move Archives

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

Subnautica 2’s early access has chased a campervanning game about starting fires and hacking PCs into an earlier release

Square Glade Games has rescheduled the release of their game Outbound to May 11th, three days earlier than planned, to avoid competition with Subnautica 2, which launches on May 14th. The demo for Outbound will be taken offline on May 8th.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

Microsoft is reportedly fixing Windows 11 to take on the Steam Machine, but here’s what else it needs to do

Microsoft is launching the Windows K2 initiative to improve the performance and reliability of Windows 11, aiming to compete with alternatives like SteamOS. The initiative focuses on addressing key complaints such as overreliance on AI, poor performance, and unreliability. It emphasizes quality over speed in updates, promotes community engagement through Windows Insider meetups, and sets ambitious goals including enhancing File Explorer performance, improving file search, eliminating ads from the Start Menu, and restoring taskbar functionality. Microsoft aims to achieve performance parity with SteamOS within two years and has already demonstrated potential improvements with a specialized gaming version of Windows. Additionally, Microsoft is encouraged to simplify account setup and reduce prompts for Office 365, CoPilot, and OneDrive to enhance user experience.

Winsage

May 2, 2026

Microsoft to Enable Windows 11 Updates to Be Skipped During Install or Even Paused Indefinitely by Users

Microsoft is enhancing the out-of-the-box experience for Windows 11 users by allowing them to skip updates during initial installation on consumer devices. Users can now pause updates for up to 35 days and re-enable this pause multiple times. Additionally, the shutdown and restart options during update installations have been revamped, allowing users to shut down or restart their devices without triggering the update process. These changes aim to provide users with greater control over their update experience while maintaining security.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

Rocket League has a new Easy Anti-Cheat addition, and it still works on the Steam Deck — it’s about time for other game Devs to follow suit

Psyonix has integrated Easy Anti-Cheat into Rocket League while supporting Linux platforms. Although Rocket League is no longer available on Steam, it can still be played on SteamOS through the Epic Games platform using Proton for compatibility. Other titles like Battlefield 6, Call of Duty, and EA Sports FC 26 are not accessible on SteamOS due to compatibility issues with anti-cheat systems. Psyonix's efforts may encourage other developers to improve Linux support. Emerging titles like Splitgate: Arena Reloaded and Rocket League are contributing to broader Linux compatibility, but challenges remain due to some publishers' reluctance to invest in these solutions.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

You no longer have to pay for Gemini’s smartest organization tool

Gemini Notebooks are now available on mobile without a paywall, allowing users to organize chats and files in a centralized project hub. Existing NotebookLM notebooks sync to mobile, enabling direct saving of chats as sources. The feature is accessible to both free and paid users, with source limits varying by subscription plan: free users can add 50 sources, AI Plus users 100, Pro users 300, and Ultra users 600. The rollout is live for most users globally, with updates expected in Europe and other countries soon.

Winsage

May 1, 2026

Windows 11’s April update is now breaking third-party backup apps

Microsoft rolled out update KB5083769 for Windows 11 to enhance security, but users have reported issues such as BitLocker lockouts, boot loops, and problems with Remote Desktop functionality. The update is causing compatibility problems with third-party backup applications, including Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, Macrium Reflect, NinjaOne Backup, and UrBackup Server, due to a bug in the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS). Users experiencing backup failures are advised to uninstall update KB5083769 as a temporary solution until Microsoft releases a patch. The timeline for resolving these issues is currently unclear.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

Hogwarts Legacy is free on Epic Games Store again, and tinfoil Sorting Hat on, I think it’s time for a sequel reveal

Hogwarts Legacy is available for free on the Epic Games Store until May 3. This is not the first time the game has been offered for free, as a similar promotion occurred in December 2025. The timing of the giveaway coincides with Harry Potter Day on May 2, leading to speculation about the intentions of Warner Bros. Games. Avalanche Games has a new Community Manager, which may indicate positive developments for the franchise. A potential release for Hogwarts Legacy 2 could be around 2028, although it might arrive sooner due to asset reuse.

Winsage

May 1, 2026

Microsoft brings a Linux-style window trick to Windows 11 via PowerToys, and I can’t go back

Microsoft's PowerToys version 0.99 introduces two new tools: Grab And Move and Power Display, along with enhancements to the Command Palette Dock. Grab And Move allows users to reposition application windows by holding the Alt key and dragging anywhere on the window, facilitating easier window management. Users can customize the activation key and toggle the feature off during gaming sessions. There are also options to exclude specific applications from using this feature. Power Display enables users to manage monitor settings directly from the system tray, including brightness, contrast, volume, rotation, and color temperature adjustments. It supports multi-monitor setups with DDC/CI standards and includes a Profiles option for saving specific monitor settings. The Command Palette Dock now features a compact mode and customization options for pinned commands, improving user accessibility and screen space utilization.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

New ROG Xbox Ally Updates: Docking Improvements, Auto SR Preview, Collective Library, Enhanced Vibration, and More

Six months ago, ASUS and AMD launched the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X in 45 countries, combining Xbox capabilities with Windows 11 in a portable format. Player feedback has led to continual updates, optimizing hundreds of games for handheld play and introducing features like Default Game Profiles and expanded Xbox mode. Recent updates include automatic gameplay transition to TV when docked, support for HDR10 and Variable Refresh Rate on certain docks, a Display Widget for adjusting settings via the Game Bar, improved controller pairing, and the Gamepad Cursor feature for non-controller supported applications. Automatic Super Resolution is now in preview for Xbox Insiders on the ROG Xbox Ally X, enhancing visual quality. The Xbox Wireless Headset now supports Bluetooth LE Audio for reduced latency and improved battery life. The Xbox PC app has been revamped to consolidate games from various storefronts into one library. Over 1,000 PC games are now compatible with handheld play, and features like Default Game Profiles and Advanced Shader Delivery have been introduced. Popular games supporting these features include Ninja Gaiden 4, Grounded 2, and others, with more titles expected in the future.

Tech Optimizer

May 1, 2026

Backstage Ditches Postgres for Databricks Lakebase

The divide between operational and analytical databases is diminishing, as evidenced by Databricks integrating Spotify's Backstage with its Lakebase, transitioning from PostgreSQL to a unified data platform. Lakebase now offers a serverless PostgreSQL interface within Databricks, allowing Backstage to operate without awareness of the underlying changes. The integration involved updating configurations and addressing authentication challenges using OAuth JWTs. The integration transforms the database development lifecycle by enabling near-instant database branching through Lakebase's copy-on-write architecture, allowing developers to focus on testing changes rather than safety. Branching creates a pointer to existing data, making the operation instantaneous. Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR) allows for quick restoration of data, demonstrated by a recovery process that took less than four seconds. The goal is to integrate database branching into developer workflows seamlessly, making it automatic. This change could enhance developer productivity by allowing live data testing from the start, eliminating the need for mock objects, and resolving common issues related to staging environments. The traditional constraints of slow and costly database copies will become obsolete, prompting teams to reconsider how much time they spend on workarounds for now-nonexistent constraints.