Performance Improvements Archives

AppWizard

September 28, 2026

Denuvo cracking group DenuvOwO reportedly disbands — lawsuit from Irdeto has a chilling effect, but cracking continues as piracy hub purges links

Irdeto's Denuvo has reached a milestone with the disbandment of DenuvOwO, a group that created a hypervisor-based bypass for Denuvo. This decision may be linked to Irdeto's legal action against a cracker known as Voices38. The CS.Rin forum has removed links to games using the DenuvOwO bypass and banned associated members to avoid legal issues. A proof-of-concept crack for Assassin's Creed: Mirage has been developed, removing Denuvo Anti-Tamper and VMProtect, resulting in a 15% increase in average frames per second (FPS) and a 76% improvement in minimum frame rates on a high-end setup.

Tech Optimizer

September 28, 2026

What Is Happening with PostgreSQL 19?

Postgres 19 is experiencing delays in its release schedule, with Beta 4 scheduled for September 24, 2026. The development team is prioritizing quality over timelines, leading to the reversion of 53 significant features during the beta phase. Notable feature reversions include SQL Property Graph Queries, ALTER TABLE MERGE/SPLIT PARTITION(S), UPDATE/DELETE FOR PORTION OF, GROUP BY ALL, a change to default TOAST compression, nontext output formats for pg_dumpall, JSON_TABLE ON ERROR cascading, fast defaults for domains with nonvolatile constraints, logical replication database-specific snapshots, nested query tracking, and online data checksums. The majority of these reversions are due to design flaws, incorrect results, or compatibility issues. There are also at-risk features identified, including RI fast-path FK checks, REPACK / REPACK CONCURRENTLY, and Postgres_fdw statistics import. Despite these challenges, promising features such as pg_plan_advice, parallel autovacuum, ON CONFLICT DO SELECT, and logical replication enhancements are still anticipated in PG19. AI tools are being utilized in the development process to identify bugs and create test cases. Postgres 18 remains a reliable upgrade target, while features like property graphs and GROUP BY ALL are now planned for PG20.

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

My favorite $6 RPG on Steam just got a beastmode free ‘Enhanced Edition’ update

FlyKnight is a first-person RPG inspired by classics like King's Field and Lunacid, priced affordably. It recently received a free update called the GOTY/Enhanced/Definitive Edition, which includes multiple difficulty levels, item and enemy randomization, four new weapon types, performance improvements for Steam Deck users, and various refinements. The game features a unique combat system with locational limb damage, allowing players to target specific weak spots. The gameplay is slow-paced and skill-demanding, focusing on distance control and perfect blocks. The game is currently available at a limited-time sale price until September 30.

AppWizard

September 19, 2026

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess PC Update 2.0 Released

The Dusklight team has released Patch 2.0.0 for their unofficial PC port of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, introducing several new features: - A built-in mod browser for easy mod management. - Randomizer options for shuffling items and dungeon elements. - A cosmetics mod for customizing character appearances and HUD colors. - Expanded mod capabilities for creators, including new actors and game modes. - Support for Japanese GameCube discs and a wider range of Wii discs. - A new Save Manager for importing, exporting, and backing up saves. - Performance improvements for smoother gameplay and faster transitions. - Audio upgrades supporting surround sound and improved audio settings. Players can download the update from the official site, where a trailer is available. The gaming community has also produced various unofficial PC ports of classic titles, including Super Mario 64 and Donkey Kong Country. Recent additions to unofficial ports include games like Gears of War 2, Diddy Kong Racing, and more.

Winsage

September 16, 2026

Your Windows 11 woes may soon be over as Insiders confirm a faster, snappier OS overall

Microsoft is rolling out improvements to Windows 11, including enhanced responsiveness for the Start menu and taskbar, with more updates expected this fall. An experimental build for Windows Insiders features a File Explorer that loads instantly. User feedback through the K2 initiative is influencing these changes, indicating that Microsoft is responding to user needs for better performance.

