journey Archives

Winsage

January 17, 2026

Reddit users: r/WindowsCentral is live — join us to shape coverage, boost visibility, and help build the strongest Microsoft community online

The Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central announced the launch of their subreddit, r/windowscentral, emphasizing the vibrant community engagement it offers. Reddit allows for fast-paced discussions, immediate access to news, and real-time feedback, enhancing their journalism. The subreddit provides a direct connection to readers, free from algorithmic barriers, and fosters a collaborative space for sharing insights, troubleshooting, and engaging in technical discussions. Following the subreddit will also grant users access to behind-the-scenes content, polls, and editorial debates, strengthening the community and supporting independent tech journalism.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Hytale controller support explained

Hytale currently does not support controllers in its existing build, as confirmed by Simon Collins-Laflamme, the founder of Hypixel Studios. Controller support is a priority on their roadmap, aimed at enhancing accessibility for gameplay on devices like the Steam Deck. Kevin 'Slikey' Carstens, the technical director, advised players to wait for official controller support before making a purchase. The current version of Hytale is based on an older build, with future updates promising cross-platform play and controller support. Players can use a controller by following a setup process through Steam, which involves adding the Hytale Launcher as a non-Steam game and adjusting controller settings, although navigating menus and crafting may be challenging without a mouse.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Minecraft inspired Hytale starts 2026 with a comeback story, becoming the most popular game on Twitch hours after entering Early Access

Hytale was developed by Hypixel Studios, established in 2018 as a spinoff of the Hypixel server. The game features procedurally generated biomes with unique quests and monsters. In 2020, Hypixel Studios partnered with Riot Games, which later acquired the studio. However, in July 2025, Riot Games announced the cancellation of Hytale due to escalating costs. In November 2025, Hypixel Studios regained the rights to the game. Hytale entered Early Access on January 13, 2026, with pre-purchases ensuring development funding for at least two years. Upon release, it peaked at over 420,000 viewers on Twitch, although viewership dropped to just under 100,000 by January 14.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

An 81-year-old grandma has been streaming Minecraft to pay for her grandson’s cancer treatment, and he is now “cancer free”

An 81-year-old grandmother from Arizona, Sue Jacquot, started a YouTube channel called GrammaCrackers to support her grandson Jack, who was diagnosed with sarcoma in 2024 and has undergone over 200 chemotherapy treatments. The channel has nearly 200,000 subscribers, with proceeds directed towards Jack's medical expenses. The family has raised over 0,000 through a GoFundMe campaign for Jack's treatment. Recently, Jack has been declared "cancer free" and is "feeling great."

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Hytale Early Access Review So Far

Hytale, developed by former Minecraft modders, is a survival crafting game that serves as a spiritual successor to Minecraft. It retains familiar block-breaking and building mechanics but streamlines gameplay by allowing players to craft basic tools from easily collectible materials. Movement is enhanced with the ability to jump higher and utilize parkour mechanics. The game runs smoothly on high-performance systems, maintaining framerates above 60 even at maximum draw distance. Hytale features an engaging combat system with various weapon types and a diverse range of enemies. Building mechanics offer a broader selection of components, though some classic techniques may become obsolete. The Early Access version currently lacks clear direction, with the main hub area under construction and exploration revealing barriers in dungeons. Overall, Hytale presents thoughtful enhancements and a refreshing take on the survival crafting genre.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Hytale Feels Like Little More Than A Neat Minecraft Texture Pack

Hytale is an early access game that has been in development for a decade, facing a cancellation by Riot Games before its revival in November. The game features mechanics such as jumping two blocks high and a combat system that requires timing for attacks, which are similar to potential mods in Minecraft. Hytale includes familiar mobs like skeletons, spiders, zombies, and golems, alongside new creatures like goblins and Kweebecs, and a mysterious area known as the Void. Crafting in Hytale is more complex than in Minecraft, requiring multiple workstations, and workbenches can recognize adjacent chest contents. Despite its unique elements, Hytale often feels derivative of Minecraft, with similar sounds and inventory mechanics. Future updates, including an anticipated Adventure Mode, aim to introduce RPG-like storylines and quests. The game currently faces balancing issues but remains visually appealing, though it has not surpassed Minecraft's foundational elements.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Riot Games Launches League of Legends 2026 Season 1 PC Café Event With Free Rewards, Skins and Esports Prizes

Riot Games has launched its first PC café promotion of 2026, coinciding with the Season 1 update for League of Legends. The promotion, running until January 21, offers in-game rewards, trial cosmetics, and sweepstakes for players at participating PC cafés. Players can earn tiered rewards based on playtime, with those logging 20 hours receiving up to 15 Hextech Chest and Key sets. Participants are also entered into prize drawings for tickets to major esports events. A separate reward track is available for ranked victories, offering randomized rewards. Additionally, players will have temporary access to 15 champion skins from the Demacia region until January 30.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Hopes for an eventual Anthem private server resurrection ignited as former executive producer says code for running the game locally ‘is there to be salvaged and recovered’

Anthem has officially ended as of approximately 2:05 PM EST on Monday. Former BioWare executive producer Mark Darrah suggested that the technology to run Anthem locally could potentially be revived, depending on third-party developers or EA's involvement. Anthem's architecture relied on a client-server model, requiring players to connect to centralized servers. Reviving the game through private servers would necessitate a deep understanding of its network traffic and mechanics.

AppWizard

January 15, 2026

Marvel Rivals’ Deadpool is a triple-role menace, and the Merc with a Mouth’s cringe-worthy interactions don’t disappoint

Deadpool is the first triple-role hero in Marvel Rivals, presenting a challenge for game balance with three distinct versions. His character design includes upgradeable abilities and witty dialogue, featuring humorous interactions and cultural references. He will join the Marvel Rivals roster when Season 6 launches on January 16. Season 6 will also introduce a new convoy map, the Museum of Contemplation, enhance the Hero Proficiency system, and include a photo mode in Times Square and a new area called the Clobberin' Club for 1v1 duels.

Winsage

January 15, 2026

This ideal distro for Linux newbies includes a bonus for Windows users

Q4OS is a Linux distribution built on Debian, designed for users transitioning from Windows. It features the KDE Plasma desktop environment, known for its balance of elegance and user-friendliness, and also supports the Trinity desktop environment. The Welcome app includes a Desktop Profiler tool for switching between different Q4OS versions and installing alternative desktop environments. Q4OS comes preinstalled with applications like LibreOffice, Chromium, Thunderbird, and VLC, and utilizes the Flatpak package manager for additional software. Users can access apps through KDE Discover and the Q4OS Software Center, which includes tools like LookSwitcher for changing KDE Plasma themes. Q4OS prioritizes stability by following the Debian development model, ensuring a reliable operating system. It is available for free download, and the q4os-winsetup tool allows Windows users to set up a dual-boot system.