evolving landscape Archives

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Grab a free The Traveller skin in Fortnite when you buy Cronos The New Dawn

The Cronos skin from Bloober Team's upcoming horror title, Cronos: The New Dawn, is available for purchase in the Fortnite Shop for 1,500 V-Bucks. Players who buy the game on the Epic Games Store after April 21 will receive the skin for free if they link their Epic Games account. The skin represents the Traveler character, featuring her helmet, armor, and the Sword MK-1615. Players who have already purchased the game on a different platform are not eligible for the free skin and must buy it with V-Bucks. Piotr Babieno, CEO of Bloober Team, expressed excitement about the collaboration with Fortnite.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Microsoft cut the price of Game Pass. Now it should reinvent the Xbox

Microsoft has reduced the price of its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to .99 per month, following a significant price increase of 50% in October 2025. The PC-only plan is now priced at .99, while a more basic version is available for .99. This price adjustment reflects an effort to make gaming more accessible amid economic pressures on gamers. The service, launched in 2017 and fully rolled out in 2019, has seen increased costs due to acquisitions and content delivery. The recent changes come as Phil Spencer stepped down and Asha Sharma took over, aiming to restore confidence in the brand. However, the removal of new releases from franchises like Call of Duty raises concerns about subscriber retention.

Tech Optimizer

April 22, 2026

pgEdge Launches AI DBA Workbench, an AI Co-Pilot for Database Administrators

pgEdge has introduced the AI DBA Workbench for PostgreSQL, an AI-driven tool designed to assist teams in managing PostgreSQL environments. The tool addresses the talent gap in database management, as the demand for experienced database administrators exceeds supply. The AI DBA Workbench continuously monitors PostgreSQL performance metrics and employs a three-tier anomaly detection system to identify potential issues. It includes an integrated assistant named Ellie, which provides diagnostic workflows and SQL code recommendations. The Workbench is compatible with PostgreSQL version 14 and above, is open source, and available for public download on GitHub. It is also included in pgEdge Enterprise Postgres, which offers enterprise-grade solutions. Support for the Workbench is available for pgEdge Enterprise Postgres subscribers.

Tech Optimizer

April 22, 2026

“I haven’t used a 3rd party antivirus since XP”: Microsoft says Windows 11’s built-in ‘Defender’ antivirus is “usually sufficient” for most PC users

Windows 11 includes Microsoft Defender, an integrated antivirus application that protects against malware, phishing, and ransomware. Microsoft states that for many users, Microsoft Defender is sufficient for everyday risks without needing additional software, provided it is regularly updated and used cautiously. The decision to use third-party antivirus software depends on individual usage patterns and specific feature needs. Microsoft warns against running multiple antivirus programs simultaneously due to potential system conflicts and resource strain. Community opinions on platforms like the r/Windows11 subreddit indicate a general consensus that Microsoft Defender meets users' security needs effectively.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Xbox Announces Price Reductions For Game Pass Ultimate & PC Game Pass

Microsoft has announced a reduction in the pricing of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. In the United States, the monthly fee for Xbox Game Pass will decrease from .99 to .99, and PC Game Pass will drop from .99 to .99. Adjustments in pricing for other regions are being implemented. Additionally, future installments of the Call of Duty franchise will no longer be available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on their launch day, but will be accessible approximately one year after their initial release.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Microsoft just made Game Pass cheaper, and it’s all thanks to Call of Duty

Microsoft has reduced the monthly subscription price for Game Pass Ultimate from .99 to .99 and for PC Game Pass from .99 to .99. New releases of the Call of Duty franchise will no longer be available on the subscription service at launch, but will be added the following holiday season. Existing Call of Duty titles will remain accessible on the service.

TrendTechie

April 21, 2026

Самому старому BitTorrent-трекеру The Pirate Bay исполнилось 22 года

The Pirate Bay celebrates its 22nd anniversary and continues to serve millions of users despite access-blocking attempts. When it launched, only about 10% of the global population had internet access, and content consumption was mainly offline. The oldest active torrent on The Pirate Bay is an episode of "High Chaparral" featuring Uri Geller, uploaded on March 25, 2004. The oldest active music torrent is a compilation titled Instant Hits by Gyllene Tider, and the oldest active gaming torrent is The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth. Additionally, the documentary Revolution OS, uploaded on March 31, 2004, remains available, despite the director's dissatisfaction with piracy. The oldest active torrent on the internet is a short amateur parody film, The Fanimatrix, created in September 2003.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Top-rated Steam PC Games Released Last Week (13–19th of April)

