markets Archives

AppWizard

May 7, 2026

Messenger Statistics By Revenue, Usage And Behavior (2026)

Messenger has approximately 1.12 billion monthly active users as of the first quarter of 2026. In the first half of 2026, it generated USD 3.2 billion in non-ad revenue, reflecting a 63% year-over-year growth. In India, there are 424.3 million Messenger users, making up 28.7% of the country's population. South-Eastern Asia accounted for 212 million Messenger users in 2025, representing 22.4% of the global total. The user base shows a gender disparity with 55.5% male users and 44.5% female users, and is primarily favored by those aged 25–34, who comprise 32.4% of users. Messenger has surpassed 5 billion downloads on the Google Play Store, with users spending an average of 3 hours and 21 minutes per month on the app. It supports customer communication for over 40 million businesses, with approximately 80% of messages opened within the first hour. Messenger.com received 244.62 million visits in March 2026, a 30.67% increase from February. Chatbots on the platform handle up to 80% of routine inquiries, and the engagement rates for campaigns are high, with open rates ranging from 70% to 88%. Overall, Messenger is among the top three or four most-used platforms globally, trailing only behind Facebook and WhatsApp.

AppWizard

May 7, 2026

Minecraft in new Partnerships, Experiences and Initiatives

Minecraft is expanding its global licensing strategy with over 200 partners, preparing for Licensing Expo 2026. Highlights include the success of the A Minecraft Movie, which grossed nearly a billion at the global box office in 2025. Key partnerships involve Cool Shirtz, adidas, and OppoSuits, along with new product launches like Actimel in Europe and Sticki Rolls globally in August 2026. STEM-focused products from Horizon Group USA and a plush partnership with Ty Inc. are also in development. The Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue debuted in Dallas in 2024, with plans for global expansion and a new attraction, Minecraft Experience: Moonlight Trail, launching in May. Minecraft World, a theme park land in collaboration with Merlin Entertainment, is set to open in 2027 in London. A sequel to the original movie and a new animated series for Netflix are also in development, aiming to engage fans with new stories and characters.

AppWizard

May 7, 2026

The Invisible Messenger: How imo Quietly Built 200 Million Users by Serving Migrant Workers

imo is a messaging application launched in 2007 by two former Google engineers, which has over 200 million active users. It focuses on labor migrants from the Global South, offering reliable video calling even on poor connections. The app grew organically as migrants shared it with their families and communities, particularly in regions with limited connectivity. imo has developed into a fully-featured messaging platform, serving as essential infrastructure for millions of migrant families to maintain connections. Its growth strategy involved avoiding direct competition in saturated markets and addressing the specific needs of migrant workers.

AppWizard

May 6, 2026

Even Diablo 4 Lord of Hatred’s blue items are selling for billions, thanks to Horadric Cube crafting

The latest update to Diablo 4, titled Lord of Hatred, introduces the Horadric Cube as a significant crafting tool, enhancing gameplay mechanics and altering the trading ecosystem. Blue-rarity magic items, previously considered salvage, can now be valuable for crafting, with max-level blue items selling for tens of billions of gold and rare items with desirable affixes approaching 100 billion. The crafting process allows players to customize items to fit their builds, increasing the value of lower-rarity items and encouraging exploration of trading opportunities. The satisfaction from crafting is noted to surpass that of simply purchasing items.

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

Beloved Dota 2 esports team Heroic has just disbanded, saying it’s a “tough game to commercialize”

Dota 2 esports is experiencing a decline in popularity, particularly in Western markets, overshadowed by League of Legends. The esports organization Heroic has disbanded its Dota 2 team due to financial challenges, despite earlier success in Latin American tournaments and a top six placement during TI 2025. Heroic's Chief Gaming Officer, Robin Nymann, stated that Dota 2 is difficult to commercialize and that the decision was primarily financial. This trend of financial instability is affecting many organizations in the esports industry, which are facing dwindling prize pools and rising operational costs.

