Music Archives

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

Take-Two boss dismisses hand-wringing over the end of disc-based games: ‘Our business is well over 90% digitally distributed as it is’

Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, stated that physical game discs "don't really make sense" in today's digital market, especially with the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 exclusively in digital format. While PC gamers have largely adopted digital gaming, the console sector has traditionally relied on physical releases. However, the lack of a physical edition for Grand Theft Auto 6 and Sony's plan to stop disc production by 2028 indicate a shift in this trend. Zelnick noted that although the transition to digital is inevitable, Take-Two will still release physical editions "now and then." Ubisoft's CEO and industry analyst Daniel Ahmad support Zelnick's views, highlighting that the console ecosystem is becoming "nearly entirely digital." The release of Grand Theft Auto 6 on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S raises questions about digital distribution and ownership in gaming.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

Trent Reznor on Doom: ‘In some ways I felt a parallel with what I was trying to do with music’

A Quake-themed QuakeCon event celebrated the 30th anniversary of the iconic shooter, featuring a panel with John Romero and Marty Stratton, and the unveiling of a new 19-level episode of Quake. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails made a brief livestream appearance, reflecting on his significant contribution to the game's soundtrack in 1996. Quake's music, characterized by industrial soundscapes, created an intense atmosphere that sometimes led players to mute the audio. In honor of the anniversary, new Quake-themed merchandise was launched, including an ammo box, t-shirt, keychain, hoodie, and reissued vinyl soundtrack.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

Minecraft Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date Announced

Mojang Studios announced that Minecraft will launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27, featuring improved performance and an updated Super Mario Mash-Up Pack. Originally released in 2009, Minecraft became fully available in 2011 and was acquired by Microsoft in 2014. The game has sold over 300 million copies, making it the best-selling video game of all time. The Nintendo Switch version debuted in 2017, with a cross-platform Bedrock version replacing the original in 2018. The Switch 2 version will include enhanced visuals, improved lighting, and richer shadows. The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack will also be updated for better graphics. Players who own Minecraft on the original Switch will have a digital upgrade path to the new console.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Fields of Mistria 1.0 changes: What’s new in the full release version?

Fields of Mistria 1.0 has been fully released after two years of early access, featuring significant updates and enhancements. The town's story is complete, with repairs following an earthquake finalized. Players can now experience ten heart events for datable characters, allowing for deeper relationships. Marriage and children have been introduced, enabling players to start families. The Saturday Market has two new merchants, Stillwell and Zorel. An achievements system rewards players retroactively, and there is no need to start a new save file to access the new content. Key updates include the completion of the Town Repair Questline, an increased Town Renown Cap, the addition of the Mistril Town Rank Event, and new quests. Beta localizations for seven languages have been added. Gameplay enhancements include new perks, customizable house exteriors, and engagement ring crafting. Quality of life improvements include player character rotation and improved drop rates from treasure chests. Art enhancements and new soundtracks have been introduced, along with substantial performance improvements and bug fixes.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

29 years later, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night gets its second PC port in 4 weeks thanks to fans of the PS1 version

PC gamers can now enjoy a native port of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, originally launched on the PlayStation 1, following the release of a recompilation based on the Xbox 360 version. The unofficial port, NocturneRecomp, allowed players to experience the 2007 Xbox 360 version, while SymphonyRecomp, introduced by BlackLabelHQ, offers an alternative. The new recompilation provides the PS1 version natively on PC, featuring widescreen resolutions and a built-in randomizer. The Sega Saturn version included additional content, such as new areas and the playable character Maria Renard, but it remains unclear if this content will be included in the new port. The PC version retains the nostalgic charm of the '90s credits theme.

Winsage

August 5, 2026

I played DOOM inside MS Paint on Windows 11 by hijacking the clipboard, and it’s shockingly good

