performance hiccups Archives

AppWizard

April 24, 2026

Peter Molyneux has made a proper game again rather than a monetization experiment, and I really hope he finishes it

Masters of Albion is a new game by Peter Molyneux, set in a whimsical version of Albion that features British humor and art reminiscent of the Fable series. The game includes unexpected tonal shifts, such as a humorous exclamation during a zombie attack. It is currently in early access and is Steam Deck ready, but players may experience frame rates around 22 fps on low settings. The game allows players to interact with the environment in amusing ways, such as picking up subjects and dropping them into the ocean. The writing is noted as superb, and the visuals are appealing on high settings. The development cycle is projected to be 12 months by 22cans, with hopes for the game to become a notable title since the Fable era.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

As DLC rumors swirl, grab Dragon’s Dogma 2 at its lowest price yet, with a free game thrown in too

Dragon's Dogma 2 is an RPG that combines elements from various iconic titles and is currently available at its lowest price ever, .49 / £19.24, with a 65% discount. The game has received mixed reviews, often rated around 7/10 due to bugs, design choices, and performance issues, though many of these have been addressed since launch. Players assume the role of an Arisen, summoning Pawns as allies, and can switch between various skills through a vocation system. The game features large creatures reminiscent of Shadow of the Colossus, allowing players to target weak points for challenging combat. There are hints of upcoming DLC, and purchases over a certain amount come with a selection of free games.

AppWizard

April 9, 2026

Dev behind new ‘GTA-like’ crime caper Samson admits it “released a game with flaws”

Gamers are seeking alternatives to GTA 6, leading to the release of a new crime-themed game called Samson, set in Tyndalston. The game has received mixed reviews due to crashes and performance issues. Christopher Sundberg, founder of Liquid Swords, acknowledged these problems and stated that the team is working on improvements. A patch is scheduled for April 10 to address issues such as crashes, performance enhancements, and various gameplay fixes, including NPC fall damage and improved enemy AI. Despite the game's current 53% positive rating on Steam, the developer is committed to ongoing improvements and player feedback.

Winsage

April 5, 2026

Scheduler function Windows breaks video recording on Radeon chips

Many users of graphics accelerators from a well-known company are experiencing technical issues, particularly when recording video content using OBS Studio. A YouTube channel creator analyzed this problem and identified hardware scheduling, a feature introduced by Microsoft in Windows, as the cause of frequent crashes and performance issues. This feature was meant to improve hardware performance by managing memory more efficiently for video cards, but it has led to conflicts when running demanding games and applications while capturing screens. The blogger recommends that Radeon graphics card owners disable hardware scheduling, as it only provides a minimal performance boost of about two percent in gaming, which does not outweigh the recording and streaming problems it causes.

AppWizard

March 4, 2026

Google stuffs Gemini into Android Studio Panda 2 to build apps from prompts

Google has released Android Studio Panda 2, featuring an AI agent that generates applications and an AI-enhanced version upgrade assistant. This version is based on JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA's community edition. The AI capabilities are powered by Gemini, Google's large language models, with a free tier offering a lightweight version of Gemini 2.5 Pro. Developers can create prototypes with a single prompt, and the AI agent automates project planning, code generation, error analysis, and self-correction. Users must sign into Gemini and enable AI integration, with data collection practices in place. A demonstration showed the AI generating a bridge deal analyzer, which functioned but had inaccuracies in the generated code. Android Studio also experienced performance issues and deprecated certain features, including the Custom View preview and 3D mode in the layout inspector.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Capcom ditches Resident Evil 4 Remake’s new, performance-choking DRM

Capcom's recent decision to replace Denuvo DRM with Enigma Protector for the Resident Evil 4 Remake lasted only 28 days due to performance issues reported by players. Digital Foundry confirmed that CPU performance suffered compared to the Denuvo version, leading to a rise in negative reviews despite the game maintaining a high Steam user score. On March 3, Capcom removed Enigma Protector from Resident Evil 4, leaving the game without any third-party DRM currently listed on its Steam page. There is no indication that Denuvo has been reinstated. GOG offers DRM-free alternatives but does not host Resident Evil 4 or the newly released Requiem.

AppWizard

February 18, 2026

High on Life 2 is absolutely hilarious gaming with some awkward mic drops — and it’s on Xbox Game Pass, too

Squanch Games has released High on Life 2, a sequel to its successful 2022 game. The narrative follows the Bounty Hunter facing a cosmic crisis. The sequel features refined humor, attributed to the absence of former voice actor Justin Roiland, and includes a mix of chaotic gunplay and fluid combat. Players will encounter returning weapons and new tools, along with quirky environments that enhance the comedic experience. The game prioritizes accessibility and fun over complexity, allowing players to enjoy the gameplay without tedious tasks. However, performance issues have been noted, particularly for PC players with lower-end hardware, leading to stuttering and frame drops. Console versions generally maintain a steady frame rate, but optimization is needed for the PC version. Despite these challenges, the game delivers humor and engaging gameplay.

AppWizard

January 29, 2026

One Of 2025’s Best Games Is Getting A Vital Update On PC

Monster Hunter Wilds, released in 2025, faced performance issues on PC, leading to declining frame rates and technical problems. In response, Capcom released patch version 1.040.03.01 to address these issues, identifying an unintended process related to the Support Desk at Base Camp and the Grand HHub as a significant factor causing increased CPU load and reduced FPS. The patch includes optimization improvements for Steam-specific processes and options to reduce processing load. An upcoming update, Version 1.041, is scheduled for release on February 18th, promising further enhancements.

Tech Optimizer

January 28, 2026

Top Android Antivirus Apps for 2026: Reviews and Key Features

Android users face increasing cyber threats as we approach 2026, with AI-driven malware and ransomware becoming more prevalent. The antivirus market has evolved to include advanced features like real-time threat intelligence and integrated privacy tools. Norton Mobile Security is noted for its machine learning-powered malware detection, VPN, app advisor, and dark web monitoring, achieving a 99.9% detection rate. TotalAV offers user-friendly antivirus scanning and system optimization, with features like real-time phishing protection and cloud-based scanning. Aura Antivirus combines antivirus with identity theft protection and family safety features, excelling in AI-driven behavioral analysis. Bitdefender Mobile Security is recognized for its lightweight design, anti-theft features, and effective web protection. McAfee Mobile Security provides secure Wi-Fi scanning and IoT integration, with high user satisfaction reported. Norton leads in predictive analytics, while TotalAV includes a VPN for remote workers. Aura offers family-oriented tools and compliance-friendly features, incorporating blockchain technology for secure identity verification. Bitdefender is efficient in battery usage and has a high detection rate. McAfee supports multi-device protection and has strong customer support. Norton’s dark web monitoring helps prevent identity theft, and TotalAV blocks trackers and ads. Aura links antivirus protection to financial security with credit monitoring. Bitdefender automates threat responses and has a strong anti-ransomware module. McAfee scans for vulnerabilities in smart devices and provides threat intelligence feeds. Future developments may include quantum-resistant encryption. TotalAV is praised for its user interface, while Aura encourages user feedback for improvements. Bitdefender uses machine learning to reduce false positives, and McAfee employs predictive modeling for personalized security. Organizations must evaluate antivirus solutions based on integration with existing security frameworks, cost, and performance impact. Emerging trends include biometric authentication and deeper hardware-level security protections.

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.