Publisher

AppWizard
August 13, 2026
Bit Bot Media has announced its collaboration with Mechaghidora to publish the 2D toybox fighting game, Knock Off: The Battle for Imagination, set to launch in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam. The game features fast-paced combat, a roster of unique characters inspired by '80s and '90s toys, an arcade mode, online multiplayer battles, and a retro soundtrack. Players will control Johnny, who faces off against Maximus, his first brand-name action figure. The game aims to evoke nostalgia while providing an engaging gaming experience. A new trailer and screenshots have been released.
AppWizard
August 13, 2026
Kinetic Publishing has partnered with Cold Zephyr Games to release the starship job simulation game Contact Protocol on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC via Steam, with a planned release in spring 2027. The game places players in the role of a security officer aboard the starship Pale Horse, requiring them to assess the intentions of approaching ships and make critical decisions that can have significant consequences. Key features include investigating incoming data, multitasking under pressure, and making choices that affect relationships and narratives. The game offers unique procedural encounters and a visually striking science-fiction world. A video and screenshots showcasing the game have been released.
AppWizard
August 13, 2026
Kinetic Publishing has partnered with Vonder Games to release the life simulation game, Aether Wizard Life, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC via Steam, scheduled for fall 2028. Players will take on the role of a young apprentice mage in the haunted town of Starfall, starting each day in a customizable walking castle. Gameplay includes growing magical crops, caring for exotic creatures, exploring dungeons, and engaging with townsfolk for side quests. The game features over 30 wizard skills, customization options for the player's wizard, and the ability to pursue romantic relationships with 20 dateable NPCs. Key elements include mastery of magic, exploration of the haunted town, castle personalization, and assisting townsfolk while uncovering the mystery of missing mages. A new video and screenshots have been released to showcase the game.
AppWizard
August 12, 2026
Amazon is ending its publishing agreements for the games Throne and Liberty and Lost Ark. NCSoft will take over publishing Throne and Liberty for Western markets by late 2026, while Smilegate will assume control of Lost Ark in early 2027. Some user data for Lost Ark, such as in-game mail and friends list memos, will not transfer to the new platform. Amazon is postponing its own MMO, New World, until 2025, and has experienced layoffs affecting the Lost Ark team. The company is shifting its focus to new projects, including Courtroom Chaos Starring Snoop Dogg.
AppWizard
August 10, 2026
Aptoide has returned to Google Play in the U.S. after more than a decade, becoming the first alternative Android app store to benefit from recent court-ordered changes promoting competition within the Play Store. Aptoide, based in Portugal, is one of the largest Android marketplaces outside of Google Play, with over 40,000 apps and around 25 million monthly active users, making the U.S. its largest market. This return allows Aptoide to leverage familiar user behaviors for app installation, enhancing its competitiveness, particularly in the gaming sector. The change follows a ruling in the Epic Games lawsuit against Google, which found anticompetitive practices in the Android app ecosystem. Since June 22, 2026, Google has allowed third-party app stores access to its app catalog through the Play Catalog Access Program, facilitating the installation of alternative stores and creating new opportunities for developers and publishers in the U.S. market.
AppWizard
August 7, 2026
Ubisoft is offering Ghost Recon: Future Soldier for free to PC users until August 13th, allowing players to download and keep the game indefinitely in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Ghost Recon franchise. The game was originally launched in May 2012 and received a mixed reception with a Metacritic score of 79/100. This giveaway is exclusive to Ubisoft Connect, the publisher's PC launcher. Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is also available for purchase on Steam and the Xbox digital store.
AppWizard
August 5, 2026
Advertising companies provide software development kits (SDKs) for mobile app monetization, which often automatically transmit users' location data to ad systems and location data brokers, raising privacy concerns. Many developers and users may be unaware of this data sharing. When developers allow SDKs to collect location data, it poses risks beyond targeted ads, including potential misuse by agencies like ICE and global surveillance. Location data brokers harvest precise movements of individuals, often without their consent, through mobile applications. Some apps directly collaborate with data brokers, while others leak data through advertising SDKs during real-time bidding (RTB) auctions. An incident in 2025 revealed that many apps unknowingly contributed to a location data broker's database. Developers must understand their SDKs' location-sharing practices to mitigate risks. Advertising SDKs can collect location data automatically once users grant permission, without specific permissions for the SDKs themselves. Precise location data can be collected when apps have location permissions, leading to potential privacy violations. Several SDKs have been identified as collecting location data by default, increasing the risk of unintentional data leaks. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) found that four advertising SDKs collect users' location data by default when location permissions are granted. InMobi encourages location sharing for higher revenue, while BidMachine updated its documentation after EFF's inquiry, confirming precise location data collection. Verve's SDK also collects location data by default but presents a cautious narrative in its Play Store guidance. Huawei's SDK recommends obtaining location permissions to enhance revenue, with default location sharing occurring if permissions are granted. Location data can be shared without users' knowledge or meaningful consent, complicating informed consent issues. The focus on four SDKs does not imply that others adequately protect location data, as many have faced criticism for similar practices. Studies indicate that SDKs often encourage increased data collection through design and documentation, leading to minimal control for developers over data transmission. The EFF's analysis highlights that advertising SDKs incentivize location data sharing through default settings and unclear documentation. Developers should assess third-party SDKs and disable unnecessary data collection. Regulators must hold developers accountable for unlawful data sharing, while legislators should enact laws to protect location privacy and address online behavioral advertising, which drives data tracking.
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