Recommended Posts

Where one experience is aimed to shine, it may falter elsewhere. I seriously doubt you're going to get many say Gears was an amazing story up there with the giants of gaming storytelling (mass opinion).

 

Money and effort have been funneled into making this game shine like TLoU did with story. As I said above while I doubt it will come anywhere near as close, I would expect it to surpass the writing and atmosphere of Gears of War. It's gameplay probably won't be as good, but Gears had to be setup with gameplay high on the agenda as any game with MP/co-op really has to.

 

And to reiterate what I've already said twice, small studio previously based with PSP only making a leap to this level. Their budget and experience aren't on the same scale as ND or Epic. Doesn't mean we can't critically examine all titles in the same way, we should, in fact especially when a game defines itself as featuring exclusively on one area (narrative). If it fails at that then the whole title goes down (no MP to redeem crap story, like say BF or COD).

 

Sure it's harder to spend RRP when there isn't MP tacked on, but to build a real SP franchise you have to start somewhere (like Uncharted 1 with no MP).

And again i never said that the game sucks or the story sucks. Maybe they will add co-op dlc or mp\horde dlc to add replayability, who knows. As it stands, we don't know if the story is good(you can if you watch the YT link). But we do know its around 5-7 hours of cutscenes\qte\gameplay.

 

I do agree with you everybody plays games for a different reason and at a different level. I personally play games for gameplay.

And again i never said that the game sucks or the story sucks. Maybe they will add co-op dlc or mp\horde dlc to add replayability, who knows. As it stands, we don't know if the story is good(you can if you watch the YT link). But we do know its around 5-7 hours of cutscenes\qte\gameplay.

 

I do agree with you everybody plays games for a different reason and at a different level. I personally play games for gameplay.

 

I think we all do, but there is a market for games that take story a little more seriously than a throwaway popcorn flick. Some of the FPS/TPS games out there with amazing gameplay have stories you won't even pay attention to. Brilliant fun to play, but there's nothing wrong with another title in that genre trying to appeal to those who want a memorable story that doesn't seem like it was farted out by an angsty teenager or yet another alien invasion. That is why The Order 1886 will especially live or die based upon it's quality of writing. If it sucks it literally has very little else to stand up on (no MP and a campaign which is definitely going to be shorter than say TLoU which clocks in at 15-20 hours on average).

 

Farcry is a beautiful example of an FPS with amazing gameplay and open world fun, but does anyone herald it for tight writing and a location you'll remember every part of? (hard to with open world titles which makes it harder to create a memorable setting - outside of going I remember it was all jungle!).

 

The writing, the characters, and the location all have to be masterfully done in a title like this, which I actually argue is a lot harder in development than people give credit for. At times it seems like if your game tacks on MP these days it can get an easier pass as being worth money even if the 3 things I just mentioned are weak. I will admit any sort of MP can add replayability but with the amount of games coming out these days I personally find it hard to dedicate myself to the completion of a game if it's really not something done well (in terms of SP).

 

There's a reason my SP backlog is frickin huge, that there's MP games I own I haven't and won't even look at SP (BF4) and why there is even MP experiences I just don't have time for (never played TLoU MP even although it's suppose to be good). Only SP and MP portions that are done really well tend to get my attention (not necessarily always on critical merits, Nier for example was a SP story I was hugely fond of, but janky gameplay).

You cannot say 99% of the shooters have exactly those mechanics, because they don't.

 

But as you have already stated, they do on consoles right? So seeing as I'm in the Sony console section I think I'm quite safe in saying it.

It was not a serious statement, but then I am not a console gamer so that may very well be true.

 

Ahhh, now that makes more sense :-)

 

I think most shooters do include going from point a to point b, cut scenes and shooting people though.

Rumor has it TO:1866 is a short game.

 

I will only link (I don't wanna be a spoil sport)

 

Click at own risk...

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/2vybg8/order_1886_playtime_details_from_youtubers_play/

 

 

 

 

 

Youtube link (Spoilers)

Guess who didn't read the last few pages before posting :p

 

Besides, just use http://howlongtobeat.com/game.php?id=20067 and you'll see the longest, shortest and average times. 1 person's playthrough is not gospel.

