as the game has not reappeared in Steam listings.

Winsage

May 29, 2025

Microsoft investigates nasty Windows 11 bug that leaves PCs unable to boot – here’s what you need to know

Both Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2 are experiencing a significant issue that could make a PC inoperable after the May cumulative update. Microsoft is investigating a recovery error, specifically the message ‘0xc0000098 in ACPI.sys’, which primarily affects virtual machines. While Windows 11 Home users are considered less likely to be impacted, there is still a possibility of encountering the issue. Reports of similar errors have been noted, although not definitively linked to the May update. Users are advised to consider postponing the upgrade until Microsoft resolves the issues. Windows 11 users can pause updates for over a month and must apply deferred patches within 35 days.

Tech Optimizer

May 24, 2025

Connect Amazon Bedrock Agents with Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL using Amazon RDS Data API

Generative AI applications are being integrated with relational databases, allowing organizations to utilize structured data for training AI models. This integration involves using the RDS Data API with Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition and Amazon Bedrock for AI model access and automation. The solution enables natural language queries to be converted into SQL statements, executed against the database, and returns results in a user-friendly format. The architecture includes several steps: invoking the Amazon Bedrock agent with natural language input, generating SQL queries using large language models (LLMs), executing those queries via the Data API, and returning formatted results. Security measures are in place to restrict operations to read-only, preventing modifications that could compromise data integrity. To implement this solution, prerequisites include deploying an Aurora PostgreSQL cluster using AWS CDK and setting up the necessary Lambda functions and IAM roles. The agent is designed to convert natural language prompts into SQL queries and execute them securely. Testing can be conducted through the Amazon Bedrock console or the InvokeAgent API, with options for tracing the agent's steps. Key considerations for this integration include limiting it to read-only workloads, implementing parameter validation to prevent SQL injection, and ensuring comprehensive logging and auditing. For multi-tenant applications, appropriate isolation controls should be established. To avoid future charges, all resources created through CDK should be deleted after use.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Tech Talk: Can you really build an app or game with an AI chatbot?

Google Gemini is a tool introduced at the Google I/O event designed to assist developers by generating code from text prompts. It has been trained on a wide range of freely available code examples, enabling it to understand various programming languages. While AI can help build applications and games, the quality of the generated code often lacks the finesse and creativity of human developers. AI excels at following instructions but struggles with originality. It can assist in organizing app elements, constructing foundational code, identifying syntax errors, and managing routine tasks, thereby streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Android 16’s desktop mode was right in front of me the whole time

Samsung's DeX feature allows users to transform their smartphones into a desktop experience by connecting to an external display. Since its introduction with the Galaxy S8, DeX has evolved, and Google is collaborating with Samsung to enhance it for Android 16's Native desktop mode. This mode aims to improve Android's desktop functionalities, which have previously been limited. Samsung's recent "New DeX" mode, introduced with One UI 6.0 and Android 14, allows for resizable app windows, but Google may choose to adopt a design inspired by the classic DeX experience instead. The future of desktop mode in Android remains uncertain, particularly regarding external display options.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4: Fighting game on wheels

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is set to launch on July 11 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox PC, and will be available on Game Pass on day one. The game features enhanced gameplay quality and playability, making it more enjoyable. A preview by Mike Nelson highlights the need for practice to master the game, which involves combining button presses with analog stick movements. The THPS Fest in May showcased new levels, skaters, and features, celebrating the franchise's legacy. The Official Xbox Podcast includes a discussion with developers about the remastering process and new content for players.