growth Archives

Winsage

April 4, 2026

Windows Use Among Gamers Falls, Linux Tops 5% For the First Time

The latest Steam Hardware survey indicates that Windows usage among gamers has fallen below 93% for the first time, while Linux has surpassed 5%, reaching 5.3%. Windows 10's market share dropped nearly 15% in March 2026, and Windows 11 only gained 10.6% during the same period. macOS increased by 1.2%, while Linux grew by over 3.1%. Among Linux users, SteamOS Holo 64-bit is the leading distribution with a 25% share, attributed to the Steam Deck. Other distributions like Arch and Mint hold 8.8% and 6.9% of the market, respectively. There are also unnamed distributions referred to as "0 64 bit" and "64 bit," which may be experimental versions of SteamOS.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

Subscription service for indie games gets a rough reception

Indie Pass will launch on April 13, offering a subscription model for .99 per month, providing access to a curated selection of 70 indie games primarily from the indie.io catalog. Developers will be compensated based on the playtime of their games by subscribers. The service has received mixed reactions, with concerns about promoting games designed for prolonged engagement, the preference for direct purchases, and the lack of ownership of games. Critics, including George Broussard, argue that subscription models harm developers, while some see potential for discoverability for indie titles. Jess Mitchell from Indie Pass emphasized discoverability as a key incentive for developers. Publisher Devolver Digital humorously commented on the subscription model's viability. As the launch nears, Indie Pass must demonstrate its value to both developers and gamers amidst skepticism and competition in the gaming market.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

New findings reinforce why Sony may leave PC behind and release new first-party singleplayer games on PlayStation instead

Sony's entry into the PC gaming market generated 0 million in revenue over three years, as disclosed in 2023. The company is reconsidering its strategy for first-party singleplayer games on PC, potentially reinforcing PlayStation exclusivity. Jerry Liu, a former planner in Sony's PlayStation division, reported that he managed operations for the PS PC group, which grew from zero to 0 million in net revenue over three years. Sony's earnings from PC games for fiscal years were as follows: FY20: million, FY21: 0 million, FY22: 0 million. The surge in FY22 revenue was largely due to the acquisition of Bungie and the release of nine first-party titles on PC. The reported figures reflect net revenue, while actual gross revenue for FY22 was approximately 0 million. This discrepancy indicates that Sony's quarterly reports represent gross revenue, while segment briefings reflect net revenue. Focusing on PlayStation exclusivity may help Sony balance gross and net revenues and avoid revenue sharing with platforms like Valve.

AppWizard

April 2, 2026

Cult raising simulation game TOMAK: Save the Earth Regeneration now available for PC

Publisher Netmarble, in collaboration with developer Netmarble Monster, has released TOMAK: Save the Earth Regeneration, a remastered edition of the original visual novel TOMAK: Save the Earth, to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The game is available for PC users through the Epic Games Store and can be claimed for free until April 16; after that, it will be priced at .99. It supports multiple languages, including English, Japanese, and Korean. The storyline involves Evian, the Goddess of Love, who, after losing her body, exists as a head in a flowerpot and requires nurturing over three years to regain her form and save humanity. The game features high-detail illustrations, a lyrical soundtrack, life-sim mechanics, and choices that significantly impact the narrative outcome.

AppWizard

April 2, 2026

Shinji Mikami’s next game was just stealth-announced in a YouTube video and it sure looks like the creator of survival horror is back doing what he does best

In 2023, Shinji Mikami founded a new studio called Unbound, marking his third studio creation after PlatinumGames and Tango Gameworks. Unbound recently launched its website, attracting the attention of Shift Up, a Korean publisher, which announced the complete acquisition of Unbound. Mikami emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent and expressed confidence in creating a "masterpiece of a game." Unbound currently has around 50 staff members and is expanding its workforce for an upcoming project. Mikami conveyed his enthusiasm for the creative process and addressed gamers, asking them to wait a little longer for the game's release.

