game

AppWizard
July 15, 2026
Shift At Midnight is an indie horror game that combines cooperative gameplay and player agency, allowing players to defend themselves through various means. Originally planned for a PC release on Steam, it will also be available on Xbox consoles, Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox Play Anywhere starting July 22, 2026. Developer Bun Muen announced this multi-platform launch on July 10, 2026. Early gameplay footage has attracted attention from popular streamers, leading to increased interest in the game. A multiplayer demo is available on Steam, showcasing engaging mechanics reminiscent of Papers, Please and Five Nights at Freddy's.
BetaBeacon
July 15, 2026
India accounts for 18% of global Android game downloads, with Android representing 97.5% of all game downloads in the country. 63% of India's overall gaming revenue comes from in-app advertising, while 70% of Android gaming revenue is from in-app purchases. Top global gaming apps use a wider mix of user acquisition channels compared to Indian publishers. Google's ecosystem is the largest contributor to gaming installs in India.
BetaBeacon
July 15, 2026
Google's grip over the Play Store was ruled as an illegal monopoly, leading to the opening up of Android to approved third-party app stores. This change allows developers to use their own payment systems and skip Google's cut in many cases, making it easier for other app stores to compete. This is significant news for Xbox, as it now has the opportunity to launch its own mobile game store on Android, which has been a goal for the company for years. The loosening of rules on Android provides Xbox with a chance to bring its mobile store to life and potentially increase revenue by selling games directly, running promotions, and offering better prices without Google taking a cut. The history of Xbox's fight against Google and Apple in the mobile app store market is also highlighted, with Xbox having faced obstacles in launching its mobile store features on Android in the past. With the recent changes, Xbox now has fewer roadblocks in its way and a real opportunity to establish a mobile storefront on Android.
AppWizard
July 15, 2026
Google has announced the introduction of third-party app stores for US users, starting July 22, as part of the Play Catalog Access Program. Developers can submit apps to Google, which will then be accessible through these external stores, although transactions will still be processed via Google Play, maintaining service fees. This initiative follows a settlement with Epic Games, which led to the creation of a "Registered App Stores" program. However, Google and Epic have since withdrawn their motion to modify a court injunction. Third-party app stores must pay a ,000 upfront service fee for a security review and an annual fee of ,000 to access the Play catalog, and they are required to target US users only. Additionally, Google has opened the Play Store to external billing options and reduced its commission on app purchases from 30% to 10%.
AppWizard
July 15, 2026
Epic Games and Google have decided to withdraw their proposed settlement regarding the Play Store, following a [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: In a significant turn of events, Epic Games and Google have mutually decided to withdraw their previously proposed settlement, which had aimed to sidestep extensive alterations to the Play Store. This decision comes on the heels of an unexpected 0 million partnership between the two companies. As a result, Google is now obligated to incorporate rival app stores within the Play Store, following the original court injunction set for October 2024. According to a report from The Verge, Google is preparing to enable third-party app stores in the U.S. starting July 22, 2026. Dan Jackson, a spokesperson for Google, elaborated on the situation, stating: “We’ve agreed with Epic to withdraw our motion to modify the US Court’s injunction rather than prolonging this process which creates uncertainty for the ecosystem. This allows us to focus on executing our recently announced global business model evolution to deliver greater app store choice, lower prices, and more opportunities for developers and users. We remain committed to maintaining Android’s industry-leading security and fostering a competitive ecosystem where every app store and developer has the freedom to compete. In parallel, we continue to comply with the US Court’s injunction.” What does all of this mean? The initial settlement had permitted Google to avoid the integration of third-party app stores in the U.S., instead offering developers enhanced flexibility for app distribution and payment processing outside the Google Play Store. With the withdrawal of this settlement, Google must adhere to the original court ruling from October 2024, which mandates the inclusion of rival Android app stores within the Google Play Store for an extended period, alongside sharing its entire app catalog with these stores. Notably, this ruling is applicable solely within the U.S., allowing other global markets to remain unaffected. As highlighted in Google’s statement, the company is also advancing its Registered App Stores program for international markets as part of its agreement with Epic. In the U.S., Google is already notifying app developers that their app and game listings will be automatically accessible to third-party app stores starting July 22, unless they choose to opt out. Furthermore, Google has initiated an enrollment page for third-party app stores to access its Play Catalog, with an annual fee of ,000 for security and policy reviews, among other stipulations. As this situation unfolds, numerous questions remain unanswered, and clarity is anticipated as the process progresses. Epic and Google are scheduled to appear before the Court on Thursday, where further insights on this matter may be revealed." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million partnership. As a result, Google is required to include rival app stores in the Play Store due to a court injunction set for October 2024. Google plans to enable third-party app stores in the U.S. starting July 22, 2026. The withdrawal of the settlement means Google must comply with the original court ruling, which mandates the inclusion of rival Android app stores and sharing its app catalog with them. In the U.S., app developers will have their listings automatically accessible to third-party app stores unless they opt out. Google has also launched an enrollment page for third-party app stores to access its Play Catalog, with an annual fee of ,000 for security and policy reviews.
AppWizard
July 15, 2026
Verity, a character in Minecraft, gained popularity after a viral video amassed over 20 million views since its release in May 2026. On June 16, PnTMC released the Verity - Bedrock Edition mod on CurseForge, which received 4.9 million downloads in 28 days, allowing players to interact with Verity. The Undertalelover mod, also for Bedrock Edition, has 2.8 million downloads, while VarmiteYT's Java Edition mod has over 800,000 downloads in under two weeks.
AppWizard
July 15, 2026
Eric Glyman, cofounder and CEO of Ramp, advocates for a hiring philosophy that prioritizes "proof of work" and exceptional drive over traditional qualifications and résumés. He believes valuable hires often come from unexpected backgrounds, citing Ramp engineers who demonstrated dedication through their involvement in Minecraft. Ramp actively seeks talent on platforms like GitHub and through referrals from individuals who know candidates well. Glyman emphasizes the economic advantages of hiring younger talent before they accumulate extensive experience, which can inflate their market value. He also focuses on candidates' long-term motivations and alignment with the company's mission. Glyman's approach aligns with other influential CEOs, such as Elon Musk, who also prioritize tangible evidence of a candidate's abilities over résumés.
AppWizard
July 15, 2026
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is set to be released on July 23, developed by Gameplay Group International. Mike Zaimont, known for his work on Skullgirls and Indivisible, is involved in the game's development, which has sparked controversy due to past allegations of sexual misconduct. The game's publisher, Paramount, confirmed Zaimont's participation, leading to disappointment among fans of the Avatar franchise. Koh, a contributor to the Korra comics, expressed his dismay over Zaimont's involvement. The development team faces the challenge of addressing public perception while aiming to meet high expectations for the game.
AppWizard
July 15, 2026
In Palworld, Nightstar Sand is a mid-game crafting ingredient required for various tech tree recipes starting at level 56. It can be primarily found in the Dessicated Dunes, particularly at night, where players can glide from the Searing Dunes Watchtower to locate glowing sand nodes. Feybreak Island beaches have a higher abundance of Nightstar Sand but are more challenging for lower-level players. The Dessicated Dunes also contain sparse deposits around the Tower of the PIDF. Nightstar Sand is used in crafting items such as the Advanced Bow, Beam Sword, Metal Detector, and Double Air Dash Boots, with specific quantities required for each recipe.
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