partnership Archives

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

“Failed opportunity for a square shoe”: Internet jokes as Crocs drop a ‘Minecraft’ shoe collection

Crocs has announced a collaboration with Minecraft, resulting in a shoe collection that appeals to fans of all ages. The collection has generated excitement on social media, with users humorously suggesting the shoes should have a square design to match Minecraft's blocky aesthetic. Many fans expressed their eagerness to purchase the clogs, with some noting that the primary market will likely be children. The collection will also include clogs with heels. Crocs has previously collaborated with The Beatles and Monsters Inc., and has a Dragon Ball Z collection set to debut next week. The Minecraft collection is scheduled to launch on March 4, 2025.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

Minecraft x Dungeons & Dragons – Official A New Quest DLC Trailer

Minecraft has released a collaboration with Dungeons & Dragons called "A New Quest DLC," featuring characters Katra and Vaer in the Forgotten Realms. Players can explore iconic locations like Icewind Dale and engage in various quests. The combat system allows for spellcasting and strategic encounters. Character customization is available, enabling players to choose their class and upgrade stats. Additionally, players can obtain a free Dragon Mask from the Dressing Room, enhancing character aesthetics.

Tech Optimizer

February 20, 2025

Magaya enhances performance with Tessell’s PostgreSQL

Magaya Corporation enhanced its database infrastructure by using Tessell's managed PostgreSQL solution, improving database performance and operational efficiency. After being acquired by a private equity firm in 2023, Magaya migrated customers from the Classic system to the Blue Ivory platform but faced initial performance issues with Blue Ivory's database. The original PostgreSQL setup was not optimized for high-volume queries, leading to bottlenecks, and reliance on a single PostgreSQL expert posed operational risks. Tessell's managed PostgreSQL platform transformed Blue Ivory, achieving a tenfold improvement in query execution speeds and enhancing logistics operations to handle tens of thousands of rows per second. The migration to AWS was seamless, with optimizations in partitioning strategies, memory buffers, and disk I/O. Tessell provided 24/7 expert support, reducing dependency on a single in-house DBA. The optimizations prepared Magaya's Blue Ivory platform for sustainable growth, enabling quicker customer onboarding and smoother migrations, and allowing support for both multi-tenant and single-tenant deployments. This transition to a cloud-native solution met ROI expectations for private equity investors, enhancing growth and profitability. The partnership with Tessell modernized Magaya's database infrastructure and strengthened its position in the logistics and supply chain technology sector.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

Minecraft and Crocs Join Up Ahead Of “A Minecraft Movie”

Minecraft is collaborating with Crocs to release a new collection of footwear, following a successful four-pair collection in 2023. The latest Classic Clog design features an imaginative representation of the Dark Forest biome from the game, including dark oak trees and oversized mushrooms. The collection also includes customizable Jibbitz charms depicting iconic symbols from Minecraft, such as a steel pickaxe, a Creeper, a crafting table, and animals like a dog and a pig. The Minecraft x Crocs collection is set to be released on March 4th, with options for both adults and kids.

AppWizard

February 15, 2025

Dark Messiah of Might and Magic gets co-op mode and extra content thanks to the mod community’s collaboration with Ubisoft: ‘To see it all come together has been very emotional for us’

KingDavidW, a modder, has collaborated with Ubisoft and Nvidia to enhance the 2006 game Dark Messiah of Might and Magic. This partnership has led to significant advancements in the modding community, including the "Dark Messiah: Restoration Mod," which fixes gameplay bugs and adds new content such as bonus missions, alternate levels, a previously cut level called The Caves, and several cut weapons. Ubisoft is also helping develop an advanced SDK, expected to be released soon. Nvidia's contributions are likely related to the Dark Messiah RTX mod, which involves extensive reworking of models and textures. Additionally, a cooperative mod for Dark Messiah is in testing and available on Github for public testing, with further refinements needed for optimal gameplay.

