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Russia’s State-Mandated Max Messenger Reportedly Hides Powerful Tracking Tools
AppWizard
May 19, 2026

Russia’s State-Mandated Max Messenger Reportedly Hides Powerful Tracking Tools

The state-mandated messenger Max, developed by VK and supported by the Kremlin, is preinstalled on all new smartphones in Russia as of September 1, 2025, and is designed to function during internet blackouts. Following WhatsApp's ban in February 2026, officials have promoted Max as a "sovereign" alternative to Western messaging platforms. A reverse-engineering study revealed numerous surveillance features in Max, including VPN detection that restricts access until VPNs are disabled, real-time monitoring of contact lists, NFC control for manipulating the phone's NFC chip, silent message deletion, IP address tracking, a persistent hardware identifier, the creation of fake chats and reviews, and code injection capabilities. The study also found an on-device machine-learning system that detects keywords from audio input and the ability to record microphone audio during calls without user notification. Additionally, Max monitors access to foreign services and compiles sensitive user information into reports sent to analytics channels. The integration of Max is part of Moscow's broader initiative to consolidate internet traffic through state-controlled platforms, even reaching the International Space Station for communication purposes. Critics view the promotion of Max as part of a strategy to establish a "sovereign" communications system, raising concerns about digital privacy and freedom in Russia.
Terraria devs reveal the game's average playtime on PC is over 100 hours as it passes 70 million copies sold
AppWizard
May 17, 2026

Terraria devs reveal the game’s average playtime on PC is over 100 hours as it passes 70 million copies sold

The average PC player has logged 101 hours and 18 minutes in Terraria, according to a blog post by developer Re-Logic. The game has been captivating audiences for 15 years and has received praise from critics, including an 83% rating from Luke Winkie in 2018. Terraria currently has over 35,000 concurrent players, as reported by SteamDB. Its success is attributed to engaging gameplay, regular updates, and a dedicated player base, allowing it to remain relevant in a competitive market.
Controversial racer Lego 2K Drive is getting delisted soon, with its servers set to be shutdown in 2027
AppWizard
May 16, 2026

Controversial racer Lego 2K Drive is getting delisted soon, with its servers set to be shutdown in 2027

Lego 2K Drive is set to be delisted on May 19, 2026, three years after its launch. The multiplayer features will become inactive on May 31, 2027, due to the expiration of vehicle licenses and possibly insufficient revenue. The game will still allow single-player access after the shutdown. The game was well-received for its open-world racing and vehicle customization but faced criticism for its monetization strategy.
Overwatch's lackluster 10th anniversary event will have its rewards improved next week, with more free stuff planned for later this year
AppWizard
May 16, 2026

Overwatch’s lackluster 10th anniversary event will have its rewards improved next week, with more free stuff planned for later this year

Players expressed disappointment with Overwatch's 10th anniversary event, which featured loot boxes primarily containing recolored skins and a few sprays, falling short of expectations for a significant milestone. Historically, previous anniversary events included a wider selection of items, leading players to hope for a similar experience this time. The Chinese version of the event offered exclusive skins from past seasonal battle passes, further highlighting the disparity. Blizzard's Keller acknowledged player feedback and announced upcoming improvements to the reward system, including a new event with more rewards and additional free cosmetics later in the year. While initial reactions to these announcements were mostly positive, some players remained dissatisfied, advocating for more premium skins. The community's sentiment indicated that a more substantial array of cosmetics would have better honored the game's decade-long impact.
Popular PlayStation emulator clamps down on AI submissions: 'Leave behind something useful to humanity when you're gone, instead of peddling slop'
AppWizard
May 12, 2026

Popular PlayStation emulator clamps down on AI submissions: ‘Leave behind something useful to humanity when you’re gone, instead of peddling slop’

The RPCS3 development team has publicly addressed the influx of AI-generated pull requests (PRs) in their project, urging contributors to stop submitting what they call "AI slop code" and warning that they will ban those who do not disclose AI contributions. They expressed concern over poorly constructed PRs, particularly affecting their macOS build, and emphasized the importance of understanding the code being contributed. The team clarified that their issue is not with the use of AI code itself, but with the lack of disclosure. They have established new guidelines for AI contributions, allowing the use of AI tools for research and reverse engineering, but requiring contributors to fully understand and take ownership of their code. All communication with the team must come from human contributors, not AI.
How to play Steam PC games on Android phones and tablets (for real)
BetaBeacon
May 11, 2026

How to play Steam PC games on Android phones and tablets (for real)

Valve released Proton in 2018, a fork of Wine that improves Linux compatibility with Windows games. By 2024, it became possible to run full-blown PC games from 1997 to 2005 on phones with Snapdragon processors. In 2025, GameSir released GameHub, allowing users to play Steam games on Android devices. Other open-source projects like GameNative and GameHub Lite have since improved the gaming experience on Android devices.
"Average Steam Deck framerate" graph shows PC game developers how their Verified titles really run on Valve's handheld — Will users ever see this data
AppWizard
April 26, 2026

“Average Steam Deck framerate” graph shows PC game developers how their Verified titles really run on Valve’s handheld — Will users ever see this data

Valve has introduced new beta Steamworks tools for game developers as part of its Steam Deck Verified Games initiative. These tools allow developers to monitor average framerates over the past 30 days and access user survey results regarding the Verified status of their games. Participation in data collection is opt-in, ensuring user privacy. The user survey appears after at least ten minutes of gameplay, allowing users to agree or disagree with a game's Verified status and provide feedback on various criteria. The Steam Deck Verified program assesses game compatibility based on four criteria: Controller input, Display, Seamlessness, and System support. Games are rated as Verified, Playable, Unsupported, or Unknown, with these ratings displayed in the Steam store. Valve may potentially make the collected data accessible to the public in the future.
Google Wallet rolling out big homepage, search redesign
AppWizard
April 23, 2026

Google Wallet rolling out big homepage, search redesign

Google Wallet is undergoing a redesign of its Android app to enhance user experience, particularly in managing passes. The app's homepage layout has been changed, with passes now displayed in pairs and featuring themed backgrounds. Users can reorder passes by dragging them and have more control over which passes appear on the homepage. The floating action button has been replaced with a centered split-button, directing users to "Add to Wallet" and a new page for searching transactions and loyalty cards. This section is divided into Transactions and Passes for easy access. The redesigned Google Wallet is being rolled out across devices, and users should update to the latest versions of Google Wallet and Google Play services (stable 26.15.33) to access the new features.
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