platform Archives

AppWizard

June 19, 2025

Nexus Mods founder steps down after site “changed hands”

Robin "Dark0ne" Scott, the founder of Nexus Mods, is departing from the platform after it has changed ownership. He started Nexus Mods in 2001 to create a space for modders to share their work. Scott dedicated over two decades to the site, which he described as chaotic and demanding. The platform is now under new ownership by 'Foledinho', who will maintain the commitment to keeping mods free.

AppWizard

June 19, 2025

Are Roblox and Minecraft Safe? A Parent’s Guide to Online Gaming

Kids worldwide are increasingly engaged in online games like Roblox and Minecraft, which can enhance creativity and social interaction but may also negatively impact health, emotional well-being, and academic performance if not managed properly. Roblox is a platform for user-generated games, while Minecraft allows players to build and explore in a pixelated world. Factors contributing to children's addiction to these games include vivid graphics, a sense of achievement, social connections, and emotional comfort. Excessive gaming can lead to a lack of interest in other activities, poor sleep, concentration difficulties, and emotional dependency. Both games pose risks such as interaction with strangers, exposure to inappropriate content, and potential financial implications from in-game purchases. Parents can mitigate these risks by enabling privacy controls, setting spending limits, monitoring game content, and discussing online safety with their children. Warning signs of excessive gaming include mood swings when screen time is limited, loss of interest in other hobbies, and excessive focus on gaming. Parents are encouraged to engage in conversations about gaming, seek offline activities, establish screen time limits, and create screen-free family traditions.

AppWizard

June 19, 2025

How To Watch A Minecraft Movie Online And Stream The Box Office Phenomenon From Anywhere

A Minecraft Movie is now available for streaming, featuring Jack Black and Jason Momoa. The film has grossed nearly one billion dollars globally, making it the highest-grossing film of the year in the United States. It premiered on Max on June 20, with an American Sign Language version available. The movie will air on HBO's linear channel the following day at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT. Max offers subscription plans starting at .99 per month, with options for ad-free viewing and 4K streaming. Max can also be accessed as an add-on through Amazon Prime, which offers a 30-day free trial. Canadians can stream the film on Crave, starting June 20, with promotional pricing for new subscribers. In the UK, the film's availability is uncertain, but it may appear on NOW or can be rented through PVOD services. Australian audiences can stream the film on Max with various subscription options starting at AU.99 per month. The cast includes Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Sebastian Hansen, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Coolidge, Rachel House, Allan Henry, Jemaine Clement, Jared Hess, Matt Berry, and Bret McKenzie.

AppWizard

June 19, 2025

Debunking the grey market beyond Steam

Alternative distribution in the PC gaming industry is growing, with developers increasingly selling Steam keys through third-party platforms like Fanatical and Humble. Valve's Steam platform is projected to generate .8 billion in revenue in 2024, while the Epic Games Store reported .09 billion last year. Developers can request up to 5,000 standard release keys from Valve for sale on other platforms, adhering to pricing guidelines. Marketplaces like G2A mix approved keys and resold keys, while e-stores ensure all keys are legitimate. The grey market refers to the resale of keys that undermines publishers' profits, often due to regional pricing discrepancies. Developers can manage the grey market by monitoring key sales and implementing strategies like region-locking and pricing adjustments.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Discord makes your games and PC run worse. Here’s how to fix it

Discord is a popular voice and video application among PC gamers, but enabling hardware acceleration can negatively impact gaming performance by consuming excessive system resources. Disabling hardware acceleration can help optimize resource usage, as it allows Discord to use less of the GPU, which is important for gaming. Users often report high resource consumption from Discord, even with hardware acceleration turned off, which can still affect overall system performance. It is recommended to keep hardware acceleration disabled while gaming, particularly if not using Discord for communication.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Google Play Store gets colorful search tab with Material 3 Expressive

The Google Play Store is updating to version 46.5.19, incorporating the Material 3 Expressive design language, which includes a new color palette for category icons in the search tab and improved clarity in sections like Explore apps and Explore games. This update is part of a broader initiative that also affects other Google applications, such as Gmail, which will feature a new look with accent colors in the search bar, bottom navigation bar, and compose button. The compose button will have a more prominent font and updated icon, contributing to a modern card-style layout in Gmail.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

My 6 favorite open-source Android apps from the Google Play store – and why that matters

Android's ecosystem is closely linked with open-source software, attracting many enthusiasts. The Google Play Store offers a variety of open-source applications. 1. Bitwarden: An open-source password manager with essential features, industry-leading encryption, two-factor authentication, auto-fill capabilities, and a random password generator. It has a free version and a premium account for additional features. 2. Brave: A secure browser built on Chromium, featuring enhanced privacy tools, a built-in AI tool named Leo, and a toggleable VPN. It provides insights into tracker and ad blocking. 3. Wavelet: A free, open-source app for music lovers that offers preset sound profiles for various earbud models and features like AutoEQ, a graphic equalizer, and channel balance. 4. Tor Browser: A privacy-focused browser with extensive security features, though it may have slower loading times due to multiple security layers. It is free and open-source. 5. KDE Connect: An app that integrates Android devices with Linux systems, allowing users to share clipboard content, files, URLs, and notifications. It enhances productivity by enabling command execution on Linux devices from mobile phones. 6. ProtonVPN: A VPN service developed by CERN scientists, offering strong security features, access to servers in over 110 countries, and a free account with limitations. Paid plans provide higher speeds and more features.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Epic Games Store Is Removing Controversial Game From Everyone’s Library

Epic Games will remove the game Dark and Darker from all player accounts on November 1, 2025. The game was previously taken off the Epic Games Store in March 2023 due to legal disputes between its developer, Ironmace, and Nexon. Players have been notified via email about the removal, which will make the game unplayable on the Epic Games Store. Players can no longer purchase in-game items like Redstone Shards or Legendary Status upgrades, but previously purchased items can be used until the removal date. Refunds will be issued for the Legendary Status upgrade, but not for Redstone Shards. Players who do not receive refunds by July 1 are advised to contact player support. The future of Dark and Darker is uncertain due to ongoing legal proceedings.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Xbox inks hardware agreement with AMD

Microsoft has entered into a hardware agreement with AMD to co-engineer silicon for future Xbox consoles and cloud-based technologies. This strategic multi-year partnership aims to enhance gaming technology, improve graphics innovation, and ensure compatibility with existing Xbox game libraries. The collaboration focuses on creating a versatile gaming platform that allows players to access games across multiple devices without being restricted to a single storefront. Microsoft is also working with the Windows team to position Windows as the leading platform for gaming.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Amazon is giving away 6 free games to celebrate Prime Day 2025 — here’s how to claim them

Amazon has scheduled Prime Day 2025 from July 8 to July 11 and is currently offering an early celebration with six free video games through its Prime Gaming platform, including the Tomb Raider Remastered Trilogy. Gamers can also access a rotating selection of 25 other free titles. The deadline to redeem the six additional games is July 7. Additionally, there are early Prime Day discounts available on various products, including 4K TVs and Adidas apparel.