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What is Paralives? The creative life simulator game that could rival The Sims
AppWizard
July 6, 2026

What is Paralives? The creative life simulator game that could rival The Sims

Paralives, created by indie designer Alex Massé, launched on Steam in May 2026 as an early access title and sold 250,000 copies within eight hours, achieving a peak concurrent player count of 78,603. The game allows players to create and customize characters called Parafolk, featuring extensive representation and body inclusivity. It offers user-friendly building and decorating tools, enabling flexible item placement and personalization. The art style is a comic-book aesthetic reminiscent of "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." Paralives was developed independently with community feedback, contrasting with EA's acquisition of The Sims, which raised concerns among players regarding corporate influence and representation. The game is priced at £33.50, with plans for free downloadable content updates.
Most of the top 10 Steam Deck games are discounted in this year’s Steam Summer Sale, with up to 90% off
AppWizard
July 6, 2026

Most of the top 10 Steam Deck games are discounted in this year’s Steam Summer Sale, with up to 90% off

Steam's annual Summer Sale has started, offering discounts of up to 90% on a wide range of games. Many titles compatible with the Steam Deck are available for under , with some even priced below . Eight out of the ten most-played games on the Steam Deck are included in the sale. The only two games not featured are Slay the Spire 2 and Forza Horizon 6. All listed games are Steam Deck Verified. Additionally, Fanatical's Triple Pack bundle includes 14 Steam Deck-friendly games, potentially offering greater savings than the Summer Sale.
Fanatical’s latest Platinum Collection bundle is offering 19 Steam Deck-friendly games worth $356 for only $48
AppWizard
July 5, 2026

Fanatical’s latest Platinum Collection bundle is offering 19 Steam Deck-friendly games worth $356 for only $48

Fanatical's Platinum Collection bundle for July allows gamers to build their own selection of titles at varying prices based on the number of games chosen. The pricing tiers are as follows: three to four games at .33 each, five to six games at .00 each, and seven or more games at .85 each. The entire bundle, which includes 19 Steam Deck-compatible games, is priced at .45, offering significant savings from the original combined value of approximately 6. The bundle features various games with their Steam Deck compatibility status and original prices, including titles like "Star Overdrive" (Verified, .99) and "Worshippers of Cthulhu" (Playable, .99). Additionally, Steam's annual Summer Sale runs until July 9, featuring many Steam Deck-friendly titles under .
Counter-Strike 2 might be the biggest game on Steam, but Global Offensive is breaking player count records since it went standalone again
AppWizard
July 4, 2026

Counter-Strike 2 might be the biggest game on Steam, but Global Offensive is breaking player count records since it went standalone again

Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) has over a million concurrent players, making it Steam's premier application. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) reached an all-time peak of over 68,000 concurrent players three days ago, indicating a resurgence despite its age. CS:GO continues to attract a dedicated player base, outpacing titles like Baldur's Gate 3, Rainbow Six Siege, and Battlefield 6. The gaming ecosystem supports multiple iterations of Counter-Strike, with vibrant communities for the original game and its Source variant, alongside other tactical shooters like Valorant.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced promises smooth handheld sailing with Steam Deck and Steam Machine verification
AppWizard
July 4, 2026

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced promises smooth handheld sailing with Steam Deck and Steam Machine verification

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced will be released on July 9th and has secured the Steam Deck Verified badge, indicating it operates seamlessly on SteamOS handheld PCs. This new version surpasses the original Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, which only received a Playable badge due to technical issues. Black Flag Resynced is the first major title to achieve full compatibility across all SteamOS devices since the launch of the Steam Machine. Previous titles in the Assassin’s Creed series have had mixed performance reviews on the Steam Deck. The game must maintain a frame rate of at least 30fps on the Deck’s 800p screen to meet Verified status criteria, but there are concerns about its technical performance based on preview reports.
Android Halo puts AI agents in your status bar
AppWizard
July 3, 2026