Tech Optimizer

February 15, 2025

Database Hearts and Arrows

A debate has emerged between Postgres and MongoDB, highlighting the broader SQL versus NoSQL conversation. Peter Zaitsev noted Postgres's rising popularity and MongoDB's slight decline. Users commented on MongoDB's developer experience and potential technical debt, while others emphasized the distinct purposes of both databases. Lekhana Reddy provocatively claimed "SQL IS DEAD!!" due to Uber's natural language query tool, but later clarified that SQL is evolving. The tech community also celebrated a partnership between SAP and Databricks, with the launch of the SAP Business Data Cloud receiving positive feedback.

AppWizard

February 15, 2025

OREO launches special edition cookies in partnership with ‘A Minecraft Movie’

OREO has partnered with 'A Minecraft Movie,' set to release on April 4, 2025, introducing four Special Edition cookies featuring Minecraft symbols: Pickaxe, Crystal, Sword, and Creeper. The collaboration includes a unique gaming mechanic where fans can bite the cookies into square shapes and scan them to unlock an augmented reality experience related to the movie. Additionally, fans can win exclusive OREO x 'A Minecraft Movie' merchandise. OREO aims to enhance playfulness through this partnership, which aligns with the creative themes of the Minecraft franchise. Fans can engage with the campaign at www.oreo.eu or on social media at @OREOUKI.

AppWizard

February 15, 2025

Is Avowed on Game Pass and when is it out?

Avowed will be available on Xbox Game Pass at no additional cost for both Xbox and PC players who subscribe to the service. Xbox Series X and S users will need the Game Pass Ultimate subscription, while a standard PC Game Pass subscription is sufficient for PC players. The release date for Avowed on Game Pass is February 18, 2025, with the option to preload the game. An Avowed Premium Upgrade Edition can be purchased for .49 / £17.99, granting early access starting February 13, 2025, and includes bonus outfits, a digital artbook, and the original soundtrack.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

Minecraft creator Notch and his next move

Markus "Notch" Persson, the creator of Minecraft and founder of Mojang Studios, has been largely absent from game development since selling Mojang to Microsoft for .5 billion in 2014. Recently, he launched a social media poll to gauge interest in his next project, considering either a new game or a sequel to Minecraft. He expressed interest in developing a roguelike game but acknowledged the legal challenges of creating a Minecraft sequel without Microsoft's approval. Following the poll, he decided to develop a roguelike dungeon crawler titled "Levers and Chests," despite some fans' disappointment over the lack of a Minecraft sequel. Microsoft has distanced itself from Persson since the acquisition, removing references to him from Minecraft and excluding him from the game's tenth-anniversary celebration. Persson's new project will retain a voxel/pixelated art style reminiscent of Minecraft, and he aims to create a game that honors Minecraft's legacy while respecting Mojang's intellectual property.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

Epic Games Store has more PC players than ever – 295 million, in fact

Epic Games Store attracted 295 million PC players over the past year, an increase of 25 million since 2023. The platform has 898 million Epic cross-platform accounts, up by 94 million, with a collective playtime of 2.68 billion hours. The game catalog expanded by 1,100 new titles, supported by Self-Publishing Tools allowing developers to retain 100 percent of their revenue. The Free Games Program has provided over ,000 worth of premium PC titles through 89 giveaways, continuing into 2025. Daily Active Users (DAU) peaked at 37.2 million, while Monthly Active Users (MAU) declined slightly from 75 million to 74 million. DAU increased by 6 percent to 31.5 million, and MAU grew by 6 percent to 67.2 million. Popular titles include Genshin Impact, Rocket League, Honkai Star Rail, GTA 5, and Fortnite. The Now on Epic program will extend until January 31, 2026, including mobile games. Third-party gametime rose from 2.41 billion hours in 2023 to 2.68 billion in 2024, an 11 percent year-over-year growth. The Walt Disney Company acquired a .5 billion stake in Epic Games, initiating a multi-year partnership for a games and entertainment universe linked to Fortnite.