In this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden break down a major architectural efficiency victory in Windows 11 under the ongoing Windows K2 initiative: reducing memory footprint and improving responsiveness by 20% on 8 GB RAM machines through WinUI conversions, OEM memory budgets, and memory compression.

We also analyze reporting on upcoming Windows 11 default wallpaper refreshes and detail why a full-blown Windows 12 release in 2027 is looking increasingly unlikely. We discuss platform fragmentation across Germanium and Bromine codebases, component cost inflation ("Ramageddon"), and why Microsoft could move toward iterative annual OS branding rather than forced migrations.

The conversation also tracks Copilot’s new opt-in integration into Windows Search, its discontinuation on LG and Samsung smart TVs, and hands-on impressions of the major performance rewrite of the Xbox PC app on handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally X20.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast is sponsored by Surfshark VPN. Unlimited devices, access your content from anywhere, and auto-block malware on Windows, Edge, and other platforms from $2.50/mo, with 3 months extra FREE. Sign up today!

• [05:41] – Windows 11 Uses Less RAM (Windows K2): How moving system UI to WinUI, stripping WebView dependencies, enforcing OEM memory budgets, and revamping RAM compression saves up to 1 GB on 8 GB PCs.
• [09:54] – Responsiveness Benchmarks & Mac Comparisons: Testing 26H2 multitasking performance, 20% responsiveness gains, and parity with 8 GB macOS systems.
• [17:26] – AI & NPU-Driven OS Optimization: Exploring machine learning prefetching to optimize system resources based on individual app usage habits.
• [20:55] – Copilot App Overhaul & Reasoning Models: Daniel’s impressions of automated model selection, conversational depth, and critique of the Chromium-wrapped desktop client.
• [29:39] – Copilot in Windows Search (Opt-In): The evolution of the former "Ask Copilot" taskbar feature into an optional, native WinUI search integration without forced AI prompts.
• [37:27] – Copilot Discontinued on Smart TVs: Microsoft ends Copilot support on LG and Samsung smart TVs as the platform pivots away from consumer assistants toward productivity.
• [44:12] – Why Windows 12 Is Unlikely in 2027: Analyzing Tom Warren's wallpaper leak, dual platform codebases (Germanium vs. Bromine), enterprise upgrade friction, and component shortages delaying an OS cycle.
• [50:03] – Annual Windows Naming (Windows 27?): Comparing Microsoft's release cadence to macOS and Android annual versioning instead of disruptive numbered leaps.
• [01:00:05] – Major Xbox PC App Rewrite: Massive performance boost (60% faster) on the newly overhauled Xbox Insider app, handheld scaling, and instant artwork loading on the ROG Xbox Ally X20.

Have a question you want us to answer on the podcast? Send it to us at podcast@windowscentral.com

Hosts:

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

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For most people, Windows 11 Home is the version I'd recommend. It includes virtually everything you need for everyday computing, productivity, gaming, and schoolwork, and paying extra for Pro won't make your PC faster.

I personally use Windows 11 Pro, but for specific reasons. I regularly rely on Group Policy, BitLocker, Remote Desktop, and Windows Sandbox, which give me more control over Windows and aren't all available with Home.

That's ultimately the decision: Pro is worth paying for if you actually need its additional tools. Otherwise, keep your money.

In this new Windows 11 guide, I'll explain the important differences between Windows 11 Home and Pro, which Pro features I think justify the extra cost, and which edition you should buy.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro differences at a glance

Both editions share the same foundation and offer most features regular users need for everyday tasks. The main differences can be found in advanced security, virtualization, remote access, hardware support, and business management.

The following table highlights the most important differences.

As you can see, Home already includes most of the features needed for everyday computing. The Pro edition adds capabilities that become useful when you need more control over your computer.

The short answer: Which should you buy?

Choose Home if you primarily browse, work, study, stream, or play games.

Choose Pro if you specifically need Group Policy, full BitLocker management, Remote Desktop hosting, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, or business-management features.

If you don't know whether you need Pro, you probably don't.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro pricing

When you buy a new desktop or laptop, Windows 11 is usually included in the price. However, if you're building a new computer or installing the operating system on an empty hard drive, you may need to purchase a product key separately.

Microsoft lists the following prices for its Windows 11 editions in the United States. The retail price of Windows 11 Home is usually $139.99, while Windows 11 Pro costs $199.99. If you already have a device with the "Home" edition, you can upgrade to "Pro" for an extra $99.99.

Prices may vary depending on the retailer and available promotions.

If your computer already runs Windows 11 Home, you can upgrade to Pro without reinstalling the operating system or losing your files and apps.

To check the available upgrade options, open Settings > System > Activation and select the option to upgrade your edition through the Microsoft Store.

One thing to keep in mind is that you don't have to buy Pro just because it's the more expensive edition. Unless you need its additional capabilities, Home is usually the better value.

What Windows 11 Pro features are worth paying for?

This is where the differences become more interesting. Windows 11 Pro includes several tools that aren't available in Home, but not all of them will be useful to everyone.

From my experience, four features make Pro particularly useful.

Group Policy Editor

The Local Group Policy Editor is one of the features I use most in Windows 11 Pro.

It provides access to advanced system settings that aren't always available through the Settings app. You can use it to configure Windows Update behavior, manage security policies, restrict access to certain features, and control other parts of the operating system.

For example, when I want to change how a feature behaves, Group Policy gives me another way to configure the system without relying on third-party apps or manually changing Registry entries.

This is particularly useful if you regularly troubleshoot the operating system, experiment with system settings, or want more control over your computer.

Windows 11 Home doesn't include the Local Group Policy Editor.

Worth it for: Enthusiasts, admins, and people frequently tweaking Windows.

My recommendation: If you're an advanced user who frequently changes system settings, Group Policy alone can make Pro more appealing. However, most everyday users won't need it.

BitLocker Drive Encryption

BitLocker is another reason I prefer Windows 11 Pro.

It lets you encrypt drives to protect your files from unauthorized access. This is especially useful if you store sensitive information on your computer or carry a laptop outside your home or office.

