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How Valve's desperation to escape Windows 8 turned it into a Linux powerhouse
Winsage
July 25, 2026

How Valve’s desperation to escape Windows 8 turned it into a Linux powerhouse

In 2012, Valve's CEO Gabe Newell expressed concerns about Microsoft's control over the PC market due to Windows 8, prompting the company to explore Linux and develop SteamOS. Valve addressed the "chicken and egg" issue of game compatibility on Linux by introducing Proton, a compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on Linux without separate versions. The company also began contributing to the Linux ecosystem by upstreaming improvements in graphical rendering and developing the RADV open-source Vulkan driver for AMD GPUs. Valve has made SteamOS available for free download and installation on personal computers, aiming to compete with Windows in the gaming sector and promote broader Linux adoption. As a result, Valve has become a significant player in the Linux landscape, enhancing the gaming experience and benefiting the open-source community.
Total War: Warhammer 40k shows off its first full battle live, providing its biggest info dump yet
AppWizard
July 25, 2026

Total War: Warhammer 40k shows off its first full battle live, providing its biggest info dump yet

The Alpha Strike livestream for Total War: Warhammer 40,000 revealed several gameplay features: - Units consist of multiple entities with unique stats and weaponry. - Heroes will have customizable bodyguards. - Units can strafe while firing, with a trade-off in accuracy. - Airstrikes and army abilities are available, with Regimental Orders benefiting nearby units. - The balance of power bar shows reinforcements waiting off the field. - Each entity can target different enemies based on line of sight. - All projectiles are simulated, and units have unlimited ammunition. - A new Sentry Mode allows marking enemy units for prioritization. - New unit abilities include grenades and psykers. - A morale system reflects damage sustained by units. - Players can deploy reserves strategically with options like drop pods. - Blood effects are included without additional cost. Positioning, cover, line of sight, and terrain will be crucial in battles, and unit loadouts will add strategic depth. Further livestreams are expected as the beta approaches.
MMO life sim Seed's AI-powered avatars prove once again that nothing shatters immersion quicker than crappy chatbot dialogue
AppWizard
July 24, 2026

MMO life sim Seed’s AI-powered avatars prove once again that nothing shatters immersion quicker than crappy chatbot dialogue

AI-powered non-playable characters (NPCs) in gaming have the potential for meaningful dialogue, but current implementations often fall short. In the MMO colony simulation Seed, players create seedlings that can interact using AI. Initial interactions can be engaging, as seen when a seedling humorously responds to questions about its appearance. However, as gameplay continues, conversations tend to become awkward and filled with unnecessary filler phrases, detracting from immersion. The AI struggles with maintaining coherent and engaging exchanges, although some personality traits do come through in dialogues. The tutorial robot offers helpful gameplay answers, but misunderstandings occur. Overall, while there are redeeming qualities, the quality of conversation remains a significant challenge.
A Game About Penguins Arrives on PC on August 10. Free Prologue Available Now
AppWizard
July 24, 2026

A Game About Penguins Arrives on PC on August 10. Free Prologue Available Now

A Game About Penguins, developed by CO's Entertainment, will be released on PC on August 10, 2026, with later availability on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The game features a sandbox environment where players can engage in activities like fishing, snowball fights, and ice skating, with online co-op support for up to 12 players. A free prologue titled A Game About Penguins: First Catch has been available on Steam since July 22, allowing players to experience core mechanics and customization options. The game supports multiple languages and requires a minimum of Windows 10 64-bit, a quad-core processor, 8 GB RAM, and 2 GB of storage space.
Red Magic Astra 2 Android Tablet Runs Cyberpunk 2077 Without Cloud Streaming
BetaBeacon
July 24, 2026

Red Magic Astra 2 Android Tablet Runs Cyberpunk 2077 Without Cloud Streaming

The Red Magic Astra 2 tablet is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, up to 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage. It features a 9-inch 2.4K OLED display with a 185 Hz refresh rate and 1,600 nits of peak brightness. The tablet includes a liquid cooling system to manage heat buildup during intensive use. It can emulate PC games locally, supports external peripherals, and offers customization options for a complete gaming experience. The tablet excels in delivering high-performance gaming but may experience thermal throttling during extended sessions.
How to Use WorldEdit in Minecraft Java and Bedrock
AppWizard
July 24, 2026

How to Use WorldEdit in Minecraft Java and Bedrock

WorldEdit is a tool for Minecraft that has different requirements for Java Edition and Bedrock Edition. Users must select the correct version for their Minecraft edition. For Java Edition, WorldEdit can be downloaded from EngineHub or Modrinth, while Bedrock Edition requires a separate add-on. To install WorldEdit on Java Edition, users need to download the appropriate .jar file and place it in the server's plugins or mods folder, depending on the platform. Command access must be granted based on world or server settings, and users can select blocks for editing using various commands. Basic edits can be made using commands like //set, //replace, and //undo. For Bedrock Edition, users must download the add-on package, enable experimental features, and use semicolon commands for editing. The add-on also includes item shortcuts and management commands for access. The main differences between Java and Bedrock versions include the installation process, permissions, and command prefixes.
Windows 11 - The system restore that also includes your files
Winsage
July 23, 2026

Windows 11 – The system restore that also includes your files

Since June 23, Microsoft has been implementing a point-in-time restore feature on Windows 11, which is enabled by default for Home and Pro editions when the system drive exceeds 200 GB. This feature captures a complete snapshot of the machine approximately every 24 hours using the Volume Shadow Copy service, including system, applications, settings, and local files. Users can revert to a previous state in case of issues, but restoring from a snapshot older than 48 hours will erase all changes made since then, except for OneDrive data. The feature retains snapshots for up to 72 hours and reserves 2% of drive space, capped at 50 GB. If free space drops below 20 GB, older snapshots are deleted. Restoration occurs locally through WinRE, and users need a BitLocker recovery key if the drive is encrypted. After a restore, the feature pauses and requires user consent to resume. Snapshots from upgraded editions are not accessible, and only the Enterprise edition allows adjustments to snapshot settings. The feature can be disabled in system settings. It is not a backup solution, and users are advised to maintain separate backups for important files.
3 Windows settings that can make or break your PC
Winsage
July 23, 2026

3 Windows settings that can make or break your PC

Windows 11 includes various settings that can significantly affect computer productivity and performance. 1. Windows Power Mode: This feature allows users to select performance settings under Settings > System > Power & battery. Options include “Best Power Efficiency,” “Best Performance,” and “Balanced.” For an Intel Core 300 laptop, power consumption varies as follows: - Performance mode: 30W sustained, 60W boost - Balanced mode: 25W sustained, 60W boost - Efficiency mode: 15W sustained, 20W boost Switching from “Balanced” to “Performance” mode can increase performance by 5%, while “Efficiency” mode can save up to 50% battery life with an 18% performance drop. 2. Storage Sense: Found under Settings > System > Storage, this feature automatically cleans up unnecessary files to maintain optimal SSD performance. It activates when free disk space falls below a certain threshold and can be manually triggered. Users can configure it to manage the Downloads folder and convert locally stored files backed up to OneDrive into cloud-only files. 3. OneDrive and Windows Backup: OneDrive syncs files between the cloud and PC, which can slow down performance, especially on asymmetric broadband connections. Users can adjust backup preferences through the OneDrive icon in the Action Center, but Windows may not always respect these settings, potentially leading to unwanted file re-downloads.
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