profit Archives

AppWizard

July 2, 2026

Former Call of Duty frontman launches new studio with a ‘Stop Killing Games’-style mission statement: If the game bombs, it goes open source

Robert Bowling, former strategist of the Call of Duty franchise, has co-founded a new studio called //18.bravo after the closure of his previous venture, Midnight Society, in 2025. The studio aims to foster a collaborative environment by aligning leadership compensation with employee success and introducing a royalty program for employees and profit-sharing with external talents. //18.bravo's debut project will not support live service models, focusing instead on creating a sustainable gaming experience with dedicated servers and optimized peer-to-peer architecture. This approach prioritizes longevity over immediate financial success, addressing gamer concerns about game shutdowns.

AppWizard

June 30, 2026

ESA Lobbyist Calls Private Minecraft Servers Illegal During Hearing

Jennifer Gibbons, Vice President of State Government Affairs at the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), stated during a California State Senate hearing that community servers for Minecraft and Call of Duty are "illegal" and equate to "piracy." She mentioned that the ESA has pending lawsuits against private servers and that the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has identified some private servers as notorious markets for piracy. Gibbons' comments were challenged by Assemblyman Chris Ward, who noted the existence of community servers for both games. An ESA representative later clarified that Gibbons was responding to a complex question and that private servers hosting copyrighted content without authorization infringe on the intellectual property rights of game publishers. The ESA reported a total revenue of ,614,556 in the fiscal year ending March 2025, with ,804,681 from member dues.

AppWizard

June 29, 2026

Steam Machine reservations are already being resold on Ebay for up to $2900

Valve's Steam Machine has faced challenges due to scalpers exploiting its limited availability. Despite measures like a randomized queue and one-unit purchase limits, resellers have listed the device at inflated prices on platforms like eBay. For example, a 2TB Steam Machine bundled with a controller is priced at ,899.99, over double its retail cost of 8. Listings for 2TB models range from ,700 to ,899.99, while a 512GB model without a controller is offered for ,800. Resale practices mirror those seen during the Steam Controller launch, where buyers could purchase multiple units for resale. The Steam Machine's higher starting price of ,049 makes reselling less feasible for many. Valve has indicated that as they process reservations, cancellations may open opportunities for others on the waiting list. Additionally, there is speculation about the demand for Valve's upcoming VR headset, the Steam Frame, amid existing competition.

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

Google confirms new Play Store terms to roll out from end-June

Google has updated its billing terms and fees for the Play Store, effective June 30 in the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union. App publishers will be allowed to use their own billing systems and websites for app sales, providing them with greater control over revenue. Developers can implement their own payment systems to potentially reduce costs and increase profit margins. Those who continue using Google Play services will benefit from reduced fees.

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

PC price rises to slow this year, says Asus, though not in time for the Steam Machine launch

Asus's Systems Business General Manager, Liao Yi-hsiang, indicated that while some price adjustments for Asus PC products are expected, they will likely be modest, falling within the 1-9% range. This comes in light of a recent decline in component prices, including memory and hard drives. Yi-hsiang noted that any price increases must consider consumer acceptance to avoid exceeding market tolerance. The adjustments are anticipated in the third quarter, coinciding with the peak tech sales season in Fall and Winter. Overall, there is a growing consensus that the market is stabilizing around current pricing structures, although significant price drops, particularly for products like the Steam Deck, are unlikely in the near term.

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

Nothing has killed my GTA 6 hype faster than locking a core part of its identity behind a $20 upgrade

Grand Theft Auto 6's Ultimate Edition will introduce paywalls, requiring players to pay extra for access to five stores within the game, including two mod shops, a clothing store, a salon, and a tattoo parlor. These stores offer essential customization options that enhance the gameplay experience. The standard version may restrict access to these stores, leading to concerns about player immersion and fairness. Additionally, the preorder page suggests that certain side missions may be exclusive to Ultimate Edition buyers. This trend reflects a broader issue in the gaming industry regarding monetization strategies that prioritize profit over player experience.

