experience Archives

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

MindsEye developers protest against a fan event their own studio is hosting

MindsEye, an action game from Build a Rocket Boy, is set to have a playtest at the studio's Edinburgh headquarters, inviting community members and covering their travel costs. This comes after significant layoffs that affected over 400 employees, leading to protests organized by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, which criticizes the studio for spending on the playtest while having recently laid off staff. The union also alleges the studio has engaged in questionable practices, including employee surveillance. The playtest is seen as a strategy to regain favor with fans amid concerns about the studio's management and treatment of its workforce.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

How to access Black Flag Resynced’s new content in order

Black Flag Resynced introduces new content and modifications to the original game, including new sidequests and enhancements to combat, stealth mechanics, and ship features. Key facts include: - Mayan Stones provide a Trinket that absorbs gunfire, in addition to Mayan Armor. - Players can no longer pick up enemy weapons. - Hidden blade combat is limited to finishers only. - Stealth missions have no fail conditions if detected. - The Jackdaw's Ship Plans are now called Ultimate Plans, and Treasure Maps have changed. - New combat tool: Rope Dart, available in Sequence 3. - Sequence 4 unlocks several quests, including Art Lover, two officer quests (A Second Chance and A Proper Shipwright), Rifts, Animus Projects, and two new pets (Soot the Cat and Albert the Monkey). - Blackbeard's Treasure sidequest activates after completing Do Not Go Gently in Sequence 8. - Captain Stede Bonnet sidequest becomes available after Marooned in Sequence 8. - A World Without Gold chapter and an additional officer quest unlock after completing Everything is Permitted in Sequence 11, leading to further quests and a new mortar type for the Jackdaw.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

Sitting finally comes to Minecraft as a feature, no more tricks or mods

Microsoft's Mojang team showcased new developments for Minecraft at TwitchCon, including the upcoming Chaos Cubed update and the introduction of The Dappled Forest biome. They have begun rolling out test builds for players to experience these features. A notable addition is the ability to sit, facilitated by a new item called The Cushion, crafted from three Wool Slabs and available in 16 colors. Additionally, Straw Beds will be introduced as a single-use sleeping option, crafted from three hay bales to create four beds, which do not alter the player's respawn point. Players can download the Minecraft Bedrock Edition Preview 26.40.30 and Java Edition 26.3 Snapshot 3 to test these features. Further enhancements are expected during the testing phase based on player feedback.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

17 years later, Minecraft is finally adding somewhere to sit

Minecraft's latest update introduces cushions, allowing players to sit in the game for the first time since its launch 17 years ago. Cushions can be crafted using three Wool Slabs of the same color and are available in 16 color variants. The update also features straw beds, which are single-use and allow players to sleep without setting a spawn point, crafted from three Hay Bales to make four beds. The update, version 26.40.30, includes new abandoned camps in the Pale Garden and Flower Forest biomes and improvements to the Dappled Forest. Additionally, Microsoft announced significant layoffs affecting over 3,200 jobs across various Xbox-owned studios, marking a major restructuring in the industry.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

Marketplace Content July 2026

Dyed Blocks++ by DogHouse introduces 930 new blocks in 16 colors for builders and designers. The Cats and Dogs add-on by Street Studios features 12 new dog breeds and 12 cat breeds with accessories. Modern Textures by Team Vaeron provides new textures and blocks for contemporary home designs. Modern Textures World by Imagiverse includes over 800 furniture items for modern decor. Space Oneblock by Honeyfrost offers a survival challenge in space starting with a single block. Enter the Dungeon by King Cube presents a customizable dungeon adventure with bosses. Safest Treehouse! by Dodo Studios is a treetop fortress with security features. Pro Mansion by Dodo Studios is a luxury multistory mansion with automatic farms and a pool. Fruitcore by Yeggs offers fruit-themed outfits, while Crystal Core by CubeCraft Games provides gem-themed outfits. TV Heads HD Skin Pack by CupcakeBrianna features nostalgic TV-themed skins. Simple Scapes Texture Pack by Giggle Block Studios emphasizes clean design. Tranquility - Calm Textures by Pathway Studios offers soothing colors for a serene backdrop. Royal Delight - Soft Textures by Pathway Studios reimagines blocks and armor with regal hues. Organic Toon Texture Pack by Giggle Block Studios includes over 2000 cartoon-inspired textures.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

Expert anglers, can you name all of these videogames with fishing in them after seeing just one screenshot of a successful catch?

