landscape Archives

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

World of Warcraft is getting a sub price increase in several countries, and it couldn’t come at a worse time

World of Warcraft is facing issues following patch 12.0.5, which has caused significant bugs and led to the temporary disabling of housing features in The Americas and Oceania. Effective June 22, 2026, subscription prices will increase in the UK, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Turkey, with UK players seeing a 10% increase and Kazakhstani players facing up to a 40% hike. Turkish players will be required to pay in Euros instead of the Turkish Lira. The game has maintained a steady subscription rate in the US since 2004, but adjustments have been made in other regions based on market conditions. Players have reported various bugs, including a critical bug affecting player housing, which Blizzard is prioritizing.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Parents of Instagram and Messenger teens can see what they’re asking AI.

Meta has introduced a feature that allows parents to monitor the inquiries their teenagers make to the company's AI on platforms such as Instagram and Messenger. This feature is available in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Brazil, providing insights into the topics explored by teens with Meta's AI over the past week. It also extends to Facebook, although the platform's relevance among younger users is decreasing. The initiative is part of Meta's efforts to safeguard young users, including alerts to parents about searches related to self-harm.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Releasing PlayStation games day one on PC isn’t “a good strategy” for its AAA titles, former Sony head says, but he hasn’t seen proof its abandoning the platform altogether

Former PlayStation head Shuhei Yoshida discussed Sony's strategy for PC game releases at the Powerhouse Museum's ALT. Games Festival, stating he has seen no evidence of Sony moving away from its commitment to PC ports. He noted that during his time at PlayStation, there was a policy preventing AAA games from being released on other platforms like PC. Yoshida acknowledged concerns from some fans about first-party titles being ported to PC but believes it hasn't significantly affected PS5 adoption. He emphasized the importance of staggered release schedules for maintaining the value of PlayStation exclusives. Despite rumors about changes in Sony's approach to PC ports, particularly for single-player titles, Yoshida remains unconvinced of any strategy shift. He also mentioned the competitive landscape, including the potential impact of Microsoft's next Xbox device on Sony's decisions.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

League of Legends booster puts out post offering “10k per month.” Riot absolutely cooks them

The videogame community is currently experiencing a divide, but there is a universal disdain for cheaters. Drew Levin, League of Legends’ Director of Product, is actively addressing cheating issues. Recently, he confronted a booster named 'Little Peter,' who advertised boosting services for Challenger players in North America. Levin warned that he would ban anyone involved in such practices. Little Peter responded defiantly but later expressed remorse. Boosting is against Riot's terms of service and can lead to account bans, which may also affect other Riot games.

Tech Optimizer

April 23, 2026

The antivirus feature I skip on every SSD-powered PC

File shredders may not effectively erase data on solid-state drives (SSDs) due to the way SSDs distribute data, which can lead to deleted files remaining retrievable. Additionally, using file shredders can reduce the lifespan of SSDs because of their limited write cycles. Instead of file shredders, drive encryption is recommended for protecting sensitive data on SSDs, as it ensures that deleted data remains unreadable. Windows 11 offers integrated drive encryption for users with a Microsoft account, and tools like VeraCrypt or Cryptomator can create encrypted folders for managing sensitive documents. It's important to safeguard access to encrypted data by backing up decryption passwords or recovery keys.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Call of Duty games coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one lasted all of two releases as Microsoft announces big changes and a welcome price cut

Xbox has reduced the prices of its Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass services. The monthly fee for Game Pass Ultimate decreased from .99 to .99, and the cost of PC Game Pass was adjusted from .99 to .99. New titles in the Call of Duty franchise will no longer be available on the platform at launch but will be accessible approximately one year after their initial release. Existing Call of Duty titles, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, will remain available to subscribers.

Tech Optimizer

April 23, 2026

Everywhen issues six checks to spot unsafe websites

Everywhen has released guidelines to help organizations identify unsafe websites and combat online fraud. The guidance includes six checks users can perform before visiting unfamiliar sites: 1. Utilize website safety checker tools like Google Safe Browsing and Norton Safe Web. 2. Verify the site contains standard business information, such as contact details and social media links. 3. Conduct reputation checks by reviewing public feedback for complaints related to fraud or poor service. 4. Evaluate visual and editorial standards for indicators of illegitimacy, such as poor grammar or outdated branding. 5. Maintain updated antivirus software to block malicious downloads and phishing attempts. 6. Adjust browser settings to receive alerts about suspicious websites. The guidance highlights the importance of scrutinizing URLs for unusual spellings or characters and distinguishes between HTTP and HTTPS, noting that the padlock symbol does not guarantee trustworthiness. The initiative aims to protect both consumers and organizations from cyber threats, particularly as fake websites increasingly target personal information and financial transactions.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

All new prices for Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass in April 2026 revealed

Xbox Game Pass has reduced its subscription costs effective immediately: Game Pass Ultimate is now .99 per month, and PC Game Pass is .99, down from .49. The Premium and Essential tiers maintain their pricing from October 2025. Future releases of the Call of Duty franchise will no longer be available on Game Pass at launch, with new titles added nearly a year after their initial release, although existing titles will remain accessible.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Titanium Court review

Titanium Court is a game that combines match-three puzzles, autobattlers, and visual novels, developed by AP Thomson and published by Fellow Traveller, set to release on April 23, 2026. It features a narrative where the protagonist ascends to the throne of the Titanium Court amidst a war between two factions. Players engage in match-three mechanics to gather resources and eliminate enemy blocks, with gameplay transitioning to an autobattle phase where resource management affects soldier deployment. The game includes whimsical elements and random complications that influence strategy, while its writing and presentation offer humor and a surreal atmosphere. Despite the potential frustration from the match-three mechanics, the game is noted for its artistic vision and charm.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Peter Molyneux’s right about one thing: It’s sad how no one seems to care about god games anymore

Peter Molyneux, creator of Masters of Albion, expresses sadness over the decline of god games, a genre he pioneered with Populous. He notes that modern iterations are rare, leading to a perception that the genre is overlooked compared to others like first-person shooters and role-playing games. Molyneux identifies a vicious cycle where dwindling interest from developers results in less enthusiasm from publishers, further discouraging new projects in the genre. His studio, 22cans, has chosen to self-publish Masters of Albion, which blends elements from his previous works. Despite mixed initial impressions, there is hope that the game could revive interest in god games.