SDK

Winsage
August 30, 2026
Microsoft has transitioned the development of WinUI and the Windows App SDK to GitHub, marking a commitment to enhance Windows developer technologies. This shift is part of a strategy unveiled in August 2025 to address developer concerns regarding these tools. Mainline WinUI development is now conducted on GitHub, allowing for real-time project evolution and community engagement. Although the technologies have not yet been open-sourced, Microsoft is working towards that goal. Currently, only Microsoft employees can modify the codebase, but there are plans to open the repository for community contributions in the future. This approach follows Microsoft's previous efforts to open source legacy Windows developer frameworks.
AppWizard
August 16, 2026
An unofficial native PC version of Ace Combat 6 has been released, allowing PC gamers to play the game without emulators. This port uses the ReXGlue SDK to convert the original Xbox 360 PowerPC code into x86-64 code, enhancing graphics and performance to 60 FPS with improved terrain resolution. It features an intuitive control scheme with keyboard and mouse support, ultrawide support, and resolution scaling options. A copy of the US version of the Xbox 360 game is required, as other regional versions are not supported. Additionally, there are other unofficial PC ports available for classic titles such as Super Mario 64, Crash Team Racing, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
AppWizard
August 10, 2026
Xbox has reduced the pricing of its Game Pass offering, attracting interest from open-source developers, particularly those working on the Heroic Games Launcher. A new open-source project called Xodus aims to bring PC Game Pass games to Linux and macOS by utilizing Valve's Proton and custom runtimes. Previously, Linux gamers had limited access to Game Pass titles, mainly through Xbox Cloud streaming, which faced latency issues. Xodus plans to support third-party launchers like Heroic, Lutris, and Bottles, allowing users to install and launch games via Steam. The development team has made progress in authorization and game downloads and is now focusing on game SDK development to ensure effective gameplay on Linux.
Winsage
August 9, 2026
A developer named JMarshall23 has ported Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a to x64 architecture, allowing it to run natively on Windows 11. This port uses the original source code and resources, with modern adaptations to address the limitations of the 16-bit assembly and segmented-memory architecture. Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a was originally launched over 25 years ago and introduced features like WYSIWYG editing, graphics incorporation, and table insertion. Microsoft has made the source code publicly available through the Computer History Museum, which includes a 7MB bundle with C source files, x86 assembly, build tools, and documentation. Users need the Windows 11 SDK, CMake 3.25 or newer, and PowerShell to build and run this version. The code release is governed by a license that permits only non-commercial use, restricting software redistribution.
AppWizard
August 9, 2026
Third-party advertising tools embedded in Android applications are automatically collecting location data, often without the app developers' awareness. Software development kits (SDKs) used for advertising come with location data collection enabled by default, unless developers actively disable this feature. Historical location data has been sold to military and intelligence agencies, including the FBI, and used in immigration enforcement actions in the US. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) reported that app-level location permissions do not provide meaningful consent for location collection by third-party advertising SDKs. The EFF identified four advertising SDKs—InMobi, BidMachine, Verve's HyBid, and Huawei's Petal Ads—that collect and share location data by default. Two analyzed apps had been downloaded 60 million times without providing a privacy notice or seeking user consent for third-party location sharing. Users can manage location permissions through their device settings, but the EFF emphasizes that developers should ensure user data is not shared by default.
Winsage
August 8, 2026
Developer John Marshall has successfully ported Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a to run on Windows 11 as a native 64-bit executable. This project involved reconstructing the original application from the early 1990s by translating 16-bit Assembly language into C/C++ code and adapting it to modern Win32 APIs. Marshall's work was made possible by Microsoft's release of the source code for Word for Windows 1.1a in 2014. Users interested in setting up the port will need Visual Studio with the C++ workload, the latest Windows SDK, CMAKE version 3.25 or newer, and to execute specific PowerShell scripts provided by Marshall.
AppWizard
August 8, 2026
Smartly Dressed Games has released the source code for their free-to-play zombie survival simulator, Unturned, for non-commercial use, encouraging community creativity. They emphasized the importance of their passionate community and hope to empower players to expand the game. Modifications must be non-commercial and free for players, with some code elements excluded due to licensing restrictions. Unturned is not classified as open source, and the developers aim to re-license the U3 SDK under the MIT License in the future. Unturned was created by Nelson Sexton and entered Steam early access in 2014, reaching full release in 2017. A significant update in April expanded the game's California map and introduced over 100 new quests.
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