North Korean hackers targeted ethnic Koreans in China with a malware disguised as a popular Android mobile game called BirdCall, allowing them to steal personal data from victims.
Ubisoft has announced that The Division Resurgence will launch on PC in August, coinciding with the start of Season 2. An early access build is currently available for technical testing. The next phase of Season 1 will begin on May 12, with Phase 3 launching on June 23. Executive producer Fabrice Navrez highlighted the satisfaction with touch controls and the option for players to use a controller.
Leo, Richard, and Paul discussed developments in the Windows Insider Program, Snapdragon X2 gaming, artificial intelligence, and Xbox.
Two changes in the Insider Program were noted. Microsoft has open-sourced early MS-DOS source code. Intel reported a .7 billion loss, which Paul attributes to 'collusion.'
Microsoft and OpenAI are revising their partnership, with Microsoft 365 Copilot gaining enhanced AI features in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and GitHub Copilot moving to a usage-based billing model starting June 1. OpenAI is reportedly entering the mobile phone market, while Adobe's Firefly AI Assistant is in preview, and Anthropic is increasing its creator space involvement.
Microsoft Gaming has rebranded to Xbox, with new leadership focused on future plans, including a mobile game store pending changes in Apple's policies. Valve will release its Steam Controller next week.
A listener inquired about purchasing Windows 11 on Arm for Mac virtualization, leading to suggestions for cost-saving options.
PowerToys 0.99 introduces new utilities and improvements.
This week’s episode of RunAs Radio compares M365 Copilot and Claude Cowork.
Reifel Rye is recommended as the brown liquor of the week.
Bilibili Games has announced the global release of their new mobile game, Lumi Master, which is a monster-capturing & raising RPG set to launch in summer 2026. Players can capture over 100 Lumis into cards, raise and evolve them through battles, and participate in multiplayer versus modes or trading with other players. The game will be available in multiple languages and a pre-registration campaign is ongoing with the chance to win a Nintendo Switch 2 sweepstake if 1 million registrants are reached.
Developers in the mobile gaming industry are now comfortable borrowing elements from various genres, resulting in games that are harder to define by a single genre. The best mobile games cater to different levels of commitment simultaneously, offering a surface loop for beginners and deeper systems for serious players. Mobile games now borrow structure from various sources, including console design, tabletop mechanics, and social media behavior. The diversity in mobile gaming has increased, with games offering a variety of tones and tempos within genres. The best mobile games are less predictable and offer a combination of different elements, making the platform more expansive and appealing to a wider audience.
Xenosaga: Pied Piper, originally launched in 2004 for Vodafone mobile phones, will debut on PC via Steam. This title has never been released outside of Japan and was designed for flip phones. The publisher responsible for this release has a history of reviving classic titles. The exact release date is not specified, and the port will not include modern quality-of-life enhancements or an English translation. Despite its mobile origins, the game's art style is noted for its effective scaling. Nintendo currently holds the rights to the Xeno series, making it unlikely for other Xenosaga titles to be released on PC soon.
Developers in mobile gaming are now more comfortable borrowing from different genres across the industry, resulting in games that offer a variety of experiences within a single title. Mobile games are designed to cater to different levels of commitment simultaneously, with simple mechanics for beginners and deeper systems for more serious players. The Play Store landscape is becoming less predictable as games borrow concepts from console design, PC live-service loops, tabletop mechanics, and social media behavior. The best mobile games are those that can accommodate multiple habits and playstyles, providing players with a diverse and versatile gaming experience.
Recent insights from TIGA indicate a shift in UK game studios' focus towards PC development, with 46% of studios identifying PC as their primary platform, and 56% of start-ups prioritizing PC development from May 2024 to September 2025. Mobile game development has declined from 33% to 31.6%, and jobs related to mobile gaming fell from 19% to 17.9%. The console gaming sector's job share increased from 47.2% to 50%, despite a 2.1% decrease in headcount at console-focused studios. TIGA reported a net loss of 1,537 development jobs, a 4.5% annualized decline, marking the UK gaming sector's most severe downturn on record.
Recent findings from TIGA indicate that 46% of UK game studios are prioritizing PC game development, with projections suggesting that 56% of new projects from May 2024 to September 2025 will focus on PC gaming. The share of studios engaged in mobile game production has declined from 33% to 31.6%, and mobile gaming's contribution to total industry jobs has decreased from 19% to 17.9%. Conversely, the console gaming sector's employment share has risen from 47.2% to 50%, although the actual number of employees in console studios has decreased by 2.1%. The UK gaming industry has experienced a net loss of 1,537 development roles between May 2024 and September 2025, marking an annual decline of 4.5%.
Android 17 introduces a new Game Controller settings menu that allows players to reassign face buttons, triggers, and thumbsticks at the OS level. This feature is only available in Android 17 Beta 2 and later and is aimed at improving accessibility for players with limited hand mobility. The remapping news is not only a convenience feature but also has significant accessibility implications. The menu is split into two sections: Button inputs and Directional controls. The feature is still in Beta 2, so there are some rough edges, but Google is expected to address them before the stable release. This update is a long-overdue addition for Android, which has been focusing more on mobile gaming in recent years.
