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Xbox CEO knows there's "work to do" to win players back, as Microsoft boss recommits to "core" fans
AppWizard
April 30, 2026

Xbox CEO knows there’s “work to do” to win players back, as Microsoft boss recommits to “core” fans

Microsoft's gaming division is returning to its Xbox roots, with a recent price reduction for the Game Pass subscription. Asha Sharma, the new CEO of Xbox, has indicated plans for collaborations with Discord to enhance community engagement. Under her leadership, Xbox has faced challenges, including a 5% decline in content and services revenue and a 33% drop in hardware sales. However, Microsoft's overall revenue increased by 18% year-on-year. Despite mixed results, new records for monthly active Xbox users and game streaming hours were announced. Sharma and Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty outlined a vision for Xbox that is "affordable, personal, and open," focusing on initiatives like Project Helix and expanding the franchise portfolio.
Microsoft has an ambitious plan to win users back, and go toe-to-toe with Valve's SteamOS for gaming — but I'm not getting my hopes up
Winsage
April 30, 2026

Microsoft has an ambitious plan to win users back, and go toe-to-toe with Valve’s SteamOS for gaming — but I’m not getting my hopes up

Microsoft is launching Project K2 to improve Windows 11's performance by reducing bloatware, utilizing artificial intelligence, and optimizing gaming performance. The initiative focuses on three main objectives: performance, craft, and reliability, in response to competition from platforms like Valve's SteamOS. Project K2 aims to enhance memory usage during idle periods and improve RAM consumption, particularly for multitasking and web browsing. The introduction of Windows Full Screen Experience (FSE) has already helped reduce RAM consumption for games, but further improvements are needed to position Windows 11 as a strong competitor in gaming.
The Garry's Mod 'successor' is, tragically, more Roblox than anything else
AppWizard
April 30, 2026

The Garry’s Mod ‘successor’ is, tragically, more Roblox than anything else

S&box, a first-person shooter and successor to Garry's Mod, offers a map editor and sandbox mode for constructing vehicles, but does not fully meet the expectations set by its predecessor. The innovative toolset that empowered modders in Garry's Mod is less prominent in S&box, which introduces a business model that may disappoint fans of the original's community-driven content. Currently, S&box faces technical challenges, including a low success rate for multiplayer server connections at around 30%. The front page features remakes of classic Garry's Mod games like Prop Hunt, highlighting ongoing nostalgia for the original.
Neverness to Everness tier list and best characters
AppWizard
April 30, 2026

Neverness to Everness tier list and best characters

Players in Neverness to Everness experience a gacha system that allows for mid and endgame progression without constant meta monitoring. Building a strong team of characters improves combat efficiency, with each character having unique roles and Esper types. The game features a tier list for character optimization, which includes: - S Tier: Daffodil, Fadia, Haniel, Nanally, Sakiri, Zero - A Tier: Baicang, Chiz - B Tier: Jiuyuan, Hathor, Adler - C Tier: Mint, Skia, Aurelia - D Tier: Edgar Daffodil, classified as S-Tier, is a burst DPS character with a Chaos Esper type and Liquid Arc weapon. She excels in diminishing the Break bar and is essential for activating Psyche, Incantation, and Discord Esper Cycle reactions. Daffodil benefits from quick character swaps and is currently the only Chaos character in the game. Additionally, Lacrimosa is being promoted as a DPS character with a Chaos Esper Cycle and Liquid Arc weapon, although her final role may change.
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred's new hardest difficulty tier has been conquered in just 17 hours by a sleepless sorceress
AppWizard
April 29, 2026

Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred’s new hardest difficulty tier has been conquered in just 17 hours by a sleepless sorceress

Players in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred can now increase the game's difficulty significantly. Streamer Mekuna achieved a rapid progression from level 1 to level 70 sorceress in 17 hours, utilizing a lightning variant of the Blizzard skill for efficient enemy elimination. Despite challenges posed by hidden late-game content, Mekuna's success demonstrates that the new torment tiers are conquerable, especially for strong characters. Blizzard has indicated that torment 12 will be challenging, but exceptional players can succeed. Additionally, the game features new activity skill trees that can further increase monster difficulty. The revamped skill trees, item crafting system, and restructured difficulty tiers change how character strength is assessed, generating excitement for other classes and upcoming leaderboards.
There are dozens of us! The best third-person shooter of all time sees HUGE* player spike on Steam after Capcom's Pragmata
AppWizard
April 29, 2026

There are dozens of us! The best third-person shooter of all time sees HUGE* player spike on Steam after Capcom’s Pragmata

Phil Savage, Editor-in-Chief of PC Gamer, rated the game Vanquish at 80% in his review, stating that beyond its core gameplay loop, there isn't much to the game. Vanquish has seen a 34.8% increase in peak players on Steam over the past month, with an additional 16 players engaging with the game, and a 52.9% rise in average daily player count, equating to 26 more players each day. The game is currently available at a 70% discount. Historical data shows that spikes in player activity for Vanquish have occurred periodically, particularly in September 2024, September 2025, and February of this year.
7 best casual mobile games for Android 2026
BetaBeacon
April 29, 2026

7 best casual mobile games for Android 2026

Board games remain a popular option for players in 2026, with the transition to mobile platforms giving access to timeless entertainment. Examples include Chess.com, Checkers, and Scrabble.
Pearl Abyss paid its employees a 5 million won bonus after Crimson Desert reached 5 million sales: 'Our journey does not end here'
AppWizard
April 28, 2026

Pearl Abyss paid its employees a 5 million won bonus after Crimson Desert reached 5 million sales: ‘Our journey does not end here’

Crimson Desert achieved five million sales as of April 15. The Prime Minister of South Korea celebrated the game's success, calling it a "new chapter in K-content." Pearl Abyss rewarded its employees with a bonus of 5 million won (approximately ,392 or £2,513). The total bonus payout could amount to around 6.6 million won (or .5 million/£3.3 million) based on a workforce of 1,323 employees. The latest game update includes quality-of-life improvements, addressing community concerns such as storage for looted items and fast travel mechanics.
Surfshark Has Dropped to $1.78/mo: Unlimited Devices, One Subscription (Ends Soon)
Tech Optimizer
April 28, 2026

Surfshark Has Dropped to $1.78/mo: Unlimited Devices, One Subscription (Ends Soon)

Surfshark is offering a VPN service at a discounted price of .49 per month, down from the regular price, with an upfront cost for a two-year commitment being approximately .76, which includes three additional months free. The service supports unlimited devices, provides security for online activities, access to popular streaming services, and offers unlimited data and speeds with over 4,500 servers in 100 countries. It allows unlimited simultaneous connections and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Additionally, Surfshark has introduced an antivirus option for .08 per month, which includes features like dark web monitoring and anonymous browsing. The antivirus plan costs .96 for the initial two-year period, also at an 88% discount. Surfshark maintains a no-logs policy and has been audited by third parties, making it a secure choice for users.
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