Windows 11 Home features "Device Encryption" on supported hardware. This feature uses the same BitLocker encryption technology, but it doesn't offer the same management options as Pro.

For example, with the full version of BitLocker, you can enable encryption and save the BitLocker key locally to retain full control. On the other hand, Device Encryption stores the BitLocker key automatically in your Microsoft account, so technically, the key isn't fully under your control.

Also, the feature gives you more control over drive encryption, including the ability to manage encryption on additional internal and removable drives.

Worth it for: People who need more control over drive encryption, particularly laptops or PCs holding sensitive files.

My recommendation: If you regularly work with sensitive files or want more control over encryption, including the ability to take full control of your decryption key, Pro is worth considering. However, don't upgrade just because you want basic drive encryption. Home already provides that capability on supported devices.

Remote Desktop

Remote Desktop is another feature I use regularly.

Windows 11 Pro allows you to connect to your computer remotely using the built-in Remote Desktop feature. This is useful when you need to access your desktop from another computer, whether you're in another room or away from home.

Windows 11 Home can connect to another PC but cannot act as a Remote Desktop host.

You can use third-party applications, such as Chrome Remote Desktop or RustDesk, as an alternative.

Worth it for: Anyone who regularly needs to remotely access the PC itself.

My recommendation: If you regularly access your main computer remotely, this is one of the clearest reasons to choose Pro.

Windows Sandbox

Windows Sandbox is another feature found in the Pro version, but I use it occasionally.

It creates a temporary, lightweight, isolated Windows 11 environment that lets you test untrusted apps, open unfamiliar files, and experiment with tools without changing your main installation.

When you close Windows Sandbox, it deletes everything inside that temporary environment.

I find this particularly useful when testing apps or checking something I don't want to install directly on my main installation.

Windows 11 Home doesn't include Windows Sandbox.

Worth it for: Enthusiasts and developers testing apps or unfamiliar files.

My recommendation: If you frequently test apps or experiment, Sandbox is a valuable addition. If you only install familiar apps, it probably isn't worth paying extra for Pro.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro virtualization

Beyond Windows Sandbox, Windows 11 Pro includes Hyper-V, Microsoft's virtualization platform.

Hyper-V allows you to create virtual machines that run other operating systems inside Windows 11. For example, you can install another version of Windows or a Linux distribution in a virtual machine without changing your main installation.

This is useful for developers, administrators, and advanced users who need to test software or work with different operating systems.

Windows 11 Home doesn't include Hyper-V. However, both editions support Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), which allows you to run Linux distributions and command-line tools directly in the operating system.

If you need a traditional virtual machine on Home, you can also use third-party apps such as Oracle VirtualBox.

The important consideration is that you don't need Pro to use Linux on Windows 11. The upgrade becomes more useful when you need the built-in Hyper-V platform and Windows Sandbox.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro hardware support

For hardware support, both editions support modern processors, graphics cards, storage devices, and other computer components. However, the "Pro" edition can support many more processing cores, memory, and server-grade hardware.

For example, Windows 11 Home supports up to 128GB of RAM, while Windows 11 Pro supports up to 2TB.

This difference won't affect most consumers. Even demanding apps, games, and productivity workloads generally don't require more memory than Home supports.

Also, given the price of memory today, few people can afford 2TB of RAM, let alone the specialized hardware needed to support that capacity.

However, the additional capacity can be useful for specialized workstations running professional applications, large datasets, and demanding virtual machines.

Also, while the Pro edition of Windows 11 supports up to 128 processing cores and up to two processors, the Home edition supports only one processor with up to 64 cores.

If you're building a regular desktop computer or purchasing a laptop for everyday use, the hardware limits of Windows 11 Home should be sufficient.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro for gaming

When it comes to gaming, both editions offer essentially the same experience.

Windows 11 Home and Pro support modern gaming technologies, including DirectX 12, Auto HDR, and DirectStorage on compatible hardware for 4K gaming.

Also, both editions can run games from platforms such as Steam, the Microsoft Store, and other digital game stores.

Windows 11 Pro doesn't provide higher frame rates or better graphics simply because it includes additional features.

If you're building a computer primarily for gaming, Windows 11 Home is the edition I recommend. You can save the extra money and put it toward a better graphics card, additional storage, or more memory.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro business features

Another major difference is that Windows 11 Pro includes features designed for environments where administrators need to manage computers, configure security settings, and control how users access system features.

For example, Pro supports joining an Active Directory domain or Microsoft Entra ID, allowing a computer to connect to an organization's identity and management infrastructure.

The edition also includes additional management capabilities, including mobile device management (MDM), organizational configuration policies, and Windows Autopilot support.

These tools allow businesses to configure computers, apply security settings, and prepare devices for employees.

Some of these capabilities require additional Microsoft services, subscriptions, and organizational configuration. Purchasing Windows 11 Pro alone doesn't automatically provide access to every business management service.

For the majority of home users, these features won't make a difference. However, if you're in a work environment that requires you to bring your own computer and join the company network, the Pro edition is the right choice.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro performance

If you're wondering which edition runs faster, the short answer is neither, and they perform virtually the same.

Home and Pro share the same core foundation and offer similar performance on identical hardware.

Windows 11 Pro doesn't automatically make apps launch faster, improve gaming performance, or reduce memory usage.

The main hardware advantage of Pro is its support for more memory. For example, Home supports up to 128GB of RAM, while Pro supports up to 2TB. However, this doesn't mean upgrading to Pro will make your existing computer faster.

In my experience, the processor, available memory, storage, background apps, and system configuration have a much bigger influence on how responsive a Windows computer feels.

Unless your workload requires more memory than Home supports, you shouldn't expect a performance improvement from changing editions.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro for college

If you plan to upgrade your laptop or desktop for college, the edition doesn't matter. If you have to choose between Home and Pro and the price doesn't increase, choose Pro. Otherwise, the Home edition provides all the tools you need to tackle virtually any task, including using productivity apps, streaming media, internet browsing, and gaming.

You also have access to Windows Subsystem for Linux, which can be useful for programming and other technical courses. However, Windows 11 Pro may be useful if your coursework requires Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, or specific business management capabilities.

