inflation Archives

AppWizard

January 3, 2026

New Path of Exile 2 patch notes nerf the ARPG’s game-breaking temples, but GGG might have gone too far

New patch notes for Path of Exile 2, specifically the 0.4.0c hotfix 13, aim to address the dominance of certain Vaal Temple layouts by introducing changes to room modifiers and restricting the locking of anything below tier three. The update includes diminishing returns on modifier values for room types after four or more of a specific type are used, primarily affecting lower-tier rooms. This change is intended to improve server performance and reduce the potential of high-value temple layouts, which previously generated hundreds of Divine Orbs per run, now averaging around 20. The rooms associated with Golem Works and Spymaster have been swapped to encourage variety in temple setups. Additionally, the use of Juatalotli's Medallion is restricted to tier-three rooms, leading to backlash from players who feel disadvantaged by this change. The patch is now live, and while it aims to mitigate top-end currency drops and curb inflation, it may disproportionately affect average players.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

More bad news for PC gamers as AMD CPU prices could soon soar

AMD is rumored to be planning a price increase for its Ryzen CPUs, with changes expected to take effect at midnight on December 1, 2025. This increase is said to be related to AMD's suppliers and may not immediately affect retail prices. The Ryzen 9000 series and some older AMD CPUs are expected to be impacted. Current prices for models like the Ryzen 7 9800X3D remain low, and consumers are advised to take advantage of existing deals before potential price hikes occur.

AppWizard

November 15, 2025

7 years of delays kept this anime sports RPG from coming out, but players say it was worth the wait: ‘This game didn’t just score, it hit my soul with a fire tornado of nostalgia’

Fans of Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road have waited nine years for the game's release, which was first announced by Level-5 in 2016 and faced eight delays, including two this year. The game has received an "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating on Steam, with over 600 reviews praising its nostalgic elements and gameplay. Some users have compared their experience to moments from the film Ratatouille and expressed that the delays added depth to the game. The game features innovative adaptations of previous campaigns and recreates classic matches. However, there are critiques regarding its retail price of .99 (or .99 for the deluxe edition), which is significantly higher than earlier titles. Despite pricing concerns, the overall sentiment among fans is positive, celebrating the return of the series.

AppWizard

November 4, 2025

Arc Raiders and Battlefield 6 prove that great performance and low system requirements are king for multiplayer PC games in 2025

Arc Raiders had over 350,000 simultaneous players during its launch weekend. It is designed to run on older hardware, requiring a minimum CPU of Intel Core i5 6600K and a GPU like the GTX 1050 Ti or RX 580. The RTX 3060 is the most commonly used desktop GPU among gamers, while the RTX 4060 is gaining popularity. The high cost of PC upgrades and inflation make it difficult for many players to keep up with the latest hardware. Battlefield 6 is playable on older hardware like the 4 GB AMD Radeon RX 570, while Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford described Borderlands 4 as "a premium game for premium gamers," which may limit its audience. Performance optimization is crucial for attracting a broad player base in multiplayer games.

AppWizard

November 2, 2025

Does Dole’s (DOLE) Minecraft Partnership Signal a Shift in Digital Brand Strategy for the Long Term?

Dole Food Company is launching a global campaign called “Make the World a Healthier Place” in collaboration with Minecraft, running from October 2025 to March 2026, aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles and nutrition awareness among families in North America and Europe. This marks Dole's first simultaneous marketing effort across these regions using a major digital platform. The company recently completed a .9 million follow-on equity offering to improve its balance sheet flexibility. Dole projects revenue of .1 billion and earnings of million by 2028, with an expected annual revenue growth rate of 1.4%. Current fair value estimates for Dole range from .41 to .34, reflecting varied analyst outlooks amid ongoing margin pressures and earnings volatility.

Tech Optimizer

October 23, 2025

Percona Releases Inaugural State of Open Source Database Management Report

Percona has released its first State of Open Source Database Management Report, which includes insights from industry executives and technical leaders. The report identifies four critical areas: the rise of polyglot database environments, the necessity for unified management approaches, the influence of AI and cloud-native computing, and the complexity of open source licensing. Key findings include: - 78% of technical professionals surveyed consider PostgreSQL crucial for AI/ML initiatives, with 25% labeling it as “mission critical.” - SaaS costs are rising at nearly five times the rate of standard inflation, prompting experts to recommend established open source solutions like PostgreSQL and MySQL to reduce total cost of ownership and avoid vendor lock-in. - Cloud-native database deployments using open source technologies like Kubernetes are essential for scalability, performance, and resilience. - The demand for unified, platformized architectures is critical for operational efficiency as organizations adopt diverse database management systems.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

So, uh, why are there suddenly at least 4 sinister convenience store simulators on Steam at once?

