expansions Archives

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

The 14 most underappreciated games of the last year that you shouldn’t have ignored

Skin Deep: Released on December 5th, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (771); Peak player count: 953. Loco Motive: Released on November 21st, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (659); Peak player count: 336. Straftat: Released on October 24th, 2024; Steam reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (7523); Peak player count: 960; Price: Free on Steam. Penny’s Big Breakaway: Released on February 21st, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (800); Peak player count: 228. Solium Infernum: Released on February 22, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (1,362); Peak player count: 1,108. MechWarrior 5: Clans: Released on October 17th, 2024; Steam reviews: Mostly Positive (4303); Peak player count: 5,548. Xenotilt: Released on November 12th, 2024; Steam reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (594); Peak player count: 81. Anton Blast: Released on December 3rd, 2024; Steam reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (2919); Peak player count: 1,104. The Thaumaturge: Released on March 4th, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (2866); Peak player count: 2,733. Still Wakes the Deep: Released on June 18th, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (5639); Peak player count: 729. Dungeons of Hinterberg: Released on July 18th, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (1597); Peak player count: 486. Drova: Forsaken Kin: Released on October 15th, 2024; Steam reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (6618); Peak player count: 2,717. 1000xRESIST: Released on May 9th, 2024; Steam reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (3471); Peak player count: 278.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

CHARTS: New content brings Destiny 2 back to Steam No.2

Destiny 2 has re-entered the Steam Top Ten, ranking second, following the announcement of new content including two expansions: Edge of Fate in July and Renegades in December. The game surged 83 places in rankings after the launch of the Rite of the Nine on May 6th. Counter-Strike 2 remains the highest-grossing title on Steam. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is in third place, while The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered has dropped to seventh. Valve's Steam Deck is fourth, and Doom: The Dark Ages is fifth in pre-orders. Apex Legends climbed to sixth, and Stellaris returned to the Top Ten at eighth due to a sales event. Schedule 1 fell to ninth, and War Thunder is tenth. The Steam Top Ten for the week ending May 13th is as follows: Counter-Strike 2, Destiny 2, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Steam Deck, Doom: The Dark Ages, Apex Legends, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, Stellaris, Schedule 1, War Thunder.

Winsage

May 12, 2025

Microsoft makes another pitch for React Native in confusing world of Windows desktop development

Microsoft is advocating for the use of React Native to simplify Windows desktop development, promoting it as a viable solution for building native applications. React Native, originally developed by Facebook, allows code written in JavaScript to be rendered natively on iOS and Android, and Microsoft aims to extend these benefits to Windows. The company is addressing developer confusion by providing guidance and resources for integrating React Native into Windows development. Microsoft is also investing in enhancing React Native's capabilities for Windows, including performance improvements and library expansions, to attract and retain developers.

Winsage

May 11, 2025

Microsoft Build 2025: What to expect from Copilot, Windows 11 and AI agents

Microsoft's commitment to artificial intelligence and its Copilot initiative is ongoing, with a focus on AI at the upcoming Microsoft Build developer conference from May 19 to 22. The conference will highlight AI, which has become a central theme in recent years. CEO Satya Nadella and CTO Kevin Scott will host the opening keynote, available for viewing on the Build website, with real-time updates provided by Engadget. This year, discussions are expected to include the integration of AI agents into the Windows 11 Settings app, enhancements to File Explorer for easier file management, and upgrades to the start menu for app discovery. A notable feature for Copilot, called Copilot Vision, will allow the AI assistant to observe user activities and engage in relevant dialogue, with an expanded version teased for desktop environments. In March 2025, Microsoft introduced a "Researcher" tool within Copilot for Microsoft 365 subscribers, enabling research aggregation from various sources. There has been no announcement regarding its availability for free users, but potential plans may be revealed at Build 2025. Additionally, updates on Azure, .NET, and GitHub will be part of the conference agenda.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