 

A couple of months and counting now for your TLoU playthrough, amirite? :p

A couple of months and counting now for your TLoU playthrough, amirite? :p

 

I never bought TLoU on the PS3, when it came out.  Borrowed a friends copy played it for 2-3hrs and stopped.

 

I immediately knew that TLoU had PS4 written all over it.  It already felt 'next gen'...

 

When it came out on the PS4 i got the physical copy... Beat the game, traded it in, and put the $$ towards Playstation Store Card and re-bought it digitally...

 

TLoU is special...

 

I hope TO:1866 can fall into that category as well...

My wife just preordered me the game for Valentines day :D so i will be picking it up on Friday when it comes out.

 

I have been seeing a lot of negative comments about how short the game is online however, all of them have the same  thing in common, the gave is good and worth the time.

RAD comments (these were made before the YT walkthrough posted earlier when the rumours online were 3-5 hours, or a few hours)

 

Last week I had a chat with Ru Weerasuriya, founder, CEO and creative director of Ready at Dawn, to discuss The Order's length after a previous report indicated it could be completed in just a few hours.
 
"I know there are numbers out there," he said. "I know why the question comes up. I know numbers have been put out there that are actually not right. It's impossible to finish the game in that time, so we know the numbers are wrong.
 
"At the end of the day, we're not going to comment on it. We can't stop people from writing the things they do. And we're not going to jump at every single mistake that is made out there. Every time somebody has the wrong impression of something we made, or somebody writes the wrong thing about what we did, it would be a full-time job to be like, oh no, that's not right. We make games. We do what we do for the players. And, ultimately, that's where I want to leave it."
 
While Weerasuriya denied The Order, which leans heavily on interactive cutscenes and quick-time events as it blends third-person shooting, exploration and puzzle-solving with in-engine cinematics, can be completed in just a few hours, it is clear the game won't be considered long by anyone's standards.
 
But how long, exactly, had Ready at Dawn's tests shown The Order to be? Weerasuriya wouldn't reveal the average playthrough time, but he was willing to enter into the debate about it.
 
"Game length is important," he said. "Every game has to take its own time to tell its story. Some games can be short. Some games can be long. I still remember the first time I picked up Modern Warfare, I finished the campaign in about three-and-a-half or four hours. And it was fun because they made that campaign work for that because they had something else.
 
"Any of these games need to pack in what it needs to to deliver the experience you were hoping to deliver when you first tackled it. For us that meant, it's not going to be a short game, it's going to be something that rewards you as you play through, that there is a storyline, that you have information there, and then also it opens the door to a lot of questions you might be able to answer either by what you find in the game, or hopefully by what you will find out in the future.
 
"Our industry is diverse enough that we need different games. We have to allow for different genres and single-player games like we do, multiplayer games, co-op games, social games, whatever it is."

 

 

Weerasuriya said he understood concern about The Order's value as a full-priced game, but hoped Ready at Dawn's quality over quantity approach would satisfy players.
 
"I absolutely understand," he said. "To tell you the truth, that's something we always keep in our heads. We know people want to be entertained and have things they can play longer. But the industry has always had diversity. You go back 10 years, there were a lot of games that were just single-player, one time play. There were some games that were single-player and you could jump back in and get more. That's what we did in our game. You can jump back and get other things out of it.
 
"Do we all need to do the same thing? I hope people who do like these kind of games, do play them. But I also want to be in an industry where me as a gamer, I'm given the choice to do that. I've played games that lasted two hours that were better than games that I played for 16 hours. That's the reality of it.
 
"I've had many more experiences of very short games that have floored me, that have left me dreaming of the things I could do after, more than the games that have lasted 15, 16, 20 or 30 hours, where I've just been like, okay, I played it through and I got what I wanted, but I didn't get more than what I was expecting. Sometimes I want to be floored, even if it's for a short amount of time.
 
"Gameplay length for me is so relative to quality. It's just like a movie. Just because a movie is three hours long, it doesn't make it better."

 

 

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-02-16-ready-at-dawn-responds-to-concern-over-the-order-1886s-campaign-length?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialoomph

For 5 hours, and no MP, the game should probably be $29.99.

