US Archives

Winsage

July 22, 2026

Xbox brings back compat to Windows: Microsoft pledges 4 games on PC for the first time, soon with achievements

Xbox Vice President Jason Ronald announced plans to expand the Xbox backward compatibility program to include PC, allowing Xbox games to run on Windows for the first time. This initiative involves new emulation technology and aims to enhance game preservation and accessibility. Currently, the program supports four games, with potential for future expansion. Xbox is also investing in dual-platform license entitlements through Xbox Play Anywhere to facilitate a seamless experience between console and PC users.

Tech Optimizer

July 22, 2026

Migrating mission-critical payments at Nubank to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL

Nubank, a digital banking platform with approximately 135 million customers in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, faced challenges with its payment infrastructure due to inefficiencies in managing 7.5 TB of self-hosted PostgreSQL databases. Queries took over 13 minutes to execute, and replication lags exceeded four minutes during peak times. To address these issues, Nubank evaluated database solutions based on developer productivity, operational efficiency, performance reliability, and scalability. They selected Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition for its compatibility, performance improvements, and automated features. The migration to Aurora was facilitated by AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS), which minimized downtime and allowed for efficient transition. Post-migration, query performance improved significantly, with some queries executing up to 1,900 times faster, and overall end-to-end service latency decreased, enhancing customer experience. The migration resulted in a 25 percent cost reduction and ensured compliance with regulatory requirements.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Coming to XBOX Game Pass: Halo: Campaign Evolved, Beast of Reincarnation, and More

- Available Today: - The Planet Crafter (July 21) - Terraform a planet in solo or co-op mode. - Coming Soon: - Shift at Midnight (July 22) - Online co-op detective horror game. - Hell is Us (July 23) - Explore a nation in civil war with supernatural elements. - Halo: Campaign Evolved (July 28) - Reimagined Halo: Combat Evolved with HD visuals and new content. - Mistfall Hunter (July 30) - Dark fantasy ARPG with combat challenges. - Corsair Cove (July 31) - City-builder focused on pirate life. - Heretic + Hexen (August 4) - Re-release of classic spell-casting shooters. - Beast of Reincarnation (August 4) - Action RPG set in post-apocalyptic Japan. - In Case You Missed It: - Buckshot Roulette (July 8) - Tabletop horror game. - Denshattack! (July 15) - Fast-paced adventure in a Japanese dystopia. - In-Game Benefits: - Zenless Zone Zero (July 29) - New game featuring a first-gen Void Hunter. - Leaving July 31: - Titles departing from Game Pass include Back to the Dawn, Celeste, Crusader Kings 3, Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord, My Friendly Neighborhood, Rain World, Sniper Elite Resistance, and Whiskerwood.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Halo: Campaign Evolved and Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation Lead Xbox Game Pass July 2026 Wave 2 Lineup

Xbox Game Pass will add several titles in late July and early August, including: - Shift at Midnight (July 22) - Hell is Us (July 23) - Halo: Campaign Evolved (July 28) - Mistfall Hunter (July 30) - Corsair Cove (July 31) - Heretic + Hexen (August 4) - Beast of Reincarnation (August 4) Halo: Campaign Evolved and Beast of Reincarnation will be available on day one for subscribers of Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Several titles will leave Xbox Game Pass on July 31: - Back to the Dawn - Celeste - Crusader Kings 3 - Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord - My Friendly Neighborhood - Rain World - Sniper Elite Resistance - Whiskerwood

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Splitgate studio 1047 Games is laying off more people just a month after releasing its latest game

1047 Games has experienced another round of layoffs, described as the "third wave" by employees on LinkedIn. QA director Igor Krinitskiy and concept artist Jonathan Kuo confirmed their departures due to these layoffs. The studio, known for its hit title Splitgate: Arena Warfare, has struggled with subsequent projects, including the rebranded Splitgate: Arena Reloaded and the recently launched Empulse, which has not achieved significant player engagement and has seen concurrent player numbers on Steam drop below 1,000. Studio CEO Ian Proulx emphasized a focus on gradual growth rather than immediate success.

Winsage

July 22, 2026

Microsoft is finally modernizing Windows 11’s decades-old File Explorer properties window with a new UI

Microsoft is modernizing the File Explorer app in Windows, gradually introducing modern UI elements while much of the application retains its older design. A hidden modernized File Properties window has been found in the latest Windows 11 preview build, indicating plans for a complete overhaul of the File Properties dialog. This effort is part of Microsoft's broader initiative to integrate WinUI across the Windows Shell, including enhancements to the Start menu and in-box applications, as part of the Windows K2 project. The modernized File Properties feature has not yet been officially announced, but its appearance in preview builds suggests further updates are forthcoming.

BetaBeacon

July 21, 2026

Xbox Game Pass joins Meta Horizon Plus, and to be honest, I’m thrilled

Meta Horizon Plus is teaming up with Xbox to bring the "starter edition" Xbox Game Pass, which includes a library of 50+ games, to VR users on Quest headsets.

Winsage

July 21, 2026

Analog hobbies are booming as AI burnout hits Gen Z hardest — and the Windows PC could be the unexpected winner

The latest Creativity Trend Report from Michaels indicates a 919% increase in searches for traditional hobbies like journaling, sewing, and crafting parties, with yarn accessory sales growing by 40% compared to the previous year. This trend reflects a cultural movement, particularly among Gen Z, who are experiencing AI fatigue and seeking balance between technology and analog activities. Microsoft has faced challenges with its Copilot+ initiative, leading to user backlash and a retraction of AI features from less effective applications. The company is considering adapting AI features for GPUs and is exploring ways to enhance user focus in Windows 11, potentially aligning with the analog revival trend.

AppWizard

July 21, 2026

Unity 7 to release in 2027, helps devs “ship sharper graphics”

Unity 7 is set to launch after a beta testing phase in December 2026, with a full release expected in the first quarter of 2027. It introduces a public API and various services for better integration without full editor access, aiming to improve workflows in game development. Key features include faster shader builds, a near-instant Play Mode, and an upgrade path for Unity 6 users that requires no rebuilding. Unity 7 will also feature CoreCLR, dynamic global illumination through Surface Cache GI, and neural upscaling, available on all supported devices. Additionally, it will include built-in Vector tools for creating native webshops, allowing direct-to-consumer commerce. Collaboration features will enhance teamwork among developers and coding agents.

Winsage

July 21, 2026

Microsoft issues emergency Windows 11 KB5121767 update to address unexpected shutdowns and overheating on certain Dell PCs

Microsoft has halted the deployment of its latest Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 on select Dell PCs due to incompatibility with Intel's IPF driver, which caused issues such as unexpected shutdowns, overheating, and decreased system performance. Microsoft is working to resolve these complications and has released an emergency out-of-band update, KB5121767, for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 to address the concerns.