play Archives

BetaBeacon

August 2, 2026

Classics from 3DS on smartphones: Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley and Skytree Village released on iOS and Android

Natsume Inc has expanded its legacy to mobile platforms by launching Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley and Harvest Moon: Skytree Village on iOS and Android devices. The games include all DLC and cosmetic items released for both titles and are available for 790 rubles each, with a 20% discount until August 11.

BetaBeacon

August 2, 2026

The World as a Sliding Puzzle: Puzzle-Platformer Lost Twins 2 Released on iOS and Android

Lost Twins 2 is a puzzle-platformer game where players help twins Abi and Ben reunite and find their way home through a world of unique creatures. The game features an environment rearrangement mechanic where players can move and swap tiles to create new pathways and solve puzzles. Players will encounter increasingly complex challenges, including controlling both twins and coordinating their actions. Lost Twins 2 offers solo and local co-op modes, with a "try before you buy" model allowing players to download the game for free and unlock the full version with a one-time purchase.

AppWizard

August 2, 2026

Star Wars will also be coming to D&D, and I’m worried Hasbro’s trying to turn a TTRPG into Magic: The Gathering again

Dungeons & Dragons announced a crossover with World of Warcraft and hinted at a Star Wars crossover set to debut in 2027 as part of a themed event titled "Season of Rebellion." The initiative, called D&D Universes Beyond, aims to enhance the D&D experience and is inspired by successful monetization strategies from Magic: The Gathering. Upcoming projects include the return of settings like Dragonlance and Greyhawk, with original co-creators involved, and the return of the character Drizzt and the Dark Sun setting.

AppWizard

August 2, 2026

Next Week on XBOX: New Games for August 3 to 7

- Beast of Reincarnation: Release Date: August 3; Availability: Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S. - Kynseed: Release Date: August 4; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S. - Detective Holmes: Hidden Objects: Release Date: August 3; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere. - Space Tail: Definitive Edition: Release Date: August 3; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S. - Fading Clouds: Release Date: August 4; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S. - Five Hearts Under One Roof: Release Date: August 5; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere. - Mate'Morphosis: Release Date: August 5; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere. - Aery – Surreal World: Release Date: August 6; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S. - Herd Dispatch: Release Date: August 6; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S. - Montabi: Release Date: August 6; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere. - Sokogem: Release Date: August 6; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S. - Vengeance of Mr. Peppermint: Release Date: August 6; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery. - Yellowcreek Stories – The Cabin Watcher: Release Date: August 6; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere. - INK ENIGMA 2: Hidden Object Challenges: Release Date: August 7; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere. - John Fox: Release Date: August 7; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere. - Limbot: Release Date: August 7; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere. - The Relic: First Guardian: Release Date: August 7; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S. - Tailbreak: Release Date: August 7; Availability: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

Steam gamers have spoken: innovative indies like Palworld continue to thrive while traditional triple-A flounders for a foothold

In 2026, the gaming landscape shows a significant shift, with smaller development teams gaining popularity among PC gamers, while established franchises face challenges. Palworld 1.0 has become a major success, attracting over half a million concurrent players daily, trailing only behind CS2, PUBG, and Dota 2. Other notable releases include Meccha Chameleon, Windrose, Slay the Spire 2, Deltarune Chapter Five, and Mewgenics. In contrast, Halo: Campaign Evolved peaked at just over 25,000 concurrent players, significantly lower than The Master Chief Collection's peak of 161,000 in 2019. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced reached 104,000 active players, marking its best performance on Steam. The Summer Game Fest highlighted successful titles like Resident Evil Requiem and Forza Horizon 6, while smaller innovative projects like Vampire Crawlers and Super Battle Golf are also gaining attention.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

Third-party app stores are about to take over Google Play. Here’s how to prepare

Alternative third-party app stores are becoming more prominent on Android, with major companies developing their own storefronts to bypass Google. These stores will be accessible for download directly from the Google Play Store in the U.S. for the first time. This shift is driven by developers' dissatisfaction with the "app tax" imposed by Google and Apple, along with international regulatory efforts like Europe’s Digital Markets Act, which require tech giants to open their platforms to competition. While this change offers more choices for users, it also raises security concerns as the Google Play Store's protective measures may be weakened, leading to potential risks from counterfeit app stores. Additionally, the rise of third-party stores may complicate subscription management and billing, as each store will likely implement its own payment system. This fragmentation could increase the risk of data breaches and complicate user experience. The future may see a competitive landscape similar to streaming services, potentially driving Google to improve its offerings.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

These Android Phones Are Losing YouTube App Access In 2026

By 2026, certain smartphones will no longer receive support for popular applications like YouTube. Users can still access YouTube via the web version if their app is no longer supported. Google will not disable these devices remotely. Users are advised to check for software updates by navigating to Settings, selecting System, and tapping on Software Updates. Devices running Android 7.0 or later may have better app functionality, while those on Android 6.0 should consider upgrading. Current Android smartphones from Google and Samsung will receive up to seven years of software updates.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

We haven’t needed motion blur in games for a long time, so I wish it would stop being the default

James Bentley, a hardware writer, criticized the implementation of motion blur in gaming, particularly in Halo: Campaign Evolved, calling it one of the worst he has encountered, especially since it is enabled by default. He noted that while motion blur can enhance speed and realism and obscure visual artifacts, its continued default status is questionable given modern hardware's ability to achieve high frame rates. Bentley observed that motion blur made the game capture appear worse and detracted from immersion. He expressed a desire for players to have customizable settings that allow for an unfiltered gaming experience, advocating for a shift away from motion blur as the standard in gaming.

BetaBeacon

August 1, 2026

5 of the best new Android apps you need to try this August

A new app called Messages by OzarksMade aims to emulate the look and feel of Samsung Messages and include RCS support via integration with Google Messages.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

App used in Gen Z protest installed without internet: Bitchat sends messages via Bluetooth; govt asks the c…

Jack Dorsey has introduced a new feature for his offline messaging app, BitChat, allowing Android users to share and install the app directly from one device to another via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, without needing an internet connection or access to the Google Play Store or GitHub. This feature is designed to enable users to install BitChat by sharing the APK file, making the app accessible even if it faces restrictions on online platforms. The update follows concerns from the Indian government about the app being exploited by criminal organizations. The BitChat team has stated that the app can now be distributed among users, transforming every device with BitChat installed into a potential distribution hub.