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Ubisoft says the Black Flag remake has exceeded 'annual expectations' in just two weeks, shortly after it laid off a number of the people who made it
AppWizard
July 27, 2026

Ubisoft says the Black Flag remake has exceeded ‘annual expectations’ in just two weeks, shortly after it laid off a number of the people who made it

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced sold 2 million copies within 24 hours of its release. Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, stated that the game exceeded annual expectations within two weeks and is the highest-rated entry in the franchise since the original Black Flag. The game was developed with significant contributions from Ubisoft Barcelona, particularly in the underwater levels. Despite its success, the launch occurred amidst recent layoffs at Ubisoft, affecting hundreds of employees. Player reception has been mostly positive, but some critiques have emerged regarding day-one downloadable content, simplified swordfights, and an in-game shop. A review by PC Gamer described the game as "a well-made, but inessential remake that loses more than it gains."
Steam Week in Review: A torrent of janky retail sims continues to flood Steam, and there's no end in sight
AppWizard
July 27, 2026

Steam Week in Review: A torrent of janky retail sims continues to flood Steam, and there’s no end in sight

The retail simulator genre on Steam has gained significant popularity since late 2024, with 14 new titles launched last week. "Mall Together" attracted over 1,000 concurrent players and is notable for allowing players to construct entire shopping malls. PlayWay, a major publisher, released two of last week's titles and has launched four games since July 20, with 474 products listed on Steam. Critics have labeled some titles as shovelware, but PlayWay has also produced successful games like "House Flipper 2." Smaller studios are contributing to the genre, indicating demand for well-crafted retail sims. The top sellers on Steam from July 14-21 included "Counter-Strike 2," "Palworld," and "Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced." "The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu," released on July 15, received nearly 1,500 "mostly positive" reviews.
Fixes roll out after Meccha Chameleon servers infected with malware, Discord hacked
AppWizard
July 27, 2026

Fixes roll out after Meccha Chameleon servers infected with malware, Discord hacked

A vulnerability in Meccha Chameleon allowed Steam Workshop maps to distribute malware to players. User Feint reported that a custom map was a malware dropper that passed the workshop's review process. The game's developer, Haganeiro, confirmed that the vulnerability was fixed in update version 3.1.0 and that the associated malware was disabled. The official Discord server for Meccha Chameleon, with nearly 100,000 members, was compromised due to a system engineer's PC being infected with malware, which allowed a hacker to bypass two-factor authentication and alter server permissions. Players were advised to avoid suspicious links on the compromised Discord server.
Roguelike Deckbuilders: Games Like Slay the Spire and Balatro
BetaBeacon
July 27, 2026

Roguelike Deckbuilders: Games Like Slay the Spire and Balatro

Deckbuilding is a genre of games that combines card-based gameplay with collecting powerful cards to use in battle against other players. It started in tabletop gaming before moving to video games. Roguelike deckbuilders add procedural generation to keep gameplay fresh and unpredictable. Slay the Spire is a popular example of a tactical deckbuilding game.
Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered review (2018)
AppWizard
July 26, 2026

Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered review (2018)

The Geo-mod destruction feature in Red Faction: Guerrilla allows players to dismantle walls and pillars, leading to the collapse of entire buildings. The game includes mechanics such as crashing vehicles through enemy bases and detonating mines, providing a chaotic gameplay experience. The recently released Re-Mars-tered edition offers enhancements like improved textures, better lighting, and native 4K support. The campaign mode features significant destructive opportunities, while the Wrecking Crew mode serves as a casual alternative. Despite the game's unique destructible environment, no other titles have successfully emulated its approach, although elements of destruction appear in games like Battlefield, Minecraft, and Just Cause. The sparse Martian setting enhances the experience, and there is a strong desire among players for open-world games that allow for environmental manipulation.
Games industry analyst says Meccha Chameleon's June revenue on PC was second only to Fortnite
AppWizard
July 25, 2026

Games industry analyst says Meccha Chameleon’s June revenue on PC was second only to Fortnite

Meccha Chameleon, created by lemorion_1224 and Haganeiro, has achieved significant commercial success, ranking just behind Fortnite in select Western markets for June, according to Newzoo data. The game's accessibility and viral popularity on platforms like YouTube have contributed to its rapid rise. Analyst Mert Şahin noted that lower-budget, socially driven multiplayer games can achieve impressive outcomes. Despite challenges such as cheating and AI imitations, the game has received positive reviews, with PC Gamer describing it as "a delightfully elevated take on hide-and-seek." The creators are also planning their first collaboration to further engage their community.
GitHub ordered to remove decentralized messaging app Bitchat in India
AppWizard
July 25, 2026

GitHub ordered to remove decentralized messaging app Bitchat in India

India's Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered GitHub to remove repositories related to Jack Dorsey's Bitchat application, citing concerns that the platform could allow users to bypass internet shutdowns and evade surveillance. The directive targets the software itself rather than specific unlawful content, referencing Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and requires compliance within three hours to avoid legal repercussions for GitHub. The repositories in question are: - github.com/permissionlesstech/bitchat - github.com/permissionlesstech/bitchat-android - github.com/permissionlesstech/bitchat-android/releases Bitchat is a decentralized messaging app that operates over Bluetooth mesh networks, which does not require internet access and facilitates anonymous communication. The app's design includes features like end-to-end encryption and no mandatory user registration. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) claims the app could be misused for illegal activities and cites local laws as justification for the takedown. The order comes amid ongoing protests in New Delhi, where internet access has been suspended. The Internet Freedom Foundation has criticized the order as unconstitutional and has called for its retraction. It is currently unclear if GitHub will comply with the takedown request.
LG kills McAfee pop-up after Windows boss steps in
Winsage
July 24, 2026

LG kills McAfee pop-up after Windows boss steps in

LG has decided to stop the McAfee pop-up notifications in its Monitor App Installer following intervention from Pavan Davuluri, head of Windows at Microsoft. Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, had previously highlighted the annoyance caused by these advertisements. The pop-ups appeared when certain LG devices, like the LG UltraGear, were connected to a Windows device for the first time. Windows allows hardware manufacturers to silently add software during external device installations, which can lead to advertising and mixed user experiences. LG is not exploiting vulnerabilities for software installation, and the automatic process is well-documented. This incident raises questions about review procedures and the implications of advertising within the Windows ecosystem.
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