If your college requires one of these features, check the software and hardware requirements before purchasing a computer.

Otherwise, I recommend choosing Windows 11 Home and saving the extra money for other equipment or school expenses.

Windows 11 Pro for Workstations

Microsoft also offers Windows 11 Pro for Workstations, a specialized edition designed for computers with more demanding hardware and professional workloads.

This edition includes the features available in Windows 11 Pro, plus additional capabilities for high-performance workstations.

For example, it supports more memory and processors than the standard Pro edition. It includes technologies such as SMB Direct and the Resilient File System (ReFS) for supported workloads and configurations.

These capabilities are designed for specialized environments, including professional workstations that handle demanding computing tasks and large amounts of data.

The majority of regular consumers and even many professionals don't need this edition.

If you're buying a regular desktop computer or laptop, Windows 11 Home or Pro is generally the better choice.

Which Windows 11 edition should you choose?

For most people, I recommend Windows 11 Home.

Home gives you virtually everything you need for everyday computing, gaming, schoolwork, and productivity. Paying extra for Pro won't make Windows faster or improve gaming performance.

Windows 11 Pro makes sense when you can name the feature you need from it. Group Policy, BitLocker management, Remote Desktop hosting, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, and business-management capabilities are legitimate reasons to upgrade.

I use Pro myself because several of those features are part of my workflow, but my needs probably aren't the same as yours.

Here's my recommendation for choosing the right edition:

• Choose Windows 11 Home if you're a home user, student, gamer, or someone who uses a device for everyday tasks.
• Choose Windows 11 Pro if you need advanced security features, virtualization, Remote Desktop, Group Policy, or business integration.
• Choose Windows 11 Pro for Workstations if your hardware and professional workloads require its additional capabilities.

If you're unsure whether you need Pro, Home is almost certainly where I'd start. You can always upgrade later without reinstalling Windows. Microsoft documents upgrading an activated Windows Home installation to Pro through the Microsoft Store or with a Pro product key.

Are you using Windows 11 Home or Pro? If you paid extra for Pro, which feature made the upgrade worthwhile? Let me know in the comments!

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Windows 11 is getting another substantial batch of changes in November, but after going through what's coming, two improvements stand out to me: the customizable context menu and Cloud Rebuild.

The first finally gives you control over some of the clutter that has plagued Windows 11's right-click menu, while Cloud Rebuild offers a much easier way to reinstall Windows without creating a bootable USB drive.

Those are only two of the 11 changes worth knowing about this month, which also include improvements for handheld gaming, Phone Link, accessibility, Edge performance, security, and more.

Availability will vary because Microsoft rolls many features out gradually, but here's what you should be watching for in our latest Windows 11 guide.

Windows 11's best features arriving in November

Here's all you need to know about the features and changes coming in November.

1. You can finally customize Windows 11's cluttered context menu

Starting with the November update, Windows 11 is getting a new context menu experience that gives you more control over the commands and app extensions that appear in the main menu.

The new menu reduces clutter and makes the experience faster by moving app extensions into a separate submenu. It also introduces a "Customize menu" option at the bottom of the interface, which opens a dedicated Settings page where you can enable or disable built-in commands, add options such as "Print" and "Send to," and control which app extensions appear in the main menu or submenu.

You can also display "Cut," "Copy," "Paste," "Rename," "Delete," and "Share" as individual commands instead of showing them in a vertical view. Windows 11 also lets you move "Properties" to the bottom of the menu as it appeared on Windows 10.

To access these options, right-click a file, folder, or the desktop and select Customize menu, or open Settings > Personalization > Context menu.

You can keep the default configuration if you prefer. Holding down "Shift" while right-clicking also reveals the legacy context menu.

The ability to customize the menu is particularly useful because it gives users more control over which commands they see without forcing everyone to use the same layout.

2. Xbox mode gets easier to navigate with a controller

Microsoft is also refreshing the Gaming Task View experience in XBOX mode. The updated interface retains the familiar design but adds a navigation bar that makes it easier to access options such as "Exit to Desktop" and "Power Options" using a game controller.

It's a relatively small change, but it makes basic actions easier to navigate using a gaming controller.

3. Privacy controls become easier to find in Settings

The Settings app is getting a few usability refinements. The "Privacy & security" page now groups Location, Microphone, and Camera controls more clearly, making it easier to review these permissions.

Microsoft is also expanding the "Device Info" card on the "Home" page to more markets. Available to users signed in with a Microsoft account, the card provides an overview of key hardware specifications and a shortcut to the "About" page.

The "Storage" page is also getting visual changes to its temporary files section.

These aren't major additions, but they make some commonly used Settings pages easier to navigate.

4. You can preview phone messages without opening Phone Link

Phone Link integration is getting a small convenience improvement. When your phone is connected, you can hover over a recent message or notification in the Start menu's "Recent" section of the mobile pane to preview its contents without opening it.

It's a minor addition, but it makes checking incoming messages more convenient without opening your phone or the Phone Link app.

5. Magnifier gets much better for multi-monitor setups

The Magnifier feature is getting three useful improvements, including independent zoom levels for multiple monitors, viewport locking, and a new contrast theme. These additions give you more control over magnified content while making it easier to work across multiple displays.

The biggest improvement is per-monitor zoom, which lets you assign a different magnification level to each display. For example, you can keep one monitor at 150 percent and another at 200 percent.

The feature is enabled by default, but displays must use "Extend" mode. Adjust each screen with the Magnifier toolbar or shortcuts ("Windows key + Plus/Minus").

Viewport locking keeps one magnified screen fixed while you move the pointer to another. Use "Ctrl + Windows key + K" to lock/unlock or "Windows key + Esc" to release all.

A new dark contrast theme reduces glare while keeping colors intact. Enable it from the Magnifier toolbar or Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier. Color inversion is separate.

6. Narrator can finally read and navigate math equations

The Narrator feature now supports reading and navigating math equations, making it easier for people with low vision to understand formulas, equations, and scientific notation.

The feature works with supported Microsoft 365 apps, including Word and PowerPoint, as well as web content in Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome.