 

"Gameplay length for me is so relative to quality. It's just like a movie. Just because a movie is three hours long, it doesn't make it better."

 

A movie also isn't $60.00. I pay $5.00 to see new movies at the theater.

Guess who didn't read the last few pages before posting :p

 

Besides, just use http://howlongtobeat.com/game.php?id=20067 and you'll see the longest, shortest and average times. 1 person's playthrough is not gospel.

 

No matter what, it looks like about 4-5 hours of 'game', and that includes 2 hours or so of cut scenes and QTEs. Heck, it looks like several 'chapters' of the game are fully cut scene and you do nothing in terms of gameplay. Yeah, you can wander around in the linear level and look at walls and textures, but the 'normal' gameplay pace seems to support the 4-5 hours.

 

Not saying this is a good or bad thing, just that this game (from the gameplay stories and videos) seems rather like a movie where you occasionally run to cover and shoot everything to move on and then do it over again, then again, then again.

 

So, that said, people need to decide if 60 bucks is worth a interactive movie with no re-playability and no multiplayer experience. I guess it's a flipped argument to what Evolve just went through - is 60 bucks worth limited gameplay and just multiplayer. Shrug. Everyone has their own idea on that.

For 5 hours, and no MP, the game should probably be $29.99.

 

"Gameplay length for me is so relative to quality. It's just like a movie. Just because a movie is three hours long, it doesn't make it better."

 

A movie also isn't $60.00. I pay $5.00 to see new movies at the theater.

 

such short single player campaigns the reason I stopped buying call of duty series, I really don't care for multiplayer.

 

then reading about this title being full of QTEs and apparently the whole things on rails it never really peaked my intrest.

  • Like 2

For 5 hours, and no MP, the game should probably be $29.99.

 

"Gameplay length for me is so relative to quality. It's just like a movie. Just because a movie is three hours long, it doesn't make it better."

 

A movie also isn't $60.00. I pay $5.00 to see new movies at the theater.

 

You completely missed the point in that statement. It's not to compare gaming costs to cinema costs but to say inflating a games completion time just for the sake of making it longer doesn't always work out. Why do you think we get director's cuts of movies? Some content is not seen as meaningful enough to go into the theatrical production. My Dragon Age Inquisition playtime of 90 hours probably has about 60 hours of generic fetch quests (just saying, it's still one of my favourite games this generation). They work fine in an open world game, but a purposely linear title to focus on story/atmosphere?

 

Since you brought up a direct price comparison though, I'll say one thing as to why it's stupid to compare games to movies. How many millions of people can a movie bring in at cinemas worldwide? Lots. If a movie was possibly only going to get 500k-1.5m views to recoup the costs of production a cinema ticket would not cost $5. Completely different market sizes than games. 

 

For as much flak as the games potential length may be getting people buying it are also contributing towards what looks to be one hell of an engine graphically, that sure cost a pretty penny to make. Are you happy paying for graphics? Maybe, maybe not, but the devs comments ask why can't there be different experiences with games and that really is the main point. Sure an indie title or mobile game may cost the price of a cinema ticket, but will it look and sound like The Order? Of course not (I bring audio into the discussion as that is one element of the game besides graphics I have seen high praise for).

 

A lot of people on this forum praise Ryse for it's graphics, rightfully so, but you paid a good portion towards that. It's campaign is only around 6-7 hours (average, without exploring). Sure it has MP, but from my impressions it's not as if people went bananas over Ryse multiplayer as the next big thing that will take them away from COD/BF4. MP is only really good if it can last longer than a month, or a few months, before everyone goes back to the MP games that get played all year round.

 

And yeah I know you'll probably reply as usual saying "we have noted your opinion".

 

edit: some more completion times that no doubt included exploring to varying degrees

 

Updated list of GAFer first time completions, including the relevant difficulty levels.
 
OsirisBlack - 14 hours Hard
Theman2k - 12 hours Hard
Verendus - 10 hours Hard
Periniumlick - 10 hours Hard
Rapier - 9 hours Normal
ReNeGaDe124 - 9 hours Normal
Nbkt - 9 hours Normal
 
Average is 10 hours 43 minutes.