AppWizard

June 24, 2026

Steam Machine: Hardly any cheaper gaming PCs, 8 GiByte is enough

PCGH and PC Games discussed the new Steam Machine with Valve's Lawrence Yang and Yazan Aldehayyat. The final cost of the Steam Machine exceeded initial expectations due to unforeseen supply chain challenges related to memory and storage. Aldehayyat expressed pride in the product's quality and performance, despite its higher price point potentially excluding some buyers. Yang mentioned that future price adjustments could be considered if market conditions allow. The SteamOS does not currently support dual booting, but users can set up dual boot systems using external media. Valve is collaborating with anti-cheat providers like Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye to implement solutions for Linux. The Steam Machine is equipped with 8 GB of VRAM, which Aldehayyat believes is sufficient for most games at 1080p resolution. A verification program for the Steam Machine will be implemented, similar to that of the Steam Deck, ensuring better performance for verified games.

Winsage

June 20, 2026

Microsoft’s AI strategy feels like a beta test — at the expense of Windows and Office

Microsoft has shifted its focus towards generative AI, beginning with its investment in OpenAI in 2019. CEO Satya Nadella has indicated a departure from the company's traditional software-centric vision, emphasizing the need for transformation in light of the AI revolution. The adoption of Windows 11 has been slow, with a survey showing that 30% of HP PCs still run Windows 10, which will reach the end of support on October 14, 2025. Organizations like The Restart Project are helping users transition to Windows 11, while critics argue that Microsoft's upgrade requirements lead to premature obsolescence of functional PCs. Microsoft has launched the Windows K2 program to address user feedback and is exploring an agentic AI operating system. In response to potential EU antitrust fines, Microsoft has unbundled Teams from Office 365, offering a lower-cost option without the collaboration tool. This move has led to a lawsuit from Salesforce, alleging anticompetitive practices. Alternatives like LibreOffice and Euro-Office are emerging, but experts believe they pose limited immediate threats. Additionally, the French government plans to shift from Windows to Linux and replace Microsoft Teams with a domestic platform by 2027. Microsoft's AI initiatives have faced challenges, including backlash over the automatic installation of the Copilot AI app, which was temporarily suspended due to user complaints. Shareholders have filed a class action lawsuit, claiming the company overstated Copilot's success and failed to disclose a revenue decline in Azure. Analysts warn that continued investment in AI without meeting expectations may lead to significant challenges for Microsoft. Reports suggest that Azure was rushed to market, resulting in talent loss and performance issues.

TrendTechie

June 20, 2026

Светлогорский хакер зарабатывал на скрытом майнинге, заражая компьютеры через торрент-раздачи

Cybercrime prevention officers in the Grodno region arrested a 35-year-old resident of Svetlogorsk for profiting from modified malware known as a "cryptojacker." This malware was embedded in free torrent downloads, activating on users' computers to mine cryptocurrency, which degraded the machines' performance. The suspect earned approximately one thousand Belarusian rubles monthly and was exploiting over 500 computers at the time of his arrest, affecting users in Belarus and neighboring countries. An investigation is underway to identify the victims, and criminal charges have been filed against him.

AppWizard

June 16, 2026

1 Million Users Donate To Rescue Session Messenger From Shutdown

Session, a decentralized encrypted messenger, has over a million monthly users and has secured its future through community donations after facing a funding crisis earlier this year. The Session Technology Foundation had to reduce its paid staff and warned of a potential closure in July due to a significant financial shortfall. However, the community raised sufficient funds to prevent shutdown, allowing development to continue until at least 2027. The majority of contributions came from everyday users passionate about privacy communication. Session operates without requiring phone numbers and uses a decentralized network to enhance privacy. Under the leadership of Jason Rhinelander, the team is focusing on new features like post-quantum encryption. The organization also aims to achieve self-sustainability with a new paid Pro tier. Co-founder Chris McCabe's public appeal for support in March preceded staff layoffs on April 9, and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin previously donated 128 Ether (ETH) to assist the foundation.