Notch

AppWizard
January 17, 2026
The legend of Herobrine in Minecraft originated from a screenshot posted on 4chan's /v/ board about 16 years ago, depicting a figure with white eyes lurking in the fog, believed to be Notch's deceased brother. The myth gained popularity after a viral stream by Copeland, where viewers saw Herobrine watching him fall into lava. Mojang, the game's developer, humorously claimed that Herobrine had been 'removed' with each game update. The combination of low render distances and foggy landscapes contributed to the eerie atmosphere, leading players to believe they might encounter Herobrine.
AppWizard
January 3, 2026
The author first played Minecraft in 2010 and was captivated by its charm, comparing it to a digital Lego set. Over time, they drifted away from the game due to burnout and political controversies surrounding its creator, Markus “Notch” Persson. The author visited Mojang in March 2011 when Minecraft had sold over a million copies, a figure that has since grown to over 350 million. Persson's demeanor changed after the game's acquisition by Microsoft for .5 billion in 2014 and the emergence of GamerGate, leading to the author's negative feelings towards the game. The Donut SMP server, created by YouTuber DrDonut, peaked at nearly 46,000 players in a single day and features an in-game economy where players can buy and sell resources. The author's son initially sought a Minecraft Realm for his classmates but later requested to join the Donut SMP server after tensions arose in the Realm. The author, initially hesitant, found common ground with their son on the server, leading to collaborative gameplay that involved resource gathering and crafting. They created a secret base and automated systems, learning about supply and demand in the game's market. This experience rekindled the author's joy in Minecraft and strengthened their bond with their son.
AppWizard
December 30, 2025
Your smartphone can be enhanced with various applications that improve productivity, personalization, and digital well-being. A recent video from Xtream Droid highlights ten lesser-known Android apps: 1. Gesture Suite: Allows users to create custom gestures for over 70 actions, automating tasks like turning on the flashlight or controlling music playback. 2. Transfer: Turns your phone into a local file server for quick, wireless file sharing without cables or third-party services, ensuring privacy and security. 3. Safe Space: Provides encrypted, offline storage for sensitive files, protecting data from unauthorized access without relying on cloud services. 4. LED Keyboard: Offers customizable LED effects, multilingual support, and advanced typing features while ensuring user privacy by not collecting typing data. 5. Shelf Launcher: A minimalist app that integrates gesture controls, quick search options, and note-taking features to optimize workflow and productivity. 6. Lock Me Out: Helps manage screen time by allowing users to set app blocking modes and schedule lockouts to minimize distractions. 7. Regain: Tracks app usage patterns and provides insights to maintain a balanced relationship with your device, promoting healthier digital habits. 8. Action Notch: Transforms the phone’s camera cutout into a functional control button for quick access to tasks like taking screenshots or switching apps. 9. Smart Dock Launcher: Offers a desktop-like experience with multi-window support and customizable layouts for better multitasking on Android devices. 10. NotePinr: An offline task management app that allows users to create to-do lists and reminders, with the ability to pin important notes to the notification bar.
AppWizard
December 13, 2025
Fanatical has launched the Prestige Collection, a build-your-own bundle deal featuring 24 games, including Doom Eternal: Deluxe Edition. Discounts start with the purchase of two games and increase with additional titles: two games cost .50 each, three games cost .25 each, and four or more games cost each. The bundle includes popular titles such as Ultrakill, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and Deathloop, with a total price of .99 for all four, offering savings of 88% off the standard price. The bundle is available until January 8, 2025.
AppWizard
December 6, 2025
Paradox Interactive is developing the next significant update for Stellaris, version 4.3, called 'Cetus,' expected to be released in the first quarter of 2026, depending on open beta testing results. The update will focus on refining the game's economy and naval mechanics, with updates to the beta build every two weeks. The initial phase of the open beta will target economic updates and ship design modifications, resulting in a 7% improvement in overall performance. Economic adjustments will include changes to empire size modifiers, unemployment rates, base technology costs, ethics modifiers, upkeep costs, living standards, happiness levels, planetary ascension, and automation buildings. The update aims to lower economic levels and control non-linear growth, while some threats remain unchanged. The development team plans to address issues such as game performance reporting, desynchronization tracking, and optimizations for various game elements. Fixes for ethics shifts and faction issues, new job swap options, and a streamlined slavery mechanic are also in progress, along with improvements to memory usage and multiplayer stability. The release timeline will depend on the outcomes of the beta testing.
AppWizard
December 1, 2025
In 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 became a standout title, selling over 3 million copies in its first month and receiving rave reviews for its blend of turn-based mechanics and quick-time events. Other notable RPG releases included Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Monster Hunter: Wilds, and Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter. Action games such as Split Fiction and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds were also well-received. The year featured family-friendly games and intense titles like Doom: The Dark Ages and horror games such as Silent Hill f and Dying Light: The Beast. Indie games like Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong gained recognition, alongside lesser-known titles like Despelote and Blue Prince. Remakes included The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, while The Last of Us Part II made its PC debut without technical issues. Stellar Blade and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth also launched on PC, receiving positive acclaim.