Winsage

May 2, 2026

“Xbox mode is easily the headline feature”: In May’s Windows 11 update, I walk through the 11 upgrades that change how we use the OS, and why some of them surprised me

Microsoft will begin rolling out the May 2026 Security Update for Windows 11 on May 12, 2026. Key features of this update include: 1. Xbox Mode: Transforms PCs into a console-like experience, prioritizing system resources for gaming and freeing up to 2GB of memory. 2. Voice Typing Improvements: Redesign of Voice Typing elements on the touch keyboard. 3. New Arabic 101 Legacy Keyboard Layout: Available for addition from the Region page in Settings. 4. Drop Tray Changes: Renamed from Drag Tray and can be disabled in Settings > System > Multitasking. 5. Taskbar AI Agents Support: Allows monitoring of AI agents directly from the Taskbar, starting with the Microsoft 365 Copilot app. 6. Debloat Policy with Dynamic List Support: Enables administrators to specify additional apps for removal beyond the default list. 7. Windows Driver Policy Update: Changes how the kernel manages trust for third-party drivers, eliminating default trust for cross-signed drivers. 8. Batch File Security Changes: Enhances security for batch files and Command Prompt scripts, with an option for a hardened processing mode. 9. Format FAT32 up to 2TB: The format command-line tool now supports formatting volumes up to 2TB using FAT32.

Winsage

May 1, 2026

Xbox Mode Begins Rolling Out to Players on Windows 11 PCs Today

The rollout of Xbox mode for Windows 11 PCs begins today in select markets, providing a console-inspired gaming experience for laptops, desktops, and tablets. This mode features a controller-optimized, full-screen interface that allows easy access to games and minimizes distractions. Players in select regions can download Xbox mode today, with plans for broader availability in the coming weeks. Xbox mode enables users to browse and launch games, switch between Xbox mode and the Windows desktop, and access a comprehensive game library, including Xbox Game Pass titles. Feedback from players has influenced the development of Xbox mode, which aims to create a consistent Xbox experience across devices. To access Xbox mode, users must ensure their Windows 11 PC is set to receive the latest updates.

Winsage

May 1, 2026

The new ‘Xbox mode’ for Windows 11 has arrived, but don’t get your hopes up for performance improvements: it’s just a new UI

Microsoft has begun rolling out its Xbox mode for Windows 11, which aims to provide a full-screen, dedicated gaming experience similar to console functionality. This feature, announced in March, is now available in select markets as of April 30. Xbox mode is designed to create a cohesive Xbox experience across various devices, including laptops, desktops, and tablets, and caters to gamers who prefer using a controller. The launch is part of Microsoft's strategy to enhance the integration of Xbox with Windows, although some users still find the Xbox experience on PC lacking compared to competitors like Steam.

AppWizard

April 30, 2026

Windows 11 PC gamers: Xbox mode rolls out and ROG Xbox Ally updates include Auto SR preview

Xbox mode is launching on Windows 11 PCs in select markets, providing a console-like gaming experience for users on laptops, desktops, and tablets. It features a streamlined interface that prioritizes accessibility, allowing easy access to game libraries and recently played titles while minimizing distractions. Xbox Wire offers detailed information on the new features, including Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) for the ROG Xbox Ally, which enhances visuals to 1440p resolution when docked to an external display. Xbox Insiders can manage Auto SR settings through the Game Bar, and updates also include a default setting for docked play switching to TV displays.

AppWizard

April 28, 2026

EU tells Google to open Android to AI rivals

The European Commission has proposed measures to encourage Google to allow greater access for rival AI services on its Android operating system, aiming to enhance user choice and flexibility. These proposals are part of the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which seeks to promote competition among major tech companies. Google has criticized the measures, expressing concerns about potential increased costs and risks to user privacy and security. The EU is evaluating compliance with these measures, which could lead to further scrutiny if Google does not comply. Violations of the DMA can result in fines up to 10 percent of a company's global turnover. Google is currently facing multiple inquiries under the DMA and has recently been fined 2.95 billion euros in a separate EU competition case.