market Archives

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

If “good is the new bad” in games, flawed experiments won’t have time to grow into future GOTYs

The BioShock series is experiencing significant narrative revisions for BioShock 4 following an internal review, as noted by Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, who highlighted the industry's shift towards higher standards in gaming. Players now expect exceptional experiences, with the phrase "good is the new bad" reflecting the competitive market where only remarkable titles succeed. The gaming industry has historically benefited from innovative yet imperfect games, like Divine Divinity, which eventually led to the success of Baldur's Gate 3. The current trend towards polished games may hinder creativity and limit the development of new genres, as the industry thrives on iteration and experimentation.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Telkomsel, Nuon, and Bango bring convenient and affordable Microsoft PC Game Pass access to Indonesian gamers, strengthening their digital gaming experience

Bango PLC has partnered with Telkomsel and Nuon Digital Indonesia to launch Microsoft PC Game Pass through the IndiHome Add-On in Indonesia. For a monthly fee starting at IDR 63,063, subscribers can access a library of premium PC games, including new releases from major publishers and an EA Play membership. The collaboration aims to enhance the gaming experience and broaden access to quality gaming content. Subscribers can activate the PC Game Pass via the IndiHome Add-On landing page, with the fee included in their monthly bill. A promotion for the first 500 users offers a free first month starting August 14, 2025, with automatic renewal at the standard price thereafter.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Japan’s PC gaming population has decreased by 3 million in the past decade, studies suggest

The Famitsu Game Hakusho 2025 report indicates that the Japanese gaming market grew by 3.4% from 2023 to 2024, reaching 2,396 billion yen. The domestic gamer population has decreased to 54.7 million from 55.5 million the previous year. Mobile gaming leads with 42.77 million users, followed by console gamers at 29.51 million, and PC gamers at 14.52 million. Although active PC gamers increased slightly from 14.45 million to 14.52 million in 2024, this number is down from 17.49 million in 2015. Console users rose from 26.12 million to 29.51 million, and mobile users increased from 14.11 million to 42.77 million over the same period. The PC gaming population has not surpassed 17.49 million since 2015, and hardware pricing has significantly increased, with a 40% rise in pre-built desktop PC prices over six years. JEITA reported a decline in domestic PC shipments, with 6.667 million units sold in 2023, marking a 2.9% decrease and the lowest sales since 2007. The global PC gaming landscape is shifting towards gacha and free-to-play games, leading players to prefer mobile devices.

Winsage

August 14, 2025

Microsoft Issues Free Update Offer To Millions Of Windows Users

Microsoft has expanded its free update offer to millions more Windows 10 users with the update KB5063709, which introduces the option to "Enroll in Extended Support Updates" (ESU) available until October 2026. A new "Enroll Now" link has been added to the Windows Update page for easier access. Users can link the ESU to their Microsoft account and OneDrive, and the initiative aims to simplify the enrollment process. However, some users experienced crashes when accessing the enrollment wizard, which Microsoft has addressed. All activated licenses of Windows 10 are eligible for ESU, which has complicated the transition of users to Windows 11, as Windows 11's market share is now trending downward despite being slightly ahead of Windows 10.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Perplexity just made a bold $34.5 billion offer for Chrome amid Google’s lawsuit

Perplexity, an AI-driven search engine startup, has made an all-cash offer of .5 billion to acquire Google's Chrome web browser. This bid comes amid a looming antitrust case against Google, with a ruling expected from Federal Judge Amit Mehta that could require Google to divest Chrome. Industry insiders believe Perplexity's offer is below Chrome's estimated market value of at least billion. Perplexity has previously expressed confidence in managing Chrome effectively and has recently launched an AI-powered browser called "Comet." Google has not publicly responded to the acquisition proposal but is expected to contest any forced sale.

Winsage

August 14, 2025

Microsoft commits to improve gaming on Arm-based Windows 11 PCs — “We’re developing new features that will enable more games to be played on Arm”

Microsoft has released a preview update for the Xbox app on Windows 11, allowing users of Arm-based devices, such as those with the Snapdragon X SoC, to download Xbox PC games directly. Previously, the app only supported game streaming through Xbox Cloud Gaming and did not allow downloads from the Xbox platform, although users could download from third-party platforms. The update includes an enhanced emulation layer to improve x86 application performance on Arm devices, but many games still face compatibility issues, particularly due to anti-cheat services that are not natively supported on Arm. NVIDIA is rumored to be developing an Arm-based chip that could enhance gaming performance on these devices. Microsoft is also working on updates to improve the gaming experience on Windows 11, including a dedicated interface for handheld gaming PCs.

Winsage

August 13, 2025

Microsoft Stock (MSFT) Slips Alongside a Windows 10 Lawsuit

Microsoft's stock declined by 0.38% on Wednesday following a lawsuit filed by Lawrence Klein, which challenges the company's decision to end support for Windows 10 in October 2025. The lawsuit aims to compel Microsoft to extend support for Windows 10, which still accounts for 52.94% of all Windows users as of April 2025. Klein argues that support should continue until the user base falls below 10%. He also raises concerns about the upgrade path to Windows 11 due to stringent system requirements, which he believes are aimed at enhancing Microsoft's AI initiatives. Despite the lawsuit, Microsoft stock is up 25.57% year-to-date and has increased by 26.96% over the past year. Analysts on Wall Street have a consensus rating of "Strong Buy" for Microsoft, with 24 buy ratings and one hold rating in the last three months, and an average price target suggesting an 18.26% potential upside.

Winsage

August 13, 2025

Windows Users Get Exclusive Taskbar Apps That Integrate with Microsoft 365

Microsoft is introducing three lightweight companion applications—People, File Search, and Calendar—designed to enhance the user experience for Microsoft 365 customers by transforming the Windows taskbar into a command center. These apps will be automatically launched upon startup and provide immediate access to Microsoft 365 functionalities. The People app allows users to initiate Teams calls and manage contacts, the File Search app simplifies file location across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, and the Calendar app offers visibility into upcoming commitments and integrates with other tools. The rollout is scheduled for this month through standard update channels. This initiative reflects Microsoft's strategy to deepen integration of its services within the Windows experience, aiming to enhance user productivity and strengthen its competitive position. However, it has faced scrutiny from regulators, particularly the European Commission, regarding its bundling strategies, leading to commitments to unbundle Teams from its offerings and enhance interoperability with competing platforms.

AppWizard

August 13, 2025

Russia restricts calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, the latest step to control the internet

Russian authorities have announced partial restrictions on calls made through Telegram and WhatsApp, citing concerns about crime and misuse of these platforms. Roskomnadzor claims these messaging services are used for deception, extortion, and terrorist activities. The government has expressed frustration over the lack of cooperation from the platform owners regarding countermeasures. Recent reports indicate users are experiencing difficulties with calls on these applications. WhatsApp had over 96 million monthly users and Telegram had more than 89 million in Russia as of July. In Crimea, cellphone internet shutdowns may last indefinitely, and a new law penalizes users for accessing illicit content. A new national messaging app, MAX, is being developed by VK, a Russian company. Access to calls via WhatsApp and Telegram could be restored if the platforms comply with Russian laws, but current restrictions only apply to audio calls.

BetaBeacon

August 13, 2025

Grab These Free Premium Apps for Android and iOS While They Last!

The fact described in the text is that there are free Android apps and games available for a limited time, including an intense side-scrolling action shooter.