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AppWizard
August 28, 2025
The author revisited the game Hollow Knight, reflecting on their past gaming choices, particularly between Hollow Knight and Rain World in early 2017. They spent significant time exploring Hollow Knight's intricate design and secrets, with a completionist run taking over 60 hours. The author advises against rushing through Hollow Knight before the release of its sequel, Silksong, as it may affect the enjoyment of both games. Silksong features a new protagonist and a different kingdom, and while it may include nods to Hollow Knight, it does not continue its narrative. The author emphasizes the value of slow exploration in Hollow Knight, suggesting that taking time with the game can enhance the overall gaming experience.
Winsage
August 28, 2025
A senior Microsoft executive, Pavan Davuluri, indicated that future versions of Windows, potentially Windows 12, will feature a more "multimodal" experience utilizing on-device AI capabilities. He highlighted the integration of features like Copilot in Windows and M365 Copilot to enhance user interaction, particularly through voice input and natural language processing. Davuluri predicted that computing will become more ambient and pervasive, with voice interaction becoming more prominent. While speculation about Windows 12 grows, Microsoft is set to release a significant update for Windows 11, known as 25H2, later this year, as Windows 11 has only recently surpassed Windows 10 in global user count.
AppWizard
August 27, 2025
Xbox Game Pass Core and Standard members will soon gain access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, allowing them to stream cloud playable games included with their subscription and select games they own. Currently, this feature is available only to Xbox Insider program members. Additionally, Xbox will introduce PC versions of select titles for Game Pass Core and Standard members, providing flexibility to play on PC or Windows handheld devices. Specific titles have not yet been disclosed, but they will appear in the Game Pass section of the Xbox PC app. Public rollout of these features is expected in the coming weeks or months.
AppWizard
August 27, 2025
Spotify has introduced an integrated messaging system that allows users to share songs, podcasts, and audiobooks within the app, enhancing social engagement and addressing a gap in user experience. This feature enables users to initiate conversations by selecting a share icon during playback, choosing recipients, and transmitting content. The messaging system complements existing social media integrations and is designed to enhance user workflows, potentially transforming Spotify into a more active social network for audio content. The rollout comes as a strategic response to the influence of social media on music discovery, aiming to boost user engagement and retention in a competitive streaming landscape.
AppWizard
August 27, 2025
Microsoft is expanding access to cloud and PC gaming features for Game Pass Core and Game Pass Standard members. Starting today, Xbox Insiders can test a new initiative that provides limited cloud and PC gaming access to these subscribers. Game Pass Core members will have access to approximately 50 games, while Standard members will have access to over 400 games. Players can also use cloud gaming for titles they own that support this feature, which was previously exclusive to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. Microsoft is working on providing PC versions of select games in the Core and Standard tiers. Many titles in these libraries are classified as Play Anywhere games, allowing access on both platforms with a single purchase. The Game Pass PC offering includes a broader selection of games at a lower price for non-console owners. The upcoming Xbox Ally PC gaming handheld, launching in October, will feature an Xbox-like operating system. The success of this initiative may depend on whether Microsoft removes the requirement for console players to pay for multiplayer access.
AppWizard
August 27, 2025
The BYO Monster Hunter Stories Edition Bundle from Fanatical includes four complete games and three DLCs, with pricing as follows: .99/£15.99/15,99€ for two titles, .95/£22.95/22,95€ for three titles, and .99/£34.99/34,99€ for five titles. Purchases come with a 5% discount voucher for the next acquisition. The bundle features Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin for a narrative-driven experience, as well as deluxe editions of Monster Hunter: World and Monster Hunter: Rise, which include cosmetic items. Gameplay durations are approximately 24 hours for the main story and 182 hours for 100% completion in Monster Hunter Rise, and about 48 hours for the main story and 450 hours for 100% completion in Monster Hunter World. The bundle is available while supplies last.
AppWizard
August 26, 2025
Recent insights from Ampere Analysis reveal that 55% of the top 150 games on Steam have an average sales price (ASP) of or less, indicating a shift towards budget-friendly gaming. AA releases, priced between and , attract 18% of players, while only 3% of the top games have an ASP exceeding . The only game priced above is Split Fiction, which has an ASP of .72 but retails at a more accessible price in the United States.
Tech Optimizer
August 26, 2025
A team decided to test PostgreSQL's capabilities with a one-petabyte database, setting a challenge for December 10, with a report due by January 20. They initially sought cloud storage but found no provider could meet their requirement for a single chunk of storage, leading them to rent physical servers. They used Shardman, a distributed database engine, to manage the database across seven servers. They employed the YCSB benchmark for performance testing and faced various challenges, including data loading issues and hardware problems. By January 15, they reached 863 terabytes of data generation, falling short of their petabyte goal, and documented their findings for future reference.
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