AppWizard

September 10, 2026

Steam’s latest beta brings ‘Big Art’ to Big Picture Mode and Steam Deck, and customizable screensavers too

The latest beta release of the Steam client includes several enhancements, particularly the new "Big Art Mode," which changes the home screen to display large artwork from games against a simplified backdrop. This mode reduces the size of the carousel for recently played games, creating a more spacious layout. The update also introduces a screensaver feature with options for a game art slideshow or a retro bouncing logo, along with the ability to load custom screensavers. Additional improvements include enhanced startup performance, bug fixes, improved game recording stability, in-game overlay fixes, better Steam Input performance, Linux support enhancements, and adjustments to Remote Play, such as removing the PIN requirement for app downloads. Users can access the beta through the Steam settings menu.

Winsage

September 9, 2026

Windows 11 Will Get Faster Boot Times and More Optimizations for 8 GB RAM Systems

During the IFA 2026 event in Berlin, Microsoft emphasized its commitment to improving Windows 11 by focusing on user feedback, particularly regarding boot times, Windows Hello efficiency, and optimizations for systems with 8 GB of RAM. Mark Linton, Corporate Vice President of Windows & Devices, noted that enhancements are planned for upcoming builds. Microsoft is introducing the Low Latency Profile, which temporarily boosts CPU performance for 1-3 seconds to improve application launch times, resulting in up to 40% faster launches for applications like Edge and Outlook. Additionally, Microsoft aims to ensure Windows 11 runs effectively on entry-level devices, responding to competition from Apple's MacBook Neo.

BetaBeacon

September 8, 2026

AI upscaling is about to transform Android gaming forever

The Arm Mali G2-Ultra graphics chip offers performance improvements of up to 20% in demanding mobile graphics benchmarks compared to the previous generation. It also introduces native AI support through the new NX neural accelerator, which is a hardware accelerator integrated into the GPU's shader core and supports INT8 and INT16 operations. The G2 series offers a wide range of configuration options, including the Ultra range with the highest core count for laptop-class performance, the Premium range for mid-tier mobile options, and the Pro range for budget devices.

Winsage

September 5, 2026

Valve’s Steam Machine Proves a Capable Windows PC, But 128GB RAM Upgrade Offers Little Value

Valve's Steam Machine has been tested for its versatility beyond gaming, with two notable upgrades: installing 128GB of RAM and converting it to run Windows 11. The 128GB RAM upgrade involved installing a 2x64GB SO-DIMM kit, which required extensive BIOS adjustments and presented challenges such as system instability and difficult access to RAM slots. Despite the technical success, performance improvements in gaming were minimal, as most applications do not utilize that much memory, making the upgrade cost-prohibitive. In contrast, converting the Steam Machine to Windows 11 was more straightforward. The process involved creating bootable USB drives and navigating BIOS settings. Once installed, the Steam Machine performed well as a Windows PC, with productivity tasks showing better efficiency than other portable devices. Benchmark tests indicated slight performance drops compared to SteamOS, but real-world usage, such as video editing, proved effective. Overall, the Steam Machine is capable of functioning beyond its intended purpose, but users should consider practical memory configurations and the limitations of dual-boot support when choosing how to optimize the device.

Winsage

August 31, 2026

Microsoft proves Windows 11’s modern UI can beat legacy Win32, if it works hard enough

Microsoft is modernizing Windows by transitioning legacy features to its WinUI framework, including a redesign of the Run dialog. The new Run dialog, implemented with C#/WinUI 3, shows improved performance with a median time-to-show of 94 milliseconds, compared to 103 milliseconds for the legacy version, reflecting an 8.7% speed increase. Despite this improvement, Microsoft acknowledges that WinUI requires further performance enhancements in various areas. The development of the Run dialog utilized .NET AOT compilation to achieve native code speed while maintaining C# flexibility. Concerns about performance on lower-end machines persist, as seen with the Task Manager and File Explorer. Microsoft aims to modernize Windows features without sacrificing performance, with the Run dialog serving as a potential model for future updates.