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Steam open-world adventure with Stardew Valley charm is free this weekend
AppWizard
October 10, 2026

Steam open-world adventure with Stardew Valley charm is free this weekend

Developer Pugstorm is offering a free play weekend for its open-world survival game, Core Keeper, on Steam. The game, launched two years ago, allows solo or cooperative play with up to seven friends and features survival tasks like resource harvesting, crafting, and base building. Players can explore diverse biomes, level up skills, and engage in life simulation activities while combating legendary titans. The free play weekend ends at 6 PM BST on October 12, and players' progress will be saved if they decide to purchase the game afterward. Core Keeper is currently available at a 40% discount, priced at £9.59/$.99, down from £15.99/$.99, until October 22. The game has a 'Very Positive' review score of 94% on Steam.
Free Play Days – ARC Raiders, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Little Nightmares III, Screamer, and More
AppWizard
October 8, 2026

Free Play Days – ARC Raiders, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Little Nightmares III, Screamer, and More

From October 8 to October 11, members of XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential can play Screamer and Family Man for free during Free Play Days. ARC Raiders is available for free to all XBOX members from October 8 to October 15. Players can also try timed trials of High On Life 2, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Little Nightmares III, and Rogue Waters. Discounts on games are available for those who wish to purchase them after the event. Screamer is developed by Milestone S.r.l., has a rating of 84/100, and is priced at .99 with a 60% discount during the event. Family Man, developed by No More Robots, has a rating of 47/100, priced at .99 with an 85% discount. ARC Raiders, developed by Embark Studios, has a rating of 11953/100, priced at .99 with a 50% discount. High On Life 2, developed by Squanch Games, Inc., has a rating of 2090/100, priced at .99. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, developed by GSC Game World, has a rating of 7190/100, priced at .99 with a 30% discount after Free Play Days. Little Nightmares III, developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., has a rating of 592/100, priced at .99. Rogue Waters, developed by Tripwire Interactive LLC, has a rating of 45/100, priced at .99 with a 75% discount during Free Play Days.
Remember MapQuest? You can now use it with Android Auto
AppWizard
October 7, 2026

Remember MapQuest? You can now use it with Android Auto

MapQuest has launched a beta version for Android Auto, aiming to compete with Google Maps and Apple Maps. The company has retained the historical name of Lake Ontario, leading to a significant increase in app usage, with over 1.5 million downloads and activity rising to 50 times its usual rate. Users can install MapQuest by downloading it from Google Play, joining the beta program, and connecting their smartphone to their vehicle. Initial feedback indicates some inconsistencies, such as app crashes and delayed responses, but the app offers features like turn-by-turn navigation, real-time traffic updates, route optimization, and voice search capability.
India Orders Apple to Pull Jack Dorsey's Offline Messaging App Bitchat
AppWizard
October 6, 2026

India Orders Apple to Pull Jack Dorsey’s Offline Messaging App Bitchat

Apple has removed the decentralized messaging application Bitchat, developed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, from its App Store in India following a directive from the Indian federal government under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, citing national security. The notice from Apple's App Review team, shared by Dorsey on October 3, 2026, did not specify the illegal content. The app remains available in other regions, but users in India will lose access to TestFlight testing and public beta links. This action follows a previous request made on July 23, 2026, by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre to GitHub to disable access to three Bitchat repositories, invoking Section 79(3)(b) and Rule 3(1)(d). The Internet Freedom Foundation has contested the July order, claiming authorities bypassed established blocking frameworks. Bitchat, introduced as open-source software in July 2025, allows local Bluetooth mesh communication and internet messaging without relying on a central server, raising concerns for law enforcement. The timing of the restrictions coincided with youth-led protests in India, which led to a significant increase in Bitchat downloads, accounting for about 85% of the app's global downloads during a protest period from July 17-23. Despite the removal, existing installations can still communicate locally without needing app store access. Previously, in May 2023, India invoked Section 69A against other messaging applications, and China also mandated Bitchat's removal in April 2026 for similar reasons. Digital rights advocates argue the government's justification for the ban is concerning as it sets a precedent for restricting software based on technical capabilities.
RuneScape dev apologises after RuneFest debut of an AI-generated six-fingered character: 'That's pretty hard to explain away'
AppWizard
October 6, 2026

