public beta Archives

AppWizard

December 7, 2025

Viking RTS Northgard is now Northgard: Definitive Edition, thanks to an update that folds in its major DLC and adds a bunch of new stuff free to existing players

Northgard, a Viking-themed RTS released in 2018, features traditional strategy mechanics along with dynamic weather systems and a region-based expansion approach. Fraser Brown rated it 84%, noting it transcends nostalgia. The Northgard: Definitive Edition adds a Valhalla-themed biome and makes previously exclusive biomes available in various modes, along with a revamped in-game shop and a digital artbook. Existing players receive these updates for free, while new players can purchase the Definitive Edition at a 60% discount, reducing the price from £29.50 to £11.80 until December 18. Additionally, Tempest Rising has introduced superweapons for every faction and a new playable Veti faction currently in public beta testing.

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

A 23GB Helldivers 2 Is Better Than A 154GB Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 was initially reported to require 154GB of storage, aimed at accommodating older mechanical hard drives in PCs. However, analytics revealed that only 11% of players used HDDs, and the main cause of slowdowns was level generation rather than asset loading. In response, Arrowhead is testing a "slim" version of the game in public beta, which is 23GB, significantly reducing the storage requirement while maintaining gameplay integrity. This change allows players to install additional games, potentially fitting at least 13 indie city-builders in the space previously occupied by the original version.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

Helldivers 2’s new ‘slim’ version saves 131GB of space on your drive

The latest beta update for Helldivers 2 on Steam has reduced the game's installation size by approximately 85 percent, from around 154GB to just 23GB. This reduction was achieved through collaboration with Nixxes and involved completely de-duplicating game data. The developers aim to align the PC installation size more closely with console versions. They noted that the impact on load times would be minimal, estimating only a few seconds at most, as the previous larger file size was primarily due to duplication of game asset data. The technical public beta is now available for all PC users on Steam, and this optimized version will become the default once remaining issues are resolved.

AppWizard

November 14, 2025

Google finally rolls out Call Recording for Pixel phones worldwide

Google has started rolling out its call recording feature in the Phone by Google app for Pixel phone users, specifically targeting Pixel 6 and newer models. The feature is now functional on devices like the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro Fold after an update to the app. Users need to have the November Pixel Drop installed to access the feature. Call recording can be activated through Settings > Call Assist > Call Recording, with options for manual and automatic recording. The app notifies users when a recording begins and informs them about legal considerations, including the need for consent in some regions.

AppWizard

November 4, 2025

Schedule 1’s Halloween update arrived two days late because the developer thought he should ‘probably play it safe’ and test it first

Schedule 1's Halloween update was released two days late, with developer TVGS apologizing for the delay and explaining the decision to conduct a public beta test. The update includes a climbing system with new ladders, additional graffiti locations, a loading dock at the Gas-Mart, and "meth LODs." It also features mechanical tweaks and bug fixes, promising a 10%-15% improvement in framerate. TVGS identified connection issues in multiplayer mode as stemming from bandwidth limitations, with further work needed to resolve the problem.

AppWizard

October 28, 2025

Google’s Pomelli AI is here to be your new marketing department

Google has launched Pomelli, an AI marketing tool designed for small and mid-sized businesses to create professional campaigns without extensive marketing budgets. Pomelli analyzes a business's website to create a "Business DNA," capturing elements like tone, colors, and fonts. It includes built-in editing tools for users to adjust text and visuals directly on the platform. Currently, Pomelli is in public beta and available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, supporting English.

AppWizard

October 19, 2025

SharePlay Makes Google Live Sharing Seem Beta

Apple's SharePlay is a system-level feature integrated into its operating system, allowing synchronized playback and control across various media platforms like Disney+, Max, Prime Video, and Apple Music. It offers low latency, reliable controls, and seamless transitions, enabling participants to engage effortlessly during FaceTime calls. In contrast, Google's Live Sharing in Meet is cumbersome, requiring multiple steps and often leading to uncertainty about audio consistency and user experience. SharePlay supports a wide range of applications and fosters natural group dynamics, while Google’s offerings are limited and fragmented across different platforms. Apple’s approach emphasizes a polished, cohesive experience, while Google needs to enhance integration and simplify access to improve its Live Sharing feature.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

Hollow Knight Silksong’s second patch in a week makes much-requested tool buff and overhauls review-bombed localization

Patch 4 for Hollow Knight Silksong has entered public beta on Steam, introducing enhancements to controller support and a preliminary Simplified Chinese translation. The update improves the Multibinder tool, allowing players to regain two masks per use and effectively clear Muckmaggots. It also addresses issues with the Multibinder's bind time when used with the Shaman crest and fixes instances where Hornet could lose her 'plasmified' state during Bellway travel. The update includes support for Dualsense Edge and Mac controllers, transitioning to Unity's input system for better performance. The Simplified Chinese script is a basic implementation, with plans for further refinement based on player feedback. Patch 4 is identified as update 1.0.28954, and players are encouraged to review the patch notes for additional tweaks and fixes.

AppWizard

October 3, 2025

As Game Pass prices get laughably high, Microsoft is reportedly spinning up a free version of Xbox Cloud Gaming—but of course you’ll have to sit through ads

Microsoft has increased the price of its Xbox Game Pass by up to 50%. The company is also testing a free, ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming, with a public beta and full launch expected in the coming months. Subscribers to the Essential and Premium tiers will face longer wait times and lower resolution streaming under the new pricing structure. It is unclear if PC-only Game Pass subscribers will have access to the ad-supported Cloud Gaming option. Additionally, self-hosting Sunshine on a gaming PC and using Moonlight for streaming is presented as an alternative for those wanting to stream games they own without advertisements.

Winsage

September 30, 2025

Zed’s dead, baby. Zed’s dead? No, wait

Zed Industries has launched a public beta of its code editor for Windows, expanding its reach beyond macOS and Linux. This Rust-based alternative to Visual Studio Code targets the 49.5% of professional developers who prefer Windows. The Windows nightly beta build is available in the Zed community Discord channel, with a general access release planned for October. The current version of Zed is in beta, while Zed 1.0 is expected in Spring 2026, featuring enhanced support for Rust, Python, and web languages, along with notebook support and multi-agent collaboration. Zed's performance shows it uses 142MB of RAM compared to Visual Studio Code's 730MB. It can connect to local WSL instances, allowing developers to edit in Windows while running code in WSL. Some users have reported bugs, but feedback has been largely positive.