diversity Archives

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

Steam Week in Review: Steam is flooded with liminal spaces games and I approve, but I think I’ve found the best to start with

Dreamcore explores "liminal spaces," featuring environments like indoor pools, low-poly suburbia, and children's play areas, with a notable "liminal hotel" inspired by the Backrooms meme. Liminal spaces evoke feelings of transition and emptiness and have gained popularity on platforms like Steam. Since its release in January 2025, Dreamcore has introduced a new map called Dead Mall, reminiscent of 1990s super malls. Other titles in the genre include Pools, Tainted Pools, and Liminal Waters, while games like Dream Logic offer a PS1-era twist. Dreamcore is noted for its diverse themes and well-optimized performance, allowing players to explore unsettling landscapes. Steam's sales chart from May 12 - 19 lists the top games by revenue, with Subnautica 2 leading, followed by Forza Horizon 6, Counter-Strike 2, and PUBG: Battlegrounds. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Night is expected to rise in the charts, and 007 First Light is gaining traction due to pre-orders. Librarian: Tidy Up The Arcane Library ranks eighth despite its April release. A humorous user review for Bubsy 4D received attention for its candidness.

AppWizard

May 24, 2026

Deus Ex, Marathon actor Elias Toufexis doesn’t get why people root for games to fail: ‘Life is so short, man’

Elias Toufexis, known for his role as Adam Jensen, discussed his experiences with social media during a conversation with PC Gamer's Ted Litchfield at GDC. He expressed fatigue with the negativity on platforms like X and admitted to struggling with engaging in controversial discussions. Toufexis highlighted a specific instance of outrage directed at Bungie, noting a comment wishing for the studio's failure due to perceived political ideologies. He welcomed constructive criticism but criticized the excessive negativity and outrage culture online. Toufexis reflected on the scrutiny faced by projects like Starfield and Star Trek: Discovery regarding diversity initiatives, finding some criticisms to be unproductive. Despite these challenges, he observed a shift towards more positive comments in online reviews and expressed hope for a more constructive online discourse in the future.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

40K XCOM-like Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters is getting a sequel and this time we’ll get to purge ‘seven distinctive enemy factions’

In 1998, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate was released as a turn-based tactics game featuring the Ultramarines and Chaos. In 2022, Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters was launched, focusing on the Grey Knights and their battle against Chaos, drawing inspiration from the XCOM series. Daemonhunters received feedback regarding limited enemy diversity, primarily featuring Nurgle's minions. A sequel is announced to introduce seven distinct enemy factions. The Warhammer Skulls showcase revealed updates including a release date and DLC roadmap for Dawn of War 4, a new Skitarii class for Darktide, a platformer with a ratman protagonist, and tiger warrior DLC for Total War: Warhammer 3. Updates will be available on Steam and the Epic Games Store.

AppWizard

May 21, 2026

There is no discovery on this earth more pure than a closet full of your dad’s ’90s big box PC games

A Redditor named Mestizoc discovered a collection of classic games while cleaning his father's cluttered closet, which included titles like Dreamfall, Quake 1, Half-Life, SimTower, Thief, Sin, Mortyr, and Red Alert. Mestizoc reminisced about his gaming experiences, particularly his connection to Quake 1 and his old gaming clan, Negative Burn. His father, who remains an active gamer in his 80s, recently finished playing Subnautica and is currently enjoying Starfield.

AppWizard

May 19, 2026

Paralives looks packed with tiny features I’ve been desperately wanting in The Sims for years

Paralives will launch in early access on May 25, following a delay last year. A nine-minute gameplay video showcases features such as adjustable height sliders for character creation, a build/buy mode that allows scaling and stacking objects without cheat codes, and snap-free clutter decorating for easier placement of items. Gameplay elements include flexible job scheduling, the ability to drag and select groups of characters, integration with Steam Workshop for custom content, distinct character "vibes," and a vegetarian toggle for dietary preferences.

