offering Archives

Winsage

July 19, 2026

Windows 11 gets quieter, smarter, and more stable — here’s everything Microsoft changed this week (and a few deals worth grabbing)

Microsoft has announced a substantial upgrade to the Search functionality in Windows 11, moving away from an ad-heavy approach to prioritize local results. Users can customize their search settings to include or exclude web and Microsoft Store suggestions. The new Search feature will also be more forgiving of typographical errors. This change comes in response to user feedback advocating for a cleaner search experience, particularly for Windows 11 Pro users who expected an ad-free environment.

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

Cozy new open-world RPG to rival Minecraft launches on Steam, free to try

Taival is a newly launched co-op adventure RPG developed by Bonobo Software and published by Level Up Gaming, currently available in early access on PC via Steam. The game supports up to four players and features a unique shapeshifting companion called the Henki, whose quest involves recovering fragments of its lost heritage and restoring the Heartstone. Players can transform into various creatures through the Henki, unlocking unique abilities for exploration and combat. The game world is hand-crafted, featuring distinct realms and engaging NPC quests. Taival is priced at .99, with a 20% discount until July 28, and a free demo is available.

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

SNEG Announces Six Classics Coming to PC!

SNEG has announced the revival of six classic PC titles, which will be available on Steam and GOG. The titles are: - Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor - Warlords IV: Heroes of Etheria - Soldiers at War - Dark Earth - Ecstatica 1 & 2 Players can wishlist these games to support their revival.

BetaBeacon

July 19, 2026

Tired of free-to-play trash? These 6 Android games are worth paying for in 2026

- Minecraft Bedrock for Android offers full cross-play gameplay support with Bedrock PC and console users, as well as the same marketplace and servers. - Stardew Valley on Android has a more stable multiplayer scene and supports extensive modding, but there is no official mod support for the Android version. - Animal Crossing Pocket Camp Complete offers a mobile-first design focused on a cozy camp experience, and progression is tied to leveling up friendships with villagers. - Balatro is an addictive rogue-like deck builder game that feels like a cross between poker and solitaire. - Siralim Ultimate is a monster-catching RPG with over 1,200 creatures to engage with and places an emphasis on strategic squad-building. - Dead Cells is a unique game with smooth and responsive combat that can be challenging and addictive, offering a decent narrative and dark humor.

Winsage

July 19, 2026

The 200GB catch hiding in Windows 11’s new recovery feature

Microsoft has introduced point-in-time restore for Windows 11 users, enhancing the traditional System Restore. This new recovery tool allows users to recover their PCs from software issues, problematic drivers, or faulty updates, even when Windows won’t boot. It uses the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to automatically generate restore points every 24 hours, which include both system and user files, unlike System Restore. Point-in-time restore manages storage by deleting restore points after 72 hours and integrates seamlessly into Windows Settings, being activated by default for volumes over 200GB. Users with smaller volumes must activate it manually. It also incorporates Reserved Storage to ensure restore points do not consume regular disk space. The feature is available on Windows 11 Home and Pro editions with the installation of the optional Preview Update KB5095093. Users can access point-in-time restore through Windows Settings under System > Recovery, and initiate recovery via the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE).

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

Claim two more free PC games on the Epic Games Store before they’re gone

The Epic Games Store is offering two free titles for the week: Echo Generation: Midnight Edition and Luto, available until July 23. Echo Generation is a turn-based adventure set in the 1990s, featuring a group of young adventurers exploring mysteries in their hometown, enhanced with quality-of-life upgrades in its Midnight Edition. Luto is a first-person psychological horror game that focuses on atmospheric storytelling and environmental puzzles, exploring themes like anxiety and grief. Once claimed, these titles will remain in the user's Epic Games library permanently. After this promotion, the next free game will be Foretales.

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

Weekend PC Game Deals: Satisfactory, Space Marine 2, Assassin’s Creed, and more

The Epic Games Store is offering two free PC games: Echo Generation and Luto, available until July 23, when Foretales will be the next free game. Humble has released three new game bundles: the Liminal Spaces bundle featuring titles related to the Backrooms genre, the Humble Handhelds Bundle including Children of Morta and Amid Evil, and the 2K Megahits Bundle with popular games like BioShock Infinite and Borderlands 3. The GOG store is also providing DRM-free discounts. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

Get 15 games for $15 in Humble’s 2K Megahits bundle, including Bioshock Infinite, Risk of Rain 2, and one of my favourite shooters of all time

2K and Humble have launched a 2026 'Megahits' bundle featuring 15 games for a minimum price, with notable titles including Risk of Rain 2, Borderlands 3, Mafia 2, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Homeworld: Remastered Collection, Bioshock Infinite, Tales from The Borderlands, The Quarry, Hidden and Dangerous 1 and 2, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour, Tribes of Midgard, The Darkness 2, and Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition. The bundle has a combined value of , and a portion of the proceeds will support Covenant House, a charity for homeless and trafficked youth in North and South America.

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

RTS IS BACK! The Best Upcoming Real-Time Strategy (RTS) Games of 2026-2027

The real-time strategy (RTS) genre, which thrived in the late 90s and early 2000s, experienced a decline from the late 2000s until around 2015 but is expected to make a comeback in 2026 and 2027. Anticipated titles include Stronghold 4, ZeroSpace, D.O.R.F., Dawn of War IV, and Total War: Warhammer 40,000. Bergfried, developed by Quid Pro Games, is a medieval strategy game that combines castle-building mechanics, town management, and real-time combat, with a unique grid reflecting European castle shapes. Panzer Strike, by ISAK Team, aims to recapture the essence of late 90s RTS games and is set for release in Q3 2026. Falling Frontier, a procedurally generated space RTS, is highly wishlisted on Steam and promises detailed ship combat. Chronicles: Medieval, releasing in 2026, offers a sandbox strategy experience during the Hundred Years’ War, blending free-roaming gameplay with large-scale battles. Dinolords, developed by Northplay, features a medieval world with armored dinosaurs and allows players to control dinosaur-riding Lords, presenting a unique twist on traditional RTS gameplay.

Winsage

July 18, 2026

Sound Recorder, Camera, and Windows Studio Effects

Windows 11 includes a suite of audio and video recording applications: Sound Recorder, Camera, and Windows Studio Effects. The Sound Recorder app allows audio capture using PC microphones, featuring a navigation pane, recording area, and playback controls. Users can customize audio input in the Settings app under System > Sound, selecting microphones and adjusting quality formats like “CD quality” or “Studio quality.” Within the Sound Recorder app, users can change the recording format (default is AAC) to MP3, WMA, FLAC, or WAV and set audio quality to Best, High, or Medium. To record audio, users click the red “Start recording” button, with options to stop, pause, or mark significant moments using keyboard shortcuts. Recordings can be played back, managed, shared, renamed, or deleted through the app's interface. Users can also import compatible audio files into Sound Recorder. The Camera app allows users to take photos, record videos, and scan items using the PC's webcam, with an interface similar to smartphone camera apps. Users can customize camera settings in the Settings app under Bluetooth > Cameras, adjusting brightness, contrast, and resolution. Photos are taken in Photo mode, while videos are recorded in Video mode, with options for pausing without creating new files. Windows Studio Effects offers AI-driven enhancements for audio and video calls, requiring a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for some features. Enhancements include automatic framing, background effects, creative filters, eye contact simulation, portrait lighting adjustments, and voice focus. Compatibility can be checked in Quick settings or the Settings app under Bluetooth & devices > Cameras. Each effect can be configured individually through the Settings app or supported applications.