president Archives

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

How Poppy Playtime made ‘free game, paid DLC’ work on PC

GameDiscoverCo held its annual offsite gathering, discussing various industry developments. Footprints.gg reported significant buzz for Forza Horizon 6 ahead of its launch, with GTA 6 also trending due to trailer speculation. Xbox plans include Project Saluki, a new Game Pass tier for the Chinese market, and Positron, potentially introducing a disc-to-digital entitlement program. Steam's bundle discounting interface has sparked discussions about pricing strategies. The PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for May includes Star Wars Outlaws and Red Dead Redemption 2. Roblox is experiencing shifts in user-generated content rights and cost models. The Source 2-powered s&box has launched on Steam, but interest is waning. Hushcrasher's analysis indicates rising game production costs are due to project scope rather than base costs. Concurrent user metrics suggest week one sales can reach 20 times peak concurrent users. Poppy Playtime, a horror puzzle game, has expanded from a free title to four paid chapters, with Huggy Wuggy becoming a popular character. Mob Entertainment, founded by brothers with a background in 3D animation, has seen Poppy Playtime Chapter 5 sell 408,000 copies on Steam and 19,000 on Epic Games Store. The free base game has 2.76 million downloads on Steam since the chapter's release. The franchise's revenue from four DLCs exceeds a million on Steam, with potential total revenue approaching 100 million when including console and mobile sales. The development team employs a parallel strategy for annual chapter releases, with varying DLC structures across platforms. The pricing of DLC has increased over time, reflecting greater ambition in production. Game director Bryce Clark emphasizes balancing puzzles and chase sequences to enhance player experience.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Quick News: Minecraft 2, GTA6, Please, Roman

Kirsten Dunst is filming “A Minecraft Movie 2” with a cast that includes Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Matt Berry, and Jennifer Coolidge. The film is directed by Jared Hess, based on a script co-written by Hess and Chris Galletta, and is set to be released on July 23, 2027. Best Buy mistakenly sent an email indicating that pre-orders for “Grand Theft Auto VI” will begin on May 18th and end on May 21st, coinciding with Take-Two’s quarterly earnings call on the 21st. The film “Please,” directed by Halina Reijn and produced by David Hinojosa, will feature David Jonsson, Connor Storrie, Tom Burke, and Gracie Abrams, with details of the storyline currently undisclosed. Oscar Isaac stars in the Netflix series “The Roman,” alongside Betty Gilpin, Alec Baldwin, and David Costabile. The series, a modern casino drama created by the makers of “Billions” and executive produced by Martin Scorsese, follows Isaac’s character, Bobby Red, and is directed by J.C. Chandor for the first two episodes.

Winsage

May 14, 2026

Raising the bar together. Introducing the Driver Quality Initiative at WinHEC 2026

The Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2026 took place in Taipei, marking Microsoft's return to the event after a hiatus since 2018. The conference focused on the Driver Quality Initiative (DQI), aimed at improving driver quality, reliability, and security on the Windows platform. The DQI is built on four pillars: Architecture, Trust, Lifecycle, and Quality Measures. Key themes discussed included the importance of collaboration among stakeholders, enhancing Windows 11 quality, and fostering innovation through strong foundational practices. Attendees participated in workshops and hands-on labs to deepen their understanding of driver development and compatibility testing. Partners expressed a shared commitment to improving driver and platform quality, emphasizing the need for transparency and ongoing engagement. Microsoft plans to continue investing in reliability, security, performance, compatibility, and quality in collaboration with its partners.

Winsage

May 13, 2026

Microsoft’s MDASH AI System Finds 16 Windows Flaws Fixed in Patch Tuesday

Microsoft has introduced a multi-model AI system called MDASH, designed to enhance vulnerability discovery and remediation processes. Currently in limited private preview testing with select customers, MDASH employs over 100 specialized AI agents for various classes of vulnerabilities, enabling autonomous discovery, validation, and demonstration of exploitable defects in complex codebases. The system operates through a structured pipeline that analyzes source code, constructs threat models, and validates findings using auditor and debater agents. MDASH has successfully identified 16 vulnerabilities in its initial tests, including two critical flaws affecting Windows networking and authentication: 1. CVE-2026-33824 (CVSS score: 9.8) - A double-free vulnerability in "ikeext.dll" allowing remote code execution via specially crafted packets. 2. CVE-2026-33827 (CVSS score: 8.1) - A race condition vulnerability in Windows TCP/IP ("tcpip.sys") enabling remote code execution through specially crafted IPv6 packets.

