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AppWizard

April 16, 2026

FF14 Fanfest will look more into the MMO’s future than you might expect, director Naoki Yoshida teases

The NA Fan Festival in Anaheim is scheduled for April 24-25 and will unveil the title and narrative of the FF14 8.0 expansion. Game director Naoki Yoshida suggests attendees may be surprised by the announcements during his keynote address. The FF14 patch 7.5 is set to release on April 28, shortly after the festival. Yoshida aims to provide insights into the future of FF14 and hints at early gameplay demonstrations during the festival. He describes the Beastmaster as a limited job for solo play and addresses the upcoming ultimate raid, indicating a desire for a grand presentation at Fanfest. The event will be streamed on the official FF14 YouTube and Twitch channels.

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

New Fortnite updates turns the game into Singstar and introduces Showdown Act 2

Fortnite has removed its Ballistic mode and introduced a new update featuring Laufey in the Icon series, allowing players to engage in a musical experience. Starting April 16, players can use the Mic Vocals feature to sing along in real time with a compatible microphone on PC and Console. The update also includes Pro Drums, enabling the use of a Rock Band 4 drum kit, while vocalists can move freely within the Jam Ring. Additionally, Act 2 of the Showdown event has begun, focusing on a challenge between characters Jules and Dasha. Furthermore, the Save The World mode is now free-to-play for all players.

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

Google Play is changing how Android apps access your contacts and location

Google has updated its Google Play policies to enhance user privacy and protect businesses from fraud. Starting in October, developers will have access to Play policy insights in Android Studio to help comply with new features. On October 27, the Play Console will implement pre-review checks for contact and location permissions. The Android Contact Picker will be the standard for accessing contacts, requiring apps to use it or privacy-focused alternatives. Developers must update their apps to use the picker and submit a Play Developer Declaration for ongoing contact access. A new location button will be introduced for precise location requests, and apps must use it for one-time access. Developers should review their location data requests and include the onlyForLocationButton flag if targeting Android 17 and above. The Play Console will also introduce an official account transfer feature for ownership changes, effective May 27, with a mandatory 7-day security cool-down period for transfers. Unofficial transfers are prohibited.

Winsage

April 15, 2026

Microsoft releases Windows 10 KB5082200 extended security update

Microsoft has released the Windows 10 KB5082200 extended security update, addressing vulnerabilities from the April 2026 Patch Tuesday, including two critical zero-day flaws. The update enhances security with new protections against phishing attacks using Remote Desktop Protocol (.rdp) files and provides updated indicators in Windows Security for new Secure Boot certificates. Users can install the update by checking for updates in the Windows Update settings. After installation, Windows 10 will upgrade to build 19045.7184, and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 will transition to build 19044.7184. The update resolves a total of 167 vulnerabilities, including two significant zero-day issues, and includes fixes for signing into Microsoft apps, enhanced Remote Desktop security, dynamic Secure Boot status reporting, and issues affecting Intel-based devices with Connected Standby. Microsoft is also rolling out new Secure Boot certificates to replace older ones expiring in June 2026, with no known issues reported for this update.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Minecraft 26.2 Snapshot 3

In version 26.2, a new feature called sulfur spikes has been introduced, which generates naturally in sulfur caves. These spikes can form stalactites when placed on the ceiling and stalagmites when on the floor. They can be combined to create longer formations and will merge if placed adjacent without pressing the shift key. Stalagmites will break if not anchored, and stalactites will fall if unsupported. Thrown tridents can break sulfur spikes. The Potent Sulfur block can no longer be crafted back into sulfur blocks, and several block textures have been updated. The Sulfur Cube can no longer be picked up by boats. Sound effects for Nautilus jets and recoveries have been updated. The Data Pack version is now 102.0, and the Resource Pack version is 86.0. The minecraft:bed block entity has been removed, and entity predicates have been restructured for simplification. New block textures for sulfur spikes have been added. Several bugs have been fixed, including issues with axolotls, emissive textures, client crashes, and leads disappearing from sulfur cubes. Snapshots for Minecraft: Java Edition are available for installation, with a reminder to back up worlds.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Minecraft 26.2 Snapshot 3 Introduces New Sulfur Spike Blocks

