platforms Archives

AppWizard

June 8, 2025

Gamers, let’s not pretend PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass multiplayer subscriptions are okay – they’re exactly why PC gaming is arguably cheaper in the long term

Transitioning from console gaming to PC gaming involves challenges such as file management and technical adjustments, but it offers benefits like no multiplayer subscription fees. Console gamers often need to subscribe to services like Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus for online play, with exceptions for free-to-play games. While gaming PC hardware is more expensive initially, the long-term costs of playing games are lower due to access to affordable titles and frequent discounts on platforms like the Epic Games Store and Steam. In contrast, PlayStation games often retain their retail prices longer, limiting discount availability. The basic PS Plus plan costs .99 annually, similar to the price of a new game, while the 'Premium' plan costs 9.99 and lacks day-one title access. Xbox Game Pass offers better value with new games available on release day. Overall, while the initial investment in a gaming PC is high, the savings on games and lack of subscription fees make it a worthwhile choice.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Launches Sept 25 With Hatsune Miku, Joker, Ichiban & Minecraft’s Steve

Sega has announced that Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will be released on September 25, 2025. Playable characters include Hatsune Miku, Ichiban Kasuga, and Joker from Persona 5, along with Minecraft characters Steve, Alex, and the Creeper. The game will feature character packs inspired by Sonic Prime and Sonic Unleashed, with Minecraft content in a Season Pass. Pre-orders grant three days of early access starting September 22, 2025. The game will have several editions: - Physical Standard Edition: .99 for Nintendo Switch and .99 for other platforms, includes a pre-order bonus of Sonic Unleashed Sonic the Werehog character + vehicle + decal. - Digital Standard Edition: .99 for Nintendo Switch and .99 for other platforms, includes the same pre-order bonus. - Digital Deluxe Edition: .99 for all platforms, includes a Season Pass, early access (not for Nintendo Switch), characters from Sonic Prime, and the same pre-order bonus. - Physical Collector’s Edition: .99 for consoles and 9.99 for PC, includes a Season Pass, pre-order bonus, collector’s box, statue, SteelBook, art book, soundtrack, comic, keychain, trading cards, and car emblem. The game features a unique racing mechanic with land, air, and sea terrains, and the Travel Rings feature that transports racers to new CrossWorlds. It will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Hatsune Miku, Persona’s Joker, and Minecraft’s Steve join the roster for Sonic CrossWorlds

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds will expand its character roster to include new figures from various franchises, such as Joker from Persona 5, Ichiban from the Like A Dragon series, Hatsune Miku, and Steve from Minecraft. The game will feature cross-play capabilities, allowing players from different platforms to compete against each other. It is set to launch on September 25th and will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games. The game will also introduce Travel Rings for traversing various dimensions.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Putin’s WeChat wager Moscow is betting on a super-app strategy to sideline foreign platforms and control digital communications

In late May, a significant amendment was introduced to a draft bill aimed at establishing a government-backed instant messaging platform, endorsed by President Vladimir Putin, which would have unique privileges compared to competitors. The proposed legislation includes features like document certification using electronic signatures and replacing physical identification with the platform's identification, which private enterprises would be required to accept. The platform is intended to function as an alternative to Russia's existing digital government services but will not replace them. The government will select an organization to manage the platform, which may be a private Russian company with over 500,000 users. VK, the company behind Russia's leading social network, is the frontrunner to develop the super-app called "Max," which offers various features and aims to integrate with external services. The Russian government may consider blocking competitors to Max, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, with the latter having a user base of 68 million daily users. President Putin has instructed his cabinet to promote the Russian messaging platform by migrating services from government agencies and financial institutions.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Here’s how to watch the Future Games Show Summer Showcase

The Future Games Show Summer Showcase will feature over 50 upcoming games and will be live on June 7 at 1 pm PT/4 pm ET/8 pm GMT. It will be hosted by Matthew Mercer and Laura Bailey. The event will include world premieres, exclusive game demos, developer interviews, and trailers for various titles. Featured games include Directive 8020, Herdling, Crisol: Theater of Idols, and The Finals. The showcase will be available on platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, X, Facebook, TikTok, GamesRadar, Steam, PC Gamer, IGN, Gamespot, BiliBili, Ginx TV, and ESR. Localized subtitles will be provided in multiple languages, and viewers on YouTube can access ASL and BSL. An exclusive Twitch Drop for The Finals will be available for those who watch on the Future Games Show Twitch channel for over 15 minutes.