AppWizard

May 13, 2026

Lies of P studio is hiring an ‘AI Creator’ for future projects but says the role will not be ‘directly involved’ in the development of the sequel

The sequel to the game Lies of P is now in "full production," as confirmed by developer Neowiz in their earnings report. Neowiz has hired an AI "artist" to assist with the game's production, intending to leverage generative AI to enhance art production efficiency and innovate visual quality. This decision has sparked disappointment among fans concerned about the potential compromise of the game's artistry. Neowiz reported Q1 2026 revenues of 101.4 billion Korean won. The gaming industry is witnessing growing enthusiasm for AI integration, with notable figures discussing its potential to revolutionize gaming experiences, while some, like Xbox's chief Asha Sharma, express caution against "soulless AI slop."

Winsage

May 11, 2026

Omnissa adds Windows Server management to Workspace ONE

Omnissa has integrated Windows Server management into its Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform, allowing organizations to manage Windows Server alongside various endpoints from a single cloud-based system. This integration aims to address challenges faced by IT teams that rely on separate tools for server management, which can increase costs and complicate operations. The inclusion of Windows Server enables IT teams to apply policies, automate tasks, and maintain visibility across devices. Hemant Sahani, Vice President of Product Management at Omnissa, noted that this approach offers cost benefits compared to traditional solutions like Microsoft System Centre Configuration Manager, enhancing security and streamlining server lifecycle management. The new support includes over-the-air configuration management, allowing enforcement of security policies and automation of patching. Administrators will have access to remote inventory data and insights into system performance and security issues, leveraging AI and machine learning. The integration allows for the consolidation of management tools, reducing the number of consoles IT staff must navigate. CDW has endorsed this launch, highlighting its potential to simplify operations and improve security for customers. Omnissa currently serves 26,000 customers globally in various domains, including unified endpoint management and security compliance.

Winsage

May 11, 2026

Windows 11 is getting a macOS-like speed boost

Microsoft is testing a feature called the "Low Latency Profile" for Windows 11, which aims to reduce app launch times and improve the responsiveness of the Start menu by using dynamic CPU scaling to temporarily boost CPU frequency. Testers have reported up to a 40 percent acceleration in app launch times for Microsoft applications and up to 70 percent speed enhancements for the Start menu and context menus. Some critics have expressed concerns about this CPU burst approach, but Microsoft’s Scott Hanselman defended it, stating that similar techniques are used by other operating systems like macOS and Linux. This initiative is part of broader enhancements to improve Windows 11's performance, reliability, and user experience, including the removal of unnecessary Copilot buttons and less intrusive updates.

Winsage

May 11, 2026

Microsoft is fixing Windows 11’s speed problem with a feature macOS has had for years

Microsoft is testing a feature for Windows 11 called the "Low Latency Profile," which temporarily boosts CPU performance for one to three seconds during critical actions like launching applications or accessing the Start menu. Early tests show app launch times improving by up to 40% and Start menu responsiveness increasing by up to 70%. This feature operates automatically in the background, requiring no user adjustments, and has shown significant improvements even on low-resource virtual machines. A release date for the feature has not been announced, but it is expected to benefit users with lower-end devices.

AppWizard

May 11, 2026

Google Pushes Android Apps Into a Bigger ChromeOS Bet

Google is enhancing its Chrome browser by integrating native Android app support to strengthen the Chromebook and laptop ecosystem. This integration is part of a broader strategy to address the lack of software diversity in ChromeOS and is expected to be unveiled during the Android Show on May 12 and the I/O keynote on May 19. The move aims to merge Chrome OS and Android into a unified platform, building on past experiences with Android app integration that showed both potential and challenges. Google plans to ensure that mobile applications adapt seamlessly to larger screens and provide a user experience consistent with traditional laptop software, addressing key functionalities like window management and multitasking.

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

Four years on from Earthblood, we’re finally getting a new Werewolf The Apocalypse game

Several new titles are set to be released in the World of Darkness universe, including Hunter: The Reckoning - Deathwish, Vampire: The Masquerade - Oaths and Ashes, and Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Rageborn. Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Rageborn will feature a Diablo-style perspective and action-adventure gameplay with Metroidvania elements. Players will control Tyler, the pack leader of Gaia, as he navigates Alaska to confront the Wyrm. Tyler can switch between three forms: Homid (human), Lupus (werewolf), and Crinos (berserker), each offering unique abilities. The game emphasizes collaboration, allowing players to establish a den for recruiting allies to enhance gear and craft equipment. Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Rageborn is scheduled for release in 2027.