NewApp Digest
search bot

rebranding

"Steam charts don't measure fun," says Splitgate dev as relaunched FPS debuts with a 90% lower peak
AppWizard
January 7, 2026

“Steam charts don’t measure fun,” says Splitgate dev as relaunched FPS debuts with a 90% lower peak

Splitgate 2, the sequel to a competitive first-person shooter, peaked at approximately 25,000 players on Steam upon its initial release but saw a rapid decline in interest, leading 1047 Games to revert it to a beta state and relaunch it as Splitgate Arena Reloaded. On launch day, the revamped game peaked at only 2,297 players, a 90% drop from its predecessor, and currently has daily concurrent player counts between 900 and 1,000. 1047 Games stated, "Steam charts don't measure fun," emphasizing that player statistics do not fully capture the gaming experience. Despite the low player count, the studio remains committed to the game and its community, encouraging players to try the free-to-play version, which features engaging gameplay elements like impressive maps and portal mechanics.
Development of a Counter-Strike 1.6 remake has been "frozen" as Valve silence leaves its future in doubt
AppWizard
January 2, 2026

Development of a Counter-Strike 1.6 remake has been “frozen” as Valve silence leaves its future in doubt

CS: Legacy, an unofficial remake of Counter-Strike 1.6 developed by a team of veteran modders, has faced significant challenges since its announcement. The project aimed to use Valve's 2013 Source Engine but received a warning from a Valve employee regarding the use of the Counter-Strike intellectual property, leading to uncertainty about its future. Communication with Valve has been minimal, prompting the developers to freeze the project and seek one last attempt to engage with Valve while shifting their focus to a new multiplayer game in the Godot engine. The team has refunded Patreon backers and halted development, expressing frustration over the lack of response from Valve. They have made progress on their new game, which features elements reminiscent of classic Valve shooters.
Better Relevance for AI Apps With BM25 Algorithm in PostgreSQL
Tech Optimizer
December 23, 2025

Better Relevance for AI Apps With BM25 Algorithm in PostgreSQL

Tiger Data, formerly known as Timescale, has released a preview version of pg_textsearch, an open-source extension for PostgreSQL that uses the BM25 algorithm to improve keyword search relevance and performance. The project quickly gained over 1,800 stars on GitHub. The rebranding reflects a strategic shift from a focus on time-series databases to a broader scope, including cloud offerings and PostgreSQL for various applications. The pg_textsearch extension addresses the need for enhanced search capabilities in PostgreSQL, particularly for AI applications, as customers sought a general-purpose search primitive. The BM25 algorithm improves relevance ranking in information retrieval systems, offering features like inverse document frequency and term frequency saturation. The extension is compatible with PostgreSQL versions 17 and 18 and enhances performance for large datasets. Development of pg_textsearch began in October, utilizing AI tools to streamline the process, with a production-ready version expected early next year.
Painkiller's creator "disagreed with every single thing" the reboot does, says it "wasted" the IP
AppWizard
December 17, 2025

Painkiller’s creator “disagreed with every single thing” the reboot does, says it “wasted” the IP

Adrian Chmielarz, co-founder of The Astronauts, has contributed to the development of notable video games, including the Gears of War series, Bulletstorm, and Painkiller. He expressed concerns about the upcoming 2025 reboot of Painkiller by Anshar Studio, stating it lacks the essence of the original game. Chmielarz criticized the design choices of the reboot, noting that it feels disconnected from the foundational elements of Painkiller. He emphasized the importance of atmosphere in gaming, arguing that previous iterations had failed to capture the original's spirit by focusing too much on mechanics rather than immersion. He believes that rebranding the game could have resulted in a more positive reception, as many fans are disappointed with the current direction. The 2025 version has received a 'Mixed' rating of 55% on Steam, with negative reviews highlighting its disconnect from the original. Chmielarz is currently working on Witchfire, an early-access first-person RPG.
Interweb, Inc. Rebrands as Constructive™ -- A Unified, Modular, and Secure Postgres Platform for Production-Grade Applications
Tech Optimizer
December 12, 2025

Interweb, Inc. Rebrands as Constructive™ — A Unified, Modular, and Secure Postgres Platform for Production-Grade Applications

Interweb, Inc. has rebranded as Constructive™ as of March 2020, consolidating its projects, LaunchQL and Hyperweb, into a unified Postgres platform. The platform emphasizes strong security and modular architecture, supporting Row-Level Security (RLS) patterns and providing end-to-end testing tools. Constructive features an integrated testing stack built on the pgsql-test engine, allowing teams to validate permissions and enhance reliability in development. Key offerings include modular PostgreSQL building blocks, secure-by-design workflows, and AI-native specification-driven development. The Constructive team has contributed to open-source technology, achieving over 90 million npm downloads and supporting thousands of developers globally.
World War 1 survival horror Conscript gets a 'huge' update that adds a hardcore mode, redesigned levels, new items and gear, and much more
AppWizard
December 7, 2025

World War 1 survival horror Conscript gets a ‘huge’ update that adds a hardcore mode, redesigned levels, new items and gear, and much more

Conscript, a World War I survival horror game, received a commendable score of 83 from reviewer Alexander Chatziioannou for its portrayal of a French soldier's journey through the Battle of Verdun. Developer Jordan Mochi is releasing a substantial update titled Conscript: Director's Cut, which includes new items like a craftsman's kit and a dog collar that prevents rat spawning, inspired by historical practices. The combat system has been improved with features such as moving while aiming and enhanced melee attacks. Additional updates include changes to the late-game economy, placeable map markers, and an improved records screen. To celebrate the update, publisher Team 17 is offering a 66% discount, reducing the price to $/£6.79.
Splitgate 2 returns with a new name, no heroes, and a focus on capturing the arena FPS magic of Quake and Halo
AppWizard
December 6, 2025

Splitgate 2 returns with a new name, no heroes, and a focus on capturing the arena FPS magic of Quake and Halo

Splitgate 2 was reverted to a beta state after two months due to a lukewarm reception caused by an overload of features that detracted from its core appeal. The game is being relaunched as Splitgate Arena Reloaded, with a new release date and gameplay perspective. Key changes include the removal of hero characters and their abilities, a focus on classic shooter gameplay, the introduction of new arena modes, five new maps, six reworked maps, and three new primary weapons, including the Railgun. The progression system and Ranked play have been overhauled, and store prices have been reduced. Splitgate Arena Reloaded is set to launch as a free-to-play title on Steam and the Epic Games Store on December 17.
Search