How to get New Land Beyond in Destiny 2

Acquiring the New Land Beyond exotic sniper rifle in Destiny 2 requires a pre-order of the Year of Prophecy Ultimate Edition, as it is currently not available for free in-game. Players can expect future opportunities to obtain it without cost. Pre-ordering grants immediate access to the weapon. The Ultimate Edition also includes all playable content for the year, such as the Renegades expansion, battle passes, three Star Wars-themed outfits, an exotic sparrow, an emote, and an exotic catalyst and ornament for New Land Beyond. Players must collect the weapon from the Exotic Archive in the Tower after pre-ordering. The weapon has several perks, including increased damage from precision hits, enhanced range, and improved handling speed.

AppWizard

May 3, 2025

Weekend PC Game Deals: Star Wars specials, XCOM bundles, Wargame festivals, and more

This week, the Humble Store launched the Tycoon Titans Bundle featuring titles like Transport Fever, PlateUp!, Frostpunk, and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition. The bundle also includes Mad Games Tycoon 2, Espresso Tycoon, and Farm Manager 2021 with its Agrotourism DLC. Additionally, the XCOM Bundle includes all 17 modern titles from the XCOM and XCOM 2 series, along with expansions and classic games. The Epic Games Store is offering the game Super Space Club for free until May 8. Forza Motorsport is available for free this weekend on Steam. Sales are ongoing for franchises such as Lord of the Rings, Dark Souls, and Star Wars, while the GOG store has DRM-free specials including discounts on indie games and classic titles. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

May 2, 2025

Signals crossed: How Signal Messenger thrived as support for Mike Waltz took a dive

Signal, the encrypted messaging app, has seen a surge in popularity due to increased media attention on the White House's Houthi attack plan scandal. The app's usage has risen as public perception shifts, with many viewing Signal as a champion of privacy amidst concerns about data breaches and surveillance. The app has reported a notable increase in daily active users, and market analysts anticipate potential expansions and innovations as competitors take note of Signal's success. The scandal has led to discussions about privacy and security, particularly affecting key figures within the U.S. government.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

Assassin’s Creed Shadows announces more difficulties, more immersion options, more Jesuits, and a bo staff in its year 1 roadmap

Ubisoft has announced a post-launch roadmap for Assassin's Creed Shadows, featuring a year of updates that include patches, new features, and enhancements. This month, players can expect: - A free quest focused on Yasuke's companion, Luis Frois. - Quality-of-life improvements, including the potential reinstatement of the multi-sell feature. - An updated photo mode for creative expression. - A special collaboration similar to past co-marketing efforts. - Refinements to parkour mechanics, introducing new movement options. Future content will include: - A new free quest and ally. - New difficulty settings. - Gameplay immersion options, such as headgear visibility in cutscenes. - An open-world alarm system with unspecified changes. Ubisoft has also teased expansions, including new storylines, collaborations, unique gear for the battle-pass system, and the Claws of Awaji expansion, which will add a new region. Additionally, Naoe will be able to wield a bo staff, enhancing combat dynamics.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

The Best PC Games of 2025 So Far (Spring Edition)