Android Halo puts AI agents in your status bar

Google has introduced Android Halo, an interface layer for Android 17 that keeps an AI agent visible in the status bar while it operates in the background. This feature was first mentioned at Google I/O in May 2026 and detailed by Android president Sameer Samat in a July YouTube video. Android Halo allows users to monitor the AI agent's task progress, receive clarifying questions, and view results without switching applications. The agent operates in a secure, containerized environment, limiting its access to user-provided information only. Android Halo is designed to work with Google's Gemini and can also integrate third-party agents that meet specific requirements, in compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act. Android 17 is expected to launch in August 2026 alongside the Pixel 11, which will be the first device to feature Halo. The availability of Halo on other devices, like the Samsung Galaxy S25+, is uncertain, and no pre-order windows for hardware with Halo have been announced in the US and UK.
Best Antivirus for Windows XP: Options That Still Work
Tech Optimizer
July 3, 2026

Best Antivirus for Windows XP: Options That Still Work

Finding a reliable antivirus solution for Windows XP is challenging due to the lack of support since 2014. Major antivirus vendors have withdrawn compatibility, leaving limited options. Panda Security continues to support Windows XP with its Panda Dome antivirus, which offers real-time protection and a cloud-based engine. Antivirus software can block known malware, flag suspicious activity, and stop recognized threats, but it cannot patch the operating system itself. Users have fewer choices for protection as new vulnerabilities emerge. Several antivirus tools compatible with Windows XP include: - Panda Dome: Actively maintained, offers real-time protection, free and paid plans available. - Avast (v18.8): Limited support, last updates in October 2024, free legacy version only. - AVG (v9): Discontinued in 2019, operates offline, free legacy version only. - ClamWin: Open-source, actively maintained, no real-time protection, free. - 360 Total Security: Active legacy version, multi-engine approach, real-time protection, free and premium options. - Malwarebytes (legacy): Only older versions support XP, best as a supplement, free legacy version. - VirIT eXplorer Lite: Actively maintained, free lite version with real-time protection. Choosing the right antivirus requires consideration of internet connectivity, hardware age, update status, and whether to use free or paid options. For most users, Panda Dome is recommended for its active support and real-time protection. To enhance security on Windows XP, users should keep machines offline when possible, use ad blockers, be cautious with emails and links, avoid fake antivirus downloads, transfer files via USB from modern computers, and keep third-party software updated.
The Biggest Upcoming July 2026 PC Games and How They May Perform On Steam Deck
AppWizard
July 3, 2026

The Biggest Upcoming July 2026 PC Games and How They May Perform On Steam Deck

Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to release in November. Moonlight Peaks, a farming simulator with a vampire theme, runs at 90 FPS on the Steam Deck with minimal battery drain. An open-world gacha game performs above 30 FPS at default settings on the Steam Deck. The expansion for Granblue Fantasy: Relink is playable on the Steam Deck, though some action sequences may cause minor frame drops. A remake of a classic Assassin’s Creed installment is optimized for the Steam Deck and has received Verified status, with expected frame rates around 30 FPS during intense moments. A highly ambitious game demo showed significant performance issues, dropping below 30 FPS at the lowest settings. A cozy post office simulator runs at 60 FPS with low battery consumption but lacks controller support. A casual puzzle game from Annapurna Interactive is expected to perform well on the Steam Deck. A co-op exploration game with Lovecraftian elements achieves 30 FPS or higher on low settings, though some areas may experience frame drops. A bus-skating game maintains a steady 60 FPS during testing, despite some battery drain fluctuations.
Amazon Prime’s 12 ‘free’ games for July include critically acclaimed RPG Symphony of War
AppWizard
July 2, 2026

Amazon Prime’s 12 ‘free’ games for July include critically acclaimed RPG Symphony of War

Amazon has introduced new offerings for Prime subscribers through its Luna gaming service, previously known as Prime Gaming. This month, subscribers can claim the following PC games: - Available now: - CyClones (GOG) - LoneStar (Epic Games Store) - Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga (Epic Games Store) - July 9: - Still There (GOG) - Regular Factory: Escape Room (GOG) - July 16: - Poly Vita (Legacy Games) - Framed Collection (GOG) - Escape Academy (Epic Games Store) - July 23: - In Sound Mind (Amazon Games App) - Mystic Academy: Escape Room (GOG) - July 30: - Zoria: Age of Shattering (GOG) - Weakless (GOG) Players can also claim some of June’s free Prime Gaming titles, including Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered, Mafia 3 Definitive Edition, and G Joe: Wrath of Cobra, which will gradually become unavailable throughout the month. All claimed titles remain in the player's library regardless of their subscription status.
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