- PRAGMATA: 96% positive reviews from 8,155 ratings, Developer: CAPCOM Co., Ltd., Publisher: CAPCOM Co., Ltd., Genre: Action, Adventure, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - MOUSE: P.I. For Hire: 95% positive reviews from 3,026 ratings, Developer: Fumi Games, Publisher: PlaySide, Genre: Action, Indie, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts: 99% positive reviews from 308 ratings, Developer: Yaza Games, Publisher: Mythwright, Genre: Casual, Indie, Simulation, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - Lucky Tower Ultimate: 94% positive reviews from 1,643 ratings, Developer: Studio Seufz, Publisher: AMC Games, Genre: Action, Adventure, Indie, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - ShantyTown: 100% positive reviews from 111 ratings, Developer: Erik Rempen, Publisher: Kinephantom Games, Genre: Casual, Indie, Simulation, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - Gecko Gods: 97% positive reviews from 157 ratings, Developer: Inresin, Publisher: Super Rare Originals, Genre: Action, Adventure, Indie, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - Moves Of The Diamond Hand: 100% positive reviews from 50 ratings, Developer: Cosmo D Studios, Publisher: Cosmo D Studios, Genre: Adventure, Indie, RPG, Release Date: 13 Apr, 2026. - Fishing Inc: 92% positive reviews from 307 ratings, Developer: BigBonk Studio, Publisher: BigBonk Studio, Genre: Casual, Indie, Simulation, Release Date: 14 Apr, 2026. - Nekokami - The Human Restoration Project: 100% positive reviews from 50 ratings, Developer: Rocket-in-Bottle, Publisher: Rocket-in-Bottle, Genre: Adventure, Casual, Indie, Release Date: 13 Apr, 2026. - Warhammer: Mark of Chaos - Gold Edition (Classic): 96% positive reviews from 82 ratings, Developer: Black Hole Entertainment, Publisher: SNEG, Genre: Strategy, Release Date: 13 Apr, 2026. - Atomic Heart - Blood On Crystal: 93% positive reviews from 308 ratings, Developer: Mundfish, Publisher: Focus Entertainment, Genre: Action, Adventure, RPG, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - Loot Loop: 91% positive reviews from 319 ratings, Developer: BitBrew, Publisher: BitBrew, Genre: Casual, Indie, Simulation, Release Date: 13 Apr, 2026. - BUNNY GARDEN 2: 93% positive reviews from 161 ratings, Developer: qureate, Publisher: qureate, Genre: Adventure, Casual, Indie, Release Date: 13 Apr, 2026. - Airborne Empire: 89% positive reviews from 665 ratings, Developer: The Wandering Band LLC, Publisher: Stray Fawn Publishing, Genre: Action, Adventure, Casual, Release Date: 17 Apr, 2026. - Windrose: 86% positive reviews from 13,030 ratings, Developer: Kraken Express, Publisher: Kraken Express, Genre: Action, Adventure, RPG, Release Date: 14 Apr, 2026. - The Angel's Devil Tail - One More Question 2: 90% positive reviews from 21 ratings, Developer: 橘音, Publisher: 橘音, Genre: Adventure, Casual, Indie, Release Date: 14 Apr, 2026. - OPUS: Prism Peak: 91% positive reviews from 391 ratings, Developer: SIGONO INC., Publisher: SHUEISHA GAMES, Genre: Adventure, Indie, Release Date: 15 Apr, 2026. - Cozy Sanctuary: 100% positive reviews from 34 ratings, Developer: OverPowered Team, Publisher: Isolated Games Publishing, Genre: Casual, Simulation, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - PRAGMATA: Shelter Variety Pack: 98% positive reviews from 59 ratings, Developer: CAPCOM Co., Ltd., Publisher: CAPCOM Co., Ltd., Genre: Action, Adventure, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - Portal 2: Community Edition: 89% positive reviews from 277 ratings, Developer: P2:CE Team, Publisher: P2:CE Team, Genre: Action, Adventure, Casual, Release Date: 17 Apr, 2026. - Electrogical: 94% positive reviews from 67 ratings, Developer: kinjo, Publisher: Phoenixx Inc., Genre: Casual, Indie, Simulation, Release Date: 17 Apr, 2026.

AppWizard

April 20, 2026

Crimson Desert is so packed with weird systems and quirks that it can be a struggle to remember them all—which is why we’ve made a quiz about everything from the stock market to space

Crimson Desert features a variety of eccentric elements that engage players, prompting the creation of a quiz to test knowledge on its unique aspects. The quiz includes ten multiple-choice questions covering topics such as health bars, unconventional currencies, mounts, and the game's expansive map. Even experienced gamers find the quiz challenging, with few achieving a perfect score. Players are encouraged to share their results in the comments.

AppWizard

April 20, 2026

I tested 5 PC games on the ASUS Zenbook A16 with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme: Is Windows on ARM improving?

ASUS launched its Zenbook A16 on April 7, featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processor, marking a shift in the Windows on ARM ecosystem. The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme is a System-on-Chip (SoC) with a high-performance "Oryon" CPU and a "Hexagon" NPU for AI tasks, achieving up to 80 TOPS, along with an "Adreno" GPU for graphics. The laptop's gaming performance varies by title: 1. World of Warcraft: Midnight - Verdict: ✅ Perfect; maintained 60 FPS in demanding scenarios. 2. Cyberpunk 2077 - Verdict: 🟠 Playable; performance around 30–40 FPS on low settings, not ideal for casual gameplay. 3. Minecraft: Bedrock Edition - Verdict: ✅ Great; ran smoothly at 55–60 FPS without ray tracing. 4. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II - Verdict: ❓ TBD; lacks an ARM64 build, making it challenging to run. The findings highlight the need for native ARM64 game versions and the potential for growth in the Windows on ARM gaming sector.