Rust Archives

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

Facepunch Studios COO says he’ll buy New World for $25 million, and he might not be joking: ‘We’re always looking for new opportunities and we are open to all avenues’

Amazon is set to discontinue its New World MMO on January 31, 2027. Alistair McFarlane, COO of Facepunch Studios, has expressed interest in purchasing the game, stating that "games should never die." He humorously suggested a purchase price of "25m" on social media. Simon Collins-Laflamme, known for reviving Hytale, offered his expertise in acquiring canceled games. Popular streamer Gothalion also showed support for the idea of saving New World. McFarlane mentioned that his company is opening a publishing arm and is looking for new opportunities, emphasizing a commitment to preserving gaming experiences.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Running Factorio from over 1,000 floppy disks is a masochistically manual process that surely sets a new record for game load times

YouTuber DocJade is running the game Factorio on 1,000 3.5-inch floppy disks instead of a conventional hard drive. He developed a custom file system called Fluster using the RUST programming language, which divides each floppy disk into 512-byte blocks, allowing for a total of 2,880 blocks per disk and approximately 90 GB of storage. Fluster is open-sourced and available on DocJade's GitHub. Factorio's design allows it to load most content before the title screen, making it suitable for this unconventional method.

Winsage

January 12, 2026

Tech Bloggers Switch to Linux Over Windows Privacy Woes in 2026

In early 2026, many prominent technology writers are transitioning from Windows and macOS to Linux-based systems, citing frustrations with Windows 11's mandatory updates, privacy concerns, and software bloat as key reasons for the shift. The appeal of Linux is bolstered by advancements in gaming compatibility, user-friendly distributions, and a growing open-source community. While some users face challenges such as a steep learning curve and software incompatibilities, the overall sentiment is positive, with predictions suggesting significant growth for Linux desktops in 2026. Economic factors, including the cost of proprietary software and hardware demands, are also driving users towards Linux, which remains free and efficient. Community support plays a crucial role in easing the transition, and there is optimism about Linux's potential to capture more market share in various fields, despite some realism regarding the need for proprietary software in certain workflows.

AppWizard

January 2, 2026

Steam’s most popular survival game is now bigger than ever, and its developer has major plans for the year ahead

In 2025, Rust reached a peak player count of over 250,000 active users on Steam and logged 700 million hours by 5.8 million players in the past year. Facepunch Studios plans to introduce new features in 2026, including an expanded ecosystem, enhanced load times, and a potential battle pass system. The Naval update, set to launch on February 5, will introduce player-crafted boats for navigation and exploration. Other planned content includes new monuments, updates to player models and animations, and the introduction of new animals like cows and sheep with a breeding system. Facepunch aims to combat cheating, enhance performance, and explore DLC options, with a new anti-cheat layer in development. Performance improvements have reduced load and server connection times by approximately 65%. The team plans to continue releasing new DLC items monthly and is considering a battle pass system that aligns with the game's ethos. Test servers for upcoming features are available on the Rust staging branch.

Winsage

January 1, 2026

Windows Reborn: Microsoft Moves Copilot into the Kernel, Launching the Era of the AI-Native OS

Microsoft is transitioning its Windows operating system to an "AI-native" platform, embedding AI capabilities directly into the Windows kernel, marking a significant architectural shift not seen in three decades. This new approach, called the "Agentic OS," allows AI to manage files, system settings, and workflows proactively. The updated kernel, partially rewritten in Rust, includes a new NPU-aware scheduler that treats the Neural Processing Unit as a primary resource. Microsoft has introduced "Agent Workspace" and "Agent Accounts" for autonomous agents, ensuring actions are logged and audited for compliance. Communication between agents and the system is facilitated by the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Hardware requirements for the new OS have increased, with benchmarks set for NPUs achieving 80 to 100 TOPS. Major PC manufacturers are adjusting their portfolios to accommodate "Agentic PCs." The competitive landscape is evolving, with companies like Alphabet and Apple developing their own AI-native platforms. The introduction of the AI-native kernel raises privacy and security concerns, with Microsoft implementing measures to restrict third-party access to the kernel. Future updates may include "self-healing" capabilities and "Cross-Device Agency," leading to a more integrated personal AI experience.

