pricing strategy Archives

TrendTechie

March 24, 2026

После национализации прав на Photoshop и Windows госфонд импортозамещения начал торговать варезом с торрент-трекеров

The State Fund for Import Substitution in Critical Industries (GFIs) is selling hacked versions of software from Western vendors that have exited the Russian market, following a 2025 law allowing the state to claim intellectual property rights on foreign software if the original owner ceases operations in Russia. The GFIs requested source codes from companies like Adobe and Microsoft, but these companies did not respond. The GFIs stated they would use "alternative technical means" to supply software, which includes hacking tools available online. Purchases come with a digital certificate claiming legal acquisition, but users report technical issues, especially with antivirus software. Pricing for software is notably high, with a licensed version of WinRAR costing 2,950 rubles and Adobe Photoshop priced at 18,650 rubles per month, lacking cloud functionalities. The Import Substitution Fund has not commented on its pricing strategy but insists on the use of licensed software.

AppWizard

March 21, 2026

Xbox Project Helix Specs Leak: Why Microsoft’s New Console is Amazing

Microsoft's gaming console, codenamed Project Helix, integrates console and PC ecosystems, featuring a custom AMD System on Chip (SoC) with a 3nm process, and a GPU based on AMD's RDNA 5 architecture. It reportedly rivals Nvidia’s RTX 5080 in rasterization and outperforms the RTX 5090 in ray tracing. The console includes a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for enhanced AI capabilities, supporting both Xbox and PC games natively. It utilizes AMD’s FSR Diamond technology for near-native 4K visuals and incorporates DirectStorage technology for faster load times. Project Helix supports four generations of Xbox games and is expected to have alpha development kits available in early 2027, with a consumer launch in 2028, priced between ,000 and ,200.

AppWizard

January 14, 2026

Lead dev of one of 2025’s best games goes on a wild ramble about pricing, but hold up, let him cook — it actually makes perfect sense, and he’s right

Publishers in the gaming industry face challenges in pricing games, balancing profitability with fair deals for players. Kaman, a lead developer of Another Crab's Treasure, discussed the psychological perception of pricing, noting that consumers often round prices to more appealing figures. He highlighted that pricing their previous game, PEAK, at .99 instead of .00 was a strategic choice, as it aligns with consumer perception of value. PEAK sold over 10 million copies in its first year, with significant sales during promotional periods when it was discounted to .95, demonstrating the impact of pricing strategies on consumer behavior.

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

Steam Machine release date speculation, specs and latest news

Valve is set to launch the Steam Machine in early 2026, potentially up to April 2026, though delays may occur due to a RAM crisis affecting component prices. Pre-orders are currently unavailable, but customers can add it to their Steam wishlist for notifications. The Steam Machine is a PC-hybrid console, running SteamOS, and offers a desktop environment for flexibility. It has performance specifications between the Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5, with 16GB of system memory and 8GB of video memory. Key specifications include a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU, semi-custom AMD RDNA3 GPU, and storage options of 512GB or 2TB NVMe SSD. The Steam Machine will come with a Steam Controller, featuring standard controls and enhanced precision through dual trackpads and a gyroscope.

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

VG Insights: Souls-like games on PC and Consoles

The Souls-like genre saw a release of 371 titles in 2024, marking a 41% year-over-year growth, with 207 games tagged as Souls-like by October 2025. Best-selling titles include Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (41.3 million copies), Elden Ring (40.6 million), and Monster Hunter: World (35 million). AAA developers generated approximately 75% of Souls-like revenue on Steam by 2024. Souls-like games represent about 4-5% of all titles on Steam. The APAC region accounts for 80% of all Souls-like projects and 97% of total revenue as of 2025. Chinese players make up 47% of the audience for top Souls-like games on Steam, followed by the US at 23%. Most AAA titles in the genre are priced between .99 and .99.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

The last 5 years have all kicked off with a huge co-op hit on Steam, and this sci-fi survival game from the makers of Green Hell might be 2026’s ticket

StarRupture, developed by Creepy Jar, will enter early access on January 6. It is a sci-fi basebuilder that allows players to create settlements on an alien planet. The game will be priced affordably with a base cost and a 20% launch discount. It features co-op gameplay, base building, and managing supply chains and automated factories. The map includes various exploration opportunities, and a tutorial is provided to help players understand the survival and crafting mechanics.

AppWizard

January 5, 2026

Steam just hit more concurrent players than there are people in Canada, as Counter-Strike 2 and PUBG push it to a new peak

On January 4, Steam reached a peak of 41,816,052 users logged into the platform, with approximately 13.4 million actively engaged in gameplay. This user count surpasses the entire population of Canada, estimated at around 41.6 million as of late 2025. Steam's user base has nearly doubled since the initial lockdown in April 2020, driven by factors such as rising console prices and the introduction of handheld devices like the Steam Deck. Valve plans to launch the Steam Machine, which will be crucial for its market success in the gaming landscape.

AppWizard

January 2, 2026

Steam’s most popular survival game is now bigger than ever, and its developer has major plans for the year ahead

In 2025, Rust reached a peak player count of over 250,000 active users on Steam and logged 700 million hours by 5.8 million players in the past year. Facepunch Studios plans to introduce new features in 2026, including an expanded ecosystem, enhanced load times, and a potential battle pass system. The Naval update, set to launch on February 5, will introduce player-crafted boats for navigation and exploration. Other planned content includes new monuments, updates to player models and animations, and the introduction of new animals like cows and sheep with a breeding system. Facepunch aims to combat cheating, enhance performance, and explore DLC options, with a new anti-cheat layer in development. Performance improvements have reduced load and server connection times by approximately 65%. The team plans to continue releasing new DLC items monthly and is considering a battle pass system that aligns with the game's ethos. Test servers for upcoming features are available on the Rust staging branch.

AppWizard

December 20, 2025

Half-Life 3 May Launch Alongside Steam Machine in Early 2026

Fans of the Half-Life franchise are eagerly anticipating the potential release of Half-Life 3, which has not been officially announced despite ongoing speculation. Recent rumors suggested that it might be unveiled alongside Valve's Steam Machine, scheduled for commercial launch in early 2026. Game journalist Mike Straw indicated that industry insiders believe Half-Life 3 could be a launch title for the Steam Machine. Valve has not confirmed a specific launch date or pricing for the Steam Machine, only stating it will be available in early 2026 and priced similarly to a DIY gaming PC.

Tech Optimizer

December 16, 2025

EnterpriseDB updates WarehousePG with features that fuel AI

EnterpriseDB has introduced new features for EDB Postgres AI for WarehousePG, including per-core pricing and real-time data streaming. WarehousePG is an open-source PostgreSQL data warehouse derived from the Greenplum Database project, part of the EDB Postgres AI platform launched in May 2024. The enhancements include: - Real-time streaming data capabilities for immediate access to data for AI applications. - A predictable per-core pricing model to help manage AI development costs. - Improved data observability and sovereignty features with flexible deployment options across cloud and on-premises environments. These updates aim to address financial pressures associated with AI development, as enterprises increasingly invest in AI technologies. The per-core pricing model stabilizes costs compared to consumption-based models, while the data streaming capabilities support modern AI workflows. The update also includes an AI-ready architecture, flexible deployment options, and data governance features.