 

 

and apparently another remark from RAD

 

At an event in Milan, CTO Andrea Pessino finally answered in detail the topical question, asked by the audience.
 
According to Pessino, Ready at Dawn
  • Like 1

It has been pretty much confirmed that (going by posts on GAF) that the 5+ hrs includes cut scenes and QTEs. The total gameplay is 90mins or so. That is crazy if true :|

 

I'm sure someone has to have just timed the cut scene time spent on this game, any numbers for just that not including game play? Is this ###### skip-able? 

 

You completely missed the point in that statement. It's not to compare gaming costs to cinema costs but to say inflating a games completion time just for the sake of making it longer doesn't always work out. Why do you think we get director's cuts of movies? Some content is not seen as meaningful enough to go into the theatrical production. My Dragon Age Inquisition playtime of 90 hours probably has about 60 hours of generic fetch quests (just saying, it's still one of my favourite games this generation). They work fine in an open world game, but a purposely linear title to focus on story/atmosphere?

 

Since you brought up a direct price comparison though, I'll say one thing as to why it's stupid to compare games to movies. How many millions of people can a movie bring in at cinemas worldwide? Lots. If a movie was possibly only going to get 500k-1.5m views to recoup the costs of production a cinema ticket would not cost $5. Completely different market sizes than games. 

 

For as much flak as the games potential length may be getting people buying it are also contributing towards what looks to be one hell of an engine graphically, that sure cost a pretty penny to make. Are you happy paying for graphics? Maybe, maybe not, but the devs comments ask why can't there be different experiences with games and that really is the main point. Sure an indie title or mobile game may cost the price of a cinema ticket, but will it look and sound like The Order? Of course not (I bring audio into the discussion as that is one element of the game besides graphics I have seen high praise for).

 

A lot of people on this forum praise Ryse for it's graphics, rightfully so, but you paid a good portion towards that. It's campaign is only around 6-7 hours (average, without exploring). Sure it has MP, but from my impressions it's not as if people went bananas over Ryse multiplayer as the next big thing that will take them away from COD/BF4. MP is only really good if it can last longer than a month, or a few months, before everyone goes back to the MP games that get played all year round.

 

And yeah I know you'll probably reply as usual saying "we have noted your opinion".

 

edit: some more completion times that no doubt included exploring to varying degrees

 

 

and apparently another remark from RAD

 

 

 

Actually, I didn't miss the point of his PR statement at all. None of us did. In fact, the majority of us probably agree with his feedback. How could you not agree, it was just common sense. I only pointed out exactly what you are pointing out. That one cannot compare this to a movie (which is what he had done, not me). I just happened to catch his comment and added price to the equation to show that it's not a fair comparison. If it was a fair comparison, none of us would be spending $60 on most of the games out there today, but it is not apples to apples. But nobody would expect him to reply to the comments any differently. It's PR, and they need sales, so they will defend their game to the end (as would any normal business person, including myself).

 

You are quick to jump on people commenting on some of the things they dislike about the game, but yet you don't support them when they praise the game? I remember when people ragged on Heavy Rain for QTE's (which was my favorite PS3 last gen). And now people are ragging on The Order for being a QTE driven game, with minimal game play. Yet here I am (as well as many others) who plan on buying the game because we enjoy more story driven games, with QTE's and gameplay mixed between, with good graphics.

 

Is there any reason you felt a need to get defensive over a post (it's a PS4 game...I get it)? I know, I know...I will probably not see your reply to my post like usual. Pretty much used to it by now.

 

I don't mind that the game is done is 5-7 hours. I will be buying it anyway.