You can use it with the "Narrator key + Alt + N" shortcut to enable math navigation, and then use the arrow keys to explore individual parts of an equation. Use the "Esc" key to exit. Math reading supports six languages, including English, German, Spanish, Finnish, and Traditional Chinese.

You can change the language and other preferences under Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Math reading.

Browser support requires Microsoft Edge version 153.0.4234.32 or later, or Google Chrome version 153.0.8010.18 or later.

7. Windows Recovery can automatically reconnect to Wi-Fi

Windows 11 is making recovery easier by allowing the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to reuse eligible Wi-Fi profiles saved in the main operating system.

This allows computers to connect automatically to supported wireless networks during recovery operations such as Quick Machine Recovery and Cloud Rebuild, without requiring administrators to configure Wi-Fi credentials separately during recovery.

The feature is enabled by default and supports certain certificate-based enterprise networks, though it doesn't currently support TPM-backed certificate keys. Network administrators can turn off the capability through the Recovery Configuration Service Provider (CSP).

WinRE only accesses saved network credentials when a recovery operation requires connectivity, rather than maintaining a permanent network connection.

8. You can reinstall Windows 11 from the cloud without a USB drive

I've been testing Cloud Rebuild, and eliminating the need to create installation media is easily its biggest advantage. However, I also ran into an important limitation: the feature depends on Windows Update having the drivers your PC needs.

Unlike a traditional local reinstall, it doesn't depend on the existing Windows installation or require a bootable USB drive or a custom recovery image. You can also start it from the Windows Recovery Environment when the device cannot boot.

You can start the process under Settings > System > Recovery and use the "Rebuild this PC" option, or from WinRE by selecting Troubleshoot > Recovery and uninstall > Cloud Rebuild. After connecting to Ethernet or Wi-Fi, the system will display the target build, edition, and language before installation.

The feature includes two options to clean the drive. For example, the "Remove files" option reformats the system drive, although specialized recovery tools might still recover some data. On the other hand, the "Remove and sanitize files" option uses the storage hardware's erase capability to erase the selected drives before reinstalling the operating system. Sanitization can't be undone and can take several hours to complete.

In my testing, one of the things I like most about Cloud Rebuild is that it eliminates the need to create installation media before reinstalling Windows 11. However, my testing also revealed an important limitation. The process depends on Windows Update to find the required drivers, which means it may not work on every configuration. I encountered this problem when testing the feature inside a virtual machine.

If you plan to use Cloud Rebuild, the device must also meet some requirements. For instance, the computer needs a working recovery environment, a network connection, and compatible drivers available through Windows Update. If a required networking or storage driver isn't available, the process can fail and may require recovery media from the device manufacturer or an installation USB drive.

For managed devices, administrators can also configure and initiate Cloud Rebuild remotely through the Recovery CSP, including specifying a target Windows build. Once the reinstall finishes, the device starts the Out-of-the-Box Experience (OOBE), allowing managed devices to be automatically reprovisioned through Windows Autopilot and Microsoft Intune.

9. Microsoft Edge can launch up to 33% faster

Microsoft Edge is getting faster and more consistent launches through a new Accelerated App Launch feature. Microsoft says most users should see launch times improve by around 15 percent when Edge is already running, with gains of up to 33 percent under heavy multitasking.

The new feature lets the operating system check for an existing Edge process when you open the browser from the Start menu, Taskbar, or a supported link. In the past, the system had to start an additional process to check whether the browser was already running before forwarding the request. As a result, removing that extra step helps reduce launch delays, especially when the device is under load.

Accelerated App Launch requires Microsoft Edge version 150 or later and Windows 11 versions 26H2, 25H2, or 26H1 with the November 2026 update or later installed on the computer.

One thing I wanted to point out is that the feature isn't limited to the default system browser. Developers can also implement this feature in their apps.

10. Windows 11 gets smarter about sleep and battery life

Windows 11 is also improving its adaptive hibernate policy on devices that support Modern Standby. The system will hibernate less often when the battery charge is above 80 percent, helping the computer resume more quickly. When the charge drops below 10 percent, the system will hibernate sooner to help preserve the remaining battery power.

11. Microsoft is enabling stronger security on more PCs

Microsoft is expanding Memory Integrity protection to more eligible devices. During updates, supported devices may automatically enable memory integrity, also known as Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI), to help protect the Windows kernel against malicious code.

The feature uses Virtualization-based Security (VBS) to help prevent untrusted code from modifying critical kernel components and ensures that only trusted kernel-mode code and drivers can run.

The new setting change works by checking the hardware capabilities, driver compatibility, and performance requirements before enabling the protection. The rollout also respects existing user and administrator configurations, so the system won't automatically turn memory integrity back on if it was explicitly disabled.

Although the expansion is a welcome security improvement, the feature isn't without trade-offs. Virtualization-based security can introduce performance overhead, and incompatible drivers or software can cause problems on some systems.

I wouldn't recommend turning off the protection simply because the operating system now enables it by default. If you stumble upon performance problems or hardware compatibility issues, check for updated drivers first and determine whether Memory Integrity is responsible before changing your security settings.

Windows Central's Take

Cloud Rebuild and context menu customization are easily the two November changes I'd watch most closely. Both address genuine Windows 11 pain points rather than simply adding another visual tweak or secondary feature.

Cloud Rebuild is especially promising. Being able to reinstall Windows without creating installation media could make recovery considerably easier, but my testing exposed an important limitation: it still depends on Windows Update having the drivers your PC needs. I ran into that problem while testing the feature in a virtual machine.

I'd like to see Microsoft make that process more resilient before calling it a replacement for traditional recovery media. If Microsoft can solve the driver problem, Cloud Rebuild could become one of Windows 11's most useful recovery tools.

Which November change would make the biggest difference to how you use Windows 11? Or is there something Microsoft still hasn't fixed that you'd rather see prioritized? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

When faced with a RAM shortage and dropping PC sales, companies have limited options. PC makers can't do much to increase the supply of memory chips in the short term, and expanding production takes time. That leaves app makers and developers under pressure to make their software more memory-efficient.

