Players of Crimson Desert can now register a total of 100 pets, an increase from the previous limit of 30, as part of the latest patch that introduces new reward items linked to the existing pet challenge.
WhatsApp for Windows, despite having a large user base of 3 billion globally and 1.6 billion on Windows, suffers from significant performance issues, including high RAM usage (400 MB before logging in and up to 1.2 GB while idling), slow message delivery, and a choppy scrolling experience. The app operates as a web wrapper using the WebView2 framework, which leads to inefficient resource consumption compared to native applications. Users across various hardware configurations report freezing, delayed messages, and instability. Microsoft’s Teams app also faces similar performance challenges due to its reliance on the same framework. There is a growing concern about the trend of developers opting for web applications over native ones, driven by a lack of trust in native frameworks. Despite Microsoft's push for native app development through WinUI, there is currently no native version of WhatsApp for Windows, while Meta has developed optimized versions for other platforms.
The cinematic adaptation of the video game Death Stranding has been in development since its announcement in 2022. Director Michael Sarnoski is currently writing the script and is collaborating with A24, which has expressed excitement about the project. Hideo Kojima has reacted positively to Sarnoski's script, recognizing film references within it. Additionally, a film adaptation of Elden Ring is in progress, with an expected release in 2028, and recent leaks suggest that Conwy Castle in North Wales may be used as a stand-in for Stormveil Castle from the game.
L’Empereur, a classic turn-based historical strategy game, has been re-released through the Console Archives project on the Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5. The game allows players to take on the role of Napoleon Bonaparte during the Napoleonic Wars, focusing on conquering Europe while managing military and civil affairs. The Console Archives edition is priced at .99 and includes enhancements such as customizable button layouts, rapid-fire settings, multiple save points, and a rewind function. It also features screen layout adjustments and filters to replicate the look of CRT televisions.
Reports indicate that Xbox is preparing for significant company-wide layoffs expected at the end of June 2026 as part of a restructuring initiative led by new CEO Asha Sharma. The exact number of job losses and affected departments are currently uncertain. Shuhei Yoshida, a former executive at Sony Interactive Entertainment, suggested in a tweet that "Xbox will dissolve into Windows," hinting at a potential structural transformation within the company. Xbox has been experiencing declining hardware sales and has started porting flagship titles to the PlayStation 5. Additionally, there are rumors that the next generation of Xbox, referred to as Project Helix, may utilize Windows instead of the traditional Xbox operating system.
On June 12, users experienced significant disruptions on Meta's platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, starting around 9:30 a.m. EST. Downdetector reported a spike in complaints, indicating widespread login failures and loading errors. Users encountered issues accessing accounts, blank pages on Instagram, and connection errors on Messenger. The simultaneous outages highlighted vulnerabilities in Meta's shared backend systems. This incident follows a major outage in October 2021 due to a DNS routing configuration error. The disruptions affect businesses reliant on these platforms for customer service and marketing, potentially resulting in millions in economic losses. As of the report, Meta had not provided a public statement or timeline for service restoration, and users were advised to monitor Downdetector for updates.
Since 3:30 p.m. today, users of Messenger and Facebook have experienced significant disruptions, with around 1,500 reports on Downdetector indicating widespread issues. Many users are unable to log into Messenger due to an error message, and the Messenger Help Center is temporarily inaccessible. Additionally, Meta has confirmed that its Facebook Ads platform is facing difficulties related to campaign creation, delivery, and performance reporting, with ongoing efforts to resolve these issues.
Meta's social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger—are experiencing a significant outage affecting users primarily in India and the United States. Facebook saw peak outage reports of 109,365 in the US, with 56% of users reporting app issues, 27% facing login problems, and 10% having website access issues. In India, Facebook peaked at 1,093 reports, with 49% citing app problems, 30% login troubles, and 12% server connection issues. Instagram in India peaked at 8,582 reports, with 51% experiencing app issues, 36% login problems, and 7% server issues. In the US, Instagram peaked at 8,868, with 57% reporting app issues, 22% login challenges, and 11% server problems. Messenger in the US peaked at 15,403 reports, with 54% related to login problems and 31% to app issues, while in India, it had 91 reports. WhatsApp was less affected, peaking at 216 reports in India, with 37% reporting app issues and 32% login problems, and in the US, it peaked at 153. Meta has not provided a public statement on the disruption, and reports on Downdetector have started to decline.
YouTube is expanding its in-app messaging feature, initially tested in Ireland and Poland, to the United States and other global markets. The feature, called YouTube Chat, allows users to directly message and share content within the app. Users can invite friends to chat, enabling them to share posts and discuss videos. This update aims to enhance user engagement and streamline sharing activities, reflecting a trend towards private messaging. Favorable feedback has been received during initial testing, although the feature's success will depend on user willingness to use it in place of established messaging platforms.
Xbox Game Pass has added three new titles for PC and Xbox Series X as part of its day-one game initiative in 2026. The new games are:
1. Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions - A sci-fi multiplayer adventure developed by System Era Softworks and Devolver Digital, currently in early access. It has a 40% approval rating on Steam but lacks a Metacritic score.
2. Beastro - A cozy adventure game from Timberline Studio where players engage in culinary creativity. It has a 92% approval rating on Steam and no Metacritic score.
3. Frog Sqwad - A multiplayer extraction puzzle platformer developed by Panic Stations, supporting up to eight players. It has a 90% approval rating on Steam and no Metacritic score.
Subscribers can enjoy these games at no additional cost and receive a 20% discount on each title. The duration of these games' availability on Xbox Game Pass has not been disclosed.