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Sand publisher celebrates 300,000 copies sold: 'We getting a half hour of air conditioning tonight!'
AppWizard
July 4, 2026

Sand publisher celebrates 300,000 copies sold: ‘We getting a half hour of air conditioning tonight!’

Sand: Raiders of Sophie, a steampunk-mechs-in-the-desert game, sold 300,000 copies after its early access launch. An update released on July 2 caused connection issues, leading to a rollback of changes. The game ranks among the top 100 most played games. The second update on June 2 faced backlash due to connectivity problems but was quickly addressed. The update included fixes for server availability, enhanced BattlEye functionality, refined character movement, and various balance changes. Known issues include characters getting stuck on ladders and transparency issues in spectator mode.
South Korean trade watchdog alleges Google abused its position in Android app store
AppWizard
July 1, 2026

South Korean trade watchdog alleges Google abused its position in Android app store

South Korea's antitrust regulator, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), has raised concerns about Google's practices in the Android app marketplace, identifying potential abuses of market dominance that may have stifled competition. The KFTC's Market Surveillance Bureau reported that Google's actions have impacted approximately 14.16 trillion won (around billion) in revenue. The report focuses on Google's "Games/Google Velocity Program," which operated from July 2019 to March 2026, providing financial support to game developers in exchange for launching games on Google's app store under favorable terms compared to competitors. This program reportedly diminished developers' incentives to use rival app stores, effectively creating a state of exclusive dealing with Google. If found guilty of market abuse, Google could face a fine of up to 6% of the affected revenue, approximately 0 million. Google has eight weeks to respond to the report, and the KFTC will issue a final ruling thereafter.
Windows Defender 'BlueHammer' vulnerability now exploited as part of malware campaigns — CISA issues warning despite patch release on April 14
Winsage
June 30, 2026

Windows Defender ‘BlueHammer’ vulnerability now exploited as part of malware campaigns — CISA issues warning despite patch release on April 14

A race condition vulnerability in Windows Defender, known as BlueHammer, has been exploited by the hacker Nightmare Eclipse, allowing attackers to gain SYSTEM user access. Microsoft released a patch for this vulnerability on April 14, but the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has flagged it as actively exploited in ransomware campaigns. The average time to apply critical OS patches across Windows 10 and 11 is now 127 days, with enterprise environments averaging 76 days. Estimates suggest that 15% to 26% of Windows 10 machines remain unpatched, with a conservative estimate of 20% translating to one in five machines being vulnerable. Microsoft has extended security updates for Windows 10 until October 14, 2027, but public awareness of the updates remains low.
This week in PC games: a new King's Field-like RPG, an American Revolutionary War sim, and a dreaming megacity full of cool architecture
AppWizard
June 29, 2026

This week in PC games: a new King’s Field-like RPG, an American Revolutionary War sim, and a dreaming megacity full of cool architecture

This week in gaming features a mix of nostalgia and innovation. "The Message from Deep Space" is a narrative set in the 1970s about translating signals from an asteroid, inspired by the Voyager Interstellar Record project. The arcade classic "Ninja Masters" returns on Steam with nine-player lobbies and rollback netcode. "Feed the Pit" invites players to explore cursed forests for sacrifices, while "Forgotten Blood" offers a dark journey through a valley with peculiar creatures. "Telluricene" is a visual novel with romantic choices involving a janitor and a plant creature. "Oblivion Maiden" is a dreamy mystery game, and "Cartesian Battle" teaches math through bullet trajectory challenges. "Cat Squeeze" is a lighthearted maze puzzler, and "Mosaic Garden" focuses on cultivating flower patterns. "Mycofall" is an early access bullet heaven adventure, while "Hollow Ground" offers a 90s-style action experience. "Laballatory" allows players to create Newton's Cradle toys, and "American Revolutionary War" is a turn-based wargame featuring strategic battles against George Washington. The RPS team is preparing for various topics, including insights on the Steam Machine and Tennocon.
Sally Beaumont, voice actor in Old Skies and The Séance of Blake Manor, extols the virtues of narrative singleplayer games 'You can have lots of them in your PC toolbelt'
AppWizard
June 28, 2026

Sally Beaumont, voice actor in Old Skies and The Séance of Blake Manor, extols the virtues of narrative singleplayer games ‘You can have lots of them in your PC toolbelt’

Sally Beaumont began her gaming journey with Leisure Suit Larry and was inspired to pursue voice acting after playing The Curse of Monkey Island. Her portfolio includes titles like Harold Halibut, The Excavation of Hob's Barrow, Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader, and she is the lead voice in the upcoming Old Skies. Currently, she is playing The Séance of Blake Manor and enjoys revisiting Nelly Cootalot. Beaumont has spent the most hours on Old Skies, using it to ground herself in her role, while Two Point Hospital is her most-played game outside of her work. She does not have a game she would never uninstall, as she prefers narrative-driven games with endings. Her essential non-gaming software is GoldWave, an audio editing tool. Beaumont describes her desktop as chaotic, with some organization but overall disarray.
Meccha Chameleon proves an explosive hit with over 10 million copies sold
AppWizard
June 28, 2026

Meccha Chameleon proves an explosive hit with over 10 million copies sold

Meccha Chameleon sold one million copies within a few days of its launch and reached 10 million copies sold less than a month later. Currently, nearly 200,000 players are engaged concurrently. The game's success is attributed to its timeless hide-and-seek gameplay, the trend of affordable low-spec multiplayer games, viral moments showcasing its unique gameplay, and its low price of six dollars. Despite some software issues, it has been described as an essential and engaging experience.
Invincible VS devs would like to have guest characters like Spider-Man and Sub Zero: 'If we have that opportunity, we will definitely take it'
AppWizard
June 28, 2026

Invincible VS devs would like to have guest characters like Spider-Man and Sub Zero: ‘If we have that opportunity, we will definitely take it’

Invincible VS, a superhero tag battler based on Robert Kirkman's Image comic series, is exploring the possibility of character crossovers, with game director Dave Hall and lead combat designer Bau Bautista expressing enthusiasm for such ideas. They noted that Spider-Man has appeared in Invincible comics, making crossovers feel like a natural evolution. Hall and Bautista also expressed interest in including characters from the Mortal Kombat franchise, specifically Sub-Zero and Scorpion. Currently, the game focuses on characters from the Image comic universe, with Immortal and Universa set to join on June 30, coinciding with the launch of its first season.
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