March 2025 Archives

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

Ready at Dawn and Ubisoft vets found new studio Atlantis

A new gaming venture, Atlantis Studio, has been formed by former employees from Ready at Dawn, Ubisoft, and Midgar Studio. It is led by Ru Weerasuriya, founder of Ready at Dawn, and writer Nico Augusto. Weerasuriya previously worked at Blizzard and was the studio head at Ready at Dawn until March 2025, after its acquisition by Meta. Atlantis Studio aims to create a collaborative environment for game development and will focus on titles for PC and console platforms using Unreal Engine 5.

AppWizard

May 23, 2025

Embracer Group sees net sales across PC/console and mobile games fall in FY2024/25

Embracer Group's financial results for Q4 ending March 2025 show a decline in net sales to SEK 5.4 billion, down 6% year-on-year. The PC/console segment generated SEK 3 billion (down 2%), while mobile sales were SEK 943 million (down 31%). For the full fiscal year, net sales totaled SEK 22.3 billion, down 18%, with PC/console games at SEK 1.5 billion (down 27%) and mobile at SEK 5.3 billion (down 9%). The total number of game development projects decreased from 141 to 108, and headcount was reduced from 9,692 to 7,180, including 5,378 game developers. Despite these declines, the game Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 sold three million copies. Embracer reported organic growth of 30% in mobile game sales and 22% in PC/console sales. The company plans to release 76 games in FY 2025/26, including notable titles like Killing Floor 3 and Marvel 1943: Rise of the Hydra. A third AAA game has been postponed to 2026/27, and THQ Nordic's studio Campfire Cabal has resumed operations after a closure in 2023.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Microsoft says 394,000 Windows computers infected by Lumma malware

Microsoft announced the dismantling of the Lumma Stealer malware project in collaboration with global law enforcement. Over 394,000 Windows computers were identified as infected by Lumma between March 16 and May 16. The malware is known for stealing sensitive information such as passwords and credit card details. Microsoft, with a court order, dismantled the web domains supporting Lumma's infrastructure, while the U.S. Department of Justice took control of its central command structure. More than 1,300 domains were seized or transferred to Microsoft, with 300 acted upon by law enforcement and Europol. Other tech firms like Cloudflare and Lumen assisted in this effort. Since 2022, hackers have been acquiring Lumma through underground forums, and it has been used in phishing campaigns and attacks on various sectors, including gaming, education, and critical infrastructure.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

‘I’m a PC gamer and there are 10 video games I’ve been hooked on since 2020’

Video games have over three billion players globally and are evolving into a dominant force in the entertainment industry. The following ten standout games were released for PC since 2020: 1. Elden Ring (2022) - An action RPG known for its stunning visuals and intricate storytelling, requiring over 70 hours to complete. 2. Split Fiction (2025) - A cooperative narrative game where players battle against a machine stealing creativity, released in March 2025. 3. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (2021) - A remake of the 1997 classic, featuring updated combat mechanics and breathtaking graphics. 4. Valorant (2020) - A tactical hero shooter with a vibrant eSports scene, released in early 2021, with over 1,000 hours logged by the player. 5. Fields of Mistria (2024) - An early access farm life simulation game that allows players to cultivate crops, raise animals, and explore mystical mines. 6. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (2025) - A turn-based RPG with a blend of traditional and real-time combat mechanics, released last month. 7. Hades (2020) - A roguelike game with fast-paced combat and Greek mythology-inspired artwork, released in 2020. 8. Overwatch 2 (2023) - The sequel to Overwatch, introducing new heroes and a 5v5 format, released in 2023. 9. Visions of Mana (2024) - The fifth main installment in the Mana series, featuring familiar gameplay mechanics. 10. Marvel Rivals (2024) - A game featuring 38 Marvel characters, allowing casual play with friends, released in 2024.

