server Archives

AppWizard

March 4, 2026

Marathon feels like the yin to my Arc Raiders yang

In Arc Raiders, players can collaborate through features like proximity chat and shared objectives, while also facing formidable foes. The game emphasizes a relaxed atmosphere with opportunities for camaraderie among players. In contrast, Marathon fosters a competitive mindset, encouraging aggressive interactions and a focus on maximizing player-versus-player effectiveness. The first-person perspective in Marathon aligns with a competitive gameplay style, while the third-person viewpoint in Arc Raiders promotes social interaction and community engagement. Both games provide safety nets for players to recover lost resources, but they offer distinctly different experiences in terms of gameplay dynamics and player interactions.

AppWizard

March 4, 2026

Minecraft 26.1 Snapshot 11

The shipping room is preparing for the 26.1 snapshot, which includes various refinements, technical adjustments, and bug fixes. Players may face an issue where minimizing the game in Fullscreen mode prevents it from being maximized again. Changes include aligned textures for adult and baby Rabbits, new sound variants for Pigs, head rotation for Baby Goats, and updated textures for Baby Hoglins and baby Pandas. The Master Librarian no longer offers Name Tags but now provides Red and Yellow Candles for three Emeralds each, while the Wandering Trader offers Name Tags for one Emerald. The trumpet note block sound assets have been updated, and the Data Pack version is now 100, with a Resource Pack version of 83. New features include a new block state provider and adjustments to block states for Banners and Signs. A new tag, #preventsnearbyleaf_decay, has been added, and various special model types have been introduced for items like Bells and Books. Block state rendering has been adjusted for consistency, and several bugs have been fixed, including issues with Endermen, dragon eggs, and various textures. Snapshots are available for Minecraft: Java Edition, with instructions for installation and backup provided.

Winsage

March 4, 2026

PoC Exploit Released for Microsoft Windows Error Reporting ALPC Privilege Escalation

A proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2026-20817, a local privilege escalation vulnerability in the Windows Error Reporting (WER) service, has been released by security researcher oxfemale on GitHub. This vulnerability allows low-privileged users to gain SYSTEM-level access through crafted Advanced Local Procedure Call (ALPC) messages. The flaw is located in the WER service's SvcElevatedLaunch method, which fails to validate caller privileges before executing WerFault.exe with user-supplied command line parameters. The CVSS v3.1 base score for this vulnerability is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. It affects unpatched versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2022 prior to the January 2026 update. Demonstrations have shown successful exploitation on Windows 11 23H2. Security teams are advised to monitor for unusual processes related to WerFault.exe, investigate missing SeTcbPrivilege in SYSTEM tokens, and review WER-related activities from low-privilege users. Immediate application of the January 2026 security patches is recommended, and a temporary workaround involves disabling the WER service.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Heart of the Machine review

Players in the upcoming cyberpunk strategy RPG, Heart of the Machine, will assume the role of a newly sentient Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). The game is set to release on March 6, 2026, developed by Arcen Games and published by Hooded Horse, with a price of £25. It features a turn-based interface for navigating a city, engaging with inhabitants, and completing morally complex missions. Players can command robotic enforcers, repurpose properties, and make decisions that lead to multiple endings. The narrative includes a corporation observing the AGI's evolution, and players can enhance their intelligence through server farms or by integrating human brains. As players progress, they can perceive five-dimensional timelines and explore procedurally generated cities. The game includes a Doom tracker for impending disasters, over 50 hours of gameplay, and challenges related to resource management. Players can engage in various scenarios, from uplifting animals to instigating global conflicts, while navigating ethical dilemmas.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Should Marathon change its divisively fast Server Slam time-to-kill?

