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'[It] is going to change a lot about how games are made': Epic merges Unreal Engine 5 with Unreal Engine for Fortnite to give game devs around the world Unreal Engine 6
AppWizard
June 18, 2026

‘[It] is going to change a lot about how games are made’: Epic merges Unreal Engine 5 with Unreal Engine for Fortnite to give game devs around the world Unreal Engine 6

Epic Games unveiled developments for Unreal Engine 6 at the State of Unreal event in Chicago, highlighting its evolution from Unreal Engine 5. The new engine will incorporate features from Fortnite and UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite), which allows users to create game levels easily. Unreal Engine 6 will adopt open standards for tools, code, and APIs to simplify development across industries. The anticipated release is set for 2027, with early access expected by the end of that year. Verse, a new scripting language, will be central to the gameplay programming model, while C++ will remain foundational. The Scene Graph will replace the existing gameplay framework, and artificial intelligence will play a larger role, with the UE5.8 release introducing the MCP server plugin for deploying large language models.
A Brief History Of Unix Commands On Windows: CoreUtils (Again)
Winsage
June 16, 2026

A Brief History Of Unix Commands On Windows: CoreUtils (Again)

The interaction between Unix/Linux and Windows has historically been marked by significant differences in their architectures and philosophies. Unix uses a fork() function for process management, while Windows employs CreateProcess(), complicating the implementation of Unix-like tools on Windows. Early solutions to bridge this gap included the MKS Toolkit, which provided Unix-like commands for Windows, and UWIN from AT&T Bell Labs, which aimed to create a Unix interface layer on Windows. Cygwin offered a compatibility DLL to run Unix software on Windows, but required rebuilding from source. Microsoft's initiatives included POSIX, Interix, and later Services for UNIX. The introduction of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allowed users to run a Linux userland directly on Windows, with WSL 2 incorporating a real Linux kernel. Recently, Microsoft released Coreutils for Windows, providing native builds of Unix-style tools to enhance cross-platform consistency.
MSHTA abuse helps malware hide in Windows processes
Winsage
May 20, 2026

MSHTA abuse helps malware hide in Windows processes

Bitdefender's research highlights the use of Microsoft's MSHTA utility in malware attacks, noting its default activation in Windows systems. Cybercriminals exploit MSHTA to execute malicious scripts under the guise of legitimate processes, linking it to various malware families like LummaStealer and PurpleFox. The study reports a rise in MSHTA-related detections, indicating a shift towards "living-off-the-land" tactics that utilize legitimate tools to evade security alerts. Social engineering is identified as a common entry point for attacks, employing deceptive methods such as fake software downloads and phishing links. MSHTA can retrieve and execute additional payloads through multi-stage chains, complicating detection efforts. The attacks target sensitive information, including credentials and financial data, and the continued presence of MSHTA poses risks as it allows threat actors to conceal malicious actions. To mitigate these threats, organizations are advised to restrict or disable legacy scripting tools and exercise caution with untrusted downloads. The report emphasizes the challenge of detecting unusual behaviors associated with legitimate utilities in the context of cyber threats.
Portal 2: Community Edition promises to take the game's modding potential to new heights, and it's out in open beta now
AppWizard
April 18, 2026

Portal 2: Community Edition promises to take the game’s modding potential to new heights, and it’s out in open beta now

Portal 2 has approximately one million user-generated levels available on its Steam Workshop. The recently released Portal 2: Community Edition is in open beta and is a community-maintained build that enhances the existing experience without overhauling the core gameplay. New features include new lighting technology, volumetric effects, support for more detailed textures, custom campaign support, expanded scripting capabilities, and an improved Hammer map editor. Community Edition is built on Strata Source, a fork of the CS:GO engine, and has already inspired innovative mods. The mod's workshop page includes Half-Life 2 maps, enhanced texture assets, and an original puzzle titled Lesbian Kissing. The team is also working on an original campaign for the mod.
15 years on, Portal 2 Community Edition just breathed new life into Valve's classic
AppWizard
April 18, 2026

15 years on, Portal 2 Community Edition just breathed new life into Valve’s classic