Spring 2025 has seen the release of several notable PC games, including: - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Released on April 24, 2025, by Sandfall Interactive, it sold over 1 million copies in three days and features a blend of French art nouveau aesthetics and JRPG combat mechanics. - Monster Hunter Wilds: Released on February 28, 2025, by Capcom, it introduces full narrative integration and dynamic monster interactions. - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered: Released on April 22, 2025, by Bethesda Game Studios, it attracted over 4 million players shortly after launch and features enhanced visuals and gameplay updates. Other early 2025 releases include: - Blue Prince (April 10, 2025) - Split Fiction (March 6, 2025) - Atomfall (March 27, 2025) - Assassin’s Creed Shadows (March 20, 2025) - Two Point Museum (March 5, 2025) - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (January 23, 2025) - Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (January 22, 2025) - Ninja Gaiden II Black (January 23, 2025) - The Talos Principle: Reawakened (April 10, 2025) Highly anticipated titles for later in 2025 include: - Grand Theft Auto VI (Late 2025) - Doom: The Dark Ages (May 15, 2025) - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (August 28, 2025) - The Outer Worlds 2 (Expected 2025) - Borderlands 4 (September 12, 2025) - Marvel’s Blade (TBA 2025) - Hades II (Full Release later 2025) - Frostpunk 2 (Summer 2025) - Slay the Spire 2 (Early Access Expected 2025) - Anno 117: Pax Romana (Expected 2025) - Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (October 2025) - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Expected 2025) - Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Expected 2025) In 2024, top-rated PC games included: 1. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree 2. Metaphor: ReFantazio 3. UFO 50 4. Tekken 8 5. Caves of Qud 6. Animal Well 7. Satisfactory 8. Balatro 9. Thank Goodness You’re Here! 10. The Last of Us Part II Remastered The PC gaming landscape in 2024 was characterized by significant hardware advancements, improved game integration and compatibility, and thriving online communities.

Winsage

April 30, 2025

Microsoft: Windows Server hotpatching to require subscription

Microsoft will transition hotpatching for Windows Server 2025 to a paid subscription model starting July 1, 2025, with a cost of [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Microsoft has made a significant announcement regarding the future of hotpatching for Windows Server 2025, a feature that allows administrators to apply security updates without the need for system restarts. As the company prepares for the general availability of this service, it will transition to a paid subscription model starting July 1, 2025. Subscription Details and Preview Phase In a proactive move, Microsoft is encouraging administrators to take advantage of the free preview of hotpatching before it becomes a subscription-based service. This opportunity will remain available until June 30, after which those currently testing the service will be automatically subscribed unless they opt out. “Hotpatching for Windows Server 2025, made available in preview in 2024, will become generally available as a subscription service on July 1st, 2025. With hotpatching, we are taking what was previously an Azure-only capability and now making it available to Windows Server machines outside of Azure through Azure Arc,” Microsoft stated. Upon the subscription launch, hotpatching will be priced at .50 USD per CPU core per month. To utilize this feature in multi-cloud environments or on-premises, users will need both a Hotpatch service subscription and an Azure Arc-connected server running Windows Server 2025 Standard or Datacenter. How to Enable Hotpatching Enabling hotpatching on your server is a straightforward process. First, connect your server to Azure Arc by following the specified steps. Next, navigate to Azure Update Manager within the Azure Portal, select your Azure Arc-enabled server, and check the hotpatching option as outlined in the provided documentation. A Brief History of Hotpatching Hotpatching has been a part of Microsoft's offerings since February 2022, initially available for Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition. This feature allows for the deployment of security updates by patching the in-memory code of running processes, eliminating the need for reboots after each installation. However, it is important to note that servers still require reboots for updates delivered through the standard Windows update channel, which are not included in the Hotpatch program. This includes non-Windows updates, such as .NET patches, and Windows non-security updates. Microsoft began public testing of hotpatching for Windows Server 2025 in September 2024, with further expansions to Windows 11 24H2 and Windows 365 following in November 2024. By April 2025, hotpatch updates will be generally available for business customers using Windows 11 Enterprise 24H2 on x64 (AMD/Intel) systems." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].50 per CPU core per month. A free preview of the service is available until June 30, 2025, after which users testing the service will be automatically subscribed unless they opt out. Hotpatching allows administrators to apply security updates without system restarts and will be available for Windows Server machines outside of Azure through Azure Arc. To enable hotpatching, servers must be connected to Azure Arc and configured via the Azure Update Manager. Hotpatching was initially introduced in February 2022 for Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition and allows for in-memory code updates, but standard Windows updates still require reboots. Public testing for Windows Server 2025 began in September 2024, with general availability for Windows 11 Enterprise 24H2 expected by April 2025.