Hytale Releases Initial Hotfix to Address Crash Issues from Hair Styles and Buckets, Developers Share Upcoming Update Plans

The majority of software companies have been trending towards transitioning their operations to a subscription-based model over the past decade, where users pay monthly for access to the latest features and updates. For instance, Microsoft provides its Office suite through Microsoft 365, necessitating a continuous monthly fee. Although this model ensures you remain updated with the newest software and application enhancements, it also implies that you’re obligated to pay indefinitely. The concept of paying once and owning a product is considerably more attractive, which is why this Microsoft Office offer is quite thrilling. Currently, StackSocial is presenting Microsoft Office 2024 Home for both Windows and Mac at a substantial discount—up to 40% off.

The offer does not encompass the entire Microsoft Office suite, but focuses on the essential three: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You can acquire the 2024 versions of this software for only $120 for a limited duration. This represents a 20% reduction from $150, yielding a savings of $30. If you require Outlook as well, perhaps because you are running a small business from home and seeking an alternative to Gmail, you can opt for the Home & Business bundle, which includes Outlook alongside the other three programs. That package is discounted by 40%, reducing the price from $250 to merely $150.

### One-Time Payment, Lifetime Access

This is the 2024 suite for Microsoft Office applications. They are equipped with numerous beneficial features exclusive to 2024 and subsequent versions. For example, PowerPoint now allows users to record presentations directly within the app. You can record audio, video, and closed captions. This is ideal for educators uploading courses for online classes, as well as for any business presentation that would be useful to reference repeatedly.

Upon purchasing the software, you can instantly download and install it. After finalizing your order, an email will be sent containing your software license keys and download links. The license is associated with your Microsoft Account—not tied to your actual device—and is a one-time use code. Be sure to redeem your software within seven days of purchase, as all sales are final once the license is activated. Unredeemed licenses can be returned for a refund within seven days.

If you’re in the process of setting up a new laptop or desktop and want to steer clear of the inconvenience of monthly charges, this option is preferable to Microsoft 365. For just $120, you can gain lifetime access to the 2024 editions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You can add Outlook for just an additional $30. This offer is accessible to users of both Windows and Mac.

### The Unlikely Fame of Roblox and Fortnite Fan-Games

Although many might think that games like **Arc Raiders** and **Battlefield 6** dominate in popularity, the truth is remarkably different. Titles such as **Roblox** and **Fortnite** fan-games are attracting vast player communities. Recently, the **Roblox** game **Fish It!** reported nearly 28 million players in a single day, with 1.4 million playing at once. In contrast, **Fortnite**’s user-generated game **Steal the Brainrot** set a record with 1.09 million concurrent players, notably after recent updates that enabled creators to introduce microtransactions.

#### The Development of Steal the Brainrot

**Steal the Brainrot**, a creation within **Fortnite**, originates from the highly popular **Roblox** game **Steal a Brainrot**, which gained fame in 2025, inspired by the **Italian brainrot meme**. Players take part in activities involving bizarre animal collectibles that generate in-game currency, fostering a thriving player-driven economy. The original game hit an incredible 25 million concurrent users, showcasing its significant effect in the gaming realm.

When **Steal a Brainrot** moved to **Fortnite** in July, its popularity skyrocketed, especially when the game’s monetization model was adjusted to utilize real-world currency. With the introduction of microtransactions, players gained the ability to buy bundles and engage with gambling mechanics, similar to slot machines, significantly shifting the game’s engagement strategy.

#### Adjustments to Fortnite’s Monetization Policies

Epic Games’ strategy with **Fortnite** increasingly mirrors **Roblox**’s design, particularly in user-generated content. Until recently, **Fortnite** did not provide creators with the monetization capabilities that **Roblox** did, which granted it a competitive advantage. A recent policy change now permits creators to earn income from microtransactions with a notable profit-sharing model—developers receive a larger percentage compared to platforms like Steam.

These modifications imply that creators in **Fortnite** now have the opportunity to integrate various payment systems into their games, drastically altering the economic framework of player-generated content. By the end of January 2026, creators will receive 100% of the V-Bucks spent in their games for a limited duration, subsequently decreasing to 50%.

#### The Ethical Concerns Surrounding Gambling Mechanics

The incorporation of gambling mechanics in **Steal the Brainrot**, such as the “Lucky Rot” loot box and a gambling wheel, has prompted ethical issues, especially considering the game’s main audience is children. Players can utilize real money to interact with these features, which many critics liken to slot machines.

The debate regarding these changes has ignited discussions about the ramifications of exposing younger players to gambling-like systems within a game primarily designed for children. This is in contrast to the understanding that **Fortnite** engages a diverse demographic, a significant segment of which includes adult players. However, the drive to monetize through systems targeting younger players raises serious concerns about the accountability of game developers.

#### Conclusion

The trends in gaming reveal an intriguing landscape where titles like **Roblox** and **Fortnite**’s user-generated content attract millions of players, despite the competition from traditional blockbuster games. As games evolve and become more complex in their monetization strategies, the stream of innovation will continue to influence gaming culture, albeit not without ethical issues that must be navigated with care. The shift towards integrating real-world financial aspects into these games indicates a significant change in gamer demographics and experiences, highlighting the urgent need for responsible development practices moving forward.

Today, AMD are prodding the launch button for FSR Redstone: a suite of upscaling, frame generation, and ray tracing upgrades that, just maybe, might stop Nvidia DLSS 4‘s campaign of strutting across the canteen and slapping FSR’s lunch tray over in front of all the other graphics card technologies.

To achieve this, FSR has become the monster it fights. Gone are the technologically simplified, GPU-agnostic measures employed by previous FSR versions; Redstone deals exclusively in more sophisticated machine-learning tools that specifically require the latest Radeon graphics hardware to function. The RX 9000 series, to be precise, just like how new DLSS editions always demand the newest, most AI-embracing Nvidia RTX cards. This lack of support for older Radeons is a major strategic shift, but AMD insist that the image quality and stability improvements will be worth it.

To find out, I got hold of a preview driver for Redstone and bunged a Radeon RX 9070 XT into the RPS test rig. And, with apologies to anyone who bought an RX 7900 XTX: AMD might have a point.

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