protest Archives

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

Disney suddenly pulls 14 games from Steam, including a childhood favorite, and the preservationist in me is wincing

Over a dozen Disney-published titles have been removed from Steam, raising concerns about digital preservation in gaming. Notable delisted games include the 1996 simulation game Afterlife, along with Armed and Dangerous, Lucidity, and Stunt Island. The complete list of removed titles is: - Afterlife - Armed and Dangerous - Disney's Cars Radiator Springs Adventures - Disney's Chicken Little Ace in Action - Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell's Adventure - Disney's Hercules - Disney Pixar Finding Nemo - Disney Pixar Toy Story Mania - Disney Planes - Disney The Princess and The Frog - Disney Winnie the Pooh - Lucidity - Phineas and Ferb: New Inventions - Stunt Island The absence of prior notice regarding the delisting has frustrated fans and collectors, highlighting the fragility of digital ownership.

Winsage

October 18, 2025

Microsoft’s warning if you continue to use Windows 10 today: “We see cyberattacks increasing in both volume and complexity”

Microsoft has officially ceased updates for Windows 10 and urged consumers to upgrade their hardware and operating systems. The company is committed to sustainability and security, aiming for carbon negativity, water positivity, and zero waste by 2030. Microsoft reported that one in five businesses in Europe experienced security breaches in 2024, highlighting the risks associated with outdated software. They advocate for upgrading to Windows 11, which they claim has a 62% drop in security incidents compared to Windows 10. A protest by the Right to Repair Europe coalition occurred outside Microsoft’s headquarters, arguing that the decision to stop updates makes functional computers obsolete and raises concerns about processor incompatibility for many existing PCs.

AppWizard

October 14, 2025

Old School Runescape dev says Sailing update won’t follow up on the “perfection” of Sea Shanty 2

Old School Runescape features a popular soundtrack, with Sea Shanty 2 being the most celebrated tune. The game has seen a resurgence in popularity, attracting former World of Warcraft players and content creators. Senior game designer Elena Nordmark expressed a desire for a sequel, Sea Shanty 3, but noted that her request may not have been taken seriously by the audio team. Design director Kieren Charles questioned how to create a sequel to such a beloved song. Nordmark hinted at upcoming exciting news, though details remain undisclosed.

BetaBeacon

August 9, 2025

Itch.io Is Restoring NSFW Games—as Long as They’re Free

Itch.io has re-indexed some adult content that was delisted last month due to pressure from conservative groups and payment processors. The move only impacts free content, with paid content being reintroduced slowly. Valve also delisted games with adult content in response to pressure from payment processors. The removals have affected thousands of creators, including marginalized developers. Itch is seeking alternative payment processors to continue supporting a wide range of creators.

AppWizard

August 3, 2025

Over a million people have claimed free NSFW games from GOG’s FreedomToBuy initiative

Today is the last day for gamers to claim 13 free titles from GOG as part of the FreedomToBuy.games initiative, which opposes censorship in the gaming industry. The games are categorized as NSFW, which have faced scrutiny from payment processors on platforms like Steam and Itch.io. GOG reported that within 24 hours of the initiative's launch, one million individuals claimed the games, indicating strong support. The bundle is available until midnight EST tonight, and GOG may offer more bundles in the future. Developers can contribute by donating their games to the initiative. The FreedomToBuy initiative highlights concerns about gaming censorship, particularly regarding adult-only games, and warns that if the trend continues, other games could also be delisted.

AppWizard

August 2, 2025

GOG is giving away a selection of adult games to protest censorship

GOG has launched a new platform, FreedomtoBuy.games, allowing users to download select "adult" games for free, in response to the removal of certain titles from Steam and Itch. For 48 hours, GOG is offering 13 games, including POSTAL 2 and HuniePop, which have faced controversy and bans. The initiative aims to preserve diverse gaming experiences and ensure compatibility with modern hardware. The removals from other platforms were influenced by new policies from payment processors and pressure from organizations like Collective Shout. Itch is working to reinstate removed games and restore free NSFW titles.

AppWizard

June 30, 2025

This week in PC games: Mecha Break, ICE protest charity bundles and vibrant ostrich farming

This week, several new PC gaming releases are available as a way to escape the heat in the UK. Notable titles include: - LEO: Low Earth Orbit: Features lounge jazz and unique gameplay where guns propel players away from targets. - Rekindled Trails: Focuses on wilderness exploration and grid-puzzle trading. - Monster Hunter Wilds: An update is launching today for this title. - Seven Days Until Morning: An artsy horror game set on Pluto, exploring the end of humanity. - Mecha Break: A free-to-play game about dismantling mechs with customizable anime girl pilots. - FLOWorlds: Players terraform hexagonal planets by dropping frozen shards from orbit. - No ICE in California Charity Bundle: Launching today, proceeds will benefit organizations supporting migrants in the USA. Additionally, the Treehouse team is dealing with various challenges during the heatwave, including investigating the fall of Hytale and exploring new features.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO’s speech to protest AI tech for Israeli military

An employee named Joe Lopez was terminated after protesting during Microsoft's Build developer conference, expressing concerns about the company's technology being used in the Gaza conflict. His disruption led to a series of pro-Palestinian protests at the event, resulting in multiple interruptions of executive talks and Microsoft cutting audio from a livestreamed session. Outside the venue, demonstrators gathered to amplify their message. Microsoft has a history of responding firmly to employee protests related to its operations in Israel and recently acknowledged providing AI services to the Israeli military but stated that there is no evidence of its technologies being used to target civilians. Following his protest, Lopez received a termination letter that he could not open, and an advocacy group claims Microsoft has restricted internal communications regarding terms like “Palestine” and “Gaza.” Microsoft has not commented on the protests during the conference.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO’s speech to protest AI…

During Microsoft's annual Build developer conference in Seattle, software engineer Joe Lopez interrupted CEO Satya Nadella's address to protest the company's technology supply to the Israeli military amid the Gaza conflict. Lopez was escorted from the venue after shouting at Nadella. He later sent a mass email to colleagues challenging Microsoft's claims about its Azure cloud platform's use in Gaza. The conference saw multiple interruptions from pro-Palestinian protests, and demonstrators gathered outside. Microsoft acknowledged providing AI services to the Israeli military but stated there was no evidence linking its technologies to harm in Gaza. Lopez reportedly received a termination letter following his protest, and the advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid claimed Microsoft has restricted internal communications related to Palestine and Gaza.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Palestinian developer disrupts Microsoft keynote: ‘my people are suffering’

Microsoft's Build developer conference experienced protests for two consecutive days due to the company's ties to Israel. During a keynote by Jay Parikh, a Palestinian tech worker interrupted to express concerns about Microsoft's contracts with the Israeli government, calling for an end to the collaboration. Security removed the protester, who was supported by the group No Azure for Apartheid. The previous day, Microsoft employee Joe Lopez also interrupted a keynote to speak against the company's contracts with Israel, urging colleagues to speak out. Microsoft is conducting an internal review of its technology's role in the Gaza conflict, maintaining that its relationship with Israel's Ministry of Defense is commercial and that its technologies are not misused. This follows previous instances of dissent within Microsoft, including disruptions at a 50th-anniversary event.