roles Archives

AppWizard

July 4, 2026

Mouthwashing’s follow-up is self-described ‘friendsweat’ where 3 players struggle to operate a tank in a defiled city: ‘We’re definitely not quite at Peak, but we’re not trying to make Arma either’

Wrong Organ developers Jeffrey Tomec and Dave van Egdom discussed their upcoming game, Carcass Clad, which shifts towards co-op multiplayer gameplay, a departure from their previous title, Mouthwashing. The game features tank-based mechanics where players navigate with limited visibility, with gunners in a scoped view and a commander providing strategic direction. The gameplay includes moments of action and respite, with safe rooms similar to those in Left 4 Dead. The developers are open to changes during the development process to enhance the game's appeal.

Tech Optimizer

July 3, 2026

Percona & HexaCluster team up on database migrations

Percona has formed a strategic alliance with HexaCluster to assist organizations in migrating from proprietary databases to open-source alternatives, specifically PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MariaDB. The partnership combines Percona's migration assessment and production support with HexaCluster's migration software for diverse database environments. The migration process will begin with a comprehensive assessment by Percona to outline the scope and plan the transition. Percona will lead the migration efforts, while HexaCluster will provide software solutions for complex migrations. This collaboration aims to help enterprises reduce costs associated with proprietary databases and minimize risks during migration. HexaCluster specializes in PostgreSQL migration and offers tools for migration assessment, schema conversion, data migration, and live replication. Percona supports various database systems and emphasizes open-source solutions to give organizations more control over their data infrastructure.

AppWizard

July 2, 2026

Dragon Age setting creator says AI push is a delusion of the executive class that’s a ‘virulent plague’ on games

David Gaider, a veteran of BioWare and creator of the Dragon Age universe, expressed concerns about generative AI in gaming, calling it a "virulent plague" that negatively impacts creativity and job opportunities. He criticized the current use of AI for producing subpar results and diminishing entry-level opportunities for writers. Gaider suggested that AI should be used as a supportive tool for mundane tasks, allowing human writers to focus on creative work, but noted that AI is currently taking on critical roles instead. He emphasized the importance of nurturing new talent and cautioned against eliminating tasks essential for training junior developers. Gaider also raised ethical concerns about AI's reliance on datasets that may lack consent from original creators, warning of potential legal issues. He expressed skepticism about AI's readiness for widespread application in the industry, advocating for caution until proper regulation and ethical data training are established.

AppWizard

July 1, 2026

Kalshi Challenges Illinois Sports Betting Tax as Prediction Market Jurisdiction Fight Escalates

Kalshi has filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Illinois, challenging a law that imposes taxes and licensing requirements on sports-related trades in prediction markets. The lawsuit questions whether contracts traded on Kalshi's federally regulated exchange are classified as sports bets under state laws or as financial derivatives overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Illinois law categorizes prediction market operators as sports wagering businesses, imposing a 1.75% tax on the first five million sports wagers annually, increasing to 3.5% for wagers above that threshold, along with a costly licensing requirement. Kalshi argues that these state requirements are preempted by federal law and contends that its offerings are financial instruments, not traditional wagers. The dispute reflects a broader conflict between federal and state regulators regarding jurisdiction over prediction markets, with the CFTC previously filing a lawsuit against Illinois over similar regulatory issues. The outcome of this legal battle could have implications for the regulation of prediction contracts related to various events beyond sports.

AppWizard

June 30, 2026

After leading the studio through 2 rounds of layoffs and 1 game release, the CEO of Supermassive is stepping down

Robert Henrysson has announced his departure as CEO of Supermassive Games, two months after the launch of Directive 8020. He reflected on his tenure with pride, noting the studio's expansion and commitment to quality. Nordisk Games recognized his contributions and leadership during a transformative period. Directive 8020, part of the Dark Pictures series, received mixed user ratings on Steam but was praised by critics, achieving an 85% rating. Henrysson's leadership occurred amid industry challenges, including layoffs. He plans to spend the summer with his family while remaining open to future opportunities in the gaming industry.

Winsage

June 26, 2026

Windows Update Will Start Showing New Insider Channel System to all Windows 11 Users

The Windows Insider Channel system is expanding to all Windows 11 users via Windows Update, allowing non-Insiders to join the program. The previous Canary, Dev, and Beta Channels will be replaced by the Experimental and Beta Channel options. The Experimental Channel will introduce new features first and allow user feedback to shape developments, while the Beta Channel will provide early access to upcoming features but will discontinue controlled feature rollouts. Microsoft recently released five new builds across the Beta and Experimental Channels, including a new taskbar size setting in the Experimental build 26300.8758 to enhance taskbar customizability.

