Though the platform works differently, Reddit is much like other social media platforms. For one, it relies on users signing up for the service to interact with one another through threads. However, Reddit is also similar by offering its API to third parties. If you’re not happy with using the original website or app, developers can create apps tailored to optimize the experience. Unfortunately, those might soon go away.

Recently, Reddit announced a round of changes coming to its API rules. Starting June 19, the platform will charge third parties for access to their API. In a nutshell, any developer who wants to continue offering a tailored Reddit experience must pay up to access the website.

According to the company, the changes are a result of emerging AI technologies which leverage Reddit for language learning. Naturally, the company isn’t happy with being used for free, resulting in a paid scheme coming soon.

Unfortunately, the pricing scheme isn’t affordable for smaller developers who just want to offer a cleaner experience of the website. Apollo, one of the most popular third-party alternatives to Reddit’s main app, recently announced that Reddit is charging US$ 20 million per year to keep the app running as is. Christian Selig, the app’s developer, confirms that the figure is just too much.

Other apps have not disclosed their discussions with the platform. However, their users have already lamented the impending doom of third-party apps and their involvement with the platform as a whole.

For their part, Reddit says that Selig’s figure only reflects a standard rate, rather than a specialized one as discussed with Apollo. The company remains adamant that it wants to be equitable and civil towards third-party apps.

SEE ALSO: Reddit acquires Dubsmash

It wasn’t the most popular product, but surely other people remember the Chromecast, right? Well, if you’re one of the few who keep fond memories about the device, it’s time to say goodbye. Google has quietly terminated support for the first-generation Chromecast.

Released almost a decade ago, the original Chromecast blossomed in a world that wasn’t ready for smart TVs. The HDMI-based dongle allowed users to broadcast media from their smartphones and tablets onto their television sets. In a nutshell, it was an easy way to turn an older TV into a smart device for an affordable price.

Back in April (or a few months shy of the device’s tenth birthday), Google officially ended support for the first-generation dongle. A short announcement (spotted by 9to5Google) simply states that the device will no longer receive any software updates, and Google will no longer service them. Its last firmware version shipped in November last year. Google also notes that users who continue to use the original dongle might “notice a degradation in performance.”

Unfortunately, that’s just the way the technology goes. The issue it sought to solve — that is, the continued existence of older TVs without smart capabilities — is largely obsolete. Most TVs today have smart features built in, eliminating the necessity for a smart dongle.

However, for those who still have less intelligent sets, Google still sells a newer version of the Chromecast built with Google TV. Instead of controlling the screen with another smartphone, the newer version of the Chromecast packs in the software itself.

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel can soon double as a dashcam

Perhaps easily the best showcase game of the PlayStation (PS5) that anyone can easily jump into is making its way to PC. Insomniac Games’ Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart follows the growing list of PlayStation exclusives making its way to PC. It’s coming on July 26.

PC Features

Nixxes Software worked with Insomniac to make this happen. And they’re not simply porting the game to PC. They are also adding features especially made for PC gamers. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC will have support for multiple types of monitors. Whether you’re using 21:9, 32:9 and up to 48:9 resolutions for triple monitor setups, you can rest assured that you’ll have a grand time with this inter-dimensional adventure. Both gameplay and cutscenes are optimized for ultra-wide screens.

The game also supports now unlocked framerates. You can choose from NVIDIA DLSS 3, AMD FSR 2, Intel XeSS and Insomniac Games’ Temporal Injection. NVIDIA Reflex and image quality enhancing NVIDIA DLAA are also supported.

Availability

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart will be available on Steam and in the Epic Games Store. You may head to the aforementioned stores now to Wishlist or pre-purchase the game. If you pre-purchase ahead of launch, you’ll get access to the following in-game items early in your playthrough:

• Pixelizer Weapon
• Carbonox Armor set

SEE ALSO: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Review