YouTube Leak Derails Launch Of Big PS4 Exclusive
Jason Schreier

eotl1l1chjzlm3ehbvgx.jpg

 

On February 14, a YouTube account called PlayMeThrough uploaded a series of videos titled "The Order: 1886 Gameplay Walkthrough." The title was rather literal

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • Here's how to grab your share of Apple's $4 billion lawsuit payout (if you qualify) by David Uzondu Image via DepositPhotos.com A UK tribunal has approved a collective legal action letting a $4 billion (£3 billion) claim against Apple proceed to trial after consumer rights group Which? formally accused the company of violating competition laws. The tribunal recently set a full trial date for October 2028. Which? filed the lawsuit way back in November 2024, accusing Apple of trapping users in iCloud by restricting rivals from fully accessing iOS. Apple gives users only 5GB of free space, and once that limit vanishes, the system drives upgrades by repeatedly nudging users through notifications. The group claims Apple overcharged millions who bought plans ranging from 99p a month for 50GB to £54.99 a month for 12TB. If Which? wins the now-greenlit lawsuit, the court will force Apple to pay out damages to roughly 40 million UK consumers, with each person receiving around £77 for the pricing abuse. Apple has already put out a statement telling Reuters that the allegations are completely false and that consumers do have choices. "We work hard to make iCloud a great experience, but no customer is required to use it, and customers in the UK have plenty of alternatives to choose from," it told the outlet. The good thing is that if Which? wins, claiming your share requires almost no effort due to the automatic structure of the litigation. You are eligible if you used Apple's iCloud services between November 8, 2018, and June 8, 2026, and paid for upgraded storage during that time. The tribunal automatically enrolls everyone living in the UK on June 8, 2026. The system operates on an "opt-out" basis, meaning you do not have to register right now, and you will just verify your details to collect your cash. However, if you want to leave the claim, you must notify Which? by October 8, 2026. But if you lived outside the UK on June 8, 2026, you must manually register on the official Which? website before October 8, 2026, to opt into the action. If you ignore this deadline, you will lose your chance to grab a share of the settlement. On a related note, Google recently had to resolve a massive data privacy fight by agreeing to a payout of over $170 million to Android users. In that lawsuit, plaintiffs argued that Google programmed the Android system to transmit user data without permission, wasting cellular data. To settle, Google agreed to pay a $135 million nationwide settlement alongside an extra $35 million in California. Eligible Android users must submit online claims to secure their cash, with the final approval hearing literally taking place today (June 23, 2026).
    • Microsoft outs Windows 11 KB5095093 with long list of new features by Sayan Sen Microsoft today has released its newest preview update (C-release) for the month of June 2026 under KB5095093, builds 26200.8737 (for Windows 11 25H2) and 26100.8737 (on Windows 11 24H2). The update brings new features across various elements of the OS including the Windows update, the Recovery, Widgets, File Explorer, and more. The full changelog is given below: First up we have the features rolling out gradually: [Point-in-time restore for Windows] New! This flexible recovery feature helps you quickly roll back your PC, including apps, settings, and personal files, to a recent automatic restore point. It helps reduce downtime and simplifies troubleshooting when issues occur. To learn more, see Point-in-time restore for Windows. [Windows Update] New! A calendar experience in Windows Update Settings (Settings > Windows Update) lets you pause updates by choosing an end date, for up to 35 days. You can extend the pause by selecting a different end date and re‑pause updates as needed. For more information, see Pause updates in Windows. [Widgets] New! A quieter, more focused Widgets experience helps reduce interruptions and improves default settings and notification controls: Reduce distractions: Widgets no longer open on hover. Notifications and taskbar badges are minimized by default. Simpler: Open to the Widgets dashboard by default on first use. Customize: Configure Widgets how you want by selecting Settings in the navigation bar, then changing any of the default settings. Stay informed: Dashboard icons show the number of alerts, and badges clear automatically when you leave a dashboard. Adjusted defaults: Some default settings are preserved based on usage, while others adjust to reduce interruptions. Performance improvements: This update provides improved reliability, responsiveness, and visual quality across the Widget experience. [Accessibility] New! This update makes your screen easier to see and customizes your zoom experience: Screen tint: Apply a full-screen color overlay to help reduce eye strain and improve readability. Choose from preset tint options, adjust the intensity, or turn it on automatically. Find this feature in Settings > Accessibility. Magnifier: Enter a zoom percentage directly and change it in increments in the Magnifier window for more precise, flexible control. Magnifier settings menu: You can now also modify zoom increments directly from the magnifier bar instead of navigating to Windows Settings