rights Archives

AppWizard

August 22, 2026

Star Wars Zero Company And Galactic Racer Clashed, Lucasfilm Could Have Prevented It

Two Star Wars titles, Star Wars Zero Company and Galactic Racer, are set to launch within months of each other, marking the first time in 15 years that games from different developers will share a release year. The simultaneous lifting of embargoes for both games occurred just an hour apart, creating a clash that disadvantaged the team behind Galactic Racer. The two titles are developed by independent studios Fuse Games/Secret Mode and Bit Reactor/EA, respectively, with Lucasfilm Games overseeing the process. The marketing strategies for the games have differed, with Zero Company announced at last year's Celebration and Galactic Racer unveiled in December. Star Wars Zero Company is set to launch on August 27th, while Galactic Racer will follow on October 6th. Pre-orders are available for both titles.

AppWizard

August 22, 2026

The newly independent Psychonauts dev now earns all the revenue when you buy games it made under Xbox: ‘Buying any of our games helps support the studio’

Double Fine has regained full publishing rights to its titles developed under Microsoft after parting ways with Xbox earlier this year. CEO Tim Schafer confirmed that the studio has received back all intellectual property and publishing rights for their games. The studio has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its annual Amnesia Fortnight game jam, allowing backers to influence game development. Double Fine recently laid off 23 staff members to maintain a sustainable operational size. Schafer mentioned upcoming content for their multiplayer game, Kiln, which will include a major update and a price reduction, and recommended their adventure game, Keeper.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

Cyberleek’s still at it: Another GTA 6 leak shows 2 full minutes of high speed driving, surprisingly few crashes

Cyberleek has released a new gameplay snippet from Grand Theft Auto 6 for the fourth consecutive day. The latest video, titled "hypercar.mp4," features protagonist Jason in a carjacking scene in Vice City. The two-minute clip shows Jason having the option to perform an aggressive extraction of the driver, which may attract attention. It also confirms earlier leaks about visual identification mechanics related to the stolen vehicle and Jason's wanted level. The footage highlights advanced lighting technology, showcasing realistic reflections from the hypercar's headlights. Additionally, the video promotes Cyberleek's cryptocurrency initiative, with a message linking market capitalization to the frequency of leaks. Take-Two has reportedly lost approximately .8 billion in market capitalization this week due to a decline in share price.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

A cracked version of Marvel Tōkon is reigniting questions around DRM and its impact on PC games

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls has faced significant criticism since its PC release due to performance issues, including stuttering frame rates and network problems. A patch was issued, but many players still experienced difficulties. The console version has not encountered these issues, leading to speculation that the DRM in the Steam version may be causing high CPU usage. A cracked, DRM-free version has emerged, reportedly offering better performance, with players noting it is less taxing on CPUs and runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware. Social media has highlighted a nearly 40 FPS difference between the two versions. Concurrent player counts on Steam have dropped from a peak of 24,498 to 5,249 shortly after launch, as some players turn to the cracked version, which does not support online matchmaking. This situation raises concerns about the impact of DRM on gaming performance and could affect PC sales and the overall player base. The Marvel Tōkon social media account has indicated that further fixes for the PC version are forthcoming, but inquiries to Sony remain unanswered.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

The New Rat Horror Game Is Being Pirated A Week Before Launch

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy has leaked online a week before its official release on August 27, allowing unauthorized copies to circulate due to compromised digital rights management (DRM). Players are sharing images and some have begun playing the game, while others are avoiding spoilers. This leak follows a trend of significant game leaks in 2026, including Forza Horizon 6 and Lego Batman. The game does not offer paid early access options and is expected to provide around 20 hours of gameplay with an action-oriented approach, including a parry system. It will also be available on day one for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers on console and PC.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

Who is Cyberleek? What we know about the GTA 6 leaker

On August 18, an entity named "Cyberleek" shared what is believed to be authentic gameplay footage from Grand Theft Auto 6, featuring the protagonist Jason. The footage showcased typical GTA activities and was removed from social media due to copyright claims from Take-Two and Rockstar. Cyberleek's leaks were not from testers but indicated access to a segment of GTA 6. They expressed consumer rights grievances and made three demands: no more digital preorders, no selling DLC already included in base game files, and mandatory offline fallback states for single-player games. Cyberleek is also promoting a cryptocurrency token, $Cyberleek, with a market cap of .1 million, allowing token holders to vote on gameplay clips to release. The timing of the leaks suggests a possible European origin, and investigations link Cyberleek to past posts on a German cybersecurity forum. There are indications that Cyberleek is not affiliated with Rockstar Games, and if identified, they could face significant consequences. Rockstar's official gameplay reveal for GTA 6 is scheduled for August 27.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

