model Archives

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Ubisoft have reportedly cancelled Alterra, a life sim blending Animal Crossing with Minecraft, after almost three years of dev work

Ubisoft has canceled an unannounced life simulation game called Alterra, which had been in development for nearly three years. The development team was informed of the cancellation on April 21st and has the option to transition to other projects within the company. The cancellation is part of a broader restructuring at Ubisoft, which has included project discontinuations and layoffs, including the closure of the Tom Clancy studio, Red Storm, resulting in 105 job losses. Earlier in January, Ubisoft also canceled the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake and five other titles.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Latest Fanatical bundle is offering 17 Steam Deck-friendly games worth $333 for only $42

The Fanatical Exodus bundle offers a customizable selection of 17 Steam Deck-compatible games at discounted prices. Users can choose their desired titles, with costs decreasing per game as more are selected: .75 for two games, .65 for three, .50 for four or more, and [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: For Steam Deck enthusiasts seeking to expand their gaming library without straining their wallets, the latest offering from Fanatical, known as the Exodus bundle, presents an enticing opportunity. This bundle features a diverse assortment of action, adventure, strategy, and arcade games, all available at remarkably low prices. Prices and savings are subject to change. Click through to get the current deal prices. What does the bundle offer? The standout feature of this bundle is its customizable nature, allowing gamers to tailor their purchases to their preferences. Instead of paying for a pre-selected package, users can choose only the titles they desire, which in turn affects the overall cost. For example, selecting two games will set you back .75 each. If you opt for three, the price drops to .65 per title. The savings continue to grow, with four or more games costing just .50 each. Should you decide to indulge in the entire collection of 17 Steam Deck-compatible games, the total comes to a mere .46, representing an impressive 87% discount from the original value of 2.83. Below is a comprehensive list of the games included in Fanatical’s Exodus bundle, along with their compatibility status for the Steam Deck: Game Steam Deck compatibility Original price Disco Elysium – The Final Cut Verified .99 Agatha Christie – Murder on the Orient Express Playable .99 Asgard’s Fall – Viking Survivors Playable .99 Oblivion Override Playable .99 Beyond a Steel Sky Verified .99 Love is… Verified .99 Decline’s Drops Verified .99 Souldiers Verified .99 Death Relives Playable .99 King of Retail Playable .99 KitHack Model Club Playable .99 South of the Circle Verified .99 Charrua Soccer – Pro Edition Unsupported but reportedly runs fine out of the box .99 Heretic’s Fork Playable .99 Fight of Steel: Infinity Warrior Playable .99 Zombasite Playable .99 Fight School Simulator Playable .99 This collection is particularly noteworthy, featuring acclaimed titles such as Disco Elysium. For those looking for additional savings, the Humble Sharp Shooters bundle is also worth exploring, offering seven Steam Deck-friendly games valued at 5 for just ." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].46 for the entire collection, which represents an 87% discount from the original total of .83. The bundle includes games such as Disco Elysium – The Final Cut (Verified), Agatha Christie – Murder on the Orient Express (Playable), and Beyond a Steel Sky (Verified), among others. The original price for each game is .99. Additionally, there is a mention of the Humble Sharp Shooters bundle, which offers seven Steam Deck-friendly games valued at for a lower price.

BetaBeacon

April 22, 2026

Now You Can Run GameCube and Wii Games on Switch Without Android

- Tico v0.7.0 update includes an experimental Dolphin core for GameCube and Wii emulation on the Switch. - The Dolphin core runs on Horizon OS via custom firmware, eliminating the need for a second operating system like Android or Linux. - Tico allows for automatic game library management and a controller-first interface for better handheld use. - Custom firmware is required to run Tico on a Nintendo Switch, with different methods depending on the Switch model. - GameCube and Wii games have been tested on Tico v0.7.0, with some titles running well and others experiencing minor issues.

Winsage

April 22, 2026

“For years, Microsoft’s practices have had real financial impact on both public and private organizations” – Microsoft faces new legal challenge over licensing practices

Microsoft is facing a £2 billion lawsuit in the UK, led by competition lawyer Maria Luisa Stasi, representing nearly 60,000 businesses that claim the company imposes excessive charges for using Windows Server on competing cloud platforms. The allegations focus on higher licensing fees for organizations using services like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Alibaba Cloud compared to those using Microsoft’s Azure. The lawsuit has been allowed to proceed on an opt-out basis by the Tribunal. Microsoft plans to appeal the decision and asserts that its business model promotes competition. The case is part of broader scrutiny of Microsoft's licensing practices, with investigations also initiated by the UK Competition and Markets Authority and the European Commission, as well as inquiries in Brazil, Switzerland, the United States, and Japan.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Ubisoft cancels Animal Crossing and Minecraft-inspired cosy life sim game Alterra