Tech Optimizer

June 7, 2025

Amazon Aurora DSQL Goes GA: Distributed, PostgreSQL-Compatible Serverless Database

Amazon has launched Amazon Aurora DSQL, a PostgreSQL-compatible and serverless database solution designed for active-active high availability and multi-region strong consistency. It features a disaggregated architecture with independent components that scale based on workloads. Aurora DSQL offers 99.99% availability within a single region and 99.999% in multi-region deployments, with automatic recovery from failures. It supports microservices, event-driven architectures, and multi-tenant SaaS applications. All read and write operations maintain consistency across regional endpoints. The service includes a new billing unit called the Distributed Processing Unit (DPU) and supports essential relational features, although some PostgreSQL features are not supported. Aurora DSQL has expanded its availability to more regions and introduced new features, including PostgreSQL views and AWS Backup. A free tier is available, covering 100,000 DPUs and 1 GB-month of storage monthly.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds Has Hatsune Miku, Persona 5, Minecraft

Sega announced Sonic Racing CrossWorlds will be released on September 25, 2025, for most major platforms, with a version for the Switch 2 yet to be announced. The game features character cameos from franchises like Hatsune Miku, Persona 5, Like a Dragon, and Minecraft. The character lineup includes: - Amy Rose - Big the Cat - Blaze the Cat - Charmy Bee - Cream and Cheese - Dr. Eggman - E-123 Omega - Espio the Chameleon - Jet the Hawk - Knuckles the Echidna - Metal Sonic - Rouge the Bat - Shadow the Hedgehog - Silver the Hedgehog - Sonic the Hedgehog - Sonic the Werehog - Storm the Albatross - Tails - Vector the Crocodile - Wave the Swallow - Zavok The pricing is set at .99 for the Switch and .99 for the Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC versions.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds lands September with crossplay, Switch 2 and Minecraft

Sega has confirmed that Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will launch on September 25, 2025, with early access available on September 22 for the Digital Deluxe Edition. The game will feature online cross-platform matchmaking and will be available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. The retail price will be £64.99 for most platforms and £54.99 for Nintendo Switch users. Playable characters include Hatsune Miku, Ichiban Kasuga from Yakuza, and Joker from Persona, along with characters from the Sonic Prime Netflix series. A Minecraft-themed level, kart, and character will be included in a downloadable content Season Pass.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds launches in September with Hatsune Miku, Persona 5, and Minecraft collabs

SEGA has announced the release of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds on September 25, 2025, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-orders are available with bonuses, including early access and the Werehog Pack. The game features 24 tracks and a CrossWorlds mechanic that changes the race's layout after the first lap. It will support full cross-play across all platforms. The character roster includes guest stars like Hatsune Miku, Joker, and Minecraft characters, with additional content available through the Season Pass and Digital Deluxe Edition.

Tech Optimizer

June 7, 2025

CISA Warns of Rising Play Ransomware Threat to Infrastructure

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a critical advisory on December 18, 2023, regarding the rising threat of Play Ransomware, which targets various organizations, particularly critical infrastructure and public sector entities. The advisory details the tactics used by Play Ransomware actors, including exploiting unpatched systems and phishing campaigns, leading to severe consequences like data encryption and high ransom demands. The ransomware can disable antivirus software and exfiltrate sensitive data before encryption. Play Ransomware employs double extortion tactics, threatening to leak stolen data if ransoms are not paid. CISA recommends organizations prioritize patch management, implement multi-factor authentication, train employees to recognize phishing attempts, and maintain regular offline data backups. The advisory calls for collaboration between public and private sectors to combat this threat and emphasizes the importance of information sharing to stay ahead of ransomware tactics.