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AppWizard

May 17, 2026

The Best Android Auto Apps You’re Probably Not Using

Getting started with Android Auto requires a compatible vehicle and a smartphone running Android 9.0 or newer. Users can connect their phones via data cable or Bluetooth. Android Auto is primarily used for navigation and music playback, but it also supports various apps. SpotHero helps users find available parking locations, allows reservations and payments via Google Pay, and operates in major U.S. cities with a 4.4-star rating on the Google Play Store. Audible offers audiobook access through Android Auto and has an "Automatic Car Mode" for easier navigation when connected via Bluetooth. Vivaldi Browser enables web browsing through the car's infotainment system, featuring an ad blocker and customization options, and is intended for use when parked. GameSnacks provides simple games for entertainment while parked, including Solitaire and match-three games, designed for use only when stationary.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

MercurySteam announces ‘difficult and painful’ job cuts as its God of War-inspired hack ‘n’ slash arrives on Steam

MercurySteam has announced a workforce adjustment following the launch of its game, Blades of Fire, on Steam. The game has faced commercial challenges, with its sales performance described as "underperformed," leading to an anticipated write-off of €8 million by its parent company, Digital Bros. Blades of Fire initially launched as an Epic Store exclusive but struggled against major titles and received mixed reviews, scoring 74. The recent Steam release includes a significant 2.0 update with new features such as a New Game Plus mode, a new difficulty level called Titanium, an arena system for boss battles, expanded death animations, and full Steam Deck support.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

Unlock the Razr Fold 2026’s true multitasking power with these hidden features

Book-style folding phones combine the compactness of smartphones with the capabilities of tablets. The Motorola Razr Fold features impressive multitasking options, though many are not activated by default. Users can access the taskbar by navigating to Settings > Foldable display > Task Bar > Always show, allowing for seamless app launching and split-screen use. The outer screen can also support app splitting, but it's less effective due to its size. Optimizing the Overview menu enhances multitasking by switching to grid view. These features significantly improve productivity, making the Razr Fold a valuable tool for users.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

Japanese authorities just dropped a Minecraft map based on actual submarine topographic data, and it lets you explore the seabed from Tokyo Bay to the Mariana Trench

The Japan Coast Guard released a Minecraft map showcasing the submarine topography around Japan's coastline on May 12, coinciding with "Japan Coast Guard Day." The map is available for free download in Java and Bedrock formats and allows players to explore an artistically rendered version of Japan's underwater geography. Players start near Tokyo Bay and can encounter the Seven Islands of Izu and the Iwojima ridge, which includes active volcanoes. The map also features the Mariana Trench, the deepest oceanic trench, which the Japan Coast Guard first measured. The map can be accessed through the Japan Coast Guard's Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department website, and it includes a tool for looking up block coordinates. The initiative follows a similar project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2025, which created a Minecraft representation of the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

Subnautica 2 sells two million copies in less than 24 hours

Subnautica 2 features a four-player co-op mode and achieved two million sales within 12 hours of its launch. The game entered early access on May 14 and peaked at over 651,000 simultaneous players across platforms, with Steam recording 467,582 players. More than one million players engaged with the game within an hour of launch, and 93% of reviews have been positive. Players are enjoying the experience, with positive feedback highlighting its visual appeal and content.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

