interactions Archives

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Star Wars Zero Company is a very safe XCOM descendant, but its most interesting parts are found in its Midnight Suns DNA

Star Wars Zero Company features turn-based combat and soldier management, drawing comparisons to the XCOM series. Developed by Bit Reactor, founded by former Firaxis staff, the game offers a tactical experience but lacks some depth found in XCOM 2. Early gameplay reveals concerns about its mechanics, with instances of frustrating misses during combat. The game emphasizes teamwork, with classes like astromech droids providing support roles. However, it lacks elements like fog of war and diverse combat arenas, and the enemy variety is limited. While inspired by Midnight Suns, the execution does not reach the same depth, and the game's base is smaller. Players can disable permadeath, and squad management systems allow for creative builds. Overall, while enjoyable, Zero Company has not yet met expectations for evolution in the tactics genre.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Star Wars: Galactic Racer’s singleplayer is a clever roguelike gauntlet I could easily sink hours into

Players will soon have the opportunity to play Star Wars: Galactic Racer, a racing game featuring vehicles like Landspeeders, skim speeders, and speeder-bikes, as well as podracing. Each vehicle has a unique handling style, with Landspeeders offering smooth drifting, skim speeders allowing sideways navigation, and speeder-bikes providing high speed with less control. The game includes galactic tours with branching paths and upgrade choices, emphasizing mechanics like drifting, boosting, and aggressive speed bursts. Players can engage in takedowns and use abilities such as shields and flamethrowers. Races require players to place in the top ranks, with elimination races disqualifying the slowest pilots. Players earn credits and tokens for upgrades and cosmetics, even in defeat. The game features a captivating atmosphere with interactions among a colorful cast of rival racers and includes both multiplayer and a single-player roguelike mode. Further details on multiplayer features will be revealed closer to the release.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

EXCLUSIVE: Messaging apps alleged coup conspirators used for communication

The choice of communication methods, such as WhatsApp and Zangi, influenced the outcome of a clandestine operation related to an alleged coup against President Bola Tinubu's government. Retired navy captain Erasmus Victor, facing treason charges, mentioned being recruited to find financial backers for the coup by Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, who introduced him to Zangi for its security features. Zangi claims it does not store communication histories and uses end-to-end encryption, but investigators may still access data on users' devices. The investigation includes evidence from devices rather than relying solely on messaging companies. Mr. Victor and his co-defendants have denied wrongdoing and are challenging the admissibility of their statements in court.

AppWizard

August 10, 2026

6 hidden Google apps you aren’t using, but should be

YouTube Create is a free mobile video editor that offers features for creating videos for platforms like Instagram Reels, including filters, effects, and AI capabilities for editing. Snapseed is a free photo editing app with professional-grade features and a user-friendly interface, recently updated to include a camera mode. Google Opinion Rewards allows users to earn Play Store credit by completing short surveys. Action Blocks enables users to create customizable buttons for specific smartphone actions, aiding those who struggle with traditional navigation. Gallery is a minimalist photo management app that focuses on viewing images and videos without distractions. Google Lens is a versatile tool that identifies objects, extracts text, translates in real-time, and engages users in conversations about their surroundings.

BetaBeacon

August 10, 2026

Best new mobile games on iOS and Android – August 2026 round-up

Witchcraft! is a solo card strategy game where players control a coven of witches with discrete missions to undertake on behalf of local villagers.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

The GTA 3D trilogy fanpatch has its biggest update, with over 100 new fixes including restored dialogue for San Andreas

The PC versions of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, GTA 3, and Vice City have faced criticism for problematic ports due to code reuse and quality control issues. The modding community has created significant updates, including the SilentPatch, which addresses bugs and restores previously cut content. Notably, over 100 voice lines in GTA San Andreas have been restored, allowing players to access them while using a mouse and keyboard. These efforts reflect the dedication of the modding community to enhance the gaming experience and preserve the legacy of these classic games.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

8 free Android productivity apps I can’t live without in 2026

Notesnook is a free, open-source note-taking app that offers end-to-end encryption and syncs across devices, featuring a text editor, support for attachments, and organizational tools. Obsidian serves as a personal knowledge base with customizable plugins, Graph View, and Advanced Tables for structured note-taking. TickTick is a to-do app with essential features in its free version, including task lists, subtasks, reminders, and Smart Recognition for creating tasks using natural language. Trello is a project management tool with a Kanban-style interface, allowing users to manage multiple projects with custom fields and subtasks. Toggl Track is a time management app that logs hours spent on tasks and provides insights into productivity through a calendar view. Airtable is a database app with a spreadsheet-like interface for organizing information, customizable for various purposes. Raindrop.io is a bookmark manager that allows users to save articles, images, and videos, with tagging and search features for easy retrieval. MacroDroid is an automation tool for Android that enables users to create macros for repetitive tasks, improving efficiency.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

Ambrosia Sky: Act Two Launches on PC, Split Critics Praise Story Over Systems

Toronto's indie game studio, Soft Rains, has released Ambrosia Sky: Act Two on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The game has received mixed reviews, with two-thirds praising it as an emotional journey, while one review questions its gameplay and the "immersive sim" label. Owners of Act One receive Act Two for free, while new players can purchase the full game for .99 USD, with a 20% discount available until around August 14, after which the price will increase to .99 USD. Ambrosia Sky is a first-person game where players control Dalia, a field scientist returning to her home colony after a fungal outbreak. Players use an upgradeable chemical sprayer to cleanse space stations and uncover a conspiracy. Act Two focuses on Dalia's search for her ex-girlfriend Maeve and introduces new locations, exo-fungus species, a revamped progression system, and new equipment. The Corruptor fungus adds a new mechanic that has received mixed reviews. The total playtime for both acts is approximately six to seven hours. Critics debate the game's classification as an immersive sim, with some arguing it lacks the open-ended environments typical of the genre. The narrative has been positively received, with praise for its emotional depth and storytelling. The full game is priced competitively for narrative-driven indie games, and the current pricing offers good value for players interested in the story and atmosphere. As of now, Ambrosia Sky has received two critic reviews on Metacritic, scoring 80 and 60.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

The latest Expeditions game launches into early access today, and I can’t think of a better setting for the series than feudal Japan

Campfire Cabal has released Expeditions: Samurai in early access on Steam, transitioning from ancient Rome to feudal Japan. Players create a custom character arriving in Japan aboard the Dutch frigate De Albatros during the Sengoku era. The game features an expanded companion system with eight characters, stealth mechanics for tactical combat, and cooperative gameplay allowing a second player to control a twin of the main character. Expeditions: Samurai includes five main quests, three side quests, and 14 locations, with plans for future updates to add new content and features. The final version aims to have over 35 side quests, a player village, crafting mechanics, and mini-games, with completion expected by early 2027. Early adopters can purchase the game at a lower price.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Minecraft 26.3 Snapshot 7 patch notes: Concrete Stairs, Concrete Slabs, and more

Mojang has released Minecraft 26.3 Snapshot 7, introducing Concrete Stairs and Concrete Slabs for all 16 colored Concrete blocks, and overhauling Explorer Maps into distinct items with unique icons. The new map items include various explorer maps and are not available in Creative Mode. Existing Explorer Maps will convert to the new items upon loading older worlds. Other changes include adjustments to Cushions, loot table updates, and expanded Realms support. Technical changes involve new data components for attack and interaction animations, and density functions now use single-precision floating point values. Bug fixes address issues with Cushions, Armadillos, Sniffers, and various map-related problems.