Here’s who is eligible for a portion of Google’s $700 million settlement

Google has agreed to a [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: PHOENIX (AZFamily) — In a significant development for the tech industry, Google has agreed to a 0 million settlement regarding its practices in the Android app store market. This resolution comes as a result of a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, spearheaded by Arizona’s Attorney General Kris Mayes, who have raised concerns about the company's monopolistic control over app distribution and in-app payment systems. Settlement Details Attorney General Mayes articulated the core issue, stating, “Google used its monopoly power over the app market to drive up prices.” The settlement serves as a clear message against anticompetitive behavior, emphasizing the importance of a fair marketplace that fosters lower prices, enhanced quality of goods and services, and increased choices for consumers. Mayes affirmed her commitment to combating illegal and unfair business practices to safeguard the interests of Arizonans. Individuals who made purchases on Google Play between August 2016 and September 2023 will be eligible to receive a portion of the settlement. Most recipients can expect to receive their share without the need to submit a claim form, with payments being processed through platforms like PayPal or Venmo. Changes to Business Practices As part of the settlement agreement, Google is required to implement several changes to its business operations. Over the next five years, app developers will gain the freedom to: Offer alternative payment options to users. Inform users about cheaper prices available outside of Google’s billing platform. Feature their apps on competing app stores without fear of retaliation. Moreover, Android users will have the ability to install applications from sources beyond the Google Play Store for a minimum duration of seven years. Arizona's involvement in this legal action dates back to 2021, when the state joined a coalition of attorneys general in suing Google for its alleged illegal dominance in Android app distribution and for imposing transaction fees of up to 30% on consumers. For those seeking further information about the settlement, additional details can be found on the designated website. See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it. Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description. Copyright 2026 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million settlement regarding its practices in the Android app store market due to concerns about its monopolistic control over app distribution and in-app payment systems. The settlement allows individuals who made purchases on Google Play between August 2016 and September 2023 to receive a portion of the settlement without needing to submit a claim form. As part of the settlement, Google must implement changes allowing app developers to offer alternative payment options, inform users about cheaper prices outside of Google’s billing platform, and feature their apps on competing app stores without retaliation. Additionally, Android users will be able to install applications from sources beyond the Google Play Store for at least seven years. Arizona's involvement in the legal action began in 2021 when it joined a coalition of attorneys general suing Google for its alleged illegal dominance and high transaction fees.

AppWizard

August 20, 2026

Sony may be discontinuing video game discs — but there’s still a way to get physical copies

Sony will phase out physical discs for new PlayStation titles starting January 2028. GOG reassures gamers of ownership rights, allowing them to own and preserve purchased games on physical media. The Tomb Raider I-VI Remastered bundle is available for purchase, featuring enhanced versions of the classic series. All games on GOG are DRM-free, enabling players to download and burn titles onto discs. The process for burning games involves logging into the GOG library, downloading the offline installer, and burning the game file onto a disc. GOG also offers alternatives for game storage, such as external hard drives and cloud storage, ensuring long-term ownership without reliance on a launcher or internet connection. GOG has a selection of over 5,200 DRM-free games available for purchase.

AppWizard

August 19, 2026

Stop Killing Games distances itself from GTA 6 leak manifesto: ‘Using illegal means to make a point is unacceptable to us’

A manifesto linked to the leak of Grand Theft Auto 6 has prompted discussions among advocates of the Stop Killing Games campaign, which calls for games with single-player content to include an "offline fallback state." Stop Killing Games has distanced itself from the manifesto, acknowledging the authenticity of the leaks while condemning the illegal actions of the leaker, who is allegedly promoting a memecoin. The organization expressed empathy for the developers at Rockstar, emphasizing the negative impact of leaks on them and the gaming community. They noted the potential legal consequences for the leaker, referencing a past incident involving severe repercussions for a similar breach. At least two additional GTA 6 videos have emerged, with the official reveal scheduled for August 27.

AppWizard

August 19, 2026

The Android gravy train is over! Google starts to roll out new app sideloading restrictions – here’s why that’s a good thing

Google is enhancing security measures for Android devices by focusing on the verification of apps, developers, and app stores. A new feature called "advanced flow" is being introduced for users who install applications from unverified developers. The process of sideloading is being refined to improve user security while maintaining user choice. This includes: - Verification of developers and their applications. - Inclusion of additional app stores like Honor App Market, Oppo App Market, Samsung's Galaxy Store, Palm Store, V-Appstore, and GetApps. - Updates to the Android Developer Verifier for access to the latest security protocols. These changes aim to create a safer environment for users while allowing advanced users to install apps from various sources. Google has shared a timeline for these changes and is addressing ongoing discussions about digital rights and user safety, particularly in relation to the Epic Games antitrust case.