The Minecraft 26.2 Snapshot 3 introduces Sulfur Spike blocks, which generate naturally on Sulfur blocks in the Sulfur Cave biomes. These blocks can form stalactites when placed on ceilings and stalagmites when placed on the ground. Players can combine two Sulfur Spikes to create elongated formations. Falling stalactites can damage players, and if there are no blocks above or below them, they will break and drop. Players can also break these spikes using a Minecraft Trident. Additionally, Potent Sulfur blocks can no longer be reverted back to Sulfur blocks, and the Sulfur Cube mob is no longer transportable via boats. Texture updates have been applied to several blocks, including Chiseled Cinnabar, Chiseled Sulfur, Cinnabar, Cinnabar Bricks, Polished Cinnabar, Polished Sulfur, and Sulfur Bricks.

Winsage

April 14, 2026

Windows 11 KB5083769 out with improved /scannow, direct download links for offline installers (.msu)

Windows 11 has started rolling out update KB5083769, which introduces the ability to disable Smart App Control and provides offline installers for direct download. The update will automatically download and install unless users have paused updates for up to five weeks. Upon installation, Windows 11 25H2 will advance to Build 26200.8246, while version 24H2 will progress to Build 26100.8246. Users can check their update status in Settings > System > About. The update includes several .NET Framework security updates (KB5082417, KB5086097, KB5086096). The size of the April 2026 Update is approximately 5.1GB for x64 systems and under 4.5GB for arm64. New features include the ability to toggle Smart App Control, enhanced integration of Microsoft 365 in Windows Settings, modernized dialogs in Settings, and improvements to the sfc /scannow feature for accurate status reports.

Winsage

April 14, 2026

Microsoft confirms old Windows 8 UI elements are being replaced in Windows 11, but there is more work to be done

Microsoft is updating the input method switcher on the Windows 11 login screen to align with the operating system's modern design, responding to user feedback about its outdated appearance. The input switcher, which has a rigid, square design, contrasts with the rounded aesthetics of Windows 11. Other legacy UI elements from Windows 8 and earlier versions, such as the Windows Recovery Environment and the Control Panel, remain present in the system. Microsoft is gradually migrating functionalities from the Control Panel to the Settings app, but inconsistencies persist in various system tools like File Explorer, the Run dialog, Registry Editor, and Device Manager. The company is actively addressing these legacy UI issues to enhance the user experience and achieve a more unified design language in Windows 11.

Winsage

April 13, 2026

Windows 11 is finally removing the 32GB FAT32 capacity limit

Microsoft has released new test builds for Windows Insiders, specifically Dev Build 26300.8170 and Beta Build 26220.8165, which remove the 32GB limit on FAT32 formatting for external drives. Users can now format external drives up to 2TB using FAT32 through the Command Prompt. This change, which has been anticipated by users, is a shift from the long-standing restriction that required third-party applications or specialized commands for larger drives. The enhancement applies only to the Command Prompt, as the graphical interface remains unchanged, and the 4GB file size limit for individual files on FAT32 drives still applies. This feature is currently available only in preview versions for Windows Insiders, with a broader rollout planned for future standard Windows 11 updates.

AppWizard

April 13, 2026

Anno 117’s first DLC will let you disregard history by building your Roman city next to a massive volcano

Ubisoft is set to release a DLC for Anno 117 titled Prophecies of Ash on April 23. This expansion introduces Cinis, the largest island in the series, featuring a volcano that adds risk and strategy to city-building. Cinis extends the Latium province and offers various resources, including a new resource called Obsidian for crafting unique items. The DLC will include volcanic mechanics such as eruptions and a bloom phase that affect agricultural productivity. Players can also build a temple dedicated to Vulcan, enhancing mining productivity and fire safety. Anno 117 has received a 'Mixed' rating on Steam due to issues like the use of AI art and perceived incompleteness at launch, but it has achieved the highest launch in the series' history.