each time. [File Explorer] New! When you hover over a file in File Explorer Home, commands such as Open file location and Ask Copilot appear as quick actions. This experience is now supported for work and school accounts (Entra ID).1 Improves the speed and performance of File Explorer launch.2 Fixes an issue where the OneDrive shortcut in File Explorer stops working when File Explorer is run with administrative mode. The address bar now supports paths containing double backslashes and quotation marks (for example, C:\\Users\\user or "C:\Users\user"), improving compatibility with a wider range of inputs. The address bar suggestion dropdown is more reliable and now consistently closes after an item is selected. This update addresses an issue on File Explorer Home where OneDrive files could appear duplicated in the Favorites section. This update includes several refinements to the Rename experience: Addresses an issue where text was repeatedly selected when renaming items in folder views. Addresses an issue where case-only name changes were not immediately reflected in folder views for items stored locally or in the cloud. [Bluetooth] This update improves reliability and performance when connecting to and using Bluetooth devices: New! Windows now keeps the microphone mute state in sync between the audio mixer and the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) for a more consistent experience with Bluetooth headphones with mute buttons or indicators. Accessory compatibility workarounds: Improves compatibility with specific Bluetooth audio devices, helping AirPods appear faster in pairing mode and improving microphone reliability on Beats Studio Pro headphones. Bluetooth audio stability: Improves overall Windows stability with certain PC manufacturer drivers (error code 0x9F). Improves Bluetooth reliability for voice calls when using Classic Audio devices with the Hands-Free Profile (HFP). Reduces time for LE Audio accessories to start playing audio while using the microphone. Device management: Windows will no longer show a “Remove failed” message when attempting to remove Bluetooth devices if the Bluetooth radio is unavailable or has changed since pairing. Settings experience: Improves stability when using the Bluetooth & devices settings page for a smoother, more consistent experience. Connection reliability and responsiveness: Reduces the time it takes for classic Bluetooth audio devices to reconnect after Windows resumes from hibernation. Improves reliability when LE Audio accessories disconnect, such as when another device (for example, a phone) connects. Improves reliability of LE Audio streaming after a connection is lost and restored. [Bluetooth and Phone Link] This update improves audio routing for calls made through a connected phone: When an outgoing call is dialed from a paired phone, audio remains on the phone while ringing and transfers to the PC only when the call is answered from the PC. When Do Not Disturb is enabled on Windows, incoming call audio from a paired phone no longer rings on the PC. [Voice access and voice typing] New! You can now use voice access and voice typing in French, German, and Spanish. As you speak, your PC improves your text in real time. It corrects grammar, punctuation, and recognition errors, and helps improve clarity—even in the presence of background noise. This makes dictation smoother and reduces the need for manual edits.3 [Audio] This update improves the reliability of the inbox HD Audio driver. [Taskbar] This update improves the reliability of opening the Start menu when selecting the left edge of the taskbar when the icons in the taskbar are left-aligned. [Networking] This update includes networking improvements for virtualized environments. Confidential Virtual Machines (CVMs) now use SR-IOV hardware acceleration by default for improved network throughput, and a configuration issue in nested Hyper-V virtualization network setup has been corrected to ensure reliable VM network provisioning. This update improves the reliability of the Windows networking stack. It reduces bug checks (blue screen errors) related to Wi-Fi power and improves cellular (WWAN) connectivity, including support for IPv6 VPNs. Compatibility with third-party VPN software and SR-IOV configurations on server hardware is also improved. Network adapter settings and bindings are now preserved across OS upgrades. [Printing] New! New printer installations use Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) by default when supported, simplifying setup and improving reliability. For details about third-party driver deprecation, see End of Servicing Plan for Third-Party Printer Drivers on Windows. To control this behavior, use the toggle in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Default install printers using Windows Ready Print. For more information, see Introducing Windows Ready Print and modernized driver selection. For more information, see Introducing Windows Ready Print and Modernized Driver Selection. [Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)] The update improves usage of WSL in mirrored networking mode with VPNs. [Display and graphics] Improves the reliability of rendering content while scrolling for certain apps spanning across multiple monitors. Improves the reliability and persistence of applying color profiles. [Location services] This update changes how some location settings are displayed in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location to help with clarity. When location services are