strategy Archives

BetaBeacon

June 19, 2025

Five free phone games you’ll actually play for hours – forget your PS5 and Xbox

- Wild Rift is a mobile version of the PC game League of Legends, a fantasy MOBA where two teams battle to dominate a battleground.

AppWizard

June 19, 2025

Aaero2: Black Razor Edition Announced For PC & Consoles

Indie game developer Mad Fellows, in collaboration with publisher Wired Productions, has announced Aaero2: Black Razor Edition, which integrates new features, music packs, and previously released content for PC and consoles. The game offers an on-rails rhythm shooter experience where players navigate alien landscapes while tracing ribbons of light, synchronized with the soundtrack. It includes a single-player campaign, two-player co-op, and PvP modes, featuring over 20 unique levels and a redesigned combat system that encourages timing missile launches to the rhythm. The soundtrack includes tracks from Monstercat and Black Razor Records, with contributions from artists like Droptek, Muzz, Bossfight, Ivar & The Horde, Kieron Pepper, and Lania Kea. Players can engage in epic boss battles and complete achievements and daily goals throughout the game.

AppWizard

June 19, 2025

‘Stargazers’ use fake Minecraft mods to steal player passwords

A malware campaign targeting Minecraft players has been identified, utilizing malicious mods and cheats to infect Windows devices with infostealers that steal sensitive information, including credentials and cryptocurrency wallets. The campaign, orchestrated by the Stargazers Ghost Network, has been active on GitHub and has previously infected over 17,000 systems with a new type of malware. Researchers found around 500 GitHub repositories linked to this operation, disguised as Minecraft mods. The malware employs a Java-based loader that downloads a stealer targeting Minecraft account tokens and user data, as well as Discord and Telegram tokens. It also includes a .NET-based stealer called '44 CALIBER,' which collects data from browsers, VPNs, and applications like Steam and Discord. The stolen data is sent via Discord webhooks, indicating a potential Russian origin for the operators. To protect against these threats, players are advised to download mods from reputable sources and use separate accounts for testing.

AppWizard

June 19, 2025

First-Person Survival Horror Game ‘Bleak Haven’ Announced for PC

Artur Łączkowski has announced Bleak Haven, a first-person survival horror game developed using Unreal Engine 5. Players will control Tyler, who searches for his missing brother on a foggy island filled with dangers. The game features puzzles, weapon crafting, and brutal combat mechanics, with an emphasis on melee weapons due to the scarcity of firearms. Łączkowski plans for Bleak Haven to be the first in a potential series of horror games. The game is available for wishlisting on Steam.

AppWizard

June 19, 2025

GodFather Android Malware Runs Real Apps in a Sandbox to Steal Data

Cybersecurity researchers at Zimperium zLabs have discovered a new variant of the GodFather Android malware that uses on-device virtualization to hijack legitimate mobile applications, primarily targeting banking and cryptocurrency apps. This malware installs a concealed host application that downloads a genuine version of the targeted app within a controlled environment, redirecting users to this manipulated version. It monitors user actions in real time, capturing sensitive information like usernames and passwords. The GodFather malware targets 484 applications globally, with a focus on 12 financial institutions in Turkey. It employs traditional overlay attacks and uses legitimate open-source tools to evade detection. The malware manipulates APK files, relocates malicious code, and utilizes Android’s accessibility services to deceive users into granting permissions. It also encodes critical information to complicate tracking efforts and transmits screen details back to attackers for real-time monitoring.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Google Play Store gets colorful search tab with Material 3 Expressive

The Google Play Store is updating to version 46.5.19, incorporating the Material 3 Expressive design language, which includes a new color palette for category icons in the search tab and improved clarity in sections like Explore apps and Explore games. This update is part of a broader initiative that also affects other Google applications, such as Gmail, which will feature a new look with accent colors in the search bar, bottom navigation bar, and compose button. The compose button will have a more prominent font and updated icon, contributing to a modern card-style layout in Gmail.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Splitgate 2 review

Splitgate 2 is a multiplayer first-person shooter developed and published by 1047 Games, featuring portals in its gameplay. It is free-to-play and offers cosmetic bundles and a battle pass, and is compatible with the Steam Deck. The game includes a class system with three distinct classes, each having unique abilities, but with minimal differences in weaponry. The maps are designed with narrow corridors and expansive plazas but lack depth and character. The monetization strategy includes multiple tiers of season passes and a cosmetic store, which some find excessive. The battle pass system feels uninspired, and the game struggles to differentiate itself in the battle royale genre, leading to a repetitive gameplay experience.

AppWizard

June 17, 2025

WhatsApp to introduce adverts as Meta pushes to monetise messaging app

WhatsApp, with nearly three billion monthly active users, is set to introduce paid advertisements for the first time, moving away from its previous ad-free policy. This initiative, led by its parent company Meta, will include ads in the app's "status" section, similar to Instagram Stories, while ensuring that private conversations remain secure and encrypted. Businesses can promote content in the updates tab and charge users for premium content, with WhatsApp taking a 10 percent commission. Limited metadata, such as location and user interactions with ads, will be shared with advertisers, but sensitive information will remain confidential. Users who do not engage with status updates or channels will not see ads in their inbox. Meta's decision comes amid competition from platforms like TikTok and YouTube and regulatory scrutiny, including a lawsuit from the FTC regarding its acquisition of WhatsApp and Instagram. The introduction of advertising and subscription features aims to tap into WhatsApp's business potential, although it may face mixed reactions from users concerned about privacy.