Mark Russinovich, the Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft Azure, has created a project called DoomPaint, which allows the classic game DOOM to be displayed within Microsoft Paint. The game operates through the ViZDoom engine, rendering frames headlessly and transferring them to Paint via the Windows clipboard. DoomPaint features full keyboard controls, sound effects, and a MIDI soundtrack, maintaining a frame rate of around 35 FPS. To run DoomPaint, users need to download the project from GitHub, ensure Python is installed, extract the folder, and run a batch file, which sets up a virtual environment and opens Microsoft Paint for gameplay. The default controls include movement with W/S or arrow keys, turning with A/D or arrow keys, strafing with Q/E, firing with Ctrl/F, and other functions assigned to different keys. The project uses the shareware DOOM1.WAD for the initial episode and additional maps from Freedoom due to licensing restrictions. DoomPaint differs from previous attempts to integrate DOOM into Paint by using Paint’s canvas as the sole display for the game. The clipboard race condition was addressed by allowing the application to own the clipboard as a reference-counted OLE data object. Sound effects come from ViZDoom through OpenAL, and music is played using a separate module that loops through the Windows MIDI sequencer. Russinovich utilized Claude Fable 5 for this project, demonstrating how AI tools can enhance software development.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Need to run Windows or Android apps on Linux? This new release makes it easy

AnduinOS V2.0 has launched, featuring a full Wayland stack that improves user experience. It is a custom Linux distribution based on Ubuntu, designed for newcomers to Linux, with a GNOME desktop environment that resembles Windows. The distribution includes minimal preinstalled software, such as Firefox and a music player, but allows users to install additional applications via GNOME Software with Flathub integration. A key feature is the onboarding process that prompts users to enable the Windows Compatibility Sandbox for running Windows applications. Waydroid can be easily set up with two terminal commands, providing access to Android apps. AnduinOS maintains stability and speed comparable to other Linux distributions, supports easy application installation, and offers user-friendly customization options. It promotes open-source principles by combining Linux, Android, and Windows functionalities.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Crimson Moon debuts Sept. 1 for $20 on PC and consoles

GB MAX membership provides access to a global B2B leadership community in gaming, entertainment, and tech, along with a VIP ticket to the GamesBeat Next event on November 2-3 in San Francisco. ProbablyMonsters is set to release the action-adventure RPG Crimson Moon on September 1 for PC and consoles. The game will be available on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It features contributions from metal musicians for its soundtrack and offers a Deluxe Edition with exclusive content. Players will take on the role of Nephilim in a gothic high renaissance setting, engaging in combat and character progression. The game supports both solo and cooperative play, with challenges against world bosses. The music is composed by Chris Wilson and Steve Pardo, featuring original tracks for the game.

AppWizard

August 4, 2026

Your Galaxy’s SmartThings app looks set for its biggest redesign in years

Samsung's SmartThings app is undergoing a redesign to align with the One UI design language, featuring a floating navigation bar for easy access to tabs like Home, Devices, Life, Routines, and Menu. The Home tab will have animated wallpapers that change with the time of day and allow for personalized backgrounds for different locations. A new SmartThings Now card will suggest underutilized features, which can be disabled by users. The redesign includes three types of home-screen widgets: Device Control, Screen Device Control, and Routines. The Devices tab will have a refreshed background, and the Life section will continue to offer services like Energy and Music Sync, with customizable card arrangements. The Routines tab will separate existing automations from a Discover section showcasing popular community routines. A release date for the update is not confirmed but may align with the rollout of One UI 9.

AppWizard

August 4, 2026

You Can Now Use Your Old Tablet As An Android Auto Head Unit – Here’s How

Repurposing an old Android tablet can enhance your driving experience by turning it into a DIY Android Auto head unit using the app Headunit Revived. This open-source application acts as an Android Auto receiver, allowing navigation with Google Maps and access to apps like Spotify, Facebook Messenger, and Google Calendar. Headunit Revived is compatible with Android devices updated to at least Android 4.1 and can be downloaded for a fee from the Play Store or for free via an APK from GitHub. It can also be used on older Amazon Fire tablets. To set up Headunit Revived on your tablet, grant necessary permissions, agree to terms, and follow the Quick Setup Wizard to select screen size and orientation. The app will optimize the Android Auto layout based on your tablet's specifications. You can modify settings for UI scaling, dark mode, and screen resolution. To connect your phone to the tablet, you can use a USB cable or a wireless connection. For a wired connection, connect the phone via USB, select the appropriate USB settings, and launch Headunit Revived. For a wireless connection, enable Wi-Fi Direct on both devices, set the connection strategy in the app, and use the Wi-Fi Helper app on your phone to connect. Once connected, Android Auto will load on the tablet, allowing access to navigation and music apps. You can switch between navigation apps and exit Android Auto by unplugging the phone or using the Wireless Helper app. Various mounting options are available for securing the tablet in your vehicle.