How Poppy Playtime made ‘free game, paid DLC’ work on PC

GameDiscoverCo held its annual offsite gathering, discussing various industry developments. Footprints.gg reported significant buzz for Forza Horizon 6 ahead of its launch, with GTA 6 also trending due to trailer speculation. Xbox plans include Project Saluki, a new Game Pass tier for the Chinese market, and Positron, potentially introducing a disc-to-digital entitlement program. Steam's bundle discounting interface has sparked discussions about pricing strategies. The PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for May includes Star Wars Outlaws and Red Dead Redemption 2. Roblox is experiencing shifts in user-generated content rights and cost models. The Source 2-powered s&box has launched on Steam, but interest is waning. Hushcrasher's analysis indicates rising game production costs are due to project scope rather than base costs. Concurrent user metrics suggest week one sales can reach 20 times peak concurrent users. Poppy Playtime, a horror puzzle game, has expanded from a free title to four paid chapters, with Huggy Wuggy becoming a popular character. Mob Entertainment, founded by brothers with a background in 3D animation, has seen Poppy Playtime Chapter 5 sell 408,000 copies on Steam and 19,000 on Epic Games Store. The free base game has 2.76 million downloads on Steam since the chapter's release. The franchise's revenue from four DLCs exceeds a million on Steam, with potential total revenue approaching 100 million when including console and mobile sales. The development team employs a parallel strategy for annual chapter releases, with varying DLC structures across platforms. The pricing of DLC has increased over time, reflecting greater ambition in production. Game director Bryce Clark emphasizes balancing puzzles and chase sequences to enhance player experience.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

Overwatch’s lackluster 10th anniversary event will have its rewards improved next week, with more free stuff planned for later this year

Players expressed disappointment with Overwatch's 10th anniversary event, which featured loot boxes primarily containing recolored skins and a few sprays, falling short of expectations for a significant milestone. Historically, previous anniversary events included a wider selection of items, leading players to hope for a similar experience this time. The Chinese version of the event offered exclusive skins from past seasonal battle passes, further highlighting the disparity. Blizzard's Keller acknowledged player feedback and announced upcoming improvements to the reward system, including a new event with more rewards and additional free cosmetics later in the year. While initial reactions to these announcements were mostly positive, some players remained dissatisfied, advocating for more premium skins. The community's sentiment indicated that a more substantial array of cosmetics would have better honored the game's decade-long impact.

AppWizard

May 15, 2026

Android 16 VPN Bypass Lets Apps Reveal Users’ Real IP Address

A security vulnerability in Android 16 allows malicious applications to expose a user's real IP address, even with "Always-On VPN" and "Block connections without VPN" features activated. Discovered by security researcher 0x33c0unt and disclosed on April 30, 2026, the flaw exploits the registerQuicConnectionClosePayload feature, which lacks permission checks. This vulnerability has been verified on a Pixel 8 with Proton VPN active. Google has not released a patch, but users can disable the feature via ADB commands.

AppWizard

May 15, 2026

Android 16 Bug Allows Apps to Ignore VPNs and Leak IP Addresses

Android 16 may have a vulnerability that allows applications to bypass VPN protections, potentially exposing users' IP addresses. A security engineer reported this issue through Google’s Vulnerability Reward Program, but Google's security team deemed it "infeasible" to address. The vulnerability lies within the ConnectivityManager system service, which circumvents the VPN tunnel, leading to unencrypted traffic and exposure of sensitive information. This issue persists even with "Always-on VPN" or "Block connections without VPN" features enabled. Although there is no confirmed exploitation of this vulnerability, it poses ongoing risks for users. GrapheneOS has patched the issue, indicating a fix is possible. A debug command has been identified as a temporary workaround for affected users, but it requires caution and understanding of USB debugging mode.

AppWizard

May 15, 2026

Marathon’s Game Director admits it’s “overwhelming to learn” and too sweaty

Marathon, developed by Bungie, has a specialized appeal that may hinder sustainable growth, as noted by Game Director Joe Ziegler. He described the game's learning curve as "overwhelming" and gameplay as a "hardcore sweat-fiesta," indicating a need for more relaxed options. Since its launch nearly three months ago, the game has fostered a growing core community, with players contributing fan art and lore videos. Key observations from Season 1 include the overwhelming experience for newcomers, the chaotic endgame balance, and the demand for less intense gameplay. For Season 2, two new PvE-focused modes will be introduced, including one that blends PvE with PvP and another emphasizing cooperative gameplay. New features will include the Night Marsh zone, a defensive Runner shell named 'Sentinel,' fresh weapons, and improved customization options. Additional anticipated features are a Duos rotating zone queue, a revamped matchmaking system, and an expansion of Vault size. Bungie is also working on enhancing the onboarding experience and contract system. Season 2 is set to launch on June 2, with more details to be revealed in late May.