rise Archives

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

There’s a dog that can play League of Legends better than you

Pea, a small, brown, long-haired sausage dog, is a streamer and aspiring professional League of Legends player under the guidance of her owner, PooperNoodle. Pea has been learning to support in the game using programmed buttons to activate her in-game abilities, currently mastering the champion Yuumi. During her initial stream, she transitioned from a spectator to an active participant, successfully using her abilities with surprising finesse. Pea's current record in Swiftplay is two wins and three losses. The response to her gameplay has been positive, with the official League of Legends TikTok account humorously acknowledging her presence. Pea's journey highlights the joy and camaraderie that gaming can offer.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Nvidia GPU warranty claims cost the company nearly $1BN in 2025

Nvidia's expenses for servicing warranty claims related to its GPUs have increased by over 1,000% in one year, reaching nearly 4 million, up from 1 million the previous year. The warranty rate for Nvidia's GPUs rose from 0.1% in 2024 to 0.9% in 2025, indicating that warranty expenses are growing faster than revenue. AMD's warranty claims doubled from 4 million in 2024 to 8 million in 2025, with its warranty claim rate increasing from 0.4% to 0.7%. The report suggests a correlation between rising VRAM prices and warranty claim costs, but it does not clarify the impact of incidents involving melting RTX 5090 cards on warranty rates.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Newzoo: More than half of PC revenue comes from games outside the Top 20

Recent insights from Newzoo indicate a shift in the gaming landscape, with games ranked outside the Top 20 gaining revenue and playtime in Western markets. Between 2022 and 2025, PC games in this category saw their revenue share increase from 48% to 56%, and playtime rise from 33% to 45%. This trend is notable in key markets such as the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. While traditional shooter games are declining, genres like action RPGs and survival games are thriving, with titles such as Path of Exile 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds leading the way. By 2025, lower-ranked titles are projected to account for 38% of total revenue on PlayStation, up from 33% in 2022, with playtime for these titles increasing by 32%. On Xbox, games outside the Top 20 saw a 12% increase in playtime, representing 35% of revenue in 2025. Game Pass subscriptions are suggested to enhance playtime for these titles.

Tech Optimizer

April 15, 2026

Avast Antivirus: Free Protection Faces Rising AI Threats in Cybersecurity Market

Avast Antivirus offers a robust free version with premium features, providing high-quality protection against cyber threats, including viruses, spyware, and ransomware. Key features include Smart Scan, Password Manager, and Network Inspector, which help users identify vulnerabilities and safeguard their data. Avast has a global user base of over 435 million and is particularly relevant in the U.S., where data breaches affect millions annually. The company operates under Gen Digital, which acquired Avast in 2022, leveraging a freemium model to attract users and upsell advanced features. Avast focuses on AI-driven threat detection and maintains a strong market position against competitors like Norton and McAfee. The global cybersecurity market has surpassed 0 billion, driven by increasing threats, and Avast counters these with machine learning capabilities. Risks for Avast include zero-day exploits, privacy concerns, and competition from built-in OS protections. Avast's cloud-based updates and multilingual support enhance its appeal, while its integration with smart home devices is planned for the future.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Android App Store Provider Hits Google With Fresh Lawsuit Alleging Monopoly And ‘Anticompetitive Chokehol

Aptoide, a Portugal-based alternative Android app store, filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Francisco against Google, accusing the company of unlawfully monopolizing the distribution of Android applications and in-app billing systems. Aptoide claims that Google's practices create an "anticompetitive chokehold" that stifles competition and innovation. The lawsuit highlights that Aptoide offers lower commission rates for developers but has suffered harm due to Google's market dominance, which discourages developers from using alternative app stores. Aptoide seeks an injunction against Google's alleged anticompetitive practices and demands unspecified triple damages under U.S. antitrust law. Google has not yet responded to the lawsuit. This legal action is part of broader antitrust scrutiny facing Google, which has faced challenges from other companies and recent court rulings regarding its monopoly status. Following the lawsuit, Alphabet's shares saw an increase, with Class A shares rising 3.63% and Class C shares up 3.56%.

Winsage

April 14, 2026

This fake Windows 11 24H2 update looks perfect, until it avoids antivirus and steals your passwords

Cybercriminals are using sophisticated tactics to deceive users, particularly with a counterfeit website posing as a legitimate Windows 11 update. This site operates under the domain microsoft-update[.]support and is designed to trick individuals into downloading malware that compromises sensitive information. The site is written in French and mimics a genuine cumulative update for Windows 11, version 24H2, featuring a convincing KB article number and a blue download button. The malware is packaged as a Windows update using the WiX Toolset 4.0.0.5512 and is labeled "WindowsUpdate 1.0.0.msi," with properties that suggest it is from Microsoft. At the time of analysis, VirusTotal showed no detections for the malware, which conceals its harmful code within an Electron shell, making it difficult to identify. Users are advised to download updates directly through the Windows Settings app or from Microsoft's official support hub.

Winsage

April 14, 2026

I’m wondering how far the Windows 11 modding community will go before Microsoft finally listens

Windows 11, launched over four years ago, has faced user dissatisfaction due to its limited features and stringent hardware requirements, leading to sluggish adoption rates. Some users are considering switching to free alternatives like Linux. In response to criticism, Microsoft is rolling out updates to improve user experience, including allowing users to bypass updates during installations and reintroducing features like a movable Taskbar. Despite these efforts, some experts suggest that Microsoft should focus on developing "Windows 12" instead. The backlash against Windows 11 has led to a rise in third-party tools and modifications, such as Start11 and Rainmeter skins, which enhance personalization and functionality. Social media platforms showcase the popularity of these third-party solutions, indicating a thriving community-driven innovation in response to the operating system's limitations.

AppWizard

April 14, 2026

TIGA: PC and console remain pivotal in driving game development in the UK

Recent findings from TIGA indicate that 46% of UK game studios are prioritizing PC game development, with projections suggesting that 56% of new projects from May 2024 to September 2025 will focus on PC gaming. The share of studios engaged in mobile game production has declined from 33% to 31.6%, and mobile gaming's contribution to total industry jobs has decreased from 19% to 17.9%. Conversely, the console gaming sector's employment share has risen from 47.2% to 50%, although the actual number of employees in console studios has decreased by 2.1%. The UK gaming industry has experienced a net loss of 1,537 development roles between May 2024 and September 2025, marking an annual decline of 4.5%.

AppWizard

April 12, 2026

If you are planning to get the new Starfield Terran Armada DLC, here’s how to get 15% off

Starfield's latest DLC, Terran Armada, introduces a new faction connected to Earth with advanced technology and military strength. The DLC features a comprehensive questline, new locations, enemies, and systems that expand throughout the game world. It includes repeatable combat events called Incursions, a new morally ambiguous robot companion, and enhancements to outposts and exploration mechanics. Fanatical is offering a 15% discount on the DLC, making it the most affordable option currently available.

AppWizard

April 10, 2026

YouTube Premium just got a price hike, and it’s not a small one

YouTube Premium prices in the US are increasing next month for individual, family, and student plans. The individual plan will rise to .99/month, and the family plan will increase to .99/month. This follows a previous price adjustment in July 2023 when the individual plan rose from .99 to .99 per month. Users have started receiving official emails about the changes, which highlight benefits like ad-free viewing and offline downloads. The increase comes as YouTube has increased ads for free users and is cracking down on ad blockers. Some users have expressed frustration over the rising costs without perceived improvements in value.