next-gen Archives

BetaBeacon

June 3, 2026

Fake GTA 6, real malware: the new scam targeting Windows and Android

Attackers create fake GTA 6 beta scams that install trojans on machines, stealing credentials and mining cryptocurrency. Gamers' anticipation for highly anticipated games makes them vulnerable to these scams. NordVPN's antivirus can intercept these files and protect users from phishing sites impersonating gaming platforms. NordVPN's Premium plan includes VPN and antivirus for .85/month. NordVPN's antivirus works well on Windows and macOS, but is limited on mobile versions. The plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Tech Optimizer

May 27, 2026

‘Protection needs to evolve’ — NordVPN rebrands as an all-in-one VPN app for next-generation protection

NordVPN has rebranded its app to focus on three pillars: connect, protect, and monitor. The protect segment includes a newly launched anti-gen antivirus, which blocked 4.8 million threats in April, with over 3 million of these being malware.

AppWizard

May 27, 2026

Google Brings One-Click Checkout to Android Apps

Google has enhanced the Android checkout experience by integrating stored credentials from Google Wallet, allowing developers to offer a seamless payment process with the new Express checkout feature using Google Pay for Android native applications. Developers can implement dynamic callbacks in their applications for real-time updates on shipping options, taxes, and total prices during transactions, improving the checkout process without closing the payment interface. These dynamic callbacks, previously available on the web, are now fully supported in Android applications, streamlining the checkout funnel. This innovation reduces friction in payments, facilitates a one-click experience, and enhances accuracy and authorization feedback, ultimately driving higher conversion rates. Recent reports indicate that mobile wallets, including Google Pay, are becoming mainstream, with 31% of consumers using a mobile wallet in-store within the past week, and the number of users reporting Google Pay usage doubling year over year. Additionally, 84% of shoppers prioritize one-click options, and 80% utilize stored credentials, highlighting the importance of these features in reducing cart abandonment and enhancing conversion rates.

AppWizard

May 18, 2026

Dark Souls 2 Free Remaster Gets New Release That Completely Transforms The Game

Dark Souls 2 has received a free path tracing mod called DS2LightingEngine SotFS, enhancing its graphics significantly. Originally released in 2014 without path tracing technology, the mod introduces improved lighting, dynamic shadows, volumetric fog, ambient occlusion, HDR, enhanced material rendering, new meshes, and texture replacements. The mod is still in beta, which may result in rendering errors and unexpected quirks. Additionally, there are texture packs available that improve character appearances. Dark Souls 2 was initially launched in 2014 and later remastered as Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin in 2015.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

GTA 6 Next-Gen Rival Coming From Rockstar’s Own Backyard

Grand Theft Auto VI is set to release on 19 November, with marketing efforts and a potential third trailer expected soon. The game will be exclusive to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and its price is anticipated to be around or more than . A mod called NaturalVision Enhanced has significantly upgraded the visuals of GTA V on PC, making it resemble GTA VI, and is available for free download, requiring a PC copy of GTA V. The mod includes enhancements to various shaders and weather effects, revitalizing the game’s aesthetic.

Winsage

April 28, 2026

FinalWire releases AIDA64 8.30 with FPS tracking and next-gen CPU support, but drops 32-bit Windows support

FinalWire has released AIDA64 version 8.30, featuring the AIDA FPS module for real-time FPS data capture in DirectX 11 and 12 games, available exclusively in the Extreme edition. The update includes an optimized performance test for APX SHA3 for Intel Diamond Rapids and Nova Lake processors, support for Turing 4.6 and 12.3-inch LCD displays, compatibility with Intel Core Ultra 250K Plus and 270K Plus, enhanced support for Intel Wildcat Lake and Nova Lake processors, preliminary support for AMD Zen 6 architecture APUs, support for Aqua Computer Ampinel and Thermal Grizzly WireView Pro II sensors, extended support for Adaptec RAID controllers, USB-NVMe pass-through support for Realtek RTL9220 controllers, support for EXPO 1.2 memory profiles, and detailed GPU information for Intel Arc Pro B65 and B70 as well as NVIDIA RTX Pro 4500 Blackwell Server Edition. The update enhances support for Intel's Nova Lake CPUs and introduces a new SHA3 benchmark optimized for APX architectures. It also lays groundwork for support of AMD's upcoming Zen 6 Medusa Point mobile processors and introduces support for AMD's EXPO 1.2 technology. AIDA64 version 8.30 discontinues support for 32-bit Windows and Windows XP x64, requiring users on those platforms to revert to an earlier version. The new web-based AIDA64 SensorPanel Tools allows users to create image sets for SensorPanel Manager. The update is available across the Extreme, Engineer, Business, and Network Audit editions.

