milestone Archives

AppWizard

May 15, 2026

Netflix is about to flood its app with more ads, so brace yourself

Netflix plans to enhance its advertising strategy by introducing additional ad placements within its "Clips" feed and podcasts. The company reported that its ads now reach 250 million global monthly active users, with over 80% of ad-supported members engaging with ads weekly. Netflix has expanded its ad-supported tier to 15 new countries, including Colombia, Ireland, Peru, Norway, and the Philippines. The company reported .5 billion in ad revenue at the end of 2025, marking a 16% year-over-year growth. However, it also raised subscription prices, with the Standard with Ads plan increasing from .99 to .99, the Standard Ad-Free plan rising to .49, and the Premium tier increasing to .99.

Tech Optimizer

May 15, 2026

From commit to cloud: Powering what’s next for PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is widely used across various industries, supported by Microsoft through significant investments, including 345 commits to the latest release and a dedicated team of contributors. It is recognized for its ability to handle complex production challenges, such as transactional integrity and concurrency management. Microsoft operates PostgreSQL globally, informing upstream contributions based on real-world deployment experiences. The database is increasingly integrated into AI applications, with Azure Database for PostgreSQL and Azure HorizonDB focusing on AI functionalities. Microsoft offers multiple deployment models to accommodate different workload needs, including Azure Database for PostgreSQL for open-source workloads and Azure HorizonDB for cloud-native systems. Recent contributions from Microsoft include enhancements in asynchronous I/O, vacuum behavior, and query planning. Azure HorizonDB is designed for high-throughput, low-latency systems requiring horizontal scaling. Microsoft also invests in developer tools, such as a Visual Studio Code extension for PostgreSQL, and sponsors PostgreSQL conferences and user groups globally.

Winsage

May 14, 2026

Windows 11 26H1: Microsoft keeps the special branch on track for new hardware

Microsoft has released an update to Windows 11 version 26H1, OS Build 28000.2113, through cumulative update KB5089548 on May 12, 2026. This update includes essential security fixes and non-security enhancements from the previous month's optional preview. Windows 11 version 26H1 is specifically designed for new devices launching in early 2026 and will not be available as an in-place update for existing systems running versions 24H2 or 25H2. The update focuses on maintenance for this branch, with improvements in SSDP notifications and gaming compatibility. It also includes AI enhancements exclusive to Copilot+-enabled PCs. Microsoft continues to support versions 24H2 and 25H2 for enterprise deployments, while 26H1 is relevant only for new hardware platforms. Currently, there are no known issues reported for Windows 11 26H1 or update KB5089548.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Doom is 10 years old today, and you can pick it up for just $2 on Steam

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the 2016 reboot of Doom, which has established its own legacy in the first-person shooter genre. Bethesda Softworks has reduced the price of Doom on Steam to £1.59/€2, a 90% discount from its regular price. The sale includes a variety of other titles and will end on May 15.

AppWizard

May 13, 2026

The Talos Principle 3 promises an ‘epic grand finale’ to the tale of humanity’s rebirth

The Talos Principle 3 has been announced, featuring a new narrative experience set in a realm called the Anomaly, where players will navigate over 12 worlds representing remnants of a civilization. The game will focus on a character-driven story exploring pivotal moments in human history, with a personal emphasis on the player's character. Familiarity with previous titles in the series is not required, but it may enhance the experience. The character Elohim will return, serving as an emotional anchor throughout the narrative. A specific release date has not been announced, but the game is available for wishlisting on Steam and is set to launch "soon."

AppWizard

May 12, 2026

Subnautica 2 Global Release Times, Preload Details Confirmed

Subnautica 2 will be released in early access on May 14, 2026. The game is developed by Unknown Worlds and will allow players to explore underwater biomes, encounter marine life, and craft tools and bases. It will be available for preorder on Steam, Xbox Series X and S, and the Epic Games Store, and will launch on Game Pass. Players who wishlist the game will receive a Reaper Leviathan Statue blueprint. The global release times are as follows: PDT, CST, CDT, EDT at 12am on May 14; BST at 8am; CEST at 9am; CST (Beijing) at 3pm; JST at 12am on May 15; AEST at 1am; and NZST at 3am.

AppWizard

May 12, 2026

City Life Org – Thousands Gather at NYC Video Game Festival to Crown 2026 Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs and NYC Collegiate Esports Champions

The 2nd Annual NYC Video Game Festival took place on May 9, attracting 2,000 attendees. The festival included esports competitions, indie game demonstrations, drone soccer, and arcade classics. The Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs Esports Finals honored student achievements, with team Hyper Pigmentation from PS 889 winning in the Elementary division, NEST+ from Manhattan winning in the Middle School division, and Tottenville from Staten Island winning in the High School division. The NYC Collegiate Esports Circuit Finals crowned The City College of NY as the League of Legends champion and Pace University as the Valorant champion, with a shared prize pool of ,000. The BOTB competition has engaged over 15,000 NYC Public School students since its inception, with a record 3,395 participants in 2026, including a 44% increase in high school submissions. The festival also featured a screening of a documentary about the Battle of the Boroughs.

AppWizard

May 10, 2026

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess finally gets a fan-made PC port, and I can’t wait to see what modders do with the GameCube classic

Fans have successfully ported The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess to PC and mobile platforms, creating a PC port named Dusk. This port includes features like higher resolutions, uncapped frame rates, gyro aiming options, multiple bloom presets, improved shadow details, access to the Wii U version's free cam, achievements, and customizable difficulty modifiers. Quality-of-life improvements allow for faster climbing of ladders and text skipping. The port also includes cheats that alter gameplay dynamics and opens up possibilities for mods. The decompilation project began in August 2020 and involved contributions from the zeldaret/GC decomp community.

AppWizard

May 9, 2026

Arrowhead addresses the Helldivers 2 community as recent Steam reviews slump to Mostly Negative: ‘We want to be clearer about what we’re working on and what’s coming next’

In February, the gaming community celebrated the launch of Helldivers 2 and the introduction of the Cyberstan galactic campaign, which included new elements like the Bastion tank and Vox Engines. However, by May, the game's reviews had shifted to 'Mostly Negative' due to concerns over hidden weapon adjustments and the implementation of warbonds. Arrowhead Studios addressed community frustrations on Steam, emphasizing the game's importance and acknowledging feedback on the Exo Experts update, while also stating that additional vehicles would be available without warbond purchases. They outlined ongoing efforts to enhance the game, including new red stratagems, improved Galactic War rewards, and plans for more beta tests. Despite these efforts, the community's response has been mixed, with many players expressing frustration over the game's direction and the emphasis on warbonds, feeling that it overshadows regular gameplay rewards. There is a sense of ennui among hardcore fans who have quickly exhausted new content and are waiting for the next major narrative arc.

AppWizard

May 7, 2026

Atari just bought the rights to the big daddy of PC RPGs, and a reissue campaign is afoot

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, released in 1981, is recognized as the first grid-based, first-person RPG. The game featured simple monochrome graphics but provided a complex gaming experience, particularly popular in Japan. Different platform versions showed variations, with Nintendo ports offering enhanced visuals. The first five Wizardry games are becoming less available, except for a remake of Proving Grounds set for release in 2024. Recent Wizardry titles have adopted an anime aesthetic in character design. Atari's CEO Wade Rosen announced plans to revive and remaster the early games, which have been unavailable for over two decades. The revival comes as blobbers are gaining popularity, with recent titles indicating renewed interest in the genre.