AppWizard

June 17, 2025

Amazon Kicks Off Its Early Prime Day 2025 Offers With Several Free Games for Prime Members

A new Amazon Prime Day event will occur from July 8 to 11, expanding the shopping event to four days. To generate excitement, Amazon is offering Prime members six free PC games, including Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, Saints Row 2, Saints Row IV: Re-Elected, and Star Wars: Rebellion. Amazon owns the publishing rights for the next Tomb Raider game, and the Tomb Raider collection was released last year. Saints Row 2 and Saints Row IV: Re-Elected are well-received titles, while Star Wars: Rebellion has gained a "mostly positive" rating on Steam despite its initial mixed reviews. Non-Prime members can sign up for a 30-day free trial, with monthly subscriptions priced at .99 or an annual fee of 9. Young adults aged 18 to 24 can access a six-month free trial, after which they can continue at a reduced rate of .49 per month. Amazon Prime membership includes benefits such as free delivery, Prime Video streaming, exclusive deals, a monthly Twitch subscription, Amazon Music, unlimited storage with Amazon Photos, savings on fuel, free Grubhub+, and discounts on prescriptions. Current early Prime Day offers include three months of Audible for [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: A new Amazon Prime Day event is set to take place from July 8 to 11, marking a significant expansion of the annual shopping extravaganza into a four-day event. To build excitement ahead of this year’s Prime Day, Amazon is offering Prime members a complimentary selection of six PC games, available for immediate download. This enticing lineup includes titles such as Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, Saints Row 2, Saints Row IV: Re-Elected, and Star Wars: Rebellion, among others. Exclusive Offers for Prime Members The Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection, which was released just last year, is particularly noteworthy given Amazon’s ownership of the publishing rights for the upcoming Tomb Raider installment. This collection not only highlights Amazon's commitment to enriching its gaming offerings but also provides members with an opportunity to enjoy three classic adventures in one package. Additionally, both Saints Row 2 and Saints Row IV: Re-Elected are celebrated entries in the franchise, further enhancing the appeal of this free selection. Star Wars: Rebellion, a real-time strategy game from 1998, adds a nostalgic touch to the mix. While it may not have garnered stellar reviews upon its initial release, it has since gained a “mostly positive” rating on Steam, indicating a resurgence in popularity among modern gamers. For those who are not yet Amazon Prime members, there are enticing options available. A standard membership can be obtained through a 30-day free trial, with monthly subscriptions priced at .99 or an annual fee of 9. Young adults aged 18 to 24 can take advantage of a unique six-month free trial, enjoying all the same benefits as standard members. Following the trial, this demographic can continue their membership at a reduced rate of .49 per month, making it an attractive option for younger consumers. In addition to free games, an Amazon Prime membership includes a plethora of benefits such as free delivery, access to Prime Video streaming, exclusive deals, a monthly Twitch subscription, Amazon Music, unlimited storage with Amazon Photos, savings on fuel, free Grubhub+, and discounts on prescriptions. Currently, Amazon is also offering early Prime Day savings, including three months of Audible for just [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: A new Amazon Prime Day event in July has been revealed, but the service is now offering a free selection of six PC games to celebrate early, all of which Amazon Prime members can claim right now, including Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, Saints Row 2, Saints Row IV Re-Elected, Star Wars: Rebellion, and more.Amazon Prime Free Trials & Memberships030-day free trial, 6-month trial for young adults (18-24)Kicking off from July 8 to 11, this marks the first four-day Prime Day, making it an even bigger deal, for, well, deals, than ever. The new variety of Prime Day deals and added savings won’t be available for another few weeks, but you can add the following games from the Amazon Prime Gaming page to your digital collection right now to keep forever: The Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection comes as no surprise, since Amazon owns the publishing rights for the next Tomb Raider game. Still, it’s a collection of three games in one that only came out last year, so it’s a pretty good free game. However, so are others in the collection, like Saints Row 2 and Saints Row IV: Re-Elected — two of the best-received games in the franchise. Star Wars: Rebellion is a nice little bonus too, as it’s a fun little 1998 RTS game set in the franchise’s expanded universe. It wasn’t received amazingly upon release, but it seems to have found new life in the modern community, getting a “mostly positive” rating on its Steam page.If you’re not an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up right now for either a 30-day trial, pay $14.99 monthly or $139 annually. If you’re between 18 and 24, though, you can get a free six-month trial of Prime for Young Adults, with all of the exact same benefits as those received by your older fellow shoppers. Even after the free trial, it’s still an incredible deal, as Prime’s Young Adults tier will only charge you $7.49 a month afterwards, half the price of the standard tier.Along with free delivery, Prime Video streaming, various deals, and, of course, free games, your Prime membership also grants you a monthly Twitch subscription, Amazon Music, unlimited storage with Amazon Photos, savings on fuel, free Grubhub+, and money off on prescriptions. In terms of other deals on at the moment, Amazon has kicked off some other early Prime Day savings, including three months of Audible for $0.99, 32% off Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds for $169.00, 26% off a PS Portal for $148.01, and a Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Play Booster Box for $196.65 with 5% taken off.Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen." temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].99, a 32% discount on Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds for 9.00, and a 26% discount on a PS Portal for 8.01, among other enticing offers." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].99, a 32% discount on Apple AirPods Pro 2 for 9.00, and a 26% discount on a PS Portal for 8.01.

AppWizard

June 17, 2025

Stellar Blade sold a million units in 3 days on PC and you can mostly thank Chinese players

Stellar Blade has sold over 1 million copies on PC within its first three days and reached the 81st position in Steam's top 100 all-time most-played games with a peak of 192,078 concurrent players. The game's success is largely attributed to its reception in China, where a Chinese dub and regional pricing have boosted sales. The PC version is priced lower than the console version. Reviewer Mollie Taylor rated the game 68%, noting it as a well-optimized PC port but criticized its story and tutorial level. Despite the critiques, she described it as a "decently solid soulslite."