Winsage

April 16, 2026

Windows 11 vs CachyOS in gaming: Has Linux finally caught up to Windows?

Serious gaming on Linux has become a reality, with modern games showing impressive performance. A performance comparison was conducted between Windows 11 (25H2 build) and CachyOS (March 2026 build), a Linux distribution optimized for gaming. The test system specifications included a Cooler Master GA27127-inch monitor, Intel Core i5 12400F CPU, 24GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, 1TB HDD, AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT GPU, and the respective operating systems with their drivers. In gaming performance benchmarks, CachyOS outperformed Windows 11 by an average of 8.6% across five tested games. Specific game performances included: - Dead Space Remake: 70 FPS (Windows 11) vs 76 FPS (CachyOS) - Resident Evil 4 Remake: 84 FPS (Windows 11) vs 95 FPS (CachyOS) - Scorn: 118 FPS (Windows 11) vs 120 FPS (CachyOS) - Silent Hill 2 Remake: 53 FPS (Windows 11) vs 54 FPS (CachyOS) - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Next-Gen: 95 FPS (Windows 11) vs 111 FPS (CachyOS) In ray tracing (RT) enabled games, performance varied: - Resident Evil 4 Remake: 77 FPS (Windows 11) vs 83 FPS (CachyOS) - Silent Hill 2 Remake: 30 FPS (Windows 11) vs 24 FPS (CachyOS) - The Witcher 3: 51 FPS (both systems) Most PC games are designed for Windows, while Linux games require the Proton compatibility layer, which can complicate performance. Multiplayer titles often face compatibility issues on Linux, particularly due to anti-cheat systems. Linux has matched or surpassed Windows 11 in single-player scenarios for users with AMD GPUs, while NVIDIA users face challenges due to proprietary drivers.

BetaBeacon

April 12, 2026

Google’s Tensor G5 is ‘good enough’ — but 2026 flagships are leaving the Pixel 10 behind

- Google Pixel's lackluster performance may deter some buyers - The Pixel 10 Pro XL can hit 120fps on medium and very high graphics settings in COD Mobile - The Pixel's raw performance is behind rivals like Xiaomi and Samsung - Google's Tensor chip may struggle to catch up to Qualcomm's Snapdragon in terms of gaming performance - The Pixel 10 series is improving in performance but may not be the best choice for gamers looking for the smoothest frame rates

AppWizard

March 26, 2026

Saros Director Dodges Question About Sony Ditching PC Ports

Sony's upcoming first-party title, Saros, is being developed by Housemarque and follows the release of the critically acclaimed game Returnal. There is speculation about whether Saros will be a console exclusive or also released on PC, but the game's director, Gregory Louden, has not provided clarity on this issue. Reports indicate that Sony is reconsidering its strategy for releasing single-player titles on PC, influenced by disappointing sales of previous PC ports and a desire to reinforce its PlayStation ecosystem. Notably, there are no plans to release anticipated titles like Ghost of Yotei and Wolverine on Steam. These developments suggest Sony is cautious about making its games available on non-PlayStation platforms.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

Project Helix will make things easier for game devs, says indie program lead, because “one Xbox build” is all you need

Chris Charla, with 16 years at Xbox and 13 years in the ID@Xbox program, discussed Project Helix, the next-generation Xbox system. It will allow users to play both PC and Xbox games, contrasting with competitors like Sony. At the Game Developers Conference, he highlighted the goal of simplifying game launches, enabling developers to create a single build for Xbox, PC, and cloud platforms. Project Helix will support easy PC and cloud gaming. Charla mentioned that developers currently working on Xbox and PC will benefit from Project Helix, with support for Xbox API, backend integration, and marketing. The system is expected to release in 2027 or 2028, and it may resemble a "gaming PC" running Windows 11.