team Archives

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

Monopoly Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains for Switch 1/2 from $22 all-time low, Minecraft pre-orders now live, more

9to5Toys is a reliable source for the latest deals and insights in technology and lifestyle products. The homepage serves as a hub for news, trends, current deals, and in-depth analysis. Users can follow 9to5Toys on social media for real-time updates and discussions. They curate attractive Apple deals, host a daily podcast with expert commentary, and have a YouTube channel for product reviews and unboxings.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

Marketplace Spotlight: Sulfur Cube-Inspired

The Minecraft Marketplace is continuously evolving, introducing new add-ons, worlds, mini-games, and mash-up packs weekly. The recent addition of sulfur cubes has inspired developers to create a variety of sulfur-themed content, including sports, contests, and innovative weaponry. Seven new pieces of downloadable content (DLC) have been released, including the Cube Breakers DLC, which transforms Minecraft into a Breakout-style arcade game. The Marketplace fosters creativity and gameplay, expanding possibilities for players to explore, create, and destroy.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

Modders are working on porting Xbox and PC Game Pass to Linux

Xodus is an open-source project aimed at enabling Linux and macOS users to access Xbox PC and PC Game Pass subscriptions without Windows. Developed by the team behind the Heroic Game Launcher, Xodus builds on existing functionalities to allow gameplay from various platforms. The project has successfully created an Xbox authorization system for users to log in, verify licenses, and identify available Game Pass titles. However, challenges remain in launching games, requiring reverse engineering of Microsoft technologies like the Game Development Kit (GDK) and MSIXVC format. Compatibility issues are anticipated, particularly with older Universal Windows Platform (UWP) games, such as Forza Horizon 3. Additionally, launching games will necessitate the use of Linux technologies like Wine, DXVK, or VKD3D-Proton, complicating full compatibility with the Game Pass catalog.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

The Intel Gamer Days Sale Stacks Walmart’s Best Gaming PC Deals With Two Free Upcoming PC Games

The annual Intel Gamer Days Sale is ongoing until September 13, offering customers who purchase eligible gaming PCs or laptops two free AAA games: Star Wars: Galactic Racer, releasing on October 6, and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, debuting on February 12 next year. Buyers will receive instructions to claim a download voucher for the games upon making a qualifying purchase. This promotion is available through retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Walmart. Notable deals include the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme RTX 5070 Gaming PC at Walmart for ,399 after a 0 discount, featuring an Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus CPU, GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD. Additionally, the Gigabyte AORUS Master 16" gaming laptop is priced at ,599 after a 0 discount, equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 HX CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card. Star Wars: Galactic Racer features a unique roguelike campaign, while Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis aims to revitalize the classic 1996 title with fresh gameplay experiences.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

Amazon Is Offering a Great Deal on a RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC, and It Includes Two Upcoming AAA Games

Amazon is offering the Acer Predator Orion 6000 gaming desktop for ,099, which includes free shipping. This gaming PC features an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF CPU, a GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The purchase is part of the Intel Gamer Days Sale, which runs until September 13, and includes two free upcoming PC games: Star Wars: Galactic Racer, releasing on October 6, and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, set for February 12 next year. The RTX 5070 Ti GPU provides excellent 4K gaming performance and is capable of running games at 60fps.

BetaBeacon

August 11, 2026

Aptoide Games Joins Google Play: First Rival Android Store in Over Decade

The Play Catalog Access Program was implemented on July 22, 2026, as a result of a court order after Google lost a lawsuit filed by Epic Games for illegally monopolizing Android app distribution and in-app billing. The program allows enrolled stores, such as Aptoide Games, to access Google Play's app catalog and offer users the ability to install apps through Google Play's infrastructure, maintaining security and service fees.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Star Wars Zero Company is a very safe XCOM descendant, but its most interesting parts are found in its Midnight Suns DNA

Star Wars Zero Company features turn-based combat and soldier management, drawing comparisons to the XCOM series. Developed by Bit Reactor, founded by former Firaxis staff, the game offers a tactical experience but lacks some depth found in XCOM 2. Early gameplay reveals concerns about its mechanics, with instances of frustrating misses during combat. The game emphasizes teamwork, with classes like astromech droids providing support roles. However, it lacks elements like fog of war and diverse combat arenas, and the enemy variety is limited. While inspired by Midnight Suns, the execution does not reach the same depth, and the game's base is smaller. Players can disable permadeath, and squad management systems allow for creative builds. Overall, while enjoyable, Zero Company has not yet met expectations for evolution in the tactics genre.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Xodus Cracks Xbox Authentication and Game Package Decryption to Bring PC Game Pass to Linux

Developers of the Heroic Games Launcher have announced Xodus, an open-source project aimed at enabling access to PC Game Pass on Linux and macOS. Launched on August 10, 2026, Xodus has successfully addressed Xbox identity authentication and the decryption of MSIXVC packages, allowing local play of Game Pass titles for Linux and macOS users. Currently, the only way to access Game Pass on non-Windows devices is through Xbox Cloud Gaming, which requires a Game Pass Ultimate subscription and introduces latency. Xodus employs a layered architecture, including an Xbox Authentication Library (xal-rs) for managing Microsoft account sign-ins and license verification, and a reimplementation of the xgameruntime.dll for license checks and Xbox service access. The project can retrieve MSIXVC game packages using a valid Game Pass subscription and decrypt executables for local storage. However, it does not yet support UWP-based titles and lacks a user-friendly interface for general users. The project is under pressure due to Microsoft's upcoming transition to the MSIXVC2 package format, which Xodus does not currently support. Xodus is in early development with only a command-line interface available, and the team is working on emulating the GDK Gaming Services layer necessary for game initialization. The project is legal as it reimplements Xbox runtime behavior without enabling piracy, but it faces risks if Microsoft alters its authentication infrastructure.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Voidwood, a Fantasy Co-Op Survival Horror Game, Announced for PC

Santa Barbara Games has announced its first project, Voidwood, developed by a team from studios like Bethesda, Riot, and EA. The game combines fantasy and horror with an art style similar to Studio Ghibli. Players can team up with up to three friends to explore a cursed forest, focusing on strategy and stealth. During the day, players gather supplies and craft tools, while at night, they must evade The Beast. Communication is crucial, as players can use proximity chat to whisper, but shouting can attract danger. Players can regroup at a camp for safety, but The Beast can still attack if it detects them. Each session lasts 20 to 30 minutes, and the game features meta progression for character development. Voidwood is currently in development for PC and is expected to release in 2027.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Notability Brings Fully Native, AI-Assisted Note-taking To Android

Ginger Labs, Inc. has launched its note-taking app Notability on the Android platform via the Google Play Store, allowing millions of new users to access its features. The app was developed with feedback from Android beta testers and includes features such as S pen support, various paper templates, intra-document links to PDFs, and note export capabilities. Notability for Android offers a native experience with unique features like playful pen styles, enhanced handwriting recognition, audio recording with transcription, and real-time syncing across devices. The app also incorporates AI tools for generating quizzes and flashcards, instant live transcription, and access to over 20,000 free note templates. Subscriptions and one-time purchase options are available in the Google Play Store.