legacy Archives

Winsage

August 13, 2026

The guy who built Windows Task Manager in 1996 just remade it with a cyberpunk vibe — but there’s one big issue for PC users

Dave W. Plummer, a notable figure in programming, contributed significantly to Microsoft by introducing ZIP file support for Windows, adapting Space Cadet Pinball for Windows NT, and creating the Windows Task Manager, which debuted in 1996. He has shared insights from his time at Microsoft through his platform, Dave's Garage. Recently, he released a mockup of a redesigned Task Manager, named "Task Manager OG" (TMOG), which features a cyberpunk aesthetic and is currently available as a beta version for macOS, with a Windows version planned. TMOG combines elements of macOS's Activity Monitor and Windows Task Manager, providing essential system information and deeper diagnostics. The application is described as being half the size of the Windows Task Manager and is available for free download.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

PC Gamer magazine’s new issue is on sale now: Onimusha: Way of the Sword

PC Gamer has an exclusive feature on Onimusha: Way of the Sword, a new action sword-fighting game from Capcom, marking its return after two decades. The magazine includes insights from seven developers and highlights the game's unique swordfight experience. Additionally, it features a 32-page supplement titled PC Gamer's Top 100, showcasing the top 100 games for PC gamers in 2026. The issue also includes an A1 poster of Onimusha, discusses favorite co-op games, and provides hands-on impressions of upcoming titles like The Blood of Dawnwalker and others. It reviews new releases such as Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced and is available in PDF and EPUB formats.

Winsage

August 13, 2026

Microsoft’s August update fixes a Windows flaw that’s already being attacked

The upcoming Patch Tuesday is scheduled for September 8th, 2026, during which Microsoft will address over 200 vulnerabilities across Windows platforms, including Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server. Windows 10 users in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will receive updates until October 2027. Among the vulnerabilities, CVE-2026-68820 allows attackers to gain elevated privileges through the Windows auxiliary function driver for Winsock. Microsoft has identified 18 vulnerabilities as critical, including CVE-2026-62878, an RCE vulnerability in the Windows DNS server that can lead to a buffer overflow and code execution without user interaction. Another critical issue is CVE-2026-62893, a UAF vulnerability in the TFTP server of Windows Deployment Services, which allows code injection through UDP port 69. Additionally, CVE-2026-62815, an RCE vulnerability in Quick UDP Internet Connections (QUIC), permits code execution without user interaction, while CVE-2026-59124, although high risk, is not classified as critical due to the HPC Pack not being enabled by default.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

Dawn of War 4 has been delayed: ‘We saw an opportunity to further enhance Dawn of War 4 and deliver the quality of experience we’ve always envisioned’

King Art Games has delayed the release of Dawn of War IV from September 17 to December 3. The Commander Edition will offer early access on November 30, featuring free updates with new maps, the return of Crusade mode, additional commanders, and a mission editor. Two story expansions are also in development.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition Gets Shadow Drop on Modern Consoles and PC

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North has been re-released on modern consoles and PC, remastered by Aspyr. It is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC, priced at .99 until August 25th, after which it will increase to .99. The remaster features 60fps, bug fixes, and quality of life improvements, including enemy lock-on and character hot swapping. Originally launched in November 2011, the game received mixed reviews, with IGN rating it 7/10. It includes an online co-op feature and a narrative that runs parallel to the events of the books and films. War in the North was the first in the franchise to receive an M for Mature rating. Aspyr hinted at the possibility of more Lord of the Rings re-releases in the future, though specific titles have not been disclosed.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

The Intel Gamer Days Sale Stacks Walmart’s Best Gaming PC Deals With Two Free Upcoming PC Games

The annual Intel Gamer Days Sale is ongoing until September 13, offering customers who purchase eligible gaming PCs or laptops two free AAA games: Star Wars: Galactic Racer, releasing on October 6, and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, debuting on February 12 next year. Buyers will receive instructions to claim a download voucher for the games upon making a qualifying purchase. This promotion is available through retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Walmart. Notable deals include the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme RTX 5070 Gaming PC at Walmart for ,399 after a 0 discount, featuring an Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus CPU, GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD. Additionally, the Gigabyte AORUS Master 16" gaming laptop is priced at ,599 after a 0 discount, equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 HX CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card. Star Wars: Galactic Racer features a unique roguelike campaign, while Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis aims to revitalize the classic 1996 title with fresh gameplay experiences.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

Amazon Is Offering a Great Deal on a RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC, and It Includes Two Upcoming AAA Games

Amazon is offering the Acer Predator Orion 6000 gaming desktop for ,099, which includes free shipping. This gaming PC features an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF CPU, a GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The purchase is part of the Intel Gamer Days Sale, which runs until September 13, and includes two free upcoming PC games: Star Wars: Galactic Racer, releasing on October 6, and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, set for February 12 next year. The RTX 5070 Ti GPU provides excellent 4K gaming performance and is capable of running games at 60fps.

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

Xodus Cracks Xbox Authentication and Game Package Decryption to Bring PC Game Pass to Linux

Developers of the Heroic Games Launcher have announced Xodus, an open-source project aimed at enabling access to PC Game Pass on Linux and macOS. Launched on August 10, 2026, Xodus has successfully addressed Xbox identity authentication and the decryption of MSIXVC packages, allowing local play of Game Pass titles for Linux and macOS users. Currently, the only way to access Game Pass on non-Windows devices is through Xbox Cloud Gaming, which requires a Game Pass Ultimate subscription and introduces latency. Xodus employs a layered architecture, including an Xbox Authentication Library (xal-rs) for managing Microsoft account sign-ins and license verification, and a reimplementation of the xgameruntime.dll for license checks and Xbox service access. The project can retrieve MSIXVC game packages using a valid Game Pass subscription and decrypt executables for local storage. However, it does not yet support UWP-based titles and lacks a user-friendly interface for general users. The project is under pressure due to Microsoft's upcoming transition to the MSIXVC2 package format, which Xodus does not currently support. Xodus is in early development with only a command-line interface available, and the team is working on emulating the GDK Gaming Services layer necessary for game initialization. The project is legal as it reimplements Xbox runtime behavior without enabling piracy, but it faces risks if Microsoft alters its authentication infrastructure.

Winsage

August 11, 2026

Microsoft Word 1.1a Runs Natively on Windows 11 on x64

A developer has adapted Microsoft Word 1.1a, originally for 16-bit x86 systems, to run natively on modern 64-bit Windows PCs through a project called “Opus.” This adaptation compiles the original source code into a genuine x64 application, avoiding the use of emulators or virtual machines. The developer translated incompatible segments of the original code, including 16-bit assembly language, into C or C++, while mapping Win16 functions to modern Win32 APIs. The project retains original resources and copyright notices, and is hosted on GitHub without a broad open-source license. Automated testing has been implemented to ensure functionality mirrors the original application. Microsoft has previously published similar historic projects, but this port is an independent effort, providing insights into early Windows software architecture.