Sweden Archives

Winsage

June 9, 2025

Why the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X have Valve in their sights, not Nintendo

Microsoft has announced its first Xbox co-branded handheld devices, the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, in collaboration with Asus, set to launch in the holiday season of 2025. Pricing details are not yet available. The Xbox Ally is designed as a generalist device, while the Xbox Ally X targets high-performance gamers, both powered by AMD processors and equipped with Windows 11. They feature Xbox-branded buttons, a gaming interface, and access to Xbox Game Pass, along with the ability to stream console libraries via Xbox Cloud Gaming and Remote Play. The user interface is similar to that of Xbox consoles, with ergonomic grips inspired by Xbox controllers. Accessibility features from Xbox and Windows will be included, and the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative will allow games to function across PC, console, and cloud platforms. The launch will occur in multiple countries, including the US, UK, Japan, and several European nations, with plans to expand to additional territories. The devices aim to provide a unified gaming library for users with both PC and Xbox consoles, enhancing the existing ecosystem. The introduction of Windows 11 is highlighted as a key feature, offering access to games not available elsewhere. The ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are positioned to compete with existing handhelds like the Steam Deck, with a focus on appealing to both console and PC gamers. Sales of Windows PC handhelds reached approximately 1.2 million units by the end of 2024.

AppWizard

June 5, 2025

New flagship smartphone makes PC gaming on mobile smoother than ever

RedMagic is set to launch its flagship gaming phone, the RedMagic 10S Pro, in global markets after its unveiling in China. The device features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version chipset and a dedicated RedCore R3 Pro gaming chip, allowing for enhanced gaming performance with up to 120FPS. It includes an advanced ICE-X cooling system with Liquid Metal 2.0 technology, which improves thermal management. The phone has a 6.85-inch BOE custom AMOLED 1.5K display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, alongside a 7,050 mAh battery supporting 80W wired charging. The camera system consists of a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel camera, plus a 16-megapixel front camera. Pricing for the RedMagic 10S Pro starts at €649 for the 12/256GB model and goes up to €999 for the 24GB/1TB model. Pre-orders will be available from June 12 to 17, 2025, with general sales starting on June 18. The phone will be available in various regions, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, GCC countries, Latin America, and the Middle East, with some countries receiving it at a later date.

AppWizard

May 12, 2025

How Late Producer Jill Messick First Saw The Mega Potential Of ‘A Minecraft Movie’ Through The Eyes Of Her Son

A Minecraft Movie has surpassed 0 million at the box office. Jill Messick, a producer, sought film rights from Mojang Studios in 2011 after observing her son Jackson's enthusiasm for the game. She successfully pitched the concept to Mojang's founder, Markus Persson, and later collaborated with CAA to secure the rights. Producer Roy Lee and Warner Bros. also pursued the rights, leading to a partnership with Messick. The deal was finalized in February 2014, and Mojang was sold to Microsoft for .5 billion shortly after. The film's development involved various writers and filmmakers over a decade. Jill Messick passed away in February 2018, and her contributions were honored at the film's premiere on March 30, coinciding with Mother’s Day in the U.K.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

I’m honestly shocked, but Arc Raiders is a much more exciting extraction shooter than Marathon

Two anticipated extraction shooters, Marathon by Bungie and Arc Raiders by Embark Studios, were showcased on the same day. Marathon's alpha version is available until May 4, while Arc Raiders' Tech Test 2 runs from April 30 to May 4. Both games are set for release later this year and will not be free-to-play. Bungie faces scrutiny due to uncertainties around Sony's confidence in the studio, while Embark is under pressure from publisher Nexon regarding Arc Raiders' performance.

AppWizard

April 18, 2025

Marketing ‘A Minecraft Movie’: “blockifying’ the world” and …

Warner Bros. Pictures' marketing strategy for A Minecraft Movie focused on engaging the existing fan base and appealing to younger audiences. The campaign included interactive social media experiences, tactile billboards, and cast appearances at gaming events. The film grossed 0 million globally and over 0 million in North America within two weeks of release. The marketing involved collaborations with brands like McDonald's and Adidas, targeting Generation Z, which made up 64% of the audience during the opening weekend. Local-language influencers voiced characters in dubbed versions, and the campaign adapted based on audience feedback. The world premiere occurred in London on March 30, followed by a premiere in Mexico on April 3, generating significant excitement and engagement.

AppWizard

April 10, 2025

Minecraft soundtrack to enter US National Recording Registry

The Minecraft soundtrack, composed by Daniel Rosenfeld, has been inducted into the US National Recording Registry, recognizing its artistic contribution and cultural significance. It is the second video game score to be included, following the Super Mario Bros. theme. The Library of Congress aims to preserve diverse audio treasures, reflecting American history and culture. Additionally, Minecraft was included in Sweden's Game Culture Canon, acknowledging video games as an important part of contemporary culture. The recent Minecraft movie adaptation grossed 7 billion during its opening weekend, surpassing initial earnings projections.

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

Mullvad VPN Enables Multihop In Android App

Mullvad has introduced a multihop feature in its Android application that allows users to route their internet traffic through two distinct servers, enhancing online security and privacy. This feature creates a "tunnel within a tunnel," where data is transmitted through both an entry server and an exit server. By selecting servers in different jurisdictions, users can complicate the tracing of their data. The multihop service provides a higher level of privacy and security, as adversaries would need to execute timing attacks across multiple locations if one server is compromised. Mullvad operates under robust legal protections in Sweden and follows a strict no-logs policy, ensuring user activity is not recorded or retained.

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

EA alum Adolf Kristjansson is Starbreeze’s new CEO

Adolf Kristjansson has been appointed as the new CEO of Swedish gaming company Starbreeze, replacing interim CEO Mats Juhl, who held the position since May 2024. Kristjansson has extensive experience in the gaming industry, having worked at Electronic Arts for over a decade and previously held roles at Tæknival / BT and GAME. He has also served on the boards of Silverfox and Thunderful Group. Kristjansson expressed enthusiasm for Starbreeze's projects, including an upcoming Dungeons & Dragons title and the expansion of the Payday franchise. Starbreeze chair Jürgen Goeldner welcomed Kristjansson and thanked Mats Juhl for his contributions as interim CEO.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

A pair of Split Fiction players will be heading to Sweden for an early look at Hazelight’s next game after completing a secret challenge so tough, some developers can ‘barely’ beat it

Two players from the game Split Fiction, known as sharkOvO and E1uM4y, have completed a challenging secret task called "Laser Hell," earning them an invitation to Sweden to preview an upcoming project from Hazelight Studios. The challenge requires players to input a hidden code to access a level filled with moving and spinning lasers, demanding precise timing and coordination. Hazelight Studios is also working on new projects following the recent release of Split Fiction.

TrendTechie

March 15, 2025

Сооснователь крупнейшего торрент-трекера трагически погиб

Karl Lundström, co-founder of Pirate Bay, died in an aviation accident in Slovenia on March 10 at the age of 64. He was flying from Zagreb to Zurich in a private Mooney M-20 aircraft when it collided with a wooden structure on a mountain. Recovery efforts for his body were delayed due to bad weather until March 11. Authorities confirmed the discovery of the pilot's remains, but his name has not been publicly disclosed.