Winsage

May 16, 2026

Windows 11 and Microsoft Edge Hacked at Pwn2Own Berlin 2026

On May 14, Pwn2Own Berlin 2026 began, where researchers earned ,000 for 24 unique zero-day vulnerabilities. Cheng-Da Tsai, also known as Orange Tsai, achieved a significant Edge sandbox escape, earning ,000, and later exploited Microsoft Exchange for remote code execution, earning an additional ,000. Tsai accumulated 17.5 Master of Pwn points, contributing to DEVCORE's lead with ,000 in total earnings. Other researchers, including Angelboy and TwinkleStar03, earned ,000 for an Improper Access Control vulnerability, while Marcin Wiązowski and Kentaro Kawane also contributed successful exploits. By the end of Day One, DEVCORE led with ,000, and the event featured a prize pool exceeding ,000,000 across 31 targets. As of Day Two, a total of ,750 had been awarded for 39 unique vulnerabilities, with DEVCORE leading at 40.5 points and ,000 in earnings.

Tech Optimizer

May 15, 2026

From commit to cloud: Powering what’s next for PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is widely used across various industries, supported by Microsoft through significant investments, including 345 commits to the latest release and a dedicated team of contributors. It is recognized for its ability to handle complex production challenges, such as transactional integrity and concurrency management. Microsoft operates PostgreSQL globally, informing upstream contributions based on real-world deployment experiences. The database is increasingly integrated into AI applications, with Azure Database for PostgreSQL and Azure HorizonDB focusing on AI functionalities. Microsoft offers multiple deployment models to accommodate different workload needs, including Azure Database for PostgreSQL for open-source workloads and Azure HorizonDB for cloud-native systems. Recent contributions from Microsoft include enhancements in asynchronous I/O, vacuum behavior, and query planning. Azure HorizonDB is designed for high-throughput, low-latency systems requiring horizontal scaling. Microsoft also invests in developer tools, such as a Visual Studio Code extension for PostgreSQL, and sponsors PostgreSQL conferences and user groups globally.

AppWizard

May 11, 2026

Google Pushes Android Apps Into a Bigger ChromeOS Bet

Google is enhancing its Chrome browser by integrating native Android app support to strengthen the Chromebook and laptop ecosystem. This integration is part of a broader strategy to address the lack of software diversity in ChromeOS and is expected to be unveiled during the Android Show on May 12 and the I/O keynote on May 19. The move aims to merge Chrome OS and Android into a unified platform, building on past experiences with Android app integration that showed both potential and challenges. Google plans to ensure that mobile applications adapt seamlessly to larger screens and provide a user experience consistent with traditional laptop software, addressing key functionalities like window management and multitasking.

AppWizard

May 9, 2026

Steam Best-Selling Game Review Bombed by PC Gamers

Slay the Spire 2 has experienced a significant review bombing on Steam, dropping from an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating to “Mostly Negative” due to contentious updates and the involvement of consultant Anita Sarkeesian. Over the past month, 65% of the game's reviews, totaling 51,859, have been negative. The controversy has largely remained confined to Steam, as the game is in early access and lacks user reviews on Metacritic. Mega Crit has not yet commented on the situation.

AppWizard

May 7, 2026

Valorant’s Neon is going to Riot jail due to a bug, and she’s coming back next patch a changed agent

Riot Games is addressing issues with the character Neon in Valorant, particularly her Fast Lane ability, which has a game-breaking graphics exploit affecting PC players. Neon has been temporarily removed from play, and adjustments to her kit are planned for her reintroduction on May 8. The current meta favors aggressive Duelists, with Neon remaining popular despite not being the top choice in ranked matches. Her gameplay style combines aggression and strategy, but concerns about balance and her high slide accuracy have been raised. Potential adjustments may include increasing the time it takes for her to ready her weapon after using High Gear to encourage more strategic play.