Portal 2: Community Edition is a fan-driven initiative developed by a team of 29 developers to enhance the experience of creating and playing custom content within Portal 2. It introduces technical upgrades including physically based rendering, more detailed textures, improved lighting, clustered shading, dynamic shadows, specular highlights, and volumetric fog. The edition focuses on providing robust tools for custom content creation, currently offering single-player gameplay with plans for multiplayer support. It utilizes the Strata Source engine, a modified version of the CS:GO engine, which enhances performance and expands creative possibilities for modders. New modding tools include adhesive gel, a paint gun, Schrödinger cubes, and colored lasers, along with the 'AngelScript' scripting framework for unique game modes. Full Steam Workshop support is integrated, allowing players to share their creations. Portal 2: Community Edition is now available on Steam as a free download, requiring ownership of the original Portal 2.
Windows File Explorer is outdated, and these alternatives fit how you actually use your PC
Winsage
April 13, 2026

Windows File Explorer is outdated, and these alternatives fit how you actually use your PC

Windows' File Explorer has limitations such as slow operations and minimal customization, prompting users to seek third-party file managers. FilePilot is a popular choice for its fast, simple, dual-pane interface that enhances speed and efficiency, particularly for bulk operations and multi-monitor setups. OneCommander features a modern design with a column-based navigation system, a preview panel, and color tagging for file organization, making it user-friendly while addressing multitasking issues. Directory Opus is recognized as a comprehensive solution with customizable layouts, scripting capabilities, and advanced search filters, catering to users managing complex datasets. Files is an open-source file manager known for its polished interface, tabbed browsing, dual-pane layout, and extensive customization options, providing a faster and cleaner alternative to Windows 11's Explorer. Each of these alternatives offers unique features that improve upon the limitations of File Explorer.
DayZ creator Dean 'Rocket' Hall has over 2,000 hours in Kerbal Space Program and played the original XCOM at Mount Everest base camp: 'I think when I die, I will still be playing that game'
AppWizard
April 12, 2026

DayZ creator Dean ‘Rocket’ Hall has over 2,000 hours in Kerbal Space Program and played the original XCOM at Mount Everest base camp: ‘I think when I die, I will still be playing that game’

Dean Hall, the founder of RocketWerkz, began his gaming journey with a Commodore 64 and developed a passion for computers after a challenging five-hour gaming session. He is currently developing Icarus, a space survival game that has recently become profitable after a difficult launch. Hall has logged 1,400 hours in RimWorld, where he has released two popular mods. He enjoys playing Ostranauts, accumulating at least 150 hours per playthrough, and is looking forward to its upcoming update. Hall has also played the original XCOM for around 600 hours over the past year. He has nearly 5,000 hours in Stationeers, a game developed by his studio, and over 2,000 hours in Kerbal Space Program. His favorite game is Space Station 13, where he plays a character named Colton Murphy. For non-gaming software, he relies on Rider for programming development. Hall maintains a very clean desktop, regularly organizing it for security and efficiency in his game development process.
Part 2 – Babylon.js 9.0: Tooling updates and new geospatial features
Winsage
March 30, 2026

Part 2 – Babylon.js 9.0: Tooling updates and new geospatial features

Babylon.js 9.0 introduces several significant enhancements: - The Babylon.js Editor has improved rendering capabilities and functionality, providing an artist-friendly environment for building experiences on Windows, macOS, and Linux. - Inspector v2 is a complete overhaul of the debugging tool with a modern architecture, supporting custom extensions and a React-based UI. - The Lightweight Viewer has enhanced shadow rendering features and simplifies embedding 3D content on web pages. - The Playground has received upgrades including multi-file editing, ESM module imports, and local session history, along with automatic saving to local storage. - Large World Rendering and Floating Origin systems address precision loss in expansive scenes, ensuring smooth rendering and physics interactions. - The Geospatial Camera allows intuitive navigation of spherical planets with various interactive features and integrates with Large World Rendering. - Babylon.js now supports 3D Tiles for efficient visualization of large geospatial datasets, enhancing map data rendering capabilities. - A new Physically Based Atmosphere addon enhances realism in sky rendering using advanced scattering models. These updates aim to empower developers in creating stunning digital experiences.
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