Marathon's four-day Server Slam concluded, with Bungie analyzing player feedback and statistics. A notable metric was the number of bottles of alien milk stolen from Tau Ceti. Bungie is considering changes to the time-to-kill (TTK) mechanics and the introduction of a duo queue, amidst divided community opinions on gameplay pace. The current TTK is fast, leading to quick eliminations, while the game's revive system allows teammates to bring back fallen players, affecting combat dynamics. Players are encouraged to be cautious and strategic due to the rapid pace and limited resources available during the Server Slam. Adjustments to TTK could disrupt the game's balance, and Bungie is monitoring feedback closely before the official launch.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

The best Minecraft ideas for Spring Break in 2026

Minecraft players can enhance their gameplay during spring with various Easter-themed mods and projects. Notable mods include the Painted Egg mod for crafting and dyeing Easter eggs, the Easter’s Delight mod which adds a bunny villager and Easter-themed food, and the Hendrix’s Better Spring to Life mod that introduces new creatures and elements. Players can engage in creative projects like creating Easter egg trails, designing bunny burrows, or building giant replicas of the Easter Bunny. Setting up a Minecraft server can facilitate these activities, with affordable hosting options available. Additionally, players can recreate iconic builds from popular culture during this season.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

The Marathon server slam consumed my weekend: 21 hours later, I’ve gone from ‘meh’ to believer

Last year, Embark and Bungie conducted playtests for their extraction shooters, with Bungie's Marathon being their first project outside the Destiny universe in over 15 years. Arc Raiders, developed by Embark, launched as the first mainstream title in the genre, while Marathon faced delays. The author initially felt indifferent towards Marathon but grew enthusiastic after playing for over four days. The game features a PvP experience with looting mechanics, weapon upgrades, and unique gun modifications. Critics compare Marathon to Call of Duty and Apex Legends, but the author finds its pacing more similar to Halo, emphasizing positioning and timing. The game includes movement shooter elements, allowing creative navigation techniques. Weapon designs are visually appealing and feature a variety of modifications. The game's progression system encourages experimentation with builds, and the vendor system aids in resource management. The upcoming full version will include a third map, Outpost, and additional content like the Cryo Archive.

Winsage

March 3, 2026

PoC Exploit Released for Windows Error Reporting ALPC Privilege Escalation

A critical local privilege escalation vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-20817, affects Microsoft Windows through the Windows Error Reporting (WER) service. This flaw allows authenticated users with low-level privileges to execute arbitrary code with full SYSTEM privileges. The vulnerability resides in the SvcElevatedLaunch method (0x0D) and fails to validate user permissions, enabling attackers to launch WerFault.exe with malicious command-line parameters from a shared memory block. The exploit affects all versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11 prior to January 2026, as well as Windows Server 2019 and 2022. Microsoft addressed this vulnerability in the January 2026 Security Update. Organizations are advised to apply security patches and monitor for unusual WerFault.exe processes.

Winsage

March 2, 2026

Windows 11 tops market share as 10 faces extended farewell

Recent data from Statcounter indicates that Windows 11 has a market share of 72.57 percent, while Windows 10 holds 26.45 percent. Microsoft claims that Windows 11 has surpassed one billion users. Statcounter's data is collected from over 1.5 million websites and may be subject to revision. Microsoft will discontinue support for many versions of Windows 10 in October 2025, leading some organizations to consider Extended Security Updates (ESU), which can incur additional costs. Windows Server 2016 has a 20.3 percent share among monitored servers, and Windows 10 2016 LTSB accounts for 0.5 percent of Windows devices, making up 19.8 percent within the LTSC/LTSB category. The higher usage of LTSC/LTSB is attributed to special-purpose devices in consumer and retail sectors, which face stricter upgrade protocols.

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

Bungie share top feedback from Marathon’s playtest, including PC performance, UI issues and ammo shortages

Bungie conducted a "server slam" for the reboot of Marathon to stress-test its online capabilities ahead of the release on March 5th. Players provided feedback on various aspects, including: - UI Feedback: Bungie is collecting user input on the user interface and plans to iterate post-launch. - PC Performance: Issues reported include high CPU usage, low GPU utilization, FPS ceilings around 80-100, and stuttering. - PvP Frequency: Bungie is investigating player density on maps and welcomes feedback on gameplay experiences. - Movement and Heat Generation: Discussions about heat generation and momentum are ongoing, with players encouraged to share thoughts on movement mechanics. - Med and Ammo Economy: Feedback on the economy of medical supplies and ammunition, particularly regarding stack sizes and item effectiveness, is being collected. - Weasel Error Codes: Players have encountered Weasel error codes related to network disruptions, and Bungie is investigating these issues. The author expressed mixed feelings about the gameplay experience, noting issues with extraction-shooting mechanics and ammunition shortages, while appreciating the art direction.