Microsoft led the charge recently in optimizing apps for systems with less RAM, though Discord also made a strong effort by ditching Electron. Everything from Windows 11 features to built-in Microsoft apps have been upgraded to use less RAM.

Microsoft is enforcing "memory budgets," such as restricting PCs with 8GB of RAM from having bloatware.

My question is, why did it take a RAM crisis for Microsoft, Discord, or any other company to care about efficiency?

Biggest News of the Week

With Microsoft and third-party developers working to make apps more efficient, PCs with only 8GB of RAM should perform better (though it's worth noting 8GB of RAM is already fine for some workflows). It's a welcome change, but I can't help but wonder why it's needed.

The latest version of Windows 11 proves that the operating system can run more efficiently than what we had even just a few months ago.

A lot of factors contributed to Windows 11 getting too bloated and RAM-hungry. The operating system has grown significantly since launch, adding features and expanding preexisting functionality. It seems that much of that growth happened without RAM overhead being a priority.

There also wasn't as much pressure to optimize apps until the RAM shortage kicked in. RAM was relatively inexpensive and many systems allowed you to upgrade later if you ever needed more memory.

Just as one example, back in 2023 we covered a deal that dropped the Corsair Vengeance 32GB 5200MHz to $180. Back then, it was noteworthy because the same module had previously cost $250. That price remained stable until about September 2025.

Now, that same RAM costs over $500.

Considering the relatively low cost of even a 32GB DDR5 RAM module back then, Windows 11 could chug along while eating up memory without affecting performance.

Now, out of necessity, Microsoft needs to optimize Windows 11 and as many apps as possible to reduce the total RAM demand across the PC industry. If companies like Discord hop on board, all the better.

Shopping with Sean

Due to the ongoing RAM shortage, it is increasingly difficult to find PCs with 16GB of RAM paired with premium specs for under $1,000. The current discount on the Acer Swift 16 AI slashes $550 off a laptop that can handle local AI workloads and creative work like video and photo editing. It also has an OLED panel our friends at Tom's Guide called its "standout feature" due to its sharp image quality and 120Hz refresh rate.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Microsoft's big news this week is about how Windows 11 is now considerably more responsive on 8GB of RAM. A couple of weeks ago, it was the Xbox Series X|S and AMD-powered gaming handhelds getting AMD's FSR 4.1 upscaling to help boost performance.

What do these stories have in common? To me, they're evidence that the standard tech market model is breaking down in the face of unprecedented hardware shortages.

Laptops and desktop PCs keep rising in price, even as they're stripped of memory and storage. Xbox consoles have never been pricier. The latest gaming handhelds, including the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, are ballooning in price, to the point that they cost as much as a high-end gaming laptop from just a few years ago.

Consumer hardware that used to brute-force its way to acceptable performance in Windows, games, and beyond is no longer on the table for a lot of people because of AI-inflated prices.

What's left? Microsoft, despite its major role in the AI race, can't directly make hardware cheaper. It can, however, make it last longer by focusing on optimizations and innovations that offset the current economic reality that's keeping old hardware in our hands.

Windows 11 running better on 8GB PCs is part of a bigger picture

The bigger story surrounding Windows 11's 8GB improvements is that Microsoft is putting significant engineering efforts into improving the OS for low-end hardware. And it's not afraid to show it off.

To me, this is a reversal of tradition. For what feels like all my life until recently, the answer to a sluggish PC was to upgrade the hardware. Microsoft and its OEMs loved this tradition, of course, because it let them sell more products.

Now, the focus is shifting to making the hardware we have feel like it can indeed last until an upgrade becomes affordable.

This shift comes a couple of years after Microsoft's massive Copilot+ PC initiative, which I'm sure was conceived as an ultimate ploy to get users to buy new hardware.

That didn't turn out so well for Microsoft. The AI tools built into the OS failed to capture the whimsy of the average user. Adoption was slow, no doubt largely because of rising prices. The Copilot+ PC badge was eventually phased out in September 2026.

Microsoft must have realized at some point during this transition that the millions of Windows users still running old hardware are not going to upgrade any time soon.

Optimization used to be a nice bonus when it arrived, but it's now becoming a major pillar in Microsoft's consumer strategy.

AMD's FSR 4.1 will held extend the life of consoles and handhelds

Microsoft isn't just working on optimizations for Windows users. AMD recently announced it's bringing its FSR 4.1 upscaling technique to its older hardware, which includes Xbox Series X|S, Radeon RX 6000 GPUs, and a host of Ryzen-powered gaming handhelds, including the ROG Xbox Ally X.

I've discussed how this update gives the current console generation some much-needed legs in the face of next-gen uncertainty. It improves image quality, makes rendering easier, and boosts framerates (maybe not all at the same time).

It won't turn your Xbox into a supercomputer, but it is the next best thing to buying an entirely new device with more power. This is particularly important as rumors of the next-gen Xbox Helix's $1200-$1800 price begin to swirl.

If Helix indeed launches at that price, Microsoft has to know that adoption won't be fast. But the company also knows it can't afford to lose those Xbox gamers.

Keeping the Series X|S relevant longer into the future ensures that gamers keep buying Game Pass subscriptions, keep buying new games, and, ultimately, remain inside the ecosystem.

Microsoft doesn't really need people to buy new PCs

Microsoft used to make ungodly amounts of money from licensing Windows on PCs. However, it's arrived at a point where licenses are a tiny fraction of revenue. It's all about the subscriptions now, including Game Pass, Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Copilot, Azure, and many more.

Don't get me wrong; I'm sure Microsoft would still love to be selling a ton of PCs. That's just good for business. That's not what's happening these days. PC sales are on a steep decline because of rising prices.

But as long as people are still using some sort of Windows PC that doesn't frustrate them with sluggish performance, there's a good chance that Microsoft will receive at least one monthly payment and remain within the ecosystem.

The current upgrade cycle is stuck in place

Microsoft realized at some point that the upgrade cycle we're currently in is going to last for a lot longer than usual, especially as prices keep climbing.

