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Tetris

An ultra-rare piece of Microsoft history could be hiding on your shelf
Winsage
August 23, 2026

An ultra-rare piece of Microsoft history could be hiding on your shelf

Rare red Tetris stickers and a shirtless child hologram from Windows 95 are sought-after collectibles from Microsoft's early days. The Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows, launched in 1990, initially featured a sticker instead of a printed Tetris promotion due to unresolved licensing rights at the time of the first print run. The later versions incorporated the sticker into the box art. Additionally, an anti-piracy hologram from Windows 95 depicted a child without a shirt, which was later replaced with a version showing the child clothed. Both original items have become valuable to collectors.
Player builds working AI chatbot in vanilla Minecraft using 445K command blocks — clever approach shrank initial block count from over 1 million, requires no mods, plugins, or datapacks to work
AppWizard
August 19, 2026

Player builds working AI chatbot in vanilla Minecraft using 445K command blocks — clever approach shrank initial block count from over 1 million, requires no mods, plugins, or datapacks to work

Reddit user Objz has implemented a language model (LLM) in Minecraft using 445,782 command blocks, without mods, plugins, or datapacks. The LLM features a 64-dimensional embedding space, a 256-neuron hidden layer, and a vocabulary of 2,048 words. It was trained on 11,118 DailyDialog conversations and allows players to interact through the "/dialog" command, providing responses one word at a time.
I used DeX to turn my Galaxy S25 Ultra into a lightweight gaming PC
AppWizard
August 16, 2026

I used DeX to turn my Galaxy S25 Ultra into a lightweight gaming PC

PC gaming on Android has significantly improved with the introduction of applications like Winlator and the emergence of GameNative, a refined PC emulator. The custom Turnip GPU drivers for Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chips have enhanced gaming performance, expanding mobile gaming possibilities. Testing with a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, various PC games were explored using GameNative, which supports Steam. Lightweight 2D games ran smoothly, while 3D titles from the late 2000s to early 2010s, like Crysis and Deus Ex: Human Revolution, performed well, though some games encountered issues. The Witcher 3 was playable with frame rate adjustments, and Cyberpunk 2077 launched but was largely unplayable due to low frame rates and crashes. The DeX experience on the Galaxy S25 Ultra was mostly positive, with updates improving performance and resolving bugs. Overall, the device can serve as a lightweight gaming PC alternative, allowing for the enjoyment of older PC games on mobile.
Minecraft's future could change forever as XBOX CEO outlines bold new vision
AppWizard
July 31, 2026

Minecraft’s future could change forever as XBOX CEO outlines bold new vision

XBOX CEO Asha Sharma has announced plans for significant investments in Minecraft as part of a restructuring within Microsoft's gaming division. The strategy focuses on the "four Cs": Core, Content, Creation, and Connection, with the aim of enhancing the game and making it the leading platform for content creation globally. Sharma stated the goal is to strengthen player experiences while expanding creator tools. She also set a target for a significant player-count milestone by 2030, aiming for sustained double-digit growth in players and engagement. Additionally, Mojang and King will now report directly to Sharma, reflecting their importance in the gaming landscape. Minecraft has become the best-selling game of all time since its acquisition by Microsoft in 2014 for .5 billion.
The best app for Linux handhelds is now on Android
BetaBeacon
July 14, 2026

The best app for Linux handhelds is now on Android

The Starboard app is an unofficial PortMaster client for Android that allows users to easily install and play games that have been ported to Linux. The app runs games via a Debian-based Linux runtime on Android and offers a community-driven review system to help users determine if a game will work on their device before installation. The app categorizes games as "ready to run" or "setup required" and offers additional settings for troubleshooting specific games. Users can download Starboard via GitHub or Obtainium and it is recommended for Android handheld users looking for a large repository of free titles.
'I try to play as a completionist and leave no stone unturned and no enemy unkilled': Returnal director Harry Krueger talks Deus Ex, Resident Evil, and the arcade classic that inspired Housemarque's best games
AppWizard
June 14, 2026

‘I try to play as a completionist and leave no stone unturned and no enemy unkilled’: Returnal director Harry Krueger talks Deus Ex, Resident Evil, and the arcade classic that inspired Housemarque’s best games

Harry Krueger began his journey in PC gaming with Quake 3: Arena and later became a programmer at Housemarque, working on games like Outland and Resogun. He served as Game Director for Nex Machina in 2017 and Returnal in 2021, which won four BAFTAs in 2022, including Best Game. He has logged over 200 hours in Tetris Effect, which he appreciates for its simplicity and finesse. Ikaruga is a game he holds dear, describing it as influential and comforting. Krueger uses PureRef, an image collection tool, for organizing his creative process. His desktop is relatively tidy, with project-related files organized, though he admits to having some clutter.
15 years later, the PS2 gets a Minecraft port, and it actually hits 30fps
AppWizard
June 11, 2026

15 years later, the PS2 gets a Minecraft port, and it actually hits 30fps

The Sony PlayStation 2 is the highest-selling gaming console ever, with sales exceeding 160 million units. Minecraft is the most sold non-arcade video game, second only to Tetris in overall sales. Minecraft was never officially released on the PS2, but a developer has successfully ported Minecraft Pocket Edition version 0.6 to the PS2, allowing it to run without modded hardware. The port achieves frame rates exceeding 30fps despite the PS2's limitations, using a custom "OpenGL adaptor" and various strategies to manage the console's 32MB of RAM. The optimized version of the game is called OptiCraft.
Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear And More Classics Are Getting Remastered
AppWizard
June 4, 2026

Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear And More Classics Are Getting Remastered

Digital Eclipse is set to release a remastered collection titled Toy Story: Retro Roundup on October 15, featuring 11 games, including nine from the Toy Story series and two from A Bug’s Life, for consoles and PC. The collection includes titles such as Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! (1999), and A Bug’s Life (1998). Enhanced features will include improved rendering, gameplay rewind, and cheats, along with exclusive developer interviews and behind-the-scenes content. Additionally, Toy Story 3: Complete Edition will be released, offering updated visuals and new gameplay options. The collection will be available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, Switch 2, and PC, with a bundle option for most platforms. There will be no physical release for Xbox.
What would be your go-to gaming soundtrack to recommend to a non-gamer?
AppWizard
May 17, 2026

What would be your go-to gaming soundtrack to recommend to a non-gamer?

Videogame music plays a significant role in many people's lives, often unnoticed by non-gamers. Critical Hit is a platform that explores and celebrates videogame music and audio design. A recent discussion on Reddit's r/gamemusic focused on recommending original soundtracks (OSTs) to entice non-gamers. Personal experiences shared include introducing captivating videogame tracks to friends and family, such as vocal tracks from Persona 4 and calming music from Final Fantasy 10. The discussion also highlights the use of relaxing background music as an introduction to gaming music. Examples of tracks mentioned include "Kitsch" from Tekken 5 and the main theme from L.A. Noire.
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