influence Archives

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

SAG-AFTRA members approve new video games deal

SAG-AFTRA members voted 95.04 percent in favor of a new contract with video game companies, which includes a 15.17 percent pay increase and additional raises of three percent scheduled for November in 2025, 2026, and 2027. The agreement also introduces protections against the influence of artificial intelligence in the industry. The strike began in July 2024 and lasted for 11 months, emphasizing the need for updated protections in the face of technological advancements.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

Chief Surgeon Simulator Announced For PC & Consoles

Indie game developer RingZero Game Studio has announced Chief Surgeon Simulator, a simulation game for PC and console where players act as a chief surgeon, performing surgeries and managing a hospital. The game features dual role gameplay, allowing players to engage in surgical operations and hospital management, with authentic procedures based on real-world insights. It includes two modes: a structured Story Mode and an open-ended Sandbox Mode. A reputation system rewards players for delivering exceptional care, impacting funding and hospital growth. A release date is not yet set, but it may be speculated for 2026.

Winsage

July 7, 2025

Google Chrome now checks if your PC can upgrade to Windows 11

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, but users can extend security updates for an additional year if they maintain a Microsoft account or pay a fee. Google Chrome is evaluating Windows 10 users to gather anonymous usage statistics, which will inform the duration of Chrome's support for Windows 10 and influence future updates and security patches for users on older systems.

Winsage

July 7, 2025

Windows 11 has finally overtaken Windows 10 as the most used desktop OS

Windows 11 has surpassed Windows 10 in user adoption, with a market share of 52 percent compared to Windows 10's 44.59 percent, according to Stat Counter data. Windows 11 is currently in use on over 400 million devices, taking two years to reach this milestone, while Windows 10 achieved it in one year. The slower adoption of Windows 11 is attributed to its stringent hardware requirements. Microsoft will offer a complimentary year of security updates for users who enable Windows Backup and sync their Documents folder to OneDrive, while others can pay a fee or use Microsoft Reward points for the same benefit. The end-of-support date for Windows 10 is October 14th.

AppWizard

July 4, 2025

Matt Firor steps down as ZeniMax Online studio boss

Matt Firor is stepping down as president of ZeniMax Online Studios after 18 years. He will be succeeded by studio head Jo Burba, executive producer Susan Kath, and game director Rich Lambert. Firor expressed confidence in the new leadership team, which has been involved in significant expansions for Elder Scrolls Online. The transition occurs alongside restructuring at ZeniMax, including the cancellation of an MMO project called Blackbird. Firor joined ZeniMax in 2007 and his departure signifies a major change for the studio.

AppWizard

July 4, 2025

Warner’s ‘A Minecraft Movie’ Remains Atop Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through July 2

Minecraft is set to be adapted into a cinematic film, with a global community of over 200 million players. The film will explore the game's lore and feature themes of friendship, resilience, and imagination. A director known for animation and a mix of seasoned and new actors are involved in the project. The film's development may influence future adaptations of other video games. Fans are excitedly speculating about plot details and visual style as the release date approaches.

AppWizard

July 4, 2025

Steam now generates three times more revenue for Capcom than PlayStation

Capcom's financial report indicates a significant shift towards PC gaming, with Steam contributing 31% of the company's total revenue for the fiscal year ending March 31, representing a 38% increase from the previous year. Sales on Steam generated 52.7 billion yen (approximately .4 million), up from million the prior year. The share of revenue from Steam rose from 21% to over one-third, surpassing PlayStation's revenue, which was 10.5% the year before. Capcom sold 51 million games in the last fiscal year, with 28 million being digital PC games. The company expects console revenue to exceed PC earnings by 2027, but anticipates most revenue will come from mobile and digital PC game sales. Upcoming titles include Resident Evil Requiem, set for release on February 27, 2026, along with Onimusha: Way of the Sword and Pragmata.

AppWizard

July 4, 2025

Valve conquered PC gaming. What comes next?

Valve Corporation, founded in 1996 by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington, is known for its influential role in the gaming industry, particularly with its groundbreaking title Half-Life, released in 1998. The company has a unique corporate structure and impressive revenue-per-employee metrics, reportedly exceeding .9 million. Valve's Steam platform, launched in 2003, dominates the PC gaming market, accounting for approximately 70% of sales in a sector valued at around billion, with over 100,000 titles available. Steam had an estimated 170 million active monthly users by May 2023. Financially, estimates suggest Steam may have handled around .3 billion in game sales in 2021, yielding a profit of approximately .6 billion from commissions. Valve's employee culture emphasizes self-organization and innovation, though it faces scrutiny regarding content moderation and legal challenges related to market competition.

AppWizard

July 3, 2025

Human adaptability explained through a Minecraft experiment

Researchers from the Technical University of Berlin conducted a study using the video game Minecraft to explore how individuals learn both independently and collaboratively in changing environments. Participants engaged in a virtual foraging task, alternating between solo and group efforts to find hidden resources. The study manipulated environments to create "patchy" and "random" settings, examining when players chose to explore alone versus follow others. Data on players' visual attention and movements allowed the researchers to develop a behavioral model predicting actions based on individual and social learning strategies. Findings indicated that adaptability—switching between learning modes based on context—was crucial for success, highlighting that individuals are capable of adjusting their strategies rather than strictly imitating others or working independently. The research suggests that personal rewards influence learning types and emphasizes the importance of flexibility in decision-making.

AppWizard

July 3, 2025

Minecraft Update Preview Shows Off Everyone’s New Favorite Mob

Mojang has announced the introduction of a new mob type, the Copper Golem, in an upcoming update for Minecraft. The Copper Golem was a contender in the 2021 Mob Vote and will now be included in the game. The reveal was made by game director Agnes Larsson in a video filmed at a copper mine. The Copper Golem generates copper chests that help players manage their inventory by transferring items. Additionally, new copper gear will be introduced, marking the first new tool and armor tier since the Nether update. This new tier aims to enhance the utility of copper, making it more accessible for players. The Copper Golem and new features are currently available in the Minecraft Bedrock beta and will be released in Java Snapshot soon, although no specific release date has been provided.