Winsage

April 2, 2026

Wine has been translating Windows games to Linux since 1993, but Proton is what made it effortless

Wine is a compatibility layer, not an emulator, that translates Windows API calls into POSIX equivalents, allowing Windows applications to run on Linux. Proton, developed by Valve, builds on Wine and includes additional components like DXVK and VKD3D-Proton to enhance performance for Windows games on Linux through Steam. For Steam users, Proton is recommended for a streamlined gaming experience, while Lutris is suggested for those outside the Steam ecosystem. Wine has been in development since 1993, focusing on recreating the Windows API, but faced challenges with gaming compatibility. Cedega was an early attempt to improve gaming support over Wine but ultimately declined. Valve's development of Proton was motivated by the need for better compatibility for Windows games on Linux, especially highlighted by the launch of the Steam Deck. Wine struggled with synchronization issues and handling direct kernel access by Windows applications, which Proton addressed with seccomp-bpf filters and syscall user dispatch. Both Wine and Proton are crucial to the current state of Linux gaming.

Winsage

April 1, 2026

US PC sales grow by 3% in late 2025 as companies and consumers scrambled to replace Windows 10 — 2026 forecast sees 13% drop as storage and memory prices expected to climb another 60%

In the fourth quarter of 2025, U.S. PC shipments increased by 3% year-on-year, totaling 18.2 million units. This growth was driven by seasonal holiday demand, the need to upgrade aging Windows 10 computers, and retailers securing inventory ahead of supply chain challenges due to a chip shortage. The overall PC market in 2025 also grew by 3%, reversing declines from the previous two quarters. Commercial sector shipments rose by 6% to 8.2 million units, supported by holiday spending and a shift to more affordable products, as enterprises migrated to Windows 11 before the end-of-support deadline for Windows 10. However, Omdia predicts a 13% contraction in PC shipments for 2026 due to rising RAM and storage costs, alongside CPU shortages from Intel and AMD. The entry-level PC market may face significant challenges, potentially diminishing by 2028. Despite declining shipment numbers, the market value is expected to rise due to price increases from supply constraints. Omdia forecasts a rebound in 2027, with shipments projected to grow by 7% to exceed 66 million units, still below the 71.5 million units recorded in 2025.

AppWizard

March 30, 2026

VK reports 107 mln registered Max messenger users

VK's messaging platform, Max, has reached 107 million registered users and surpassed a daily audience of 77 million users as of March. Users send over 1.5 billion messages and make approximately 30 million calls daily on the platform.

AppWizard

March 29, 2026

Editorial: Minecraft Lies About Farming

Italy is using a modified version of Minecraft called ‘Farmcraft’ to teach agriculture to students, aiming to inspire careers in farming. However, there are concerns about the accuracy of the information provided, as the game simplifies farming processes, leading to misconceptions about the time and effort required for actual crop cultivation. Critics argue that this could misinform students about farming techniques and the complexities involved, potentially impacting future food production and sustainability. The educational value of such gaming experiences is being questioned, prompting calls for a reevaluation of agricultural education in the digital age.

AppWizard

March 29, 2026

Deadlock isn’t a death sentence for Dota 2 – it’s “a gateway,” according to caster and ESL product manager ‘Avo+’

The Dota 2 ESL One Birmingham 2026 tournament features a significant patch, 7.41, released by Valve just before the playoffs, which has sparked discussions about its impact on the competitive scene. ESL product manager Álvaro 'Avo+' Sánchez Velasco notes that this approach tests teams' adaptability and acknowledges the stress it places on players and production teams. He praises the patch's design philosophy, highlighting Valve's experimentation with game mechanics and the importance of player independence. Velasco believes the new game, Deadlock, could positively influence Dota 2 by attracting new players and enhancing community engagement. He observes an uptick in player interest and viewership, indicating a stable audience for Dota 2. As the grand finals approach, three teams remain in contention: Tundra Esports, Team Yandex, and Xtreme Gaming, with Velasco expressing particular support for XG and its star player, Wang 'Ame' Chunyu.