Obligation Archives

AppWizard

June 15, 2025

Steam quietly makes 2018 game free to keep for 1 week

Currently, the indie game Paradox Soul, developed by Ritual Games and released in 2018, is available for free on Steam until June 17, 2025. The game is a single-player ‘metroidvania’ action platformer that typically costs £4.29. It now includes Steam Trading Cards and invites players to explore its mysteries. User reviews on Steam are mixed, with some players sharing humorous feedback. If players do not enjoy the game, they can remove it from their library without any cost.

Winsage

June 5, 2025

Fed up with prompts to use Edge? Windows 11 users in Europe won’t get them anymore, but sadly everyone else will

Microsoft is adjusting its Edge browser experience for users in the European Economic Area (EEA) due to the Digital Markets Act. Edge will no longer prompt users to set it as their default browser incessantly; instead, it will only request this when users open Edge directly. This change was implemented with version 137.0.3296.52 at the end of May. Additionally, web searches conducted via the Windows search box will open in the user's chosen default browser rather than Edge. These enhancements are rolling out throughout June in the EEA. Windows users in the EEA will also soon have the option to uninstall the Microsoft Store, expected to be available in 2025, while applications installed via the store will continue to receive updates. Users outside the EEA, particularly in the United States, will not see similar changes and will continue to experience aggressive promotion of Edge.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Brian Eno Criticizes Microsoft for Support of Israeli Military

Brian Eno has written an open letter to Microsoft titled “Not in My Name,” urging the company to stop providing artificial intelligence and cloud services to the Israeli military. He expresses concern that Microsoft's technological contributions could enable war crimes, stating that the company has acknowledged its support for Israel’s Ministry of Defense. Eno plans to donate his fee from the Windows 95 project to aid victims of the conflict in Gaza. He references a Microsoft blog post about the company's software and services being used by the Israeli government in ways condemned by legal scholars and human rights organizations. Eno emphasizes that selling advanced AI and cloud services to a government involved in systemic ethnic cleansing constitutes complicity and calls for a reevaluation of corporate ethics. He commends Microsoft employees who have spoken out against the company's actions and invites others to join his call for accountability.

AppWizard

April 5, 2025

Arkane founder Raphael Colantonion gave up on the System Shock remake because the cyberspace sequences were ‘too hard,’ and I can’t tell you how disappointed I am right now

Raphael Colantonio, founder of Arkane Studios, revealed during the Quad Damage Podcast that he abandoned the 2023 remake of System Shock due to its challenging gameplay, specifically getting stuck in cyberspace. He found the cyberspace segments frustrating and felt they detracted from the overall experience. Despite this, Colantonio remains passionate about immersive gaming and is developing a new "retro sci-fi first-person" game at his studio, WolfEye Studios, following the success of Weird West.

AppWizard

April 3, 2025

PlaySide is making layoffs

PlaySide Studios, an Australian game developer, is reducing its workforce as part of an operational restructuring due to challenges in securing new work-for-hire projects. The layoffs will primarily affect work-for-hire and non-project specific personnel, with an undisclosed number of positions being cut. The restructuring is expected to save between AUD 4 million and AUD 5 million annually, but will incur a one-time cost of AUD 1.5 million. Ongoing projects, such as Mouse: PI for Hire, will not be impacted. The company plans to provide outplacement support and counseling services to affected employees. CEO Been Skender emphasized the need for resilience in the business model while acknowledging the difficulties faced by staff.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

Signal event: Why US and European officials rely on the messaging app

A recent incident involved The Atlantic's editor-in-chief in a Signal chat among senior officials from the Trump administration discussing military actions in Yemen. Signal was chosen for its robust security features, including end-to-end encryption that prevents interception by intermediaries. Signal operates as an independent non-profit, unlike WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta. Its popularity is growing in political circles, with recommendations from both the European Commission and Parliament for secure communications. The guidelines noted an increase in threats to telecommunications infrastructure and recommended Signal when corporate tools are unavailable. A recent leak of U.S. national defense plans was due to human error, not Signal's encryption flaws.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

