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Windows 11 may have just kickstarted 2025's biggest comeback story
Winsage
February 4, 2025

Windows 11 may have just kickstarted 2025’s biggest comeback story

Windows 11 has reached a market share of 36.65% among Windows desktop users, the highest since its launch on October 5, 2021. In contrast, Windows 10 holds a 60.33% share. The increase in Windows 11 adoption is attributed to new purchases during the holiday season, with historical data showing growth from 16.97% to 18.12% between December 2022 and January 2023, and from 26.54% to 27.83% between December 2023 and January 2024. Despite fluctuations in user numbers throughout 2024, it is expected that Windows 11's market share will continue to rise, especially with the end-of-support for Windows 10 approaching on October 14. Windows 10 users will lose access to critical security updates and technical support after October 2025 unless they pay for Microsoft's Extended Security Updates. Additionally, potential increases in hardware prices may prompt users to upgrade to meet Windows 11's requirements.
Game of the Year 2024
AppWizard
February 2, 2025

Game of the Year 2024

PC gaming has evolved from a niche market for mouse and keyboard enthusiasts to a diverse platform that includes a variety of genres and styles, welcoming indie developers and enhancing controller support. The Best PC Game award highlights this transformation, with UFO 50 recognized as a standout title for packaging 51 NES-like games into one collection, offering challenges and a nostalgic experience. Hollowbody is noted as a runner-up for its modern take on survival horror, featuring fixed camera angles and environmental puzzles, while Ara: History Untold stands out in the historical 4X genre by focusing on empire building and cultural development rather than warfare. Other honorable mentions include Frostpunk 2, Mouthwashing, and Satisfactory.
The best device for playing PC games is finally coming to Australia
AppWizard
November 17, 2024

The best device for playing PC games is finally coming to Australia

Valve's Steam Deck is set to launch in Australia on November 19 and has already sold millions of units internationally. It is a handheld gaming device that functions as a Linux PC, offering extensive customization options. The Steam Deck measures nearly 30 centimeters wide and 12 centimeters tall, weighs 640 grams, and features a 7.4-inch HDR OLED display with a refresh rate of up to 90Hz and a native resolution of 1280x800. It supports a wide range of games, including high-profile titles and indie games, with battery life varying from two to eight hours depending on the game's demands. Control options include a d-pad, face buttons, analog sticks, touch-sensitive pads, and customizable settings. The Steam Deck runs on a customized Linux operating system, SteamOS, which facilitates the use of Windows games through an emulation layer called Proton. Valve rates games for performance and compatibility, with a starting price of 9 for the Steam Deck OLED and various models available at different price points.
Windows 11’s feature to allow typing with your Xbox controller has vanished in a blow for owners of handheld gaming PCs
Winsage
November 4, 2024

Windows 11’s feature to allow typing with your Xbox controller has vanished in a blow for owners of handheld gaming PCs

Windows 11 users will not receive the new gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard as it has been temporarily shelved. Microsoft announced this pause in rollout due to unresolved issues, which was communicated through a recent Beta channel preview build. The feature had been in testing since early September 2024 and was expected to be available with the Windows 11 24H2 update at the end of October. The gamepad on-screen keyboard was designed to enhance typing convenience using an Xbox controller, incorporating shortcuts for functions like backspace and spacebar.
Red Dead Redemption may still look like a 14-year-old game, but it's absolutely brilliant on handheld gaming PCs
AppWizard
October 29, 2024

Red Dead Redemption may still look like a 14-year-old game, but it’s absolutely brilliant on handheld gaming PCs

Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption has been successfully ported to PC by developers Double Eleven. The game runs smoothly on various setups, achieving just under 50 fps on lower settings and hitting a 144 fps cap on high-end rigs, with Frame Generation boosting it to 200 fps. While the performance is commendable, some animations and textures are considered dated, and the absence of certain upscaling technologies is noted. Despite criticisms regarding the price, launcher, and the need for a Rockstar account, the port is generally well-received, allowing players to enjoy the game on modern devices.
Almost three years after launch, the Steam Deck is finally getting an official release in Australia
AppWizard
October 11, 2024

Almost three years after launch, the Steam Deck is finally getting an official release in Australia

Valve announced that the Steam Deck will officially launch in Australia, with pre-orders starting in mid-November and immediate shipping promised. Three models will be available: a 256GB LCD model priced at 9, a 512GB OLED model at 9, and a 1TB OLED model at ,049. These prices are competitive compared to other handheld devices. Previously, Australian gamers accessed the Steam Deck through gray imports, which had challenges like inflated prices and lack of support. The official launch aims to provide a more secure purchasing process. New Zealand will not be included in this initial launch, but availability is hoped for next year. The OLED Steam Deck has received positive reviews, with one reviewer calling it the best console ever owned.
Here's why I'm hoping to score Lunar Lake inside my next handheld gaming PC: Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V tested in games
AppWizard
September 26, 2024

Here’s why I’m hoping to score Lunar Lake inside my next handheld gaming PC: Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V tested in games

The Asus Zenbook S 14 features an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor with eight cores, combining Lion Cove P-cores and Skymont E-cores, and is equipped with the Arc 140V integrated graphics unit. It delivers a commendable gaming experience at 1080p, outperforming the Intel Arc Graphics in the Zenbook 14 and competing effectively against AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 in various titles. The Zenbook S 14 has a power draw of around 40 W during intensive workloads and maintains a similar form factor and specifications to the Zenbook 14. The Arc 140V iGPU surpasses the Intel Arc Graphics found in the 155H, and despite a lower clock speed, the 258V shows a 5% performance advantage in games like Hitman 3. In Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, both the 258V and AMD chip achieve 27 fps, with Intel slightly ahead in 1% low frame rate metrics. The specifications include 32 GB LPDDR5X RAM, a 512 GB SSD, a 14-inch 2880 x 1800 OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, a 72 Whr battery, and a weight of 1.2 kg. The Zenbook S 14 achieves 155 minutes of gaming in 3DMark's battery life test, outperforming the Zenbook 14 and Zephyrus G16. Compatibility issues with some titles may arise from early driver releases.
Microsoft is shrinking the Xbox Game Bar for Windows handheld gaming PCs - Liliputing
Winsage
August 14, 2024

Microsoft is shrinking the Xbox Game Bar for Windows handheld gaming PCs – Liliputing

Microsoft has unveiled a preview of the new Compact Mode for the Xbox Game Bar, designed for handheld devices and smaller screens. This mode features a Home widget displaying currently running and recently played games, quick access to various game launchers, and the ability to quit games directly from the widget. It also includes a Resource widget to identify applications consuming system resources, allowing users to close unnecessary programs. The interface is navigable using game controllers, with an option for button mapping to launch the Xbox Game Bar quickly. Currently, this feature is available exclusively to members of the Windows Insider Preview program.
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