#soft launch

EA has announced that Plants Vs Zombies 3 is being temporarily pulled from its soft launch, but fans of the popular tower defense series need not worry—this is only to give the development team time to make significant improvements. This marks the second time the game has been taken down since its initial soft launch attempt in 2020, which was followed by another soft launch in January 2023. While the earlier soft launch showed promise, many players—including those who previewed the game—found it lacking in difficulty and challenge. Microsoft is testing a new feature in its Xbox app on Windows 11 that makes it easier for PC gamers to install and launch third-party apps and even rival game stores. Instead of searching the Microsoft Store or browsing the web, players will now have a single place to download and open popular apps like Chrome, Battle.net, Ubisoft Connect, and GOG Galaxy. This also supports Microsoft’s goal of building an all-in-one gaming hub for PC players. During testing, apps like Chrome and Battle.net launched without issues, while GOG Galaxy prompted an in-app installation—though it failed since this is still an early beta. For now, Microsoft is only offering a limited set of apps through My Apps, but more will be added over time. Read more in our articles including "EA Pulls Plants Vs Zombies 3 From Soft Launch for Major Overhaul, Servers to Close November 15" and "Microsoft Tests New Xbox App Feature That Lets PC Gamers Install and Launch Other Apps Easily".