Winsage

December 30, 2025

The great programming transformation: How AI and Rust are quietly dethroning C in Linux

Microsoft is focusing on AI development more than Linux, with 20% to 30% of its code now generated by AI. Galen Hunt aims to eliminate C and C++ from Microsoft's codebase by 2030, envisioning a transition to Rust, although not a complete rewrite of Windows. Microsoft is integrating Rust into security-critical areas, while Linux is also adopting Rust through initiatives like Rust-for-Linux and plans to write its apt package manager in Rust. Both companies are using AI to streamline development, with Microsoft allowing AI to autonomously handle coding issues, while Linux maintains human oversight in decision-making. Rust is seen as a safer alternative to C due to its memory-safe design, despite some challenges, including identified security bugs.

Winsage

December 28, 2025

Microsoft puts the brakes on speculation about a full Rust port of Windows

Microsoft has clarified that its initiative to explore migrating C and C++ codebases to Rust is primarily a research project, not a definitive plan to rewrite Windows in Rust by 2030. The company has been integrating Rust into specific areas of its operations, particularly in newer versions of Windows 11, to enhance security without overhauling existing systems. Microsoft has incorporated certain components of the Windows kernel in Rust but has not announced plans for a full migration of all kernel and user-space components. The project aims to develop tools for efficient analysis and partial automation of transferring large codebases to other programming languages, with AI-supported processes involved. Assertions that this research will lead to a complete Rust version of Windows are unsubstantiated.

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

It was a good year for survival crafting sickos, and I’ll be playing some of these well into 2026

The author is actively involved in a community focused on survival crafting games, exploring various titles such as Dune: Awakening, Grounded 2, and Abiotic Factor. They have a nostalgic connection to Pax Dei, which features a grind-heavy, player-driven universe but faces challenges in player retention. Misery, currently in early access, offers a melancholic atmosphere with potential for future development. Recent updates to Rust, including a new jungle biome and blueprint system, have sparked renewed interest. Abiotic Factor, recognized as the Best Co-op Game of 2025, remains the author's favorite due to its charm and homage to the Half-Life series.

Winsage

December 27, 2025

Windows 11 Users Demand Leaner OS to Cut AI Bloat and Boost Speed

Microsoft is facing significant user criticism regarding Windows 11, particularly due to its emphasis on artificial intelligence features, which many users find unnecessary and detrimental to performance. Complaints include sluggish interfaces, increased resource consumption, and a cluttered user experience, leading to calls for a more streamlined version that prioritizes speed, reliability, and efficiency. Users have reported issues such as slow file explorers and excessive RAM usage, often linking these problems to AI-driven functionalities. Community-driven alternatives like Tiny11 have emerged, focusing on eliminating bloatware and AI features to enhance efficiency, especially on older hardware. Microsoft has acknowledged user concerns and promised improvements, but the integration of AI tools continues to dominate updates. The company is also reconsidering its strategy in response to backlash, including relaxing system requirements for certain versions of Windows. However, there remains a strong demand for a lightweight version that balances innovation with core functionalities, as users express frustration over imposed features and a lack of choice.

Winsage

December 25, 2025

Microsoft engineer clarifies post on eliminating C, C++ languages: Windows is…

A Microsoft distinguished engineer, Galen Hunt, clarified that a project aimed at rewriting parts of Microsoft's code using AI and Rust is strictly research-focused and not an official plan to phase out C and C++ from Windows by 2030. His team is developing technology for large-scale code migration between programming languages, aiming for "1 engineer, 1 month, 1 million lines of code." This project is part of Microsoft's Future of Scalable Software Engineering group and is not a roadmap for Windows 11 or future versions. Microsoft has been integrating Rust into its products, including rewriting segments of the Windows kernel in 2023, as part of its commitment to adopting memory-safe programming languages.