Engaging card games and fishing minigames can significantly extend playtime in video games. Fishing minigames are popular for their charm and the blend of patience and excitement they offer, despite the challenging controls and frantic button-mashing involved. A quiz is available that challenges players to identify fish from 21 different games within a 16-minute time limit.

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

Wear OS 7: New features, eligible smartwatches, and everything you need to know

Wear OS 7 has been rolled out for smartwatches currently operating on Wear OS 6, with future models like the Galaxy Watch 9 expected to come with this update pre-installed. Current devices eligible for the upgrade include the Galaxy Watch 8 series and the OnePlus Watch 3 (release date pending). Key features of Wear OS 7 include Live Updates for real-time notifications, Remote Media Routing and Per-App Auto Launch for media apps, and Android XR Control for managing Android XR devices. The update introduces a new Neural Expressive design language, Gemini Intelligence for task automation, and a Personal Intelligence feature for personalized suggestions based on app data. Customization is enhanced with Widgets replacing traditional tiles, allowing users to create dynamic dashboards. Updates to the Google Contacts app include an improved search interface and an Emergency Sharing feature for location sharing during emergencies. The Wear Workout Tracker standardizes fitness tracking across devices, and battery life improvements promise up to a 10% increase in longevity. Samsung's One UI Watch is evolving with the upcoming One UI 9 Watch, which is expected to feature a refreshed interface and new customizations. Firmware for One UI 9 Watch has been detected on Galaxy Watch 8 models, indicating an imminent release, with the Galaxy Watch 9 series anticipated to launch in July alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

Google Play Store will look a little different the next time you open it

Google is rolling out a redesigned user interface for its Play Store, specifically for the Games and Apps sections. The update features a new aesthetic with pill-shaped containers for navigation tabs and a streamlined layout. The "For you" tab has been removed and integrated as the default landing page for both sections. Users will now navigate to dedicated pages for "Top charts" or "Categories," requiring a return to the home screen via an arrow in the top left corner. The presentation of Google Play Points has changed, now appearing without a blue container, and users have noted a new design for notification badges.

Winsage

July 8, 2026

Windows 11’s new Cloud Rebuild can fix your PC even when it won’t boot

Microsoft has introduced a new recovery feature for Windows 11 called Cloud Rebuild, aimed at simplifying the restoration of non-booting PCs without the need for physical recovery drives. Announced at the Ignite 2025 conference, it is available in the Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8772. Cloud Rebuild allows users to restore their PCs to a clean state by performing a full OS reinstall, downloading the necessary Windows image and drivers directly from Windows Update. This feature is designed for recovery scenarios and can be accessed even when the system is unresponsive. It may first attempt a Quick Machine Recovery, and if that fails, it will transition to a cloud-based reinstallation. To use Cloud Rebuild, users must navigate to Troubleshoot → Recovery and Uninstallation → Cloud Rebuild within the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), and it will erase all existing files on the computer. Currently, it is primarily aimed at system administrators, and users of Windows 11 Home may consider upgrading to Windows 11 Pro to utilize its features.

Winsage

July 8, 2026

Valve releases drivers, notes to make Windows work on Steam hardware, but refuses to support it — tells users it doesn’t offer support for ‘Windows on Steam Hardware,’ gaming company provides resources ‘as is’

Valve has launched a resource page for Windows drivers compatible with its hardware, including the Steam Deck LCD, Steam Deck OLED, and Steam Machine, facilitating the installation of Windows 11 on these devices. The drivers cover essential components such as the APU, graphics, SD card reader, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and audio. Users can revert to SteamOS if needed, with recovery instructions provided. The Steam Machine is noted for its high price and lack of subsidies from Valve, which complicates the company's ability to offer discounts. While SteamOS offers a streamlined experience, Valve is working to enhance its compatibility with more hardware. The lack of dual-boot capabilities in SteamOS limits gamers who need specific anti-cheat software, though Valve is exploring this feature without a set release date.