Windows Central Insider
You can play Gears Reloaded free on Xbox this weekend
XBOX Gears of War: Reloaded, High on Life 2, Dying Light, and more are available through this weekend's Xbox Free Play Days event.
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Features
An interview with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 developers at Infinity Ward
Exclusive From developing dynamic maps to the new Gunny system, Modern Warfare 4's development has been rooted in the team's desire for the game to have its own identity.
Fanatec has bridged the gap between real and virtual racing in spectacular fashion
Gaming Sim racing with a PC or Xbox has got more and more realistic over the years, but this wheel from Fanatec takes it to a whole other level.
Google’s AI search troubles are growing, giving Bing a big opportunity
Microsoft As competitor search engines surge on Google's AI obsession, Microsoft should exploit the situation. But it'll go against everything it's been doing up until now.
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Move over Forza, 'Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks' is the Ork version of Twisted Metal I've been hammering for
ID@Xbox Vehicular manslaughter in the Warhammer universe is every bit as awesome as it sounds.
From our archives: The 2016 Android‑apps warning that now echoes Googlebooks
Flashback A 2016 warning about Android apps on Chrome feels newly relevant as Googlebooks pushes Android PCs into the agentic era and challenges Microsoft again.
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Microsoft launched a Bing “concierge bot” 10 years ago — the same idea Google is now pushing
Flashback From our archives: A decade ago Microsoft was already testing a Bing “concierge bot,” an early take on the AI agents Google is only now announcing.
11 years ago, Microsoft got cozy with "Non-Genuine" version of Windows
Flashback Microsoft’s decision to offer full Windows 10 upgrades to non‑genuine PCs marked a rare moment of outreach — and a major shift in how the company thought about Windows adoption.
Nine years ago, Microsoft bet big on UWP. The story looks very different today.
Flashback Microsoft has a problem with its Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and what it means for developers and consumers. Here is how they plan to fix that and why it means ignore phones.
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Windows & Software
How to open the Settings app on Windows 11
How to On Windows 11, you have several ways to access the Settings app to configure features and personalization settings, and in this guide, I'll show you eight ways to complete this task.
Windows 11's optional preview update for May is packing genuine performance gains
Windows 11 Windows 11 update KB5089573 is now generally available as Microsoft's non-security preview update for May, and is packing genuinely notable performance improvements.
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Ask Copilot expected to arrive on Windows 11's Taskbar this summer
Windows 11 First announced last year, a new document has confirmed that Microsoft's upcoming "Ask Copilot" feature for Windows 11's Taskbar is arriving mid-2026.
PC Hardware
Best laptops with number pads 2026
Laptops Looking for a new Windows laptop with a number pad? You've come to the right place. Using our expert reviews, we've rounded up the best laptops with a number pad you can buy right now.
Acer Aspire Go 15 is the first laptop with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon C
Laptops Acer’s Aspire Go 15 is the first Snapdragon C laptop, but key specs, pricing and timing are still missing.
Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon C low-end SoC for affordable Windows 11 devices
Windows 11 Qualcomm has unveiled its new entry-level ARM-based SoC for Windows 11 devices that will begin shipping later this year on devices that cost as low as $300.
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Can't decide which HP laptop is best for you? I can help.
Laptops HP's lineup of laptops includes countless models made for different types of users. I'm here to decipher the brands and makes to help you get the best HP laptop.
Deals
Valve just handed Xbox free marketing for the Xbox Ally
Deals Valve's massive Steam Deck price hike has officially made the cheaper, 120Hz Xbox ROG Ally the ultimate budget no-brainer.
Geekom A7 Max mini PC with Windows 11 Pro drops to $549.99
Deals The Geekom A7 Max is down to $549.99 at Best Buy, but only for a limited time. It’s a compact Ryzen 9 desktop with a metal chassis, Windows 11 Pro, and support for four displays.
Game while avoiding heatwaves by this using this Mini-PC that's now on sale
Deals The Geekom A9 Max is a miniature-sized PC gaming rig that can run intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077 at a solid 60fps/1080p and power through AI tasks, and it's now on special offer
AMD's Zen 4 Ryzen 9 7900X CPU remains a smart pick in 2026
Deals We have found a limited-time sale on the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X CPU, giving keyboard warriors and gamers a chance to significantly improve their PCs' performance for much less.
Handheld Gaming PCs
Valve's new Steam Deck restock comes with a HUGE price hike
Handheld Gaming PC After months of being out of stock, Valve's beloved Steam Deck is available again — but its return has been accompanied by a massive price hike.
Gaming
The Witcher 3 dev says the new Songs of the Past expansion will be like Blood and Wine
Gaming The Witcher 3 dev CD Projekt RED has confirmed that the game's upcoming expansion Songs of the Past will be similar to Blood and Wine in terms of scope.
Banjo‑Kazooie tops Xbox Player Voice requests (again)
XBOX Banjo-Kazooie has emerged as the top game-related request on Xbox’s Player Voice feedback forum, reigniting discussion around forgotten Xbox franchises and community demand for a revival.
Xbox is sunsetting Call of Duty: Warzone alongside Modern Warfare 4 on last-gen consoles
Call of Duty Xbox and Call of Duty have announced that when Modern Warfare 4 arrives later this year, support for Warzone on Xbox One and PS4 is ending.
Artificial Intelligence
Microsoft finally lets Office users hide floating Copilot button
AI Microsoft admits the floating Copilot button in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint was a mistake, and will now allow users to move the AI back to the ribbon.
Ex-Microsoft exec says it missed "the AI wave" after fumbling mobile
AI Former Microsoft executive Mat Velloso claims the company missed its chance with AI, citing past failures in the internet and mobile.
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Mustafa Suleyman: AI will take over your white-collar job in 18 months
AI Microsoft’s AI chief says white‑collar jobs could vanish in 18 months as automation accelerates across organizations.
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Microsoft's AI data center in Kenya could "switch off half the country"
AI Microsoft’s $1 billion Kenyan AI data center stalls as the power grid struggles to meet demand, sparking fears of blackouts and resource strain.
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Microsoft
Microsoft investigates phishing emails sent from its own system
MICROSOFT Hackers are sending phishing emails from a real Microsoft address, making it even harder for unsuspecting users to detect the scam.
Banned researcher says Microsoft "ruined their life" after exploit reports
Microsoft Microsoft banned a researcher from GitHub and deleted their Microsoft account after zero‑day exploits surfaced, sparking outrage and claims that the company ruined their life.
Google’s AI search troubles are growing, giving Bing a big opportunity
Microsoft As competitor search engines surge on Google's AI obsession, Microsoft should exploit the situation. But it'll go against everything it's been doing up until now.
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Microsoft confirms OneDrive integration is being removed from Samsung Galaxy phones later this year
Samsung Starting September 30, Samsung Galaxy users will no longer be able to backup their photos to OneDrive using the Gallery app.
Peripherals & Accessories
Logitech’s cushioned keyboard and mouse challenge the setup I’ve used for years
Accessories Logitech’s new Signature Comfort Plus keyboard and mouse add built‑in cushions that allow for more relaxed hand positions. The real question is whether they'll convince me to upgrade?
