patch notes Archives

Winsage

January 17, 2026

A bright idea: Latest Windows Insider build addresses file explorer’s ‘flash bang’ bug

Windows Insiders are receiving an update with Windows 11 build 28020.1371, which addresses a 'flash bang' effect in dark mode that has been troubling users, particularly on large OLED monitors. The update resolves an issue causing File Explorer to show a white flash when navigating between pages. It also introduces features such as Bluetooth LE audio support for two pairs of headphones and an internet speed check from the taskbar. Additionally, the Copilot app has been updated to version 1.25095.161. There are discussions about the reluctance of Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11 due to stringent system requirements, although tools like Rufus allow some to bypass these limitations.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

How well do you know classic videogame cheats? See if you can answer these 10 tricky questions

A variety of gaming quizzes are available, covering topics such as health bars, in-game currencies, and patch notes. The author reflects on their experience as an intern at a website focused on cheat codes and tips in the mid-2000s, where they verified user submissions for genuine cheats. During that time, they relied on GameFAQs, official guides, and hearsay, occasionally contacting game publishers for hidden cheats. Although the website has become less relevant and cheat codes are not as prominent today, the author expresses nostalgia for that era and introduces a quiz about classic cheats and secrets from the '90s to the 2010s.

AppWizard

January 15, 2026

Monster Hunter Wilds sleuth has seemingly uncovered bizarre reason for performance drops: “I refused to believe what I was seeing”

Monster Hunter Wilds, a popular co-op game, is facing ongoing performance issues, particularly on PC, despite Capcom's efforts to address them. A player on Reddit, de_Tylmarande, theorized that the game's performance may be linked to the amount of downloadable content (DLC) owned by players. They observed that their friend's Steam account, which has a complete collection of DLC, performed significantly better than their own account with less DLC. This player created a mod that allowed the game to bypass checks for DLC, resulting in improved frame rates on an account mimicking full DLC ownership. They have contacted Capcom for further investigation and have gained interest from Digital Foundry. If unresolved, they may release their mod as open source. Potential adjustments in upcoming patch notes could address these performance issues related to DLC.

AppWizard

January 14, 2026

Dwarf Fortress issues a ‘naked dwarf fix’ after accidentally turning players’ pride-and-joy into bearded nudist colonies

Dwarf Fortress, released in 2026, features a six-word story: "Mothers no longer seek ghostly babies." The latest update addresses an issue where some dwarves appeared unclothed on the units screen and citizens list despite continuing their daily activities. A hotfix was released to resolve this and a freeze issue. Additionally, the update mentioned "made female peachick visible again." The game is known for its quirky updates, including instances of undead cats adopting dwarves and vampires accusing infants.

AppWizard

January 3, 2026

2025 was so stacked with great games I missed the free, ass-kicking Christmas update to its best singleplayer shooter

Cultic has received significant acclaim as one of the best shooters of 2025, praised for its high-level execution. The game launched a holiday update called "Cultmas," which introduced a bonus map titled "I'll Be Home For Cultmas," featuring new weapons and a fresh enemy type. The update also included optimization tweaks and balance adjustments, notably overhauling burn damage mechanics. Cultic and its Complete Edition are available for purchase on Steam, and players can access the Cultmas map from the "new game" menu without needing the second chapter, released as DLC in 2025.

AppWizard

January 3, 2026

New Path of Exile 2 patch notes nerf the ARPG’s game-breaking temples, but GGG might have gone too far

New patch notes for Path of Exile 2, specifically the 0.4.0c hotfix 13, aim to address the dominance of certain Vaal Temple layouts by introducing changes to room modifiers and restricting the locking of anything below tier three. The update includes diminishing returns on modifier values for room types after four or more of a specific type are used, primarily affecting lower-tier rooms. This change is intended to improve server performance and reduce the potential of high-value temple layouts, which previously generated hundreds of Divine Orbs per run, now averaging around 20. The rooms associated with Golem Works and Spymaster have been swapped to encourage variety in temple setups. Additionally, the use of Juatalotli's Medallion is restricted to tier-three rooms, leading to backlash from players who feel disadvantaged by this change. The patch is now live, and while it aims to mitigate top-end currency drops and curb inflation, it may disproportionately affect average players.

AppWizard

January 3, 2026

Do you know your Doom from your Dune? Put your sci-fi knowledge to the test in our first quiz of 2026!

PC Gamer has launched a series of gaming trivia quizzes, including one for 2026 that connects the franchises Doom and Dune. This quiz asks participants to categorize statements as pertaining to Doom, Dune, both, or neither, making it accessible and straightforward for players.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

As 2025 draws to a close, test your knowledge of another packed 12 months for PC gaming with our big end of year quiz

PC Gamer offers a variety of quizzes that test gaming knowledge on topics such as health bars, in-game currencies, and patch notes. In 2025, PC Gamer created an interactive quiz to help players recall significant gaming events, including major game launches and delays. Participants can share their scores and favorite gaming moments in the comments.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

Can you guess which games these bizarre 2025 patch notes are from?

PC Gamer has created a collection of quizzes covering various gaming topics, including patch notes from 2025. The quizzes challenge players to identify games based on peculiar patch notes, with multiple-choice options provided. Participants are encouraged to share their results in the comments.

AppWizard

December 31, 2025

Why Modern PC Games Are CPU-Bound Again

Modern PC gaming faces a challenge where gamers experience underutilized GPUs at around 60% capacity, leading to faltering frame rates despite investing in high-end graphics cards. This issue arises not from CPU inadequacy but from gaming demands evolving faster than how games utilize CPU power. Players upgrading to more powerful GPUs like the RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XT report minimal frame rate improvements, particularly at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, with CPU cores being pushed to their limits while GPU usage declines. This trend is evident across various game genres, and even DirectX 12, which offers improved multithreading, struggles to scale effectively beyond six to eight cores. Developers recognize these CPU limitations but find it challenging to address them. Modern games simulate numerous elements continuously, rely on real-time asset streaming, and face difficulties in distributing workloads effectively across CPU cores. Additionally, console hardware influences game design, often leading to CPU-bound scenarios on high-end PCs. Performance varies between Intel and AMD CPUs depending on game design, with some games demonstrating effective CPU scaling while others do not. CPU bottlenecks are expected to persist as GPU advancements outpace CPU improvements, emphasizing the need for gamers to consider CPU capabilities alongside GPU upgrades.