RuneScape dev apologises after RuneFest debut of an AI-generated six-fingered character: ‘That’s pretty hard to explain away’

Jagex hosted its annual RuneFest in Birmingham, UK, where it unveiled a trailer for the Dragon Slayer 2 quest. The trailer featured noticeable flaws, such as a character with six fingers and unusual sneaker-like soles on their armoured shoes. Social media users pointed out the apparent use of generative AI in the trailer, prompting backlash against Jagex, especially after a recent controversy involving a clothing collaboration with 100 Thieves. Alec 'Mod Sween' Sween from Old School RuneScape acknowledged the issues, stating that the trailer had been taken down for urgent investigation. He clarified that it was produced by a trusted external partner who assured Jagex that generative AI would not be used. Sween emphasized the company's commitment to quality and announced plans to overhaul their review procedures and collaborate with community creators to ensure high standards for Dragon Slayer 2. He admitted that the team fell short of expectations and expressed concern over the incident highlighting weaknesses in their internal processes.
Googlebook key features detailed: Here's what you get with Glowbar, Game Controls, and more
BetaBeacon
October 5, 2026

Googlebook key features detailed: Here’s what you get with Glowbar, Game Controls, and more

The support pages for Googlebook highlight key features such as setting up and customizing the device, including the unique Glowbar feature that indicates different states of the laptop. The Glowbar glows dimly in white when in use, brighter when charging, and cycles through colors based on battery status. Another feature explained is Game Controls, which allows users to assign keys to on-screen controls for Android games.
Registered Players Of Rare Cookie's Bustle Invited To Secret Party
AppWizard
October 4, 2026

Registered Players Of Rare Cookie’s Bustle Invited To Secret Party

Cookie’s Bustle, a video game released in 1999, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The game was discontinued in 2001 and has since developed a cult following. Recently, an exclusive gathering for fans was held to commemorate the anniversary, organized by QualityTime Consulting. The event featured live music, exclusive merchandise, and cookies shaped like the character Cookie. The game has faced ownership disputes, particularly with an individual named Brandon White, who attempted to erase its presence online through copyright claims. However, the Video Game History Foundation intervened, successfully combating these claims in March and restoring content related to the game. The future of Cookie’s Bustle remains uncertain, with no announcements regarding remasters or sequels made at the recent event.
Ex-NFL Coach Mike Tomlin Reveals Massive ‘Minecraft’ City He Spent 12 Years Secretly Building
AppWizard
October 1, 2026

Ex-NFL Coach Mike Tomlin Reveals Massive ‘Minecraft’ City He Spent 12 Years Secretly Building

Mike Tomlin, former Steelers head coach and current NBC analyst, has created a detailed city in Minecraft over the past decade, inspired by his children's interest in the game. He began exploring Minecraft's creative mode due to his passion for architecture, despite lacking gaming skills. His city features luxury high-rises, hotels, sports stadiums, and a boutique hotel with a spa and ballroom, emphasizing lighting in his designs. A notable feature is a wall-sized fish tank that spans multiple rooms. Tomlin finds the experience therapeutic and prefers it over watching television, promising more updates on his project in future videos.
Drop everything and grab the popcorn: Majuular's 4.5-hour documentary on Ultima Online is here to devour your weekend
AppWizard
September 26, 2026

Drop everything and grab the popcorn: Majuular’s 4.5-hour documentary on Ultima Online is here to devour your weekend

YouTube essayist Majuular has released a new video focused on Ultima Online, part of a series that took six months to produce. The video explores the game's origins under Richard Garriott and Starr Long, its development by Raph Koster and his team, and its impact on the gaming landscape. Ultima Online has adapted to competition and remains accessible through official and fan-operated servers, including the In Mani Ylem server. Majuular's efforts to document the making of Richard Garriott's series have gained him over 200,000 followers on YouTube. His retrospective highlights Ultima's influence on role-playing games and includes personal stories and historical context.
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