In 2024, the gaming landscape has seen the rise of retail simulation games, with titles like Supermarket Simulator, Supermarket Together, and TCG Card Shop Simulator gaining popularity. There are at least four upcoming games focused on managing convenience stores while facing intergalactic, supernatural, and undead threats. Roadside Research involves players as aliens using a gas station for covert research. Hellmart features a convenience store operator defending against grotesque creatures. The Walking Trade is set in a zombie apocalypse where players stock supplies for survivors. Shift At Midnight requires players to identify doppelgangers among customers to avoid danger. Other titles include Service with a Shotgun, which combines customer service with wave defense, and [Herror] Gas Station Case, part of a horror anthology. Exit: Gas Station offers an anomaly detection game under the supervision of a towering overseer. The emergence of these chaotic retail experiences raises questions about societal anxieties and the evolution of game design within the retail simulation genre.

Winsage

October 2, 2025

Microsoft Is Abandoning Windows 10. Hackers Are Celebrating.

Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, impacting hundreds of millions of computers in the U.S. and raising concerns about increased electronic waste, estimated to exceed one billion pounds. Approximately 42 percent of Windows computers globally still use Windows 10, compared to only 4 percent for Windows 8 when support was discontinued in 2016. Users unable to upgrade to Windows 11 face limited options: pay for extended support or replace their devices, which can be financially burdensome. Nearly 43 percent of active PCs running Windows 10 are not equipped to upgrade to Windows 11, which requires a 64-bit processor, 64 GB of storage, and a high-definition display. Without ongoing updates, devices running unsupported software become more vulnerable to hacking and data breaches. The FBI estimates that internet crimes will cost U.S. consumers over billion in 2024, a 33 percent increase from the previous year. Consumer advocates emphasize the need for manufacturers to disclose support timelines, with 72 percent of Americans believing this information should be mandatory.

AppWizard

September 23, 2025

The Steam Deck Just Went On Sale And Is Killing The Competition On Price

The Steam Deck has maintained price stability over the past three years and will be available at a 20 percent discount during the 2025 fall Steam sale, starting September 22. The discounted price of the 0 LCD model positions it as a competitive alternative to other gaming devices, including the Nintendo Switch, which has recently increased in price. The discount coincides with the Steam Autumn Sale from September 29 to October 6 and may assist Valve in inventory management as it phases out older models. The 256GB LCD model's price is comparable to refurbished units that are currently out of stock, while the 512GB OLED and 1TB OLED models remain at their original prices. Other platforms, such as Xbox and PS5, have been increasing prices. The gaming market is evolving with speculation about future devices like the anticipated Switch 2, and competition in the PC gaming handheld sector is increasing, highlighted by the upcoming Xbox Ally Rog and the high-priced Legion Go 2, which is facing supply issues. Currently, there are an estimated 5 to 7 million Steam Decks in circulation, making it the best-selling portable gaming device outside of Nintendo's offerings.

Winsage

September 18, 2025

Americans Put Off New PCs as Inflation Bites – Market Slips 2% in Q2

Groceries, gas, and rent are prioritized over new laptops in the US, impacting the PC market. Shipments declined by 1.4% year-on-year to 18.6 million units in Q2 2025. Inflation persists, with food prices up 3% and shelter costs at 4.3%, limiting discretionary spending. Many households are delaying PC purchases until their devices fail. In contrast, commercial demand grew by 4% as businesses upgrade systems in response to the Windows 10 end-of-support deadline and increasing AI adoption, which has more than doubled in the last two years. Apple achieved 15.5% year-on-year growth, while Lenovo grew by 5.1%. HP and Dell saw declines of 4.8% and 3.5%, respectively. Overall shipments in 2025 are projected to reach 71 million units, driven by commercial demand, while consumer demand is expected to shrink by nearly 4%. Government shipments are forecasted to grow by 9.9% this year, while education PCs are expected to remain flat in 2025 but surge nearly 10% in 2027. The market is projected to peak at 73.5 million units in 2026 before declining to approximately 70.8 million in 2027.