strategic direction Archives

Winsage

July 21, 2025

Microsoft abruptly stops selling and renting movies and TV shows on Xbox and Windows devices

As of July 18, Microsoft has ceased the sale and rental of TV shows and movies on Xbox and Windows platforms. Customers can still access their previously purchased content on these devices, and Microsoft encourages users to explore third-party entertainment applications for viewing needs. Microsoft began offering TV shows and movies in 2006 through Xbox Live. Additionally, the company has initiated layoffs within its gaming division, affecting over 9,000 employees.

AppWizard

July 19, 2025

Ubisoft confirms it is working on a new Ghost Recon game, and it sure looks like it’ll be a live service affair

Ubisoft has announced the development of a new Ghost Recon game, the first since 2019's Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. This announcement was made during the company's annual shareholders' meeting, where CEO Yves Guillemot discussed the company's focus on live service games. Ubisoft's Chief Financial Officer, Frédérick Duguet, mentioned a recent investment in a subsidiary aimed at developing major brand names, including Ghost Recon. Speculation about a new title has existed since 2021, with reports of a project codenamed OVER. Guillemot indicated that the new game will likely adopt a live service model, similar to successful titles like Rainbow Six: Siege and The Division 2. Duguet referred to the game as an "FPS-type experience," suggesting a potential shift back to first-person shooter mechanics. Ubisoft previously attempted a live service Ghost Recon game with Ghost Recon: Frontline, which was canceled due to backlash.

Tech Optimizer

July 7, 2025

Databricks, Snowflake deals put Postgres in the spotlight

Snowflake has acquired Crunchy Data, a Postgres database provider, during its recent conference. This follows Databricks' investment in the Postgres startup Neon. Postgres has been recognized as the “most wanted” database in Stack Overflow’s annual developer survey for two consecutive years. Neon, founded in 2021, offers a serverless open-source alternative to AWS Aurora Postgres with a decoupled compute and storage architecture. Databricks aims to enhance its capabilities in the AI database sector through this acquisition, noting that 80% of databases on Neon’s platform were generated by AI agents. Crunchy Data, established in 2012, focuses on security for organizations and uses 100% mainstream open-source software. Snowflake plans to introduce Snowflake Postgres, designed for mission-critical AI and transactional systems at an enterprise scale. Industry experts suggest that operational data stores (OLTP) are becoming increasingly important for AI applications.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

You were right: Minecraft the Game changed because of the reaction to Minecraft the Movie

The recent release of A Minecraft Movie has become a financial success in 2025, prompting changes in the Minecraft game. At SXSW London, Harry Elonen, associate brand director for Minecraft, announced that elements from the movie have been integrated into the game as part of a transmedia strategy to enhance fan engagement. The frequency of game updates has increased from once a year to four times a year. A sequel to A Minecraft Movie is in preliminary development, suggesting more updates will follow. The film will be available for streaming on Max starting June 20.

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

Nazara Technologies acquires UK’s console gaming publisher Curve Games for Rs 247 crore

Nazara Technologies has acquired UK-based PC and console game publisher Curve Games for Rs 247 crore (£21.7 million), marking its largest international acquisition to date. This acquisition gives Nazara complete ownership of Curve, which has a portfolio of indie games with over 100 million downloads worldwide, including titles like Human Fall Flat and Lawn Mowing Simulator. The move aims to diversify Nazara's offerings beyond mobile gaming into the PC and console markets, valued at over 0 billion globally. Curve Games reported revenues of Rs 263.5 crore and EBITDA of Rs 114.4 crore in 2024. Nazara plans to allocate Rs 800–1,000 crore for further acquisitions targeting global gaming studios. Other notable acquisitions by Nazara include Fusebox Games, Moonshine Technology, Comic Con India, and others. As of 2:29 pm, Nazara shares were trading at Rs 1,292.8 on the BSE.

Winsage

March 21, 2025

Windows 11’s File Explorer will soon unzip files faster

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Preview Build 27818 to Insiders on the Canary Channel, optimizing the extraction process for zipped files in File Explorer. The update improves performance when unzipping large archives with many small files. Additionally, the update removes the "suggested actions" feature for clipboard items, which was related to Skype, as Microsoft plans to retire Skype on May 5.

AppWizard

February 26, 2025

Warner Bros. is closing Monolith, Player First Games, and WB San Diego, and has cancelled its Wonder Woman game

Warner Bros. Games has announced the closure of several studios, including Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and WB San Diego, following the resignation of David Haddad, the chief of Warner Bros. Games for 12 years. The closures include the cancellation of the Wonder Woman game, which was first unveiled in 2021. Player First Games, known for Multiversus, has left its team with a sense of loss, as expressed by game director Tony Huynh. Monolith Productions, recognized for titles like Blood and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, has also shut down. Warner Bros. Games is facing financial difficulties, including a 0 million loss from Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and a 0 million writedown due to Multiversus' underperformance. CEO JB Perrette aims for the company to return to profitability by 2025, acknowledging it will take two to three years to rebuild. Rocksteady is reportedly developing a new single-player Batman game, which could signify a positive direction for the company.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Get ready to say goodbye to one of the biggest Android app stores in the world!

As of August 20, 2025, support for the Amazon Appstore on third-party Android devices will end. Applications downloaded from the Amazon Appstore may stop functioning on non-Amazon devices, but users of Fire tablets and Fire TV products will remain unaffected. The Amazon Coins program will be discontinued across all marketplaces. Developers can update existing apps for six months, but the option to submit new titles for Android devices has been removed. Amazon cites an effort to streamline services as the reason for these changes, indicating the Appstore may not have gained sufficient traction among Android users.

Winsage

December 28, 2024

Microsoft’s wins, fails, and WTF moments of 2024

In 2024, Microsoft made significant advancements and faced challenges. The Surface Pro 11th Edition, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, showed improved compatibility with applications like Slack and Google Drive. The Microsoft Recall feature encountered skepticism due to delays and privacy concerns. The Windows 11 2024 Update confused users with multiple release channels and contradictory hardware requirements. The Surface Laptop 7 received praise for its battery life and design. Game Pass evolved into a complex array of tiers, complicating user experience. The Surface Studio 2+ was discontinued, disappointing fans. Microsoft’s Copilot initiative faced challenges, and the HoloLens 2 quietly exited the commercial market. Flight Simulator 2024 struggled with technical issues at launch. Microsoft integrated generative AI into core applications like Paint and Photos. The Windows95Man Paperclip emerged as a cultural phenomenon.

AppWizard

October 27, 2024

Larian Publishing Director Criticizes Ubisoft’s ‘Broken Strategy’ For Releasing Games on PC –

Larian Studios' Publishing Director, Michael Douse, criticized Ubisoft's decision to disband the development team for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, calling it a sign of a "broken strategy" that favors subscription models over traditional game sales. He expressed concerns that the industry's shift towards subscription-based access undermines game ownership and creates instability for developers, potentially leading to job insecurity. Douse warned that while subscription services offer immediate access to many titles, they may harm the long-term sustainability of game development.