Ubisoft has canceled Project Alterra, an original game described as an "Animal Crossing-inspired social sim" with Minecraft-like elements. The decision was communicated to the development team on April 21st, resulting in an early dismissal for staff, although no layoffs were reported. The project had been in development by Ubisoft Montréal for nearly three years, led by creative director Patrick Redding and lead producer Fabien Lhéraud. Employees involved in Alterra have been reassigned to other projects within the company. Ubisoft stated that it continuously assesses projects to ensure they align with strategic priorities and quality standards, leading to the discontinuation of those that do not meet expectations.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Tired Of Google Messages? These 4 Texting Apps Might Be Better For You

Samsung plans to retire its proprietary messaging app by July 2026, leading many Android users to rely on Google Messages. Major carriers like AT&T have stopped supporting their own messaging apps, potentially creating a monopoly. Alternative SMS-enabled apps include: - Pulse SMS: Syncs across devices, offers password-protected cloud backups, and has end-to-end encryption for stored conversations. It has a 3.6-star rating on Google Play. - Chomp SMS: Highly customizable with features like scheduled messages and block lists. It remains free with ads, but some users find the customization options complex. - Handcent Next SMS: Incorporates AI for features like text extraction and grammar checks. It has over one million downloads and a 4.4-star rating, but requests a high number of permissions. - Textra SMS: Offers faster performance and extensive customization, aiming to replace default messaging apps. It follows a "free forever" model but lacks cross-device functionality and encryption. The selection of these alternatives was based on Google Play ratings above 3.5 stars, a minimum of 50,000 user reviews, and recent updates.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Back in 2009, an experimental free-to-play Battlefield predicted our grim live service present: ‘It will need to be the most popular Battlefield game of all time to be profitable’

The term "free-to-play" was not common in gaming until the late 2000s, when major publishers began exploring free versions of their flagship franchises. Battlefield Heroes was a significant experiment as a PC-exclusive spin-off that marked a high-profile franchise's entry into the free-to-play model. EA's senior producer Ben Cousins described it as a substantial risk that needed unprecedented popularity to be profitable. The game featured a real-time feedback development philosophy and introduced daily challenges, which became common in the shooter genre. Initially, players could only purchase superior weapons with in-game currency, but by late 2009, EA shifted to a pay-to-win model. Battlefield Heroes had a six-year lifespan before being discontinued in 2015.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Xbox Drops the Price of Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, But Loses Day One Call of Duty Games

Microsoft has reduced the subscription prices for Game Pass Ultimate from .99 to .99 per month and for PC Game Pass from .99 to .99 per month. Future Call of Duty titles will no longer be available on Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass at launch; instead, they will be added during the subsequent holiday season, approximately one year after their initial release. Existing Call of Duty titles will remain accessible to subscribers. The changes were made in response to financial considerations and feedback from players regarding the previous pricing. Asha Sharma, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, stated that Game Pass Ultimate had become too expensive for many players.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

After 2 years of silence, an extraction shooter we liked back in 2022 for its ‘impeccable vibes’ suddenly springs back to life on Steam

In 2022, Marauders, an extraction shooter, launched in early access on Steam, gaining a notable player base despite not being free-to-play. However, updates ceased after the Retribution update in August 2024, leading to over 20 months without new content. Recently, developers announced they had focused on a comprehensive overhaul of the game, which generated mixed reactions from the community. Some players are hopeful for its revival, as evidenced by 11 pages of comments following the update. The competitive landscape for extraction shooters has intensified with new titles like Arc Raiders and Marathon.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Diablo 4 Lord of Hatred review – Sanctuary is safe, but I’m conflicted

Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred introduces a revamped endgame experience with eight distinct classes, including the new Warlock class, which combines spellcasting and summoning abilities. The narrative centers on the protagonist's relationship with Lilith and the threat posed by Mephisto, set against the backdrop of the visually striking region of Skovos, inspired by Grecian architecture. The game features enhanced customization options, improved class skill trees, and a new War Plans system that revitalizes the endgame experience. However, the overarching story is criticized for its pacing and character development, particularly regarding the Amazons and the reliance on Lilith. Despite these critiques, the campaign offers visually stunning boss encounters and a compelling soundtrack. The game raises questions about its future direction, with concerns about evolving into a live-service model.