And although I'm sure there were external circumstances playing a role in these recent optimizations I laid out, the big story is that Microsoft knows software is the answer to unaffordable hardware.

Do you agree with my opinions above? Do you think we'll be seeing a lot more software optimization in the years to come if PC prices don't drop? Do you think this is all just a small bandage on a seeping wound? Let me know in the comments section below!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Microsoft has revealed the depths of its work to make Windows 11 feel less sluggish, with the company claiming, among other things, up to 20% better responsiveness on systems with 8GB of RAM.

Microsoft has claimed before that things "seem faster," but is there any juice behind this new claim? I decided to find out myself by running some tests on an 8GB laptop in my office.

The results will likely be surprising to some, especially once we get into the heavier workloads below.

How I tested Windows 11's responsiveness on an 8GB laptop

I installed a barebones version of Windows 11 25H2 (262000.7019) from about a year ago on an Acer Swift Air 14 with an Intel Core 5 320 CPU, 8GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD.

I didn't touch the page file (4524MB), and I only installed the necessary drivers before beginning my tests. I used the Best Performance power profile for all tests.

Once I'd completed all tests on 25H2, I upgraded to Windows 11 26H2 (26300.9711), which was released in October. Same system, same drivers, same programs.

Microsoft used telemetry data from things like Search, Settings, File Explorer, and Snipping Tool to measure responsiveness. I took a look at RAM usage instead; lower usage generally means fewer hiccups and interruptions, leading to an overall better experience.

Testing Windows 11's fresh-boot memory footprint with 8GB of RAM

For this test, I checked both new and old versions of Windows 11 about 10 minutes after booting the PC. This gives me a baseline to work with. I opened no additional apps and just let the system idle.

The older Windows 11 25H2 version was eating up 5.3GB of RAM in this scenario, leaving 2.3GB free. Windows 11 26H2 dropped RAM usage to 4.1GB, leaving 3.5GB free. That's a big drop.

Although both commits are the same at 9.5GB, Windows 11 26H2 uses slightly less at 4.4GB compared to 4.7GB.

TL;DR: Windows 11 26H2 is well ahead in the boot test where no additional apps are running, using significantly less RAM than 25H2.

Testing common workloads in Windows 11 with 8GB of RAM

Now that I've established a baseline, I put together a test to see how each PC handles an average user's daily workload.

I opened 10 tabs in Edge with a mix of Windows Central, Reddit, YouTube, Gmail, X, Amazon, etc. I also opened a Word document, Slack messenger, and the Spotify app.

Windows 11 25H2 climbed to 7.0GB RAM usage, while 26H2 hit just 6.6GB. That's about a 0.4GB improvement. Windows 11 26H2 was able to keep its cache larger while also committing less RAM at 10.4GB compared to 12.2GB.

For reference, committed memory indicates how much RAM the PC is setting aside for operations. In this case, 12.2GB of RAM committed includes physical system RAM and virtual memory (set by the page file). Committing less RAM keeps your system from clogging up, so this is good news.

TL;DR: Windows 11 26H2 keeps its lead under load, actively using less RAM and allocating less RAM overall.

Testing heavy workloads in Windows 11 with 8GB of RAM

Although the fresh crop of recommended Windows 11 laptops with 8GB of RAM aren't really meant to handle workloads this heavy, I knew it would be fun to really stress out the PC.

I opened Edge (with 20 tabs), a Word document, an Excel spreadsheet, Spotify, Slack, Microsoft Store, the Photos app, File Explorer, and GIMP simultaneously for this test.

You can see the 7.3GB total RAM usage on 25H2 and just 6.8GB on 26H2. That's a good sign, but there's some nuance.

Windows 11 25H2 began requiring more RAM than the system could provide, which led to paging and swapping, which led to disk usage spikes as the PC moved increasingly to virtual RAM.

Windows 11 26H2 also saw some disk usage spikes, especially when jumping around between apps and tabs, but not quite as severe.

The big number that stands out is committed RAM. 25H2 has 15.2GB allocated, while 26H2 has just 10.4GB allocated. Overall, the system is still using less RAM.

TL;DR: Heavy workloads bog down any 8GB system, but Windows 11 26H2 puts up a much more responsive fight than 25H2 from a year ago.

Windows Central's take

It's a bad time to be shopping for a new PC. The world's supply of memory and storage is constrained due to demand from AI data centers, leaving scraps for the rest of us.

The shortage is also forcing PC brands to raise prices. To offset costs, these brands are also reintroducing 8GB RAM models. This has led to plenty of discourse as to whether or not that's enough memory for modern Windows 11, which I explored in June.

In my opinion, Microsoft is A) listening to its user base that has been asking for a more streamlined Windows 11, and B) making it easier for OEMs to sell 8GB laptops to a wider range of people.

I'm here for it. There's no reason Windows 11 should be bogging down a system with 8GB of RAM, especially if it's just being used for common tasks. Compared to almost exactly one year ago, it definitely appears that the work was well worth the time.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

I recently highlighted an app that allows you to click and drag the taskbar to reposition it on Windows 11. In my piece, I said that "changing [the taskbar's] position still requires digging through Settings." That phrase and other parts of my piece led to a discussion online about the nature of coverage and being positive or negative when discussing apps and features.

Microsoft's Vice President of Design Diego Baca, said the phrasing in my piece was "unnecessarily negative" and argued that I could have instead simply highlighted the third-party app.

Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden weighed in, stating that the intention of the piece was to be clear and informative, not negative. That's true in this specific case, but Baca's broader point about negativity in tech coverage is still worth discussing.

What stuck with me wasn't whether my wording was too harsh. It was the question of how we should respond when companies explain why a feature isn't necessary, especially when history shows those same features often arrive later.

Biggest News of the Week

I want to be clear about the nature of this piece. Baca's response to my article sparked this discussion, but it's not meant to call him out or criticize him. Every interaction I've had with Baca has been positive and I appreciate how much he interacts with the community on X and other platforms.

Baca was promoted to Vice President of Design at Microsoft in August. I've noticed a distinct increase in user engagement since then from both Baca and other members of Microsoft's design team.

