removal

AppWizard
May 23, 2025
GSC Game World released patch 1.0.1 for the Stalker trilogy to address issues following a negative launch, including stability improvements, settings retention adjustments, and the restoration of missing geometry on several levels. Players expressed dissatisfaction with blurry graphics and the removal of the Russian audio setting and iconic Soviet landmarks. GSC acknowledged player feedback and committed to ongoing improvements, although the reintroduction of Russian audio seems unlikely.
AppWizard
May 22, 2025
Surugaya, a major retailer in Japan, has restricted access to its adult PC game and doujin pages on its online platform due to concerns about potential restrictions from credit card companies. Talos EC, Surugaya's listing management partner, announced on May 20 that mature content will be temporarily unavailable while discussions with payment processing providers are underway to establish guidelines for handling these products. Since early 2024, many Japanese platforms selling adult material have faced similar restrictions from credit card companies. Taro Yamada, a member of Japan’s House of Councilors, noted the complexities in the payment processing framework and highlighted challenges in identifying the responsible parties for these restrictions.
Winsage
May 20, 2025
Microsoft is removing all onboarding fees for individual developers to publish applications on the Microsoft Store, effective next month. This change allows developers to publish without a credit card, making the platform more accessible. Company accounts will still incur a fee, but individual developers can utilize the built-in developer mode on Windows 10, 11, and Xbox consoles to create unsigned applications. The Microsoft Store will also see improvements in discovery, delivery, and user acquisition processes. While developer mode is popular for running emulation software, it remains limited by the deprecated UWP application platform, affecting Xbox console applications.
AppWizard
May 19, 2025
The Los Angeles Chargers and the Indianapolis Colts used Minecraft to unveil their 2025 NFL matchups. The Colts' video was taken down due to a licensing conflict with Microsoft, which owns Minecraft. The Colts included a crude joke about Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and an insensitive clip, leading to their apology for exceeding rights with Microsoft. Hill's agent stated that Hill found humor in the situation. The Chargers' video properly credited Microsoft, raising questions about the Colts' adherence to licensing agreements.
Tech Optimizer
May 19, 2025
A security researcher known as es3n1n has developed a program called Defendnot, which disguises itself as an antivirus application and exploits a previously undocumented Windows Security Center (WSC) API. Defendnot registers itself as a legitimate antivirus, causing Windows Defender to disable itself when it detects another antivirus, leaving users vulnerable. Microsoft has responded by enabling Defender to detect and quarantine Defendnot as 'Win32/Sabsik.FL.!ml'. This is not the first version of such a program; a previous iteration was removed due to copyright infringement.
AppWizard
May 19, 2025
The PC release of Stellar Blade in June is facing region-lock issues affecting players in 130 countries, with six countries—Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, and Vietnam—having no price point listed. PlayStation Network (PSN) requirements have been controversial, with developers stating that PSN connection is optional, despite past titles facing restrictions leading to negative reviews. The disparity in game pricing across regions has led to exploitation by key resellers. Shift Up, the developer of Stellar Blade, is actively discussing the region lock issue with the publisher to resolve it.
AppWizard
May 18, 2025
Anything Nose has announced that its game Mouthole will soon be removed from the Steam storefront. Launched on April 1, 2024, Mouthole is an adventure RPG with a 97 percent approval rating based on 87 reviews. The game will transition to a free model before the developer shuts down operations. The studio's upcoming project, Diacritic, has also been canceled, resulting in the removal of its listing and free demo from the platform. The timeline for Mouthole's removal has not been specified.
AppWizard
May 18, 2025
The Sims 4, developed by Electronic Arts, has maintained its popularity for over ten years, supported by a dedicated fan base and compatibility with modern hardware. The game recently released the Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack in March, allowing players to start their own small businesses. The community has also created numerous fan-made mods, some of which enhance gameplay, while others have sparked controversy, such as a mod aimed at removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) elements. This led to backlash and accusations of censorship when EA requested the mod's removal. Additionally, the conversation about diversity in video games has grown, with criticism directed at Sweet Baby Inc., a consulting firm, for its influence on narrative choices in games like Alan Wake 2 and God of War Ragnarok, resulting in organized boycotts against games associated with the firm.
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