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

Best Android Security Apps for Enterprise and Personal Use

Android holds a 71.65% market share as the leading mobile operating system. In 2025, users face sophisticated cyber threats such as ransomware and phishing scams. Android Enterprise provides a multi-layered defense system validated by the U.S. Department of Defense, featuring AI-driven threat detection that blocks 99.8% of malware through 100,000 daily app scans. It supports three device management models: Fully Managed Devices (COBO), Work Profiles (BYOD), and Dedicated Kiosk Mode. Recent enhancements include automated security patch deployment and hardware-backed key attestation. Leading Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions include TinyMDM, which offers real-time location tracking and remote device wiping, and integrates with Microsoft Intune for conditional access. Harmony Mobile combines app reputation scanning with network-level phishing prevention. Emerging trends in enterprise security include AI-powered anomaly detection, with 42% of enterprises adopting Zero Trust principles, and rugged device management optimized for industrial environments. For personal protection, Bitdefender Mobile Security leads AV-Test rankings, Kaspersky Premium blocks 5.6 million malware attacks monthly, and Norton 360 Deluxe includes biometric app locking. Privacy tools like ExpressVPN and DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser enhance user security. Google's Project Zero reports a 35% decline in critical Android vulnerabilities, attributed to improved patch adoption. The convergence of enterprise and personal security solutions is emphasized, with a focus on AI/ML integration for enterprises and comprehensive protection suites for individuals.

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

I activated the Linux terminal on my Pixel, and you should too

Google's Pixel devices now include a Linux Terminal app, introduced with the March 2025 Pixel Drop update. This app allows users to access a version of Debian on their smartphones, enabling them to execute commands, install packages, and perform internet-related tasks similar to a desktop Linux terminal. The app is available for Pixel phones running Android 15 or newer and is currently exclusive to these devices. To activate the app, users must enable Developer options, toggle on the Linux development environment, and install the app, which has a download size of approximately 565MB. The feature is experimental and may have bugs, such as persistent notifications and connectivity issues. The app operates within a virtual machine, isolating it from the device's data but allowing access to the Downloads folder.

AppWizard

May 16, 2025

Net bookings up 6% at Take-Two for 2024/25

Take-Two Interactive reported a six percent increase in net bookings for the fiscal year ending March 2025, generating .65 billion, with 80 percent from recurrent consumer spending, which increased by seven percent. GAAP net revenue rose by five percent to .63 billion. CEO Strauss Zelnick projected net bookings for Fiscal 2026 to be between .9 billion and .0 billion and highlighted the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6, scheduled for May 26, 2026. Grand Theft Auto 5 has shipped 215 million copies, and recurrent consumer spending related to the franchise increased by five percent.

AppWizard

May 15, 2025

Ubisoft reports massive dips in revenue and bookings for 2024/25

Ubisoft reported a revenue of €1.9 billion for the fiscal year ending March 2025, a 17.5% decrease from the previous year. Net bookings fell by 20.5% to €1.84 billion, while net bookings from the back catalogue dropped 13.5% to €1.3 billion. Despite these declines, the company generated positive free cash flow and completed its initial cost savings program ahead of schedule, with plans for an additional €100 million in savings over the next two years. The launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows was highlighted as a significant event for the company.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

It took 15 YEARS for Minecraft to let us craft this item, but it’s finally coming (plus new music and more)

Minecraft is introducing the ability to craft saddles, a feature currently being tested by select insiders and expected to be unveiled at Minecraft Live in March 2025. Players have traditionally acquired saddles through scavenging, trading, or defeating enemies. The upcoming update will also include five new music tracks for various biomes and a collectible music disc titled "Tears," obtainable by defeating a Ghast with its own fireball. Additionally, two new friendly Ghast mob variants will be introduced, allowing players to ride them. Early builds for testing are available, while the official game drop will bring these new features to the broader community.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

Sega’s games sales up 9.6% despite Football Manager 25 cancellation

Sega reported a revenue of ¥244 billion (.6 billion) for its games division for the fiscal year ending March 2025, marking a year-on-year growth of 9.6 percent. The games division generated an operating income of ¥21.9 billion (7 million) despite the cancellation of Football Manager 2025. New titles sold 9.2 million units, contributing ¥55 billion (.4 million) to revenue, while repeat sales generated an additional ¥33 billion (0 million) from 18.7 million copies sold. Key titles such as Sonic X Shadow Generations, Metaphor ReFantazio, and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii maintained steady sales. Overall, Sega's net sales declined by 8.5 percent to ¥428.9 billion (.89 billion), and operating income decreased by 16.8 percent to ¥48.1 billion (3 million).