longevity Archives

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Riot moves to stamp out League of Legends duo queue abuse as “a few bad actors ruin things for everyone”

Riot Games has introduced new duo queue restrictions in League of Legends, disallowing duo play up to Grandmaster rank, even for players with Grandmaster MMR. The company has increased the duo penalty to reflect the advantages of playing in pairs. The current season has seen an increase in exploitative behavior, prompting these changes. Riot plans to implement an indicator to show when a player's actual MMR exceeds their displayed rank. Additionally, there is a delay in improvements to the autofill matching system, which aims to reduce mismatched roles for players.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Owner of big gaming platform can’t believe how bad Windows 11 is – and hints are dropped about big things for Linux gamers this year

Michał Kiciński, the new owner of GOG, expressed surprise at the longevity of Windows, criticizing it as poor-quality software. Maciej Gołębiewski, managing director of GOG, noted the company's strategic shift towards Linux, driven by increasing game compatibility and the success of SteamOS. This pivot is part of a broader industry trend as developers recognize the value of alternative operating systems. GOG plans to embrace Linux more fully by 2026. Meanwhile, Microsoft has focused on integrating AI into Windows 11, which has faced criticism for not addressing foundational issues, particularly in performance and functionality.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Microsoft Ends Windows Server 2008 Support on January 13, 2026

Microsoft has officially ceased all support for Windows Server 2008 as of January 13, 2026, including paid extended security updates. This end-of-life scenario poses significant security risks for organizations still using the outdated operating system, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks. The transition away from Windows Server 2008 requires careful planning, as many organizations face challenges in migrating legacy applications to modern systems. The lack of ongoing patches means that any new vulnerabilities will remain unaddressed, potentially leading to data breaches and compliance failures, particularly in regulated sectors like healthcare and finance. Microsoft has encouraged migration to Azure, offering incentives for early adopters, but the transition can be complex and costly. The end of support also affects global supply chains and compatibility with newer software applications. Organizations are advised to conduct audits of their software portfolios and consider hybrid environments to enhance flexibility and security.

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

Hytale’s mammoth pre-orders have covered “the next two years of development,” proving the Minecraft challenger is really here to stay

Hytale is set to launch on January 13, 2026, and is expected to attract over one million players on its early access release day, according to Simon Collins-Laflamme, founder of Hypixel Studios. The game's development has been ongoing for over a decade, and its financial backing for the next two years has been secured through pre-sales. After Riot Games discontinued its involvement, Collins-Laflamme resumed development with a focus on community collaboration. He announced that pre-orders have ensured a solid foundation for the project, expressing optimism about Hytale's future.

Winsage

January 12, 2026

Windows 2000 still earning its keep running a rail ticket machine in Portugal

A ticket machine in Portugal is still running on Windows 2000 Professional, an operating system retired by Microsoft in 2010. The kiosk shows signs of wear but continues to function, highlighting the operating system's durability and reliability. Windows 2000 was originally launched as a successor to Windows NT 4.0 and was praised for its performance on modest hardware. Despite the lack of mainstream support for over two decades, it remains operational in various devices worldwide. The presence of a keyboard in the kiosk evokes nostalgia for earlier technology, and the simplicity of navigating Windows 2000 is manageable for experienced users.

AppWizard

January 11, 2026

Minecraft rival Hytale lets you wedge a live animal into a wall, and the implications for player-made worlds are huge

Hytale is set to launch on PC on January 13, 2026, for .99. The game features a Creative Tooling menu, including an innovative Entity Tool that allows players to manipulate and create various objects within the game world. An eight-minute showcase on the Hytale YouTube channel demonstrated the ability to freely rotate and position objects, such as constructing a tavern. The video has garnered over 100,000 views in less than 24 hours. Community reactions have been enthusiastic, with discussions about the creative possibilities and mechanics of object interaction. Players can visit the official website to secure their copy and download the launcher ahead of the full release.

AppWizard

January 11, 2026

Free PC Game Offering Is Perfect For Stranger Things Viewers, More to Come

The conclusion of Stranger Things Season 5 has led to rumors of a hidden final episode that may address lingering concerns about the series' finale. A new game titled I Hate This Place, based on a comic book, is set to be released later this month and features a craft-based, isometric survival horror experience with a nostalgic ‘80s aesthetic. A free demo is available on Steam, and the full game will also be released on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

AppWizard

January 7, 2026

Don’t want to pay for YouTube Premium? Morphe picks up where Revanced left off.

Several developers and contributors have left the Revanced project, leading to the creation of the Morphe app, an open-source alternative for YouTube and YouTube Music. Morphe enhances user experience by unlocking features typically reserved for Premium subscribers. Key features include SponsorBlock integration to skip sponsored segments, YouTube Dislike support, Shorts content management, and thumbnail customization. Users can access these features through Settings > Morphe in the patched YouTube app. To use Morphe, users must download the original YouTube APK (version 20.37.48) and follow a straightforward setup process that includes installing microG. The patched version of YouTube coexists with the stock app and has its own icon. Users can rename the patched app for personalization. After signing in via microG, Morphe resembles the original YouTube app but omits the Shorts tab and plus icon, replacing them with a notifications tab and offering customization options in the settings menu. The future of Morphe is uncertain due to potential disfavor from Google regarding free access to Premium features. Further details and download options are available on the official Morphe website.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

Hideo Kojima’s new Asus gaming gear is another quirky creation from the Death Stranding and Metal Gear legend

Asus has collaborated with Hideo Kojima to create a new collection of gaming peripherals, which includes the ROG Keris II Origin gaming mouse, ROG Delta II gaming headset, ROG Scabbard II XXL mouse mat, and ROG Flow Z13 tablet. Each item features a design inspired by Kojima Productions' astronaut mascot, Ludens. The ROG Flow Z13 tablet has a larger form factor, a new color scheme of white, gold, and gray, and playful details on the keyboard cover. It retains the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 processor for high-performance gaming. The ROG Keris II Origin mouse has a unique color palette and features a 42K DPI sensor and RGB lighting. The ROG Delta II headset includes the Kojima Productions logo and a humorous warning about comfort. The ROG Scabbard II XXL mouse mat features a large Ludens-inspired design and motivational phrase. Pricing and release dates for these limited-edition items have not yet been announced.

Winsage

January 5, 2026

New laptop? How to wipe your old Windows PC clean before getting rid of it

Many individuals and businesses upgrade their PCs as the new year approaches and face decisions about their old devices. Options include passing it down, reallocating it, donating, or selling. Essential steps for transitioning include migrating applications and files, securely erasing personal data, and resetting the operating system. To migrate apps and files, use the Windows Backup app to back up settings and installed apps, and transfer personal folders to OneDrive. For legacy software, ensure you have activation codes and installation files. Back up important files using cloud storage or create a full image backup to a removable hard drive. To wipe old data, enable BitLocker Disk Encryption on Windows 11 Pro or delete sensitive files and wipe disk space on Windows 11 Home using the command cipher /w:c:. To prepare the old PC for a new owner, options for installing a fresh copy of Windows 11 include resetting the PC, reinstalling a factory image, or performing a clean install using bootable media. Resetting involves navigating to Settings > System > Recovery and selecting "Remove everything." Reimaging uses a manufacturer-provided recovery image, while a clean install requires bootable media created with the Media Creation Tool.