AppWizard
November 20, 2025
Resident Evil Requiem is estimated to offer between 12 and 15 hours of gameplay. Producer Masato Kumazawa indicated that the playthrough length will be similar to that of Resident Evil 4 Remake. Game director Koshi Nakanishi noted that gameplay duration varies by approach but aligns with typical Resident Evil content. Leaker Dusk Golem stated that Requiem is longer than Resident Evil Village but shorter than Resident Evil 4. Historically, Resident Evil games have varied in length from six to 20 hours, with recent titles leaning towards the longer end. Resident Evil 3 Remake is the shortest, while Resident Evil 6 is the longest, with Village and Resident Evil 7 averaging around ten hours.
BetaBeacon
November 18, 2025
- The Meta Quest 3S is a portable VR gaming console that functions like a wearable Nintendo Switch. - This year's Meta Quest 3S Black Friday deals include a 9 deal at Costco, which includes a full year of Meta Horizon Plus subscription. - The Meta Quest 3S is being offered at its lowest price ever, making it a must-have gaming purchase this holiday season.
AppWizard
November 15, 2025
Battlefield 6 developers have acknowledged criticism regarding the lack of large maps since its launch and have promised additional maps are forthcoming. Bobby Kotick revealed he offered [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: Good morning and welcome to your regularly scheduled Friday. As you prepare to embrace the weekend, take a moment to catch up on today’s Morning Checkpoint, a curated selection of noteworthy updates from the gaming industry. Battlefield 6 devs address lack of big maps and offer some hope Since its launch last month, Battlefield 6 has faced criticism regarding the absence of expansive maps. In response, EA has taken to their blog to reassure players that additional maps of various sizes are on the horizon. The developers at Battlefield Studios have acknowledged the community's creativity, particularly in the Portal mode, where user-generated maps have begun to reshape the gaming experience. In a recent playtest, I had the opportunity to explore the upcoming map, Eastwood, and it appears to be a promising addition that will likely satisfy players’ desires for larger battlegrounds. The hope remains that future updates will deliver even more expansive environments, fulfilling the expectations of dedicated fans. Bobby Kotick offered Notch .5 billion for Minecraft In a recent podcast appearance, former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick revealed that he nearly acquired Minecraft before Microsoft finalized the deal in 2014. Kotick recounted his experience negotiating with Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson, stating, “We offered him .5 billion. And he said, ‘By the way, I’m quitting, and my top leadership guys are all quitting.’” With only 30 employees at the time, the deal fell through, leaving Activision to eventually gain ownership of Minecraft through Microsoft’s acquisition of the company in 2023. Insider claims RDR2 is going to get a PS5 upgrade In recent news, Rockstar announced that Red Dead Redemption will receive free upgrades for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2, enhancing its performance on newer consoles. According to reliable leaker NateTheHate, there are also plans for a PS5 upgrade for Red Dead Redemption 2, although the timeline has been impacted by delays related to GTA 6. The gaming community eagerly awaits further developments on this front. Phasmophobia devs don’t want the game to be a live-service ‘treadmill’ The co-op ghost-hunting game Phasmophobia has garnered a significant following, yet its developers are keen to distance themselves from the live-service model prevalent in titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty. In an interview with PCGamesN, art director Corey Dixon expressed a desire to avoid the pressures of live-service development, emphasizing the importance of creating a game that players enjoy for its inherent fun rather than as a means to retain their attention. This refreshing perspective highlights a commitment to player experience over monetization strategies. Rockstar’s firing of 31 employees is now officially being discussed in the UK Parliament Earlier this month, Rockstar Games made headlines by terminating over two dozen employees in the UK. The affected workers, along with the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain, have accused the company of union-busting and are demanding their reinstatement. Rockstar contends that the dismissals were due to the sharing of confidential information. This situation has escalated to the point where it was addressed in the UK Parliament, raising questions about the company's practices and the implications for its workforce. ICYMI: Watch This:" max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].5 billion to acquire Minecraft before Microsoft finalized the deal in 2014. Rockstar announced that Red Dead Redemption will receive free upgrades for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2, and there are plans for a PS5 upgrade for Red Dead Redemption 2, though delays related to GTA 6 have impacted the timeline. The developers of Phasmophobia aim to avoid the live-service model, focusing instead on creating a game that players enjoy for its fun. Rockstar Games recently fired 31 employees in the UK, leading to accusations of union-busting and discussions in the UK Parliament regarding the dismissals.
AppWizard
November 14, 2025
In 2014, Microsoft acquired Minecraft for .5 billion. Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick revealed that Activision was close to acquiring Minecraft but the deal fell through due to Markus 'Notch' Persson and his leadership team planning to quit, raising concerns about the company's viability post-acquisition. Shortly after, Microsoft made a more appealing offer of .5 billion, which Notch accepted.
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