I would also be a hypocrite if I criticized Microsoft for not looking at feedback and then ignored feedback myself. I echo Baca's sentiment that listening to feedback is important even if someone ultimately decides to go in another direction than what's suggested. Understanding how other people think can shape how we view things in the future.

Baca also discussed the topic further when responding to other posts on X.

When "not a priority" becomes Priority 0

Explaining why your product lacks a feature that's available anywhere is easy. Defending why your product does not have a popular feature seen in other products is difficult. Justifying adding a feature after arguing against its value for years is almost impossible.

We've seen this with Apple and its touchscreen MacBook. Steve Jobs famously mocked the concept of a touchscreen laptop over a decade ago. In a similar manner, Tim Cook compared devices like the Surface Pro to combining a toaster and a refrigerator only for Apple to later release the iPad Pro, which is clearly similar to the Surface Pro in design.

Our Editor-in-Chief drove this point home recently.

Relating this back to Microsoft, the company tried to justify why the taskbar was immovable when Windows 11 shipped. Back in 2022, Tali Roth, head of product of Windows Core Experiences at Microsoft, explained why that was the case:

"When it comes to something like actually being able to move the taskbar to different locations on the screen, there's a number of challenges with that. When you think about having the taskbar on the right or the left, all of a sudden the reflow and the work that all of the apps have to do to be able to understand the environment is just huge...

And when you look at the data, while we know there is a set of people that love it that way and, like, really appreciate it, we also recognize that this set of users is really small compared to the set of other folks that are asking for other features. So, at the moment, we are continuing to focus on things that I hear more pain around."

In Roth's defense, she did not claim a movable taskbar was a broken concept. But she did say the effort to make it work was huge and that only a small set of users were passionate about the feature.

Then, when the Windows K2 initiative started, adding the option to move the taskbar was one of the first changes made. Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden's sources said that taskbar positioning was "Priority 0," meaning it was even more important than priority 1.

I doubt the amount of effort required changed dramatically. The number of users interested in the feature has likely remained relatively consistent as well, so why was a movable taskbar a top priority in Windows K2?

That's why I'm hesitant to treat explanations for missing features as the final word. Microsoft's reasons for not prioritizing taskbar positioning in 2022 did not make users wrong for wanting the feature, and they did not make criticism of that decision invalid. If anything, the feature later becoming a Priority 0 item proves that those complaints were worth making in the first place.

High expectations, not hostility

I love that Microsoft is improving Windows 11. I think the Windows K2 initiative is one of the most important consumer-focused initiatives the company has had in years. I also think it's okay to be critical while also noting improvements.

I am often critical of Microsoft and its products, but it's not for kicks or clicks. It comes from a genuine hope for the OS to improve. As I said back in January:

"My frustration with Windows 11 and Microsoft doesn't come from a place of "hate" — it comes from a place of high expectations. Whether Microsoft chooses to listen to its core enthusiasts or continues its current path toward an AI-bloated future remains to be seen. In the meantime, it's worth facing a mirror toward Redmond."

I've argued since March that Windows 11 isn't doomed and that Microsoft is fixing the operating system. But much of that change was inspired by passionate, and often negative, feedback — the squeaky wheel gets the grease and all that.

So, I may think twice about being overly negative about Microsoft in the future, but after doing so I'm still likely to press "Publish" on an article calling for change.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

In this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden break down the latest wave of Windows 11 Insider preview builds and major industry hardware shifts.

The episode begins with an overview of incoming Windows 11 quality-of-life updates, including File Explorer context menu overhauls, controller-friendly Xbox Quick Settings for gaming handhelds, deeper Phone Link integration in the taskbar, native speed tests, and rich, actionable search results. Zac also details controversial security adjustments to Windows Hello that force screen-brightening in low-light environments.

From there, we dissect Apple’s sudden embrace of touchscreen technology and OLED displays on the M5 MacBook Pro, comparing Apple’s historical messaging to current market demands. We follow up on the ongoing display debates surrounding the Surface Laptop Ultra's Mini-LED implementation (addressing local dimming claims and ghosting fixes), before examining Big Tech’s massive AI capital expenditure trends, market adjustments, and live audience Q&A questions.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast is sponsored by Surfshark VPN. Unlimited devices, access your content from anywhere, and auto-block malware on Windows, Edge, and other platforms from $2.50/mo, with 3 months extra FREE. Sign up today!

• TIMESTAMPS:
• 00:00 Pre-show Setup & Tech Checks
• 02:13 Welcome to Episode 409 & Agenda Overview
• 03:51 Testing $699–$799 Budget Windows Laptops
• 06:24 File Explorer Context Menu Overhaul & Quick Turnaround
• 07:26 Windows 11 Insider Updates: Gaming Task View & Handheld Quick Settings
• 08:23 Phone Link Quick Settings Integration & Native Speed Test
• 09:46 Rich Results & Inline Controls in Windows Search
• 11:28 Windows Hello Security Shift & Screen Brightness Fallback
• 13:17 Upcoming WinUI Components & OOBE Overhaul Hopes
• 16:08 Insider Channels: Experimental vs. Beta vs. Feature Platform
• 18:17 Critique of Modern Windows Setup & Account Upsells
• 22:14 Microsoft Edge App Launch Acceleration & UI Bloat
• 24:18 Sponsor Break
• 25:50 Apple Touchscreen MacBook Pro (M5 Pro) Reaction
• 28:18 Steve Jobs' Legacy, Clamshell Touch, and 2-in-1s
• 35:20 Brand Rhetoric, Eat-Your-Words Tech Shifts & iPhone Duo Hinge Issues
• 44:38 MacBook Pro OLED vs. Surface Laptop Ultra Mini-LED
• 47:55 Surface Laptop Ultra Display Controversy: Local Dimming, HDR & Ghosting
• 52:19 Big Tech Earnings, AI CapEx Spending & Dot-Com Parallels
• 01:00:10 Live Audience Q&A: Laptop Ultra vs. Surface Laptop 8, RAM Prices & Taskbar Alignment

Have a question you want us to answer on the podcast? Send it to us at podcast@windowscentral.com

Hosts:

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

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Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Everyone is frothing at the mouth over Gears of War E:Day again, but this time it’s not the culture war.