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

Minecraft Adventure Maps — okay so let me just tell you what actually works

Adventure maps in Minecraft allow players to experience curated gameplay without survival mechanics or resource gathering. These maps are designed in Adventure Mode, preventing players from altering the environments. They vary in length and complexity, with some lasting only 20 minutes and others several hours, often featuring custom dialogue and narratives. Quality adventure maps can be found on platforms like Planet Minecraft, MCPEDL, CurseForge, and the Minecraft Marketplace. It's important to check version compatibility to avoid glitches. Recommended adventure maps include Herobrine’s Mansion, Diversity 3, SkyBlock, The Forgotten, Chronos, and Parkour Paradise. Multiplayer maps should be labeled as such to avoid common issues like skipped puzzles and disrupted story pacing. Installing maps differs between Java and Bedrock editions, with Java scanning the saves folder and Bedrock requiring the opening of a .mcworld file. Players may face issues like command blocks failing or visual discrepancies due to missing resource packs or version mismatches. To evaluate a map's quality before downloading, check the download count and read comments for potential bugs. Java and Bedrock maps are not interchangeable, so verifying the edition and compatibility is crucial for a smooth experience.

Tech Optimizer

June 26, 2026

EDB launches agentic Postgres AI with governance tools

EDB has introduced new features for its Postgres AI platform, including an agentic database and converged analytics capabilities, allowing enterprises to run AI agents alongside transactional workloads on a unified PostgreSQL foundation. The platform includes governance tools that position control mechanisms at the data layer and integrates AI processing with operational data, enabling businesses to connect live records with AI systems without transferring sensitive information. The agentic database can monitor over 200 metrics, identify issues, suggest changes, and apply fixes automatically based on user-defined policies. It consolidates various data types through a single SQL interface, significantly accelerating database tuning processes and enhancing application performance. EDB has also expanded its analytics capabilities with a zero-ETL architecture for real-time analysis and large-scale warehousing. EDB PG AI for ClickHouse targets real-time analysis, while EDB PG AI for WarehousePG focuses on historical analysis at petabyte scale. The platform claims up to 30 times faster query performance compared to legacy systems and improved scaling efficiency. EDB's platform integrates vector search and retrieval for AI agents, demonstrating lower query latency and higher retrieval accuracy than competitors. NTT East is using EDB PG AI for AI-driven network operations, while the governance feature manages agent access at the data querying point using native Postgres roles and row-level security. The platform can be deployed on-premises, in hybrid environments, or across cloud infrastructures, with partnerships including Dell, IBM, Nvidia, Red Hat, and Supermicro.

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

New York Has a Gamer Mayor Now — and a $2.6 Billion Game Industry to Match

In June, New York City celebrated the NYC Battle of the Boroughs Champions at a press conference on June 10, recognizing the winners of the 2026 Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs. Among the winners was Team Hyper Pigmentation, an all-girl squad that won back-to-back titles. The city's digital games sector supports approximately 7,600 jobs, contributing billion in wages and generating a total economic output of billion. The NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment (MOME) has established the Game Development Industry Council, launched the NYC Summer of Games campaign, and funded grants for developers. New York City's digital gaming ecosystem has an annual economic impact of .6 billion, with around 380 digital gaming firms, 65 percent of which are small or indie studios. The share of open roles in the gaming industry increased from 15.1 percent to 29.2 percent between Q3 2024 and Q1 2026. The Summer of Games features events from May through September, including the NYC Video Game Festival and the Tribeca Games Gallery. Mayor Zohran Mamdani is recognized as the first "Gamer Mayor," engaging with gaming culture and platforms like Twitch. Jones-Harvey emphasizes the importance of addressing affordability issues to retain talent in the gaming industry. She advocates for recognizing video games as a vital part of New York City's cultural landscape, alongside music, film, and theater.

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

It’s not layoffs, but you can see them from here: Numerous Compulsion Games employees are looking for new jobs

Developers at Compulsion Games, the studio behind South of Midnight, are signaling their intent to seek new job opportunities amid impending layoffs. Many employees have updated their LinkedIn profiles to indicate they are "open to work," and studio leadership has allowed them to explore external job prospects. Reports indicate that at least a dozen employees, out of a workforce of approximately 90, are actively seeking new roles. This trend is occurring alongside broader concerns within the Xbox gaming division, where other studios may also face closures as part of an initiative acknowledging that Microsoft has overextended itself through acquisitions, potentially leading to significant layoffs and canceled projects.