market research Archives

AppWizard

October 2, 2026

Riot’s absurd expectations of player counts ‘in the high hundreds of thousands, if not millions’ doomed 2XKO from the start

Marc Merrill discussed the development challenges of the game 2XKO, which faced difficulties in attracting a sufficient user base to support its live service model after eight years of work. The game required a monthly active user count in the high hundreds of thousands to justify its ongoing operation. The decision to shift 2XKO to a "box game" model resulted in layoffs and reflected broader industry challenges. The podcast highlighted that even with 400,000 daily players, sustaining a monthly unique player count near one million would be difficult. Merrill indicated that 2XKO would likely struggle to exceed 500,000 monthly active users, raising questions about Riot Games' market assessment and the developers' effectiveness.

Tech Optimizer

September 29, 2026

McAfee Overhauls Its Brand as AI Rewrites the Rules of Online Security

68% of consumers primarily associate McAfee with its antivirus software, despite the company offering additional services like scam detection and dark web monitoring. Awareness of these products is limited among consumers. McAfee is launching a rebranding initiative on September 29 to broaden awareness of its diverse offerings and strengthen its position in the cybersecurity market.

AppWizard

September 28, 2026

Crimson Desert Enhanced Nominated for Two Golden Joystick Awards

Crimson Desert Enhanced has received nominations for PC Game of the Year and Best Soundtrack at the Golden Joystick Awards 2026. It ranks second in cumulative sales in the 2026 U.S. video game rankings and is the top new intellectual property in Steam revenue for the year. Voting for the awards is open until October 23, with winners announced on November 11 in London. Additionally, the first downloadable content (DLC) for the game will launch on October 16.

Winsage

September 13, 2026

NVIDIA CUDA 13.4 Adds Windows on Arm Support [2026]

NVIDIA released CUDA Toolkit 13.4 on September 9, 2026, introducing native CUDA support for Windows on Arm. This update allows developers to compile and run CUDA applications on Windows Arm64 systems, closing a gap that existed since CUDA's inception in 2007. The toolkit offers two workflows: native compilation on Windows Arm64 machines and cross-compilation from x86-64 systems. Developers must install an R616-series Developer Driver to utilize the new features. The release aligns with the upcoming launch of NVIDIA's RTX Spark laptops, built on the N1X Arm platform. The toolkit is designed for RTX Spark devices, which leverage NVIDIA’s Blackwell GPU architecture. Current Windows on Arm devices can also begin using the toolkit in preparation for the hardware launch. The initial feature set for Windows Arm64 is narrower compared to x86-64, but developers are encouraged to adapt their applications for the new environment.

Tech Optimizer

August 29, 2026

90% of APAC Gen Z Experienced Cyber Incidents: Kaspersky Study

Recent research from Kaspersky highlights that 57% of Generation Z spends more time online than offline, with 75% of APAC Gen Zs using smartphones for daily internet access. Approximately two-thirds of Gen Zs in APAC feel comfortable navigating the digital environment, with confidence levels peaking at 77% in Indonesia and 71% in Vietnam. However, only 26% consider their knowledge of digital risks advanced, with India leading at 35%. Only 22% of Gen Zs in APAC use antivirus software, and 35% change their passwords regularly. Alarmingly, 90% have experienced at least one cyber incident in the past year. Smartphones are seen as critical for storing personal documents and passwords, yet only a third of Gen Zs back up important information regularly. Kaspersky emphasizes the need for cybersecurity measures to be integrated into daily routines and has introduced an interactive game to raise awareness among Gen Z users. The study surveyed 7,200 respondents across 18 countries in March 2026.

Tech Optimizer

July 24, 2026

The most online generation is also the least protected: over half of Gen Z have already faced a cyberattack – Adaderana Biz English

New research from Kaspersky surveyed 7,200 respondents globally and found that Generation Z spends 57% of their time online, primarily using smartphones (67% identify them as their main device). While 59% of Gen Z feel confident in navigating the digital landscape, only 28% consider their digital skills advanced. Alarmingly, only 27% use antivirus software on their mobile devices, and over half (52%) have encountered attacks on their devices or accounts. Significant data, such as personal photographs (38%) and passwords (30%), is stored on smartphones, yet only 28% regularly back up important data. Kaspersky recommends integrating cybersecurity into daily routines and has introduced an interactive game, “Case 404,” to educate Gen Z on recognizing digital threats.

AppWizard

June 6, 2026

Meta’s AI agent for WhatsApp Business is now available globally

Meta has launched the Meta Business Agent, a customer support AI bot, on WhatsApp, following nearly two years of testing in India and Mexico. The bot can respond to inquiries, recommend products, schedule appointments, qualify sales leads, and escalate queries to human representatives. It will also be available through Instagram DMs. Meta is testing a feature for the Business Agent that provides daily briefings on chats and insights. Future functionalities under exploration include market research, product showcases, calendar management, and integration with competitive insight tools. Meta is developing a platform for larger enterprises to create custom agents that connect with systems like Shopify and Zendesk. The Business Agent will be incorporated into WhatsApp Business Premium subscriptions, with charges based on usage.

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

Meta brings AI Business Agents to Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger globally

Meta has launched the global rollout of the Meta Business Agent, an AI-driven assistant for businesses on WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. This was announced at the Conversations 2026 event in London, along with the new Meta Business Agent Platform, which allows businesses to create and deploy AI agents. Over one million businesses currently use Business Agents for 24/7 customer support, handling over one billion daily conversations across the platforms. The Meta Business Agent can answer inquiries, recommend products, schedule appointments, qualify leads, and close sales, while also supporting multilingual communication and customizable brand tones. The Meta Business Agent Platform facilitates large-scale AI deployment and integrates with tools like Shopify and Zendesk. New WhatsApp business discovery tools are being introduced, and the service will initially be available for free, with future subscription plans. Advanced features such as market research and competitive intelligence are planned for future updates.

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

Meta Unveils AI Agent for WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger

Meta has introduced the Meta Business Agent, an AI tool that enhances business-client interactions on platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. It is currently operational for over one million businesses, providing 24/7 customer responses. The AI can answer inquiries, recommend products, book appointments, qualify leads, and close sales. The setup process is quick, and the tool supports local languages while adapting to a brand's tone. Initially free, it will transition to paid subscription tiers soon. Alongside the agent, Meta is launching the Meta Business Agent Platform, allowing companies to customize their own agents and integrate them with systems like Shopify and Zendesk. This platform offers enterprise-grade controls for larger businesses and aims to expand the agent’s capabilities over time.

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

Meta rolls out Meta Business Agent globally on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger

Meta is expanding its Meta Business Agent, a feature that enhances customer engagement using artificial intelligence. This global rollout follows a successful testing phase called "Business AI," which began in October 2024 in markets like India, Mexico, and Brazil, involving over one million active shops. The Meta Business Agent functions across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger, helping businesses with customer inquiries, lead management, appointment scheduling, and product suggestions. Initially available to select businesses on the WhatsApp Business app, Instagram Pro, Messenger, and Meta Business Suite, the service will evolve to handle daily operations such as market research and competitive analysis. Businesses can join a waitlist for early access. The Business Agent adapts to a brand's voice and facilitates customer interactions. Meta is also launching the Meta Business Agent Platform for creating and managing virtual assistants, integrating with services like Shopify and Zendesk. However, there have been security concerns, including hackers accessing Instagram accounts through the Meta AI support assistant.