underdog Archives

AppWizard

April 9, 2026

Valorant gets its biggest VCT shake-up ever, and it could be the best thing to happen to it

Riot Games is restructuring the Valorant Champions Tour for 2027, moving away from the current league format to a more inclusive regional free-for-all system. The new format will feature open qualifiers and regular regional tournaments called 'VCT Cups,' allowing teams of all skill levels to compete for spots in international events. Riot plans to host over 20 tournaments annually across 16 cities, with a prize pool exceeding a million dollars each year. Partnered teams will still have advantages but will operate on a two-year cycle. The changes aim to foster compelling narratives and enhance competitiveness by allowing organization-less teams to emerge. Leo Faria stated that the shift to a tournament-driven system will create a dynamic ecosystem where every match matters and every team has a chance at the global stage.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Cozy-punk record shop sim Wax Heads is spinning onto PC and consoles on May 5, 2026

Indie developer Patattie Games, in collaboration with publisher Curve Games, will launch the game Wax Heads on May 5, 2026, available on Steam, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Players will take on the role of a team member at Repeater Records, a vinyl shop, engaging with customers and making choices that affect their experience. A playable demo will be available during Steam Next Fest from February 23 to March 3. The game features over 80 in-game records, more than 60 hand-drawn characters, and over 30 original songs. Key features include a handcrafted musical world, an emotional narrative, puzzle designs, and a comic book art style. Patattie Games is co-founded by Murray Somerwolff and Rothio Tome, while Curve Games is an award-winning publisher based in London.

AppWizard

February 15, 2026

From mainstream to underdog: These are the apps I recommend

In a recent poll, 20% of respondents favored mainstream applications, while 80% preferred underdog alternatives. Vivaldi is a web browser that prioritizes user privacy and offers extensive customization options, built on a Chromium foundation for compatibility with Chrome extensions. Anytype is an offline-first application that combines features of Notion and Obsidian, focusing on privacy and security. Deezer is highlighted as a superior music streaming service compared to Spotify, with an extensive library and a user-friendly interface that includes a personalized music recommendation feature called Flow. Perplexity is an AI platform that provides verified sources and a user-friendly interface, offering access to multiple AI models through a single subscription. Superlist is a to-do list application developed by the creators of Wunderlist, featuring natural language input, AI-driven task organization, and a free version with a Pro subscription for expanded features.