speculation Archives

Winsage

May 2, 2025

Amid the slow death of Windows 10, Microsoft’s CEO reveals a bold stat about Windows 11

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, meaning no more security patches will be provided. As of April 2024, Windows 10 comprised 70% of Windows users, but this dropped to 54% by April 2025. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reported a nearly 75% increase in commercial deployments of Windows 11 year over year. Transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is free, but Windows 11 requires more RAM and memory, which may not be compatible with older hardware. Microsoft continues to release updates for Windows 11, with the latest security update on April 25 and the anticipated 24H2 version released in October 2024. The next version, Windows 11 25H2, is expected between September and October 2025.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

PlatinumGames vet Taura founds new studio Eel Game Studio

Takahisa Taura, a former designer at PlatinumGames, has founded Eel Game Studio after leaving PlatinumGames, where he had removed any affiliation from his social media. His departure follows the exit of founder Hideki Kamiya, who has returned to Capcom to lead a new studio named Clovers. Taura is known for his design work on titles such as Nier Automata and Astral Chain.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

EA says Codemasters won’t be making any more rally games: ‘We’ve reached the end of the road working on WRC’

Electronic Arts has confirmed that the 2024 season of EA Sports WRC will be the last collaboration with Codemasters on the World Rally Championship series, as EA pauses development plans for future rally titles. Codemasters, acquired by EA in 2021, will shift its focus primarily to Formula 1 racing games, with the upcoming release of F1 25 scheduled for May 30. The FIA acknowledged the advancements in the WRC gaming franchise due to EA Sports and Codemasters and hinted at a new direction for the WRC gaming franchise.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

Keep it short: ‘Steve’s Lava Chicken’ from ‘Minecraft’ is the tiniest tune ever on the Hot 100

“Steve’s Lava Chicken” from “A Minecraft Movie” has reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart, debuting at No. 78 on May 3. At 34 seconds, it is the shortest song ever to appear on the chart, surpassing Kid Cudi’s “Beautiful Trip” (37 seconds) and Pikotaro’s “PPAP” (45 seconds). The song features lyrics about food and is linked to a recent “chicken jockey” trend. An extended remix of the track is also available, featuring vocals from Jason Momoa’s character.

Winsage

May 1, 2025

4 Windows versions Windows 12 should shamelessly imitate

Windows 12 is speculated to potentially launch in two to three years, following the end of support for Windows 10. It may draw inspiration from previous successful versions like Windows XP, Windows 7, and Windows 10, focusing on user customization, performance, and reducing bloatware. Windows 11, launched six years after Windows 10, introduced a new visual style and features but faced criticism over hardware requirements. Windows 12 is expected to build on Windows 11's foundation with incremental improvements and enhanced support for ARM processors.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

Google Play shrinks by 47 percent following policy overhaul

The Google Play Store has seen a 47 percent decline in app offerings, dropping from 3.4 million to 1.8 million apps since early 2024. This reduction is a result of Google's efforts to enhance app quality and security, including a policy overhaul that introduced stricter minimum requirements and targeted low-quality applications. In 2024, Google blocked 2.36 million policy-violating apps and banned over 158,000 developer accounts. Despite the decline in app numbers, developer activity remains strong, with over 10,400 new apps released in early 2025, a 7.1 percent increase from the previous year. The European Union's "trader status" rule did not significantly impact the decline in app numbers, as Apple's app count remained stable under similar regulations.

BetaBeacon

April 30, 2025

Epic Games for Android is bringing Flappy Bird back

Flappy Bird, a classic mobile game, is making a comeback on Android devices through the Epic Games Store app. The game will be available for free with in-game ads and ongoing support and updates. Players can access the Epic Games app on Android by downloading it directly from the company's website, bypassing the Google Play Store.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

PC gaming is the real next-gen and now’s the best time to switch

Cyberpunk 2077 offers an immersive gaming experience on high-end PCs, showcasing advanced technology such as real-time reflections and path tracing for enhanced visuals. The game runs seamlessly at maximum settings on an RTX 5070Ti, achieving over 120fps in 4K resolution. The current gaming landscape indicates that next-generation gaming is primarily driven by PC technology, which remains more viable due to stable hardware prices compared to rising console costs. Modern platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store have simplified PC gaming, making it more accessible and often more economical. Recent advancements, including ray tracing, enhance even older titles like Half-Life 2. Major console games are increasingly launching on PC simultaneously, and PlayStation titles are appearing on Steam within a year of their console release. Speculation about future consoles suggests they may adopt PC-like features, but they are unlikely to match the performance of top-tier graphics cards.

AppWizard

April 29, 2025

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers Gets Official PC Requirements

505 Games has outlined the PC system requirements for WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers. The minimum requirements are an Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 16GB of RAM, and either an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or an AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT. The recommended specifications include an Intel Core i5-12600KF or AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, 32GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 or AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT. The game is scheduled for release on July 24th and features a narrative set during the late Ming Dynasty, where players assume the role of Wuchang, a pirate warrior with amnesia. Players will explore the world, enhance their arsenal, and make choices that affect the game's multiple endings. A Discord channel and social media platforms are available for community engagement.

AppWizard

April 27, 2025

Larian boss Swen Vincke says the studio is ‘deep in the trenches’ on its ‘crazy-ambitious’ follow up to Baldur’s Gate 3, hopes to show it off no later than 2030 because ‘my wife will divorce me if it takes longer’

Larian Studios' founder and CEO, Swen Vincke, discussed the studio's future plans and development process in a conversation with GameSpot. After eight years with Baldur's Gate 3, Larian is preparing to release Patch Eight, which will introduce new features before transitioning support to the modding community. While Larian will continue to provide bug fixes and compatibility support, Vincke hinted at potential surprises in the future. He compared Larian's development approach to that of Obsidian Entertainment, aiming for a disciplined project scope and a steady release of quality games without compromising team well-being. Vincke expressed hope that in five years, Larian will have successfully established a rhythm for producing innovative RPGs simultaneously. He also mentioned the playful speculation of sequels to titles like "Divinity: Original Sin 3," with a tentative timeline around 2030.