Marvel and Scopely are collaborating on a new co-op mobile game codenamed Project Comet, featuring action-packed gameplay, co-op modes, and gacha systems.
Zimperium’s zLabs researchers have analyzed a newly identified Android banking trojan named Rokarolla, which targets 217 distinct banking and cryptocurrency applications. It is distributed through malicious websites that impersonate popular platforms like TikTok and Google Chrome, with one identified distribution point being hxxps://infocontablidades[.]it[.]com/. The malware uses a dropper disguised as Google Play Protect to install a second-stage payload and gain Accessibility Services access, allowing it to simulate user interactions and manipulate on-screen elements. Rokarolla downloads counterfeit HTML login pages for targeted applications and overlays them to capture user credentials, including sensitive card information. It can also deploy a fraudulent PIN entry screen, read and send SMS messages, intercept one-time codes from banks, and block incoming calls. The malware rewrites the clipboard, operates a keylogger and screen content logger, and scrapes WhatsApp contact data. It captures screenshots without alerting users and has a resilient command-and-control infrastructure with multiple fallback domains. No product flaws are exploited, and defenses against it include installing apps only from Google Play and being cautious with Accessibility Services. Zimperium’s Mobile Threat Defense and zDefend products can detect Rokarolla, and a list of indicators of compromise is available on their GitHub repository.
Great Ape Games has announced The Lost Wild, a survival horror game set to launch on PlayStation 5 and PC in 2027. The game focuses on survival around dinosaurs, emphasizing observation, instinct, and restraint rather than combat. Players must navigate a world where dinosaurs are portrayed as believable animals, fostering a sense of vulnerability and tension. The gameplay involves studying dinosaur behavior and using the environment to evade threats. The narrative unfolds through environmental storytelling, allowing players to piece together the island's history. The game aims to create a unique form of fear that emphasizes the player's lack of control and respect for the dinosaurs. Players can wishlist the game on PS5 or Steam.
Microsoft is refining the Taskbar in Windows 11 as part of its updates within the Windows Insider Program. The Taskbar has undergone significant changes, including a centered layout and the removal of features like relocating it to different screen edges. Users can now align the Taskbar to the left, toggle visibility for Search, Task view, and Widgets, and drag files to app shortcuts. A Mute/Unmute microphone button has also been introduced. Microsoft has acknowledged user feedback regarding the Taskbar's size and functionality, with plans to allow repositioning and a smaller version of the Taskbar. As of late May, a new build introduced options for Taskbar positioning and smaller taskbar buttons, allowing users to place the Taskbar at the top or sides of the screen.
Microsoft is working to improve the user experience of WinUI 3 applications by addressing the issue of black tearing during window resizing. A fix is planned to be rolled out over the summer, as confirmed by March Rogers, Microsoft’s Partner Director of Design. Currently, WinUI 3 apps exhibit noticeable tearing during resizing, unlike UWP applications that resize smoothly. The Windows team is testing the smooth resizing code on native inbox apps before its broader rollout. Additionally, Microsoft is transitioning away from web-based architectures to enhance native app development, with plans to migrate the Windows 11 Start menu and system-level dialog boxes to WinUI 3. The company aims to rebuild trust with third-party developers through the Windows App SDK 2.0, which introduces new features and simplifies the development process for native applications.
.NET MAUI is introducing Material 3 support for Android applications, allowing developers to integrate the latest design aesthetics with a single MSBuild property. Material 3, also known as Material You, includes features such as dynamic color schemes, refreshed control shapes, and enhanced customization. Developers currently using MAUI have been working with Material Design 2, but with the upcoming release of .NET 10 in November, they can easily upgrade to Material 3 by updating their app projects and adding a few lines of XAML code. Microsoft has provided a sample Material 3-styled app that demonstrates the new design elements across various controls, including SearchBar, Entry, DatePicker, Picker, Slider, ProgressBar, RadioButton, CheckBox, Switch, Button, and ImageButton. This sample supports both dark and light themes. Microsoft plans to expand Material 3 support to additional controls and aims to make it the default styling for MAUI applications.
Microsoft is updating the Copilot AI integration within Windows 11, reintroducing it as a sidebar application similar to its original design from 2024. Users can dock Copilot on either side of the screen, which adjusts the user interface to accommodate it. The redesigned Copilot integrates more seamlessly with desktop elements. Microsoft has provided two methods for users to remove the Copilot application: one involves editing the Windows Registry to create a key that instructs Windows to remove Copilot, while the other uses a group policy setting applicable only if Copilot was not user-installed.
Google is implementing a major transformation in its Search platform, driven by artificial intelligence, marking the end of traditional keyword searches. The new AI Mode, powered by Gemini 3.5 Flash, introduces a conversational interface and supports multimodal inputs, including text, images, videos, and files. Continuous background Search agents will provide real-time updates and facilitate bookings for local services, initially available only to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, while booking features will be accessible to all U.S. users this summer. Google is also enhancing the search experience with Antigravity technology and generative UI elements, which will be free for all users this summer. Additionally, Personal Intelligence will be available across 98 languages in nearly 200 countries without a subscription, allowing users to link applications like Gmail and Google Photos for personalized assistance while maintaining control over their data.
Users engage with the Win32 API when right-clicking files or launching desktop applications in Windows 11, a technology that has persisted since Windows 95. Microsoft’s Chief Technology Officer, Mark Russinovich, noted that the longevity of Win32 was unexpected, as it was not part of the company's original vision for the future. Despite attempts to replace Win32 over the past two decades, many users still have more Win32 applications than modern alternatives. Microsoft has introduced several frameworks to replace Win32, including MFC, WinForms, WPF, WinRT, and UWP, but none have fully succeeded. Developers have shown a preference for RAM-intensive web applications over native ones due to concerns about the stability of Microsoft's frameworks. Microsoft has introduced WebView2 to embed web technologies in desktop applications, leading to increased memory usage. In response to user needs, Microsoft is shifting back to native applications with WinUI 3, aiming to modernize Windows 11 while retaining access to Win32 infrastructure. The company is gradually replacing legacy Win32 UI elements with WinUI 3 components, improving performance and user experience.
Microsoft is developing a modernized version of the Run dialog for Windows 11, featuring a streamlined design created using C# and WinUI 3. The new Run dialog has a median "time-to-show" of 94 milliseconds, which is an improvement over the old dialog's 103 milliseconds. This new version is designed to be more functional and user-friendly, allowing users to quickly access their home directory and supporting dark mode. The modern Run dialog is currently being rolled out as an opt-in feature for Insiders in the Experimental Channel.
