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An ultra-rare piece of Microsoft history could be hiding on your shelf
Winsage
August 23, 2026

An ultra-rare piece of Microsoft history could be hiding on your shelf

Rare red Tetris stickers and a shirtless child hologram from Windows 95 are sought-after collectibles from Microsoft's early days. The Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows, launched in 1990, initially featured a sticker instead of a printed Tetris promotion due to unresolved licensing rights at the time of the first print run. The later versions incorporated the sticker into the box art. Additionally, an anti-piracy hologram from Windows 95 depicted a child without a shirt, which was later replaced with a version showing the child clothed. Both original items have become valuable to collectors.
Microsoft explains why Pinball vanished from Windows: "We couldn’t afford to spend days studying the code"
Winsage
August 23, 2026

Microsoft explains why Pinball vanished from Windows: “We couldn’t afford to spend days studying the code”

3D Pinball was a space-themed game included in Windows XP since its debut in 1995. It was removed with the launch of Windows Vista due to a bug in the code that caused the game to be unplayable, not because of legal issues as commonly believed. The bug occurred during the transition of Windows XP to 64-bit architecture, where the ball would drop into the launcher and fall through the plunger. Microsoft engineer Raymond Chen, who worked on the project, noted that the original code was largely undocumented, making it difficult to fix. The game was licensed from Cinematronics and Maxis, which limited Microsoft's rights to bundling it within Windows and its Plus! packs, preventing a standalone release. Attempts to revive the game were hindered by these legal constraints. As of 2022, no official version of 3D Pinball has been included in Windows 11, and the licensing situation remains complicated due to the acquisition of Cinematronics and Maxis by Electronic Arts.
Compulsion Games' buyout is complete, so now Microsoft won't get a cut if you buy South of Midnight
AppWizard
August 22, 2026

Compulsion Games’ buyout is complete, so now Microsoft won’t get a cut if you buy South of Midnight

Compulsion Games has regained its independence and the rights to its original intellectual properties after a management buyout, allowing the studio to explore new partnerships. Their latest release, South of Midnight, received an 83% review score. CEO Guillaume Provost confirmed that the management has acquired the studio and staff, enhancing the studio's financial prospects by allowing them to retain a larger share of revenue from purchases made outside the Xbox digital storefront. Compulsion Games is known for titles like We Happy Few and Contrast.
Star Wars Zero Company And Galactic Racer Clashed, Lucasfilm Could Have Prevented It
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.
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'
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.
Cyberleek's still at it: Another GTA 6 leak shows 2 full minutes of high speed driving, surprisingly few crashes
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.
The New Rat Horror Game Is Being Pirated A Week Before Launch
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.
Who is Cyberleek? What we know about the GTA 6 leaker
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.
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