dispute Archives

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

Cozy new open-world RPG to rival Minecraft launches on Steam, free to try

Taival is a newly launched co-op adventure RPG developed by Bonobo Software and published by Level Up Gaming, currently available in early access on PC via Steam. The game supports up to four players and features a unique shapeshifting companion called the Henki, whose quest involves recovering fragments of its lost heritage and restoring the Heartstone. Players can transform into various creatures through the Henki, unlocking unique abilities for exploration and combat. The game world is hand-crafted, featuring distinct realms and engaging NPC quests. Taival is priced at .99, with a 20% discount until July 28, and a free demo is available.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

Google and Epic Abandon Settlement, Clearing the Way for Rival Android App Stores

Google and Epic Games have withdrawn their joint motion to modify a court injunction that requires Google to support third-party app stores within the Google Play ecosystem. A permanent injunction issued in October 2024 mandates Google to facilitate alternative app stores on Android devices, with support set to begin on July 22. Google plans to implement a ,000 annual access fee for these alternative marketplaces, while apps downloaded through these stores will still use the Google Play system for transactions. The agreement between Google and Epic includes provisions for reduced fees and alternative payment methods, separate from the injunction. The legal situation regarding third-party app stores does not directly affect Apple, but it may influence Apple's ongoing legal challenges with Epic Games and regulatory developments. Apple is currently appealing a ruling that requires it to allow link-outs and alternative payment options, with oral arguments expected in late 2026 or early 2027.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

Epic & Google Withdraw Settlement: Other Stores Coming to Android

Epic Games and Google have withdrawn their proposed settlement regarding app distribution on Android, which included a program for registered app stores. This decision allows Google to permit third-party app stores on its platform. The legal dispute began when Epic accused Google of monopolizing Android app distribution. Despite multiple victories for Epic, the companies attempted a settlement that included new billing options and reduced fees, but concerns about sideloading apps led to its abandonment. Google plans to invite other app stores starting July 22 in the United States.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

‘Lord Of The Rings’ and ‘Minecraft’ inspired Au/Ra’s alt-pop debut

Alt-pop artist Au/Ra has released her debut album, ‘Heartcore,’ inspired by her childhood experiences and escapism into fantasy worlds. The album reflects her journey of healing from childhood traumas, which she began addressing through therapy. Growing up between Ibiza and Antigua, she found solace in video games and creative writing, particularly influenced by titles like Final Fantasy 15 and The Lord Of The Rings. Au/Ra debuted with the track ‘Concrete Jungle’ at age 14 and faced challenges with her label, Sony, which affected her music release. Despite these obstacles, she maintained a connection with her fans through gaming and community engagement. The first song she wrote for ‘Heartcore’ was ‘Blah,’ expressing her feelings of betrayal and abandonment, which helped her gain clarity for the album's creative process.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

Google Play Opens the Door to Third-Party App Stores, Starting Next Week

Google will allow the installation of third-party applications directly from the Google Play Store starting July 22, following a court ruling in favor of Epic Games in a five-year antitrust lawsuit. The lawsuit accused Google of monopolistic practices regarding its Play Store. A US District Judge ruled that Google must open its Play Store to rival app stores. Google has launched a page for its Play Catalog Access Program, enabling third-party app stores to be featured on Google Play. Google's service fees will still apply, but app purchase commissions have been reduced from 30% to 10%. Developers can now offer alternative payment methods and distribute purchase links to their own websites.

AppWizard

July 16, 2026

Google to open Android to third-party app stores in US on July 22

Beginning July 22, Google will allow third-party app stores in the United States to access its Play Store catalog through the Play Catalog Access Program. App listings submitted to these third-party platforms will be accessible, but downloads will still require completion via Google Play, with standard service fees applying. This initiative follows a settlement with Epic Games, which involved adjustments to a court order. Third-party app stores must pay a ,000 upfront service fee for a security review and an annual fee of ,000 to maintain access to the Play catalog. Additionally, Google has reduced its commission on app purchases from 30% to 10% and allowed external billing options as part of the settlement.

AppWizard

July 15, 2026

Third-party app stores are coming to Android soon

Beginning next week, third-party Android app stores in the United States will gain access to the Google Play Store through the Play Catalog Access Program. This program allows developers to submit app and game listings for external Android app stores, which will be downloadable directly from the Google Play Store. Google Play's service fees will still apply to these transactions. This change follows a court order resulting from a legal dispute between Epic Games and Google, which began in 2020. A U.S. District Court judge mandated changes to the Play Store in 2024 after ruling against Google. In November, Google and Epic reached a settlement proposing modifications to enhance developer choice and competition. Third-party app stores will incur a service fee of ,000 for an onboarding security review and an annual fee of ,000 to maintain access to the Play catalog. However, these app stores cannot use the Play Store for distributing their apps outside the United States. Earlier this year, Google announced a reduction in its commission for app purchases to 10% and introduced outside billing options within the Play Store.

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

Dutch consumer group suing PlayStation argues the end of physical discs just proves its point: ‘Sony alone decides what a game costs and even how long you are allowed to use it’

The Dutch consumer organization Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SM&C) is involved in a €400 million lawsuit against Sony over a 30% fee on games sold through the PlayStation Store, known as the "Sony tax." Sony plans to phase out physical game discs by 2028, which could eliminate the second-hand market and give Sony sole control over game pricing. Lucia Melcherts, chair of SM&C, expressed concerns that this would limit consumer options. PlayStation's projected revenue for 2025 is ¥4.69 trillion, but the lawsuit poses a significant challenge for the company. Analyst Daniel Ahmad suggests that Sony may need to adjust its policies regarding the PlayStation Store.

AppWizard

July 10, 2026

Palworld revises some of its most egregious creature designs for its 1.0 release

Palworld officially exited early access today with the release of a significant 1.0 patch, attracting hundreds of thousands of players. The update included numerous gameplay enhancements and visual reworks for several characters, particularly those resembling existing Pokémon designs. Verdash has been transformed to have less humanoid proportions and removed legwear similar to Cinderace. Robinquill and Fenglope also received updates to their color palettes and designs to differentiate them from Decidueye and Cobalion. These redesigns are not related to the ongoing legal dispute between Nintendo and Pocketpair, which focuses on creature-capturing and riding mechanics, not character designs. The changes reflect an acknowledgment of the original designs' lack of originality and aim to help Palworld establish a more distinct identity.

Winsage

July 10, 2026

You can’t fully disable Microsoft’s GDID Windows 11 tracker, but these settings limit what it captures

A 19-year-old named Peter Stokes was detained at Helsinki airport in April 2026 while traveling to Japan, carrying two 2TB hard drives. He was subject to an Interpol Red Notice and faced a federal complaint from U.S. prosecutors by July for his alleged involvement in the Scattered Spider hacking group, which breached a U.S. luxury jewelry retailer in May 2025, leading to a ransom demand. The Global Device Identifier (GDID), developed by Microsoft, is a persistent identifier that uniquely identifies a Windows installation on a device. It links online activities back to a single identity, which law enforcement can use to trace a device's owner. The GDID is generated when a user signs into Windows with a Microsoft Account and remains through updates but does not survive a clean reinstall. Stokes' use of the same Windows device allowed investigators to trace his activities through the GDID, which linked him to the hacking incident. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the lack of consent for GDID assignment and the potential for surveillance.