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ESA Lobbyist Calls Private Minecraft Servers Illegal During Hearing
AppWizard
June 30, 2026

ESA Lobbyist Calls Private Minecraft Servers Illegal During Hearing

Jennifer Gibbons, Vice President of State Government Affairs at the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), stated during a California State Senate hearing that community servers for Minecraft and Call of Duty are "illegal" and equate to "piracy." She mentioned that the ESA has pending lawsuits against private servers and that the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has identified some private servers as notorious markets for piracy. Gibbons' comments were challenged by Assemblyman Chris Ward, who noted the existence of community servers for both games. An ESA representative later clarified that Gibbons was responding to a complex question and that private servers hosting copyrighted content without authorization infringe on the intellectual property rights of game publishers. The ESA reported a total revenue of ,614,556 in the fiscal year ending March 2025, with ,804,681 from member dues.
ESA Claims Private Minecraft Servers Are 'Illegal' and 'Piracy' in Stop Killing Games Hearing
AppWizard
June 30, 2026

ESA Claims Private Minecraft Servers Are ‘Illegal’ and ‘Piracy’ in Stop Killing Games Hearing

The California State Senate hearing on the Protect Our Games Act raised questions about the legality of private Minecraft servers. Assemblyman Chris Ward noted that games like Minecraft and Call of Duty have successfully used community servers, while Jennifer Gibbons from the ESA argued that these servers are illegal and unapproved by Microsoft, labeling them as piracy. Gibbons stated that the ESA has two lawsuits against private servers for infringing on intellectual property rights. In contrast, Minecraft's official stance encourages the creation of third-party servers, which are vetted for compliance with community standards. The ESA maintains that private servers infringe on publishers' rights. The USTR's Notorious Market Report referenced by Gibbons does not specifically target community servers for connecting friends but focuses on those bypassing subscription services. The Protect Our Games Act did not advance but will be reconsidered. An ESA representative later clarified that private servers hosting copyrighted content without authorization infringe on publishers' rights and highlighted concerns about safety standards on these platforms.
Hasbro Games Junior Collection release date confirmed on consoles and PC
AppWizard
June 25, 2026

Hasbro Games Junior Collection release date confirmed on consoles and PC

Outright Games, in collaboration with Hasbro, will release the Hasbro Games Junior Collection on November 6, 2026. This collection includes Monopoly Junior, Clue Junior, and Game of Life Junior, designed for players of all ages with interactive challenges and simplified rules. It supports up to four players in local multiplayer mode and will be available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
'Off the wishlist it comes': 007 First Light fans are requesting refunds after learning about Denuvo DRM addition ahead of launch
AppWizard
May 22, 2026

‘Off the wishlist it comes’: 007 First Light fans are requesting refunds after learning about Denuvo DRM addition ahead of launch

IO Interactive has decided to implement Denuvo Digital Rights Management (DRM) into the game 007 First Light just days before its launch, leading to significant discontent among potential players who have expressed their frustrations on Steam and initiated refund requests. Players criticize Denuvo for its impact on game performance and restrictions on PC users, with many stating they will not purchase the game at launch as a result. Denuvo has faced scrutiny for its effectiveness, as many games have been cracked despite its use. The likelihood of IO Interactive reversing its decision to include Denuvo seems low, reflecting a trend among game publishers prioritizing anti-piracy measures over consumer satisfaction.
Starbreeze hasn't declared Payday 3 dead yet, but it's launching yet another spin-off this year—this time on Roblox
AppWizard
April 29, 2026

Starbreeze hasn’t declared Payday 3 dead yet, but it’s launching yet another spin-off this year—this time on Roblox

Starbreeze has partnered with Gamefam to create a new game set in the Payday universe on Roblox, expected to launch later this year. This will be the second Payday-themed game on Roblox, following Notoriety: A Payday Experience, which was released in 2024. Starbreeze aims to expand the Payday brand through selective licensing and innovative formats, despite facing challenges with Payday 3, which has struggled to attract players. The new projects allow Starbreeze to maintain oversight while external studios handle development. Gamefam has experience in partnerships with major game publishers and brands.
Google Announces Registered App Stores For Android
AppWizard
March 4, 2026

Google Announces Registered App Stores For Android

Google is launching a Registered App Stores program for Android, allowing third-party app stores to officially register if they meet specific quality and safety criteria. This program aims to provide a better installation experience for users and will be rolled out in a major Android release later this year, initially targeting markets outside the US. Registration is optional, and stores can continue using the existing sideloading process. Alongside this, Google is unbundling its fee structure, reducing service fees for developers to between 15% and 20%, with an additional 5% fee for using Google Play billing in certain regions. The rollout of the new billing structure is expected by the end of June in the US, UK, and Europe, with global completion by September 30, 2027. The initiative is part of a broader settlement with Epic Games and reflects ongoing legal pressures for greater competition in app distribution.
CONVERGENCE GAMES SHOWCASES OVER 30 OF THE HOTTEST AA AND INDIE TITLES COMING TO CONSOLE AND PC IN 2026
AppWizard
February 21, 2026

CONVERGENCE GAMES SHOWCASES OVER 30 OF THE HOTTEST AA AND INDIE TITLES COMING TO CONSOLE AND PC IN 2026

Fourth Floor unveiled video links from the Convergence Games Showcase on February 19, 2026, which introduced over 30 AA and Indie games set for release in 2026. The event was hosted by Dodger and Jesse Cox in collaboration with IGN, featuring first gameplay reveals and exclusive content from companies like Curve Games, Gambit Digital, and Playside. Rich Keith, CEO of Fourth Floor, highlighted the showcase's growth and focus on the indie community. Fourth Floor, founded in 2017, specializes in games marketing services and works with both AAA and indie game publishers.
UK legal action against Valve over Steam prices gets go ahead
AppWizard
January 27, 2026

UK legal action against Valve over Steam prices gets go ahead

Valve Corporation is facing a £656 million lawsuit in the UK over allegations of unfair pricing practices related to its online store, Steam. The lawsuit, initiated by Vicki Shotbolt in 2024, claims Valve uses its market dominance to impose restrictive terms on game publishers, preventing them from offering lower prices on competing platforms. The legal documents allege Valve charges an excessive commission of up to 30%, resulting in inflated costs for UK consumers. This case is a collective action that could affect up to 14 million Steam users in the UK. Additionally, Valve is facing a separate consumer action case in the United States filed in August 2024. Steam, launched in 2003, has become the largest distribution platform for PC gaming, with over 19,000 games released in 2025, generating £8.6 billion in revenue. Valve has also introduced hardware like the Steam Deck and announced plans for the Steam Machine console.
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