‘Loophole’ in law on messaging apps leaves children vulnerable to sexual abuse, says NSPCC

Nearly 39,000 child sex abuse image crimes were documented in the past year, with approximately 38,685 crimes recorded in England and Wales during the 2023/24 period, averaging over 100 incidents per day. Snapchat was identified as the most frequently mentioned app in these cases, accounting for 50% of incidents, followed by Instagram (11%), Facebook (7%), and WhatsApp (6%). The NSPCC and other organizations are advocating for stronger enforcement of the Online Safety Act, citing concerns about a loophole that allows direct messaging services to remove harmful content only if deemed "technically feasible." The NSPCC expressed the need for proactive measures from platforms to prevent becoming "safe havens" for abusers, particularly highlighting risks associated with end-to-end encryption. A 13-year-old victim shared her distressing experience on Snapchat, where she was threatened after sending nude pictures to a stranger. NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood called for immediate government action, criticizing separate regulations for private messaging services that allow tech companies to evade responsibility. The Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, mandates social media companies to mitigate illegal and harmful content, but protective measures are still being implemented. Ofcom stated that most services should be capable of removing harmful content, while a government spokesperson reiterated the commitment to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse and to implement the Online Safety Act effectively.

Tech Optimizer

February 4, 2025

Microsoft builds open source document database on PostgreSQL

Microsoft has launched a new document database platform based on a PostgreSQL backend, emphasizing its commitment to open-source technologies by encouraging the use of FerretDB. The platform aims to meet the community's NoSQL database needs and is supported by contributions from organizations like MIT and Apache. It features no commercial licensing fees or usage restrictions, allowing users to customize without obligation to share. Microsoft introduced two PostgreSQL extensions: pg_documentdb_core, optimized for BSON, and pg_documentdb_api, which supports data operations and query functionality. FerretDB, operating under an Apache license, offers a document database protocol and has reported performance improvements, with speeds up to 20 times faster for certain workloads. This collaboration may challenge established document database providers like MongoDB and Couchbase.

AppWizard

November 8, 2024

Sony boss admits forcing PC gamers into PlayStation accounts can “invite pushback,” but insists they have to keep games safe – which doesn’t really track in single-player

Sony's president, Hiroki Totoki, discussed the company's strategy to promote PlayStation Network account linking among PC gamers during a financial call, acknowledging potential pushback. The requirement for account linking has faced criticism, particularly after the backlash from the Helldivers 2 community and the mandatory linking for the Horizon Zero Dawn remaster on PC. This approach raises concerns about user experience, especially for single-player titles, as many PC gamers prefer a straightforward gaming experience without additional hurdles. Sony's strategy appears aimed at increasing PlayStation Network user numbers, but it contrasts with the smoother integration offered by Xbox games. Despite the rationale for account management in multiplayer games, the necessity for single-player titles remains contentious, and Sony is likely to continue facing resistance from the PC gaming community. The company has recognized the need for improved user testing and evaluation based on past challenges.

Winsage

October 14, 2024

Windows 10 begins one-year countdown to end of support

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, which raises significant security concerns for users as updates will cease. Users of Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) editions, such as Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC, will receive extended support until January 13, 2032, and January 9, 2029, respectively. Advocacy groups are urging Microsoft to extend support for Windows 10 to prevent millions of devices from becoming obsolete and contributing to e-waste. Windows 10 will continue to function after the support ends, but the lack of security updates will increase vulnerability to cyber threats. Recent data shows a slight increase in Windows 11's market share, attributed to enterprises upgrading rather than new hardware purchases. Microsoft’s hardware requirements for Windows 11 have made many existing Windows 10 machines obsolete, leading users to question the need for new devices. Alternatives like Mac and desktop Linux are becoming more appealing to users considering new hardware. Microsoft is promoting Copilot+ PCs to encourage users to transition to Windows 11 before the support deadline.