turned off, settings like Default location and Allow location override don't immediately apply, since location information is not given to apps or services. These settings will now be greyed out when location services are off to reduce confusion over when they take effect. [Search] This update improves the reliability of setting Search related group policies. [Input] New! You can now customize the size of the right-click zone in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Choose from default, small, medium, or large to control how much of the bottom-right corner responds to a single-finger right-click. This setting is only available on touchpads with a pressable surface. If your device manufacturer provides customization through their own app, a Custom option will appear to reflect those settings. This update improves recognition of English characters when using Japanese handwriting. [General performance] Improves the time to shut down Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) when you turn off your PC. [General Reliability] ​​​​This update improves the reliability of explorer.exe. It addresses issues on the login and lock screens related to third-party credential providers, reduces the probability of taskbar icons appearing as blank gray placeholders, and improves navigation to Home in File Explorer during OneDrive sync. It also improves explorer.exe reliability when switching between desktops, enhances app launch with shell extensions, and using acrylic blur effects in the Start menu, Settings, and the lock screen. [Apps] Resolves an issue where some installers and applications could show unexpected elevation (UAC) prompts after installing KB5089549. [Remote Desktop] This update refreshes the dialog design when you enable Remote Desktop in Settings > System > Remote Desktop. [Graphics Kernel] Improves memory-management policy that allows PCs with more than 32GB of installed memory to run larger local AI models. Up next we have the features under normal rollout: [Secure Boot] With this update, Windows quality updates include additional high confidence device targeting data, increasing coverage of devices eligible to automatically receive new Secure Boot certificates. Devices receive the new certificates only after demonstrating sufficient successful update signals, maintaining a controlled and phased rollout. [Authentication] This update improves Netlogon secure channel connections between domain controllers, enabling successful connections from member servers to domain controllers set up before 2025. [Emoji Panel Update] The emoji panel (Windows key + period (.)) now uses GIPHY for GIF content following the deprecation of Google’s Tenor API. Starting June 30, 2026, install the latest Windows update to continue using GIFs in the Emoji panel. If you don’t update, you will see a "GIF service is not available" error in the panel. Installing the latest Windows update will restore access to GIFs. [Networking] This update improves how your device connects to shared network resources. Connections used by apps and system features, such as the NetUseAdd function, now work more reliably, including unauthenticated (null session) connections. [Recycle Bin (known issue)] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where the confirmation dialog might display an internal Recycle Bin file name instead of the original file name when permanently deleting a file. This issue might occur after installing the June 2026 security update (KB5094126). [Taskbar] This update improves notification badge display across your apps. Notification counts and badge visuals now update correctly, helping you stay up to date with new activity. You can choose to manually download the update from Microsoft's update catalog website at this link.
    • Hands-on with BOOX Tappy: cute little reading accessory by Taras Buria Page turners are quite popular accessories for e-readers, as they enable a hands-free reading experience, which is particularly useful with large readers featuring 10-inch or larger displays. The BOOX Tappy is a new accessory that was introduced earlier this year, and we took this cute-looking thingy for a spin. The Tappy comes in a small box, with two additional buttons and a user manual. The device is made of glossy green plastic and resembles old appliances from the nuclear age. Material quality is great, and each part feels quite premium. Plastic is high-quality, the switch is nice to flick, and the buttons are not rattly. At the bottom, four rubberized feet prevent slipping when used on a desk. Unfortunately, there are no color options, and the Tappy is only available in green. It looks good, but I wish there were other options as well. There are two removable buttons, an on/off switch, and an LED indicator that displays connection mode, charging status, and more. The buttons resemble those of an old typewriter, with quite a long travel distance and a pleasant clack. In the box, you have four buttons with different icons: heart, coffee, O, and X. You can easily swap buttons by simply pulling them upwards. Tip: buttons come with plastic covers, but they are quite tricky to remove. It is hard to call the Tappy the most ergonomic remote control, but after fiddling with it for a few hours, I managed to find a comfortable hand position. Attaching a lanyard to it can make it more comfortable in use without the fear of dropping it, but unfortunately, the Tappy does not come with one. The Tappy connects via Bluetooth 5.2, and it works in three modes, which you