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Modern Warfare 4's Kill Block lets you use a Desert Eagle sniper rifle, but it's still Call of Duty at heart
AppWizard
July 22, 2026

Modern Warfare 4’s Kill Block lets you use a Desert Eagle sniper rifle, but it’s still Call of Duty at heart

The Fanatics Fest convention at the Javitz Center in Manhattan featured the public debut of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. A new map called Kill Block was introduced, which consists of three modules that rotate every two rounds in Gunfight mode, creating an evolving gameplay experience. The game includes a new ballistics model that enhances realism but does not drastically change gameplay mechanics. The Gunny system simplifies weapon customization by automatically assembling guns based on available attachments. Modern Warfare 4 retains core elements familiar to the series while emphasizing grounded combat, allowing players to maintain aim down sights while mantling. Overall, the game aims to reaffirm Infinity Ward's status in the Call of Duty franchise.
Meta Horizon+ Adds XBOX Game Pass
AppWizard
July 22, 2026

Meta Horizon+ Adds XBOX Game Pass

Meta and XBOX have launched a starter edition of XBOX Game Pass on the Meta Horizon+ platform, providing access to over 50 games. This edition includes 10 hours of cloud gaming each month, allowing players to stream select titles without downloads. Users can also download games for unlimited play across various devices. The library features notable titles such as Fallout 4, Overcooked 2, Grounded, DayZ, Deep Rock Galactic, and SnowRunner. Meta Quest Touch controllers will soon emulate an XBOX gamepad, enabling easy access to Game Pass titles. The subscription to Meta Horizon+ costs .99 USD per year or .99 USD per month, with a one-month free trial for new users, and includes over 100 VR games.
Google boosts AlloyDB vector search with HNSW preview
Tech Optimizer
July 22, 2026

Google boosts AlloyDB vector search with HNSW preview

Google has introduced a preview of its columnar engine-accelerated HNSW feature for AlloyDB, enhancing vector search throughput by up to four times for users of the pgvector extension in PostgreSQL. This improvement is aimed at approximate nearest neighbor searches using HNSW across large datasets. AlloyDB utilizes a columnar engine that allows HNSW indexes to reside in memory, improving throughput and recall metrics. In benchmark tests on the GloVe 100 Angular dataset, queries per second increased by approximately 4.2x to 4.9x, with recall improving from about 0.78 to over 0.94 at a throughput of around 350 queries per second. The columnar engine's design bypasses traditional PostgreSQL buffer management bottlenecks, enhancing efficiency during graph traversal. The memory architecture is distinct from basic caching techniques, and the feature requires no changes to application code. Users must enable the columnar engine and index caching flags to utilize this feature. Benchmarks were conducted on an AlloyDB C4A machine with 16 virtual CPUs.
What 'long tail' should you expect for your PC game in 2026?
AppWizard
July 22, 2026

What ‘long tail’ should you expect for your PC game in 2026?

GameDiscoverCo hosted the 'Scrappy Saves The Animals' game jam in collaboration with the Oakland Ballers on Itch.io, with the top game being Scrappy’s Rescue Run, which will be showcased at an upcoming event. GDCO Pro reported on trending unreleased Steam games, with Dear Passengers leading in wishlists, followed by Paper Shredder and Guildrun. An analysis revealed that AI-flagged games achieve around 3,000 sales, which is 55% of the rate of non-AI titles. The Binding Of Isaac Complete Bundle sold nearly 4 million additional units after a 90% off sale during the Steam Summer Sale. A developer was arrested for injecting malware into Steam games, affecting around 8,000 users and stealing approximately 0,000 in cryptocurrency. Roblox announced a UGC-centric Build feature, raising concerns about predatory offers to creators. Xbox Game Pass added titles like Halo: Campaign Evolved and Beast of Reincarnation. Valve updated SteamVR with a more VR-native interface. Epic Games and Google withdrew a lawsuit settlement attempt that could impact Android app stores. GameDiscoverCo Pro introduced automated graph annotations for Steam demo launches. An analysis of games released between July 2023 and July 2025 showed cumulative sales increases over time, with higher-priced titles having better long-term sales. Multiplayer and co-op games are experiencing promising sales trajectories. The GameDiscover Show has returned, discussing trends in game discovery and insights from GDCo’s AI survey.
Marathon's experimental PvE mode is live, immediately tripling its daily player count
AppWizard
July 22, 2026

Marathon’s experimental PvE mode is live, immediately tripling its daily player count

Bungie released Marathon's 1.1.5 update, introducing the Vault Breaker experimental PvE mode, allowing players to explore the Cryo Archive map for two weeks without competitive interference. Following this update, concurrent player counts on Steam exceeded 14,800, marking a threefold increase compared to the previous week and the highest activity since a decline after the June free weekend.
Microsoft is finally modernizing Windows 11's decades-old File Explorer properties window with a new UI
Winsage
July 22, 2026

Microsoft is finally modernizing Windows 11’s decades-old File Explorer properties window with a new UI

Microsoft is modernizing the File Explorer app in Windows, gradually introducing modern UI elements while much of the application retains its older design. A hidden modernized File Properties window has been found in the latest Windows 11 preview build, indicating plans for a complete overhaul of the File Properties dialog. This effort is part of Microsoft's broader initiative to integrate WinUI across the Windows Shell, including enhancements to the Start menu and in-box applications, as part of the Windows K2 project. The modernized File Properties feature has not yet been officially announced, but its appearance in preview builds suggests further updates are forthcoming.
St. Louis Restaurant Review Launches Android App
AppWizard
July 21, 2026

St. Louis Restaurant Review Launches Android App

St. Louis Restaurant Review has launched a dedicated Android mobile application available on the Google Play Store, providing St. Louis diners with access to restaurant news, reviews, and an online ordering process through eOrderSTL. The app offers real-time updates on restaurant openings and closures, detailed reviews focused on the local culinary scene, and integrates eOrderSTL to allow users to order food directly from the app. This integration helps restaurant owners avoid high commission fees charged by national delivery platforms, retain customer data, and maintain control over their digital storefronts. Consumers benefit from lower menu prices, support for the local economy, and a streamlined ordering experience. The app is designed for speed and ease of use, enhancing the dining experience for locals.
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