Parties

Winsage
September 24, 2026
The bundle includes a Microsoft Office Pro license for permanent installation of applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access on a single PC, with Publisher support ending after October 2026. It also features Windows 11 Pro, which includes tools like BitLocker for data security, Remote Desktop for remote access, Hyper-V for running virtual machines, Snap Layouts for multitasking, and the Copilot feature for managing quick actions from the taskbar.
AppWizard
September 21, 2026
The Tokyo Game Show (TGS) has canceled its final day due to the impending arrival of Typhoon No. 25, concluding the event after four days instead of the planned five. Ticket holders for September 21 will receive refunds. The decision was made to prioritize the safety of attendees amid expected strong winds and heavy rainfall. Typhoon Dujuan is forecasted to bring nearly 16 inches of rain to the Kanto region, leading to numerous flight cancellations by Nippon Airways and service suspensions on several East Japan Railway lines.
AppWizard
September 7, 2026
On September 3, 2026, Microsoft announced that Xbox Game Pass subscribers will see a shift in cloud gaming access. Starting November 2026, unlimited cloud streaming will be replaced by a tiered hour bank system: 15 hours for Ultimate, 10 for Premium, and 5 for Essential subscribers. Once a subscriber exhausts their allotted hours, they must wait for the next billing cycle or purchase additional time. This change is the most significant since the beta launch of Xbox Cloud Gaming in 2019. The announcement was made on Xbox Wire, and the new structure is reflected on Xbox’s product pages. The new tiered system introduces a scarcity model, with every paid tier now having its own cloud gaming quota. Essential subscribers, who previously had no cloud access, will now receive 5 hours per month. The pricing for the Game Pass tiers is as follows: Ultimate at .99 for 15 hours, Premium at .99 for 10 hours, and Essential at .99 for 5 hours. The free ad-supported tier remains unchanged at 5 hours per month. Microsoft's rationale for the change is based on usage data indicating that most subscribers do not heavily utilize cloud streaming, coupled with the rising costs of operating cloud gaming services. The company has stated that additional hours can be purchased once a subscriber's monthly allotment is used up, although pricing details for these add-ons have not yet been disclosed. The new hour caps will take effect in November 2026, following a shorter notice period compared to NVIDIA's GeForce NOW service, which implemented a 100-hour monthly cap earlier in 2026. The response from gaming communities has been largely negative, with concerns about the limits falling short of typical usage patterns and conflicting with the marketing of Game Pass as offering unlimited access. The introduction of hour caps could impact Game Pass's subscriber base, particularly among those who rely on cloud gaming as their primary access point. Microsoft's internal usage data will determine the extent of this impact, as the company aims to control costs without raising subscription prices.
AppWizard
September 3, 2026
Guild Wars 3 will enter beta next year and features a maximum player count of around 20 in large combat scenarios, aimed at providing a more focused and visceral gameplay experience. The game emphasizes meaningful collaboration among players and promises a seamless interaction experience with fewer loading screens. Cities and towns will have no player cap, creating bustling social hubs, while traditional server barriers will be removed for easier play with friends. Party sizes will be limited to four players, which may affect regular gaming groups.
BetaBeacon
September 1, 2026
Qualcomm and ARC have partnered to launch a new high-performance gaming device, the ARC X1 handheld console. The device is optimized for modern game engines and multi-platform titles, offering increased computing power, optimized system architecture, low-latency network hardware, and a lightweight design. The ARC X1 runs on a new Android-based operating system called "OwlOS," specifically designed for gaming. Interested parties can sign up on a website for updates on availability.
AppWizard
August 28, 2026
A new app called Pulse has been released on the Play Store, quickly reaching over 10 million downloads. It is an existing Google system service that became more visible in the settings app following a recent update and has been in place since March. Pulse may collect information related to app performance but does not share data with third parties. It can be accessed on Pixel devices through Settings > Google services > All services > Privacy & security > System services. Disabling system services like Pulse could disrupt features, so it is advisable to keep it installed. Pulse helps monitor resource usage in Android, including battery drain, memory usage, and CPU activity, and is part of Google's efforts to track issues within the operating system. Google plans to implement stricter measures against apps that excessively consume resources.
AppWizard
August 25, 2026
A new system-wide application called Android Pulse has started rolling out to Pixel smartphones, enhancing resource management by monitoring abnormal resource consumption by the operating system and installed applications. It is included in the latest updates for Pixel devices and operates in the background without a separate interface. Android Pulse tracks unusual patterns in battery, CPU, or RAM usage, although Google has not confirmed the exact metrics monitored. The application is integrated within the system settings of Pixel smartphones and is referred to as "Pulse." It has over 10 million downloads on the Play Store, and builds have been available since at least March 27, 2026. Android Pulse may collect encrypted data regarding app performance, but users cannot delete this data.
BetaBeacon
August 20, 2026
The game Payday: Aces High is the fourth entry in the Payday series, where players choose one of the Aces to seek revenge on billionaire Warren Jupiter. The game features six missions with randomized objectives, immersive VR mechanics, and a high level of replayability. It will be available on Meta Quest 3 and Steam VR with full crossplay between platforms.
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