Android apps and games that are free for a short time include Evertale, Defense Zone 3 Ultra HD, Sphaze, Last Plant on Earth, Rooftop Snipers, Dino Rush, and Out There Chronicles - Ep. 2.
Kingdom Rush is a tower defense game available on iOS and Android, considered the pinnacle of the genre with tight unit balance, intuitive controls, inventive level design, and a comic book aesthetic.
Godeal24 is hosting a Christmas sale with significant discounts on Microsoft licenses. Office 2021 Pro is priced at €32.25 for a five-PC version, and the Office 2021 Pro Plus key is available for €35.24, reflecting a 90% discount. Office 2016 Pro Plus is offered at €15.29, while Windows 11 Pro is available for €13.25, and Windows 10 Pro for €8.25. Volume discounts for bulk purchases are also provided. Customers can use the discount code "CWALLETCO" during checkout for additional savings. Godeal24 offers digital delivery, 24/7 technical support, and a 98% Excellent rating on TrustPilot. Customers can contact service@godeal24.com for inquiries.
TotalAV Antivirus Pro is designed to examine computers for malware and protect against future threats, offering additional features like backup, system tune-up, and ad-blocking. It is priced at .00 per year for protection across five PCs, which is higher than competitors like Norton (.99), Malwarebytes Premium Security (.99), and ESET (.99). TotalAV does not offer various pricing tiers; additional licenses require purchasing a more advanced application. The TotalAV Internet Security package costs .00 per year for six licenses with VPN protection, while the Total Security version costs .00 per year for eight licenses with a password manager.
Installation can begin with a free trial or by registering online, and the process is lengthy. The interface features a dark mode option and a streamlined menu. TotalAV scored 17.5 points in independent lab testing by AV-Test Institute, earning it the Top Product designation, and received Advanced certification from AV-Comparatives. In practical tests, it neutralized 72% of malware samples immediately and achieved an overall detection rate of 88%. TotalAV's WebShield detected 96% of phishing sites, outperforming built-in browser protections.
Users can choose from quick, full, or custom scans, with the initial full scan taking 53 minutes. Scheduled scans occur weekly, but quick or custom scans cannot be scheduled. Most privacy features require an upgrade, while the free edition includes Total Adblock. TotalAV features a Clean-up Scan for junk files and an Application Uninstaller for removing multiple applications simultaneously. The Total Security page offers features and add-ons, including a basic online backup solution with 2GB of storage.
Only 15 percent of Steam users dedicated time to new releases in 2024, according to Steam Replay 2024. On average, players achieved around 13 accomplishments and engaged with four games throughout the year, with a median longest play streak of six days. A class action lawsuit has been filed against Steam, initially by Wolfire Studios and Dark Catt Studios, now including any developers or individuals who accepted Steam's 30 percent cut on purchases since January 28, 2017, with a motion for class certification recently approved.
The landscape of digital game ownership has come under scrutiny as digital distribution increases, leading gamers to question their true ownership of purchased titles. Many high-profile games have disappeared from digital platforms, including Sony's Concord, which was discontinued just 11 days after launch. The Stop Killing Games campaign, initiated by YouTuber Ross Scott, gained traction after Ubisoft shut down The Crew, a decade-old racing game, making it unplayable due to server and licensing issues. The campaign advocates for classifying video games as "goods" rather than "services," arguing that purchased games should not be rendered inoperable. The petition has over 400,000 signatures, aiming for a million by July 2025 to prompt the EU to consider a ban on making multiplayer games unplayable.
Steam has updated its disclaimers regarding ownership in response to these issues, influenced by a new Californian law requiring retailers to inform consumers about the revocability of digital games. GOG has positioned itself as a champion of consumer rights, ensuring that purchased games remain with the buyer indefinitely and allowing users to bequeath their game libraries. Industry leaders, including Michael Douse from Larian Studios, have expressed concerns about the implications of losing ownership for developers. While some publishers recognize the value of preserving older titles, others remain less attuned to this importance. The conversation around ownership and preservation is intensifying, highlighting that players do not truly own their games on platforms like Steam, where access can be revoked at any time.
- Steps to gift an app from an iPhone include opening the App Store app, searching for the app, tapping the Share button, entering the recipient's email address, selecting a theme, confirming the gift, buying the app, and completing the purchase.
- To redeem a gifted app on an iPhone, open the email containing the gifted app link, tap Redeem, sign in with Apple ID if prompted, and download the app to the iPhone or iPad.
The PC gaming platform is thriving with a variety of titles from Sony and Microsoft, alongside exclusive offerings. Notable PC games reviewed as of December 5, 2024, include:
- Elden Ring Expansion by From Software
- Animal Well, an indie game with metroidvania mechanics
- Tactical Breach Wizards, known for its creative gameplay
These titles showcase a diverse gaming ecosystem with contributions from both AAA and indie developers.
Gamers have been warned that "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl" may soon be classified as prohibited content. Developers have removed the Russian voiceover, banned sales in Russia and Belarus, and are fundraising for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, leading to the blocking of the game's websites by Roskomnadzor for spreading extremist information. A major piracy platform has advised users not to expect a repack of the game due to concerns it may be classified as extremist, which could result in legal consequences for distributing it. The government can track users who purchase or distribute prohibited content, making it easier to identify sources and downloaders. The situation poses legal risks for sellers, piracy services, streamers, reviewers, and guide authors. Potential bans on purchases could be interpreted as financing terrorism due to the game's association with an organization labeled as extremist in Russia. If illegal content is found in the game, the implications would be more severe.
Valve's Steam Winter Sale features a 40% discount on Elden Ring and the first discount on Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Other notable discounts include 40% off Shadows of Doubt, 50% off Dungeons of Hinterberg, and 35% off Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The sale includes various sections for games under different price points, highlighting budget-friendly options and showcasing ten games for under 0, including recent Game of the Year winners.