market Archives

Winsage

February 22, 2025

Microsoft’s new Edge Add-ons site might keep you away from the Chrome Web Store

Microsoft has enhanced the user experience of its Edge browser by integrating Chrome extensions and promoting its redesigned Edge Add-ons website, which improves navigation and usability. The updated site features enhanced autosuggestions for finding and installing extensions, including a "Get" button for direct installation. While Edge can run Google Chrome extensions, some users prefer the Edge Add-ons store for a Microsoft-centric experience. Certain extensions remain exclusive to the Chrome Web Store, as developers often prioritize Chrome due to its larger market share. Users can access these extensions through the Chrome Web Store on various Chromium-based browsers, including Edge. Currently, extensions like uBlock Origin work on Edge, but their future compatibility is uncertain.

AppWizard

February 22, 2025

Ex-Amazon Gaming Exec Explains Why No One Has Beaten Steam

Valve's Steam has dominated the PC gaming market for nearly two decades, despite various attempts by companies like Amazon to challenge its supremacy. Ethan Evans, former VP of Prime Gaming at Amazon, shared insights on their unsuccessful efforts to disrupt Steam, which included acquiring Reflexive Entertainment, developing a PC game store leveraging Twitch, and launching the Luna game streaming service. Other major publishers such as EA, Ubisoft, and Bethesda also failed to establish competitive storefronts. The Epic Games Store, launched in 2017, has not positioned itself as a true rival to Steam. Evans noted that Amazon underestimated the reasons consumers use Steam, which combines a store, social network, library, and trophy case. Despite criticisms of Steam, its ecosystem and features have reinforced its dominance, while alternatives have struggled to gain traction.

AppWizard

February 22, 2025

10 Of The Most GPU-Intensive Games On The Market Today

Nvidia's RTX 50 series graphics cards, including the RTX 5090 and 5080, provide significant performance enhancements, capable of handling nearly all current PC games at exceptional frame rates, even at 4K resolution. However, many game developers have not optimized their titles to match this surge in power, leading to performance issues for some gamers. A notable number of gamers still use older GPUs, making it difficult to enjoy GPU-intensive titles. "Alan Wake 2" has demanding hardware requirements, with a minimum recommended graphics card of GTX 1070 or RX 5600 XT, which may struggle on lower-end setups like the GTX 1650. Even high-end cards like the RTX 5090 can struggle to maintain frame rates at maximum settings without DLSS. "Black Myth: Wukong" features a free benchmarking tool on Steam, allowing players to test their system's compatibility. While its requirements are less stringent than "Alan Wake 2," it still poses challenges, as even high-end GPUs like the RTX 5090 may struggle to achieve smooth gameplay at 4K resolution.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

Amazon Appstore on Android to be discontinued this summer

Amazon will close its Android Appstore on August 20, 2025, ending access for users on Android devices and discontinuing the Amazon Coins program. The Appstore, launched in 2011, struggled to gain a substantial user base despite various innovations. Users will be warned that apps downloaded from the Appstore may stop functioning after the closure, but they can migrate purchased apps to Amazon devices like the Kindle. Amazon has already stopped selling Amazon Coins as of February 20, 2025, and unused balances will be refunded after the closure. Users are advised to disable auto-renewals for subscriptions. The closure reflects the Appstore's failure to resonate with users and diminishing relevance in the market.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

XCOM’s creator wants to know where XCOM 3 is just as badly as you do: ‘I’m sure there’s an audience for it’

XCOM 2 was released nearly a decade ago, and anticipation for a sequel, XCOM 3, has grown, but its release remains uncertain. Julian Gollop, the creator of the original XCOM, acknowledges that strategy games are still a niche market, which poses challenges for new titles like XCOM 3. He notes the mixed reception of Civilization VII as an example of how established franchises can struggle. Gollop highlights innovation in the indie game scene with titles like Factorio, Tactical Breach Wizards, and The Last Spell. Other games, such as Jagged Alliance 3 and Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader, incorporate elements reminiscent of XCOM, reflecting its tactical depth and strategic gameplay. The future of XCOM 3 remains uncertain as the strategy gaming landscape evolves.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

Kinzoo Messenger offers users a Dog Man experience

Kinzoo Messenger is a free social media application for children and families, launched in 2020, with over a million downloads in countries including the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. The platform focuses on providing a safe environment for kids to connect through talk, text, and games. Its monetization strategy includes in-app currency for purchasing stickers, brand partnerships, and a paid subscription tier for exclusive content. Kinzoo has engaged children through collaborations with popular intellectual properties, achieving significant engagement metrics, such as 423,000 opt-ins for Rovio's Angry Birds and 321,000 for the Dog Man campaign within 20 days. The platform allows children to choose which brands to engage with, providing a secure alternative amid increasing regulatory scrutiny of traditional media.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

“Failed opportunity for a square shoe”: Internet jokes as Crocs drop a ‘Minecraft’ shoe collection

Crocs has announced a collaboration with Minecraft, resulting in a shoe collection that appeals to fans of all ages. The collection has generated excitement on social media, with users humorously suggesting the shoes should have a square design to match Minecraft's blocky aesthetic. Many fans expressed their eagerness to purchase the clogs, with some noting that the primary market will likely be children. The collection will also include clogs with heels. Crocs has previously collaborated with The Beatles and Monsters Inc., and has a Dragon Ball Z collection set to debut next week. The Minecraft collection is scheduled to launch on March 4, 2025.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

‘A massive, massive moment of wow.’ Microsoft CEO predicts AI-generated games are a ‘CGI moment’ for the industry

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed the company's plans for artificial intelligence and quantum computing, particularly focusing on their AI-powered game generation platform, Muse. He compared Muse's potential impact on gaming to the influence of CGI in the film industry, despite its current limitations of generating games at a resolution of 300 by 180 pixels. Nadella envisions a future where users can request unique gaming experiences, indicating that the integration of AI into gaming is imminent. He also highlighted the broader implications of AI on economic growth, cautioning against the hype surrounding artificial general intelligence (AGI) and emphasizing the importance of AI's impact on GDP growth. Nadella believes in a collaborative future for AI development, suggesting that the market can support multiple successful players. The timeline for when gamers can fully engage with Muse remains uncertain, with some experts cautioning that its capabilities may be overstated.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is January 2025’s Third Best Selling Game in the US Thanks to its PC Release

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has achieved significant success in the gaming market following its recent PC launch, moving from rank 56 to 3 among the best-selling premium games in the United States for January, according to sales data from Circana (NPD). The Twin Pack, which includes the original Remake, also saw a rise from rank 265 to 16. The game extends the narrative of the original's first disc and offers a 100-hour journey filled with exploration and storytelling. It is available on both PC and PlayStation 5 worldwide.

Winsage

February 21, 2025

Bill Gates says Microsoft’s $3 trillion success is a blend of — youthful late-night coding escapades, a premature Harvard departure, and a sprinkle of “laissez-faire treatment” from passers-by

Microsoft has a market capitalization exceeding a trillion dollars and is a key player in the tech industry. Last year, a significant IT outage caused by a faulty kernel driver from CrowdStrike affected approximately 8.5 million Windows devices, resulting in the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) error. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, shared insights in his memoir, "Source Code: My Beginnings," about his early passion for coding, which began at age 13. He would sneak out at night to access computers, crediting a local company, Computer Center, for helping him refine his skills. Gates left Harvard after three semesters to pursue Microsoft, a decision prompted by a visit from Paul Allen, who brought news of the Altair 8800 minicomputer kit. Gates reflected that had he stayed at Harvard, he might have missed the opportunity to co-found Microsoft.