It's the sensationalized reporting around it's budget and retail sales. Headlines claim the game cost an astronomical $500 million to make, while other reports suggest it "only" sold 400,000 retail copies. Predictably, the terminally online commentary machine is in full force, with some rather insanely blaming Xbox fans for this failure.

Xbox fans asked for exclusives, and yet when push comes to shove, "fans didn't put their money where their mouth was," making Gears of War: E-Day's reported failure "their fault." It’s a neat and tidy narrative for console warriors, but one that’s completely out of touch with modern gaming economics outside of the social media bubble.

First of all, that $500 million figure requires crucial context before anyone uses it as a stick to beat the game with.

As clarified by Derek Reese, former Senior Product Manager of Xbox Game Creator Services, that cost isn't simply the game's direct production budget. Much of that figure stems from broad operational overhead, with The Coalition essentially being on the hook for funding Microsoft's custom internal branch of Unreal Engine and supporting engine integration across the wider Xbox studio network (a tech-debt burden similar to Turn 10 bearing the operational costs for ForzaTech, on Fable and Forza Horizon). Conflating general engine-R&D operational overhead with the direct cost of a single game's development represents a misleading omission in the wider narrative.

Beyond the budget discourse, expecting Xbox players to subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate at $22.99 a month, and an annual commitment of over $275, AND drop $70 on day one for every first-party title just to prop up traditional sales metrics is both unrealistic and absurd. The suggestion that players need to pay twice to prove they support a studio fundamentally misunderstands why Microsoft built this system in the first place.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is not free gaming

For what many are spending on an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, in standard retail that represents the cost of roughly four full priced $70 AAA games. When a player opts into the Game Pass ecosystem, they are effectively pre-paying for their gaming line-up up front. Expecting that same consumer to buy Gears of War E: Day at retail price to satisfy outdated quarterly sales charts ignores the basic economic contract of a subscription service. The entire value proposition of Game Pass is that you don’t have to shell out $70 every time a major title lands.

Not only that, but framing Game Pass users as passive freeloaders ignores key data we already know. Under oath, during the FTC proceedings, Xbox President at the time Sarah Bond revealed that Game Pass subscribers actually spend 20% more money on average on gaming than those who don’t subscribe.

I too have pleaded with fans to “put their money where their mouth is” for Microsoft's divested teams like Undead Labs. There's a clear distinction between asking players to support a core Microsoft internal studio, whose quarterly profits are in the tens of billions, over supporting the newly independent Undead Labs. Players who are financially able, could buy State of Decay 3 to stick it to Microsoft's bean counters, and show Xbox what they had just given up.

The Coalition is a victim of Microsoft's structuring. Putting them on the hook for Unreal Engine support across multiple games, collaboration with Epic Games, while also building a multi-faceted multiplayer title squashed under Call of Duty: MW4, World of Warcraft: Forever, Grand Theft Auto 6, and various other heavy hitters this quarter is pure insanity.

In a single two-month span, gamers were asked to choose between massive titles across every sub-genre: Marvel’s Wolverine, Silent Hill: Townfall, Minecraft Dungeons 2, Ace Combat 8 and major remasters like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Dynasty Warriors 3 Complete Edition.

Expecting any single game to generate record-breaking direct $70 sales during one of the most crowded, wallet-draining launch windows in recent gaming history is wishful thinking. In a climate where players are already triaging their spending, a day-one Game Pass entry was an incredibly convenient and lower-cost way to play E-Day.

The $70 SKU is dead on Xbox, and $30 upgrades replaced it.

Regardless, simply citing 400,000 unit sales, or focusing on Steam copies, vastly misrepresents the actual paying audience. Game Pass subscribers actually engaged with the game's revenue model in a massive way through the $30 Premium Edition Upgrade. That’s much easier to justify purchase-wise when you feel like you're already getting something of value with your subscription.

How many would have spent ANYTHING on the game without it being on Game Pass? How do we really predict that behaviour? There's no "alternative reality generator" to see how the game would've shored up in a universe without Game Pass, GTA 6, or the rest of it.

The $70 premium SKU is, for all practical purposes, functionally dead for first-party titles on Xbox console. But that isn’t because Xbox players refuse to spend money; it's because Microsoft has trained them to spend money on early-access add-ons rather than $70 on a standalone license.

The same people attacking Xbox Game Pass are likely the same kind of people happy to wait for Steam sales, which too have contributed to a rejection of the $70 retail model. This is before we even talk about free-to-play titles like Fortnite, Roblox, mobile games, and others which actually dominate the spend.

For many of these people, it represents a glaring double standard to mock players for using the exact monetization model Xbox has designed for them.

Exclusivity is a marathon, not a sprint.

The second major flaw in the current discourse is the demand for seemingly instant gratification. Asha Sharma positioned Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution as console exclusives at this years Xbox Games Showcase as something of an olive branch to the community. A signal that platform exclusivity was still a core priority for Xbox. But one game was never going to turn around hardware sales overnight. The reality of today’s market comes down to demographics and household finances.

Just a short story from my own experience showing a colleague E-Day running on a Xbox ROG Ally X during a train ride for work. He was blown away by the visuals and fondly recalled buying an Xbox console specifically for the original Gears of War. But today, as he told me, he has a PS5, a mortgage, and a family. Knowing E-Day isn't on PlayStation was a bummer for him as he was genuinely interested in the game, but dropping significant cash on a secondary console for a single game simply isn't a justifiable household expense anymore for him.

Decisions like that aren't made on impulse anymore for the age and demographic of console users Xbox is targeting. Hardware momentum won’t be rebuilt with a single flagship release; it needs to be a slow and steady rebuild over years of consistent, uninterrupted hits. As a family, we have discussed buying a Nintendo Switch 2, driven in part by Ocarina of Time’s launch, but that alone isn’t a driving factor; we’ll get access to Pokopia, Mario Kart, Donkey Kong Bonanza, etc. – all exclusives that make it a more justifiable expense and one the whole family can benefit from.

Expecting