can toggle by pressing and holding both buttons for about five seconds: Reading Mode Multimedia Mode Browsing Mode Next / Previous page Next / Previous Track Up / Down scroll If you pair the Tappy with a BOOX device (I tested it with the BOOX Go 10.5 Gen 2 Lumi), you will get small pop-ups indicating the current mode. Plus, you can customize what each button does when pressed one time, two times, or held for a few seconds. The list of available actions and features you can use is massive, and I like that BOOX lets you map stuff like brightness adjustment, app launching, screenshot-taking, screen rotating, navigation, and more. Note, however, that while you can use the Tappy with other readers, its customization is only available on BOOX devices running firmware version 4.2 and newer. I could not connect the Tappy to my computer (Windows 11 claims a driver error when I try), but it worked with the DuRoBo Krono that I recently reviewed. My Kindle Paperwhite refused to work with the Tappy, though, just like my iPhone. The Tappy uses a non-removable Li-Ion battery, which can be recharged with a Type-C cable. BOOX rates the remote for "weeks of use," and I can say that it indeed has very good battery life. While there are no battery indicators on the remote, you can see the current level in the status bar or in Input settings in the BOOX firmware. After a few days of active use, mine still shows about 95%. Overall, the Tappy left a nice impression. It is well-made, and the integration with BOOX devices is great. I also like that BOOX decided to have some fun with its design and swappable buttons. I cannot say I am a fan of its odd shape, though. Still, I managed to find a way to use it comfortably. And when not in use, it just looks neat sitting on the table doing nothing or serving you as a small clacky fidget. Buy BOOX Tappy - $29.99 on Amazon US As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • AdGuard Family lifetime deal now only $14.97 by Steven Parker Today's highlighted Neowin Deal comes via our Apps + Software section, where you can get a lifetime subscription and save 91% on a lifetime AdGuard Family Plan. AdGuard is a unique program that has all the necessary features for what they claim to be "the best web experience." The software combines the an advanced ad blocker, a privacy protection module, and a parental control tool—all working in one app. This software deals with annoying ads, hides your data from a multitude of trackers, protects you from malware attacks, and even lets you restrict your kids from accessing inappropriate content. Install AdGuard and see the internet as it was supposed to be: clean and safe. Get rid of annoying banners, pop-ups & video ads once and for all Hide your data from the multitude of trackers & activity analyzers that swarm the web Avoid fraudulent and phishing website and malware attacks Protect your kids online by restricting them from accessing inappropriate & adult content Good to know Family Plan Length of access: lifetime This plan is only available to new users Redemption deadline: redeem your code within 30 days of purchase Max number of devices: 9 Access options: desktop & mobile Software version: AdGuard Family Updates included A lifetime subscription of AdGuard Family Plan normally costs $169.99, but this deal can be yours for just $14.97, that's a saving of $157.02. For full terms, specifications, and license info please click the link below. Get this AdGuard Family lifetime deal for just $14.97 (was $169.99) Although priced in U.S. dollars, this deal is available for digital purchase worldwide. As an online publication, Neowin too relies on ads for operating costs and, if you use an ad blocker, we'd appreciate being whitelisted. In addition, we have an ad-free subscription for $28 a year, which is another way to show support! Support queries If you have queries or need support for any of the Neowin Deals, please use the contact form here. Neowin Deals are managed and sold by StackCommerce who represent Neowin on an affiliate basis. Why we post these deals We post these because we earn commission on each sale so as not to rely solely on advertising, which many of our readers block. It all helps toward paying staff reporters, servers and hosting costs. So for those that keep moaning and complaining, be thankful we're still online for you to even do that. Other ways to support Neowin Whitelist Neowin by not blocking our ads Create a free member account to see fewer ads Make a donation to support our day to day running costs Subscribe to Neowin - for $14 a year, or $28 a year for an ad-free experience Disclosure: Neowin benefits from revenue of each sale made through our branded deals site powered by StackCommerce.
    • Sadly "beats Steam Machine" isn't much of a brag.
  • Recent Achievements

    • One Month Later
      timbobit earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Month Later
      nates earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      Almohandis earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Rookie
      dorf went up a rank
      Rookie
    • First Post
      mike_rumble earned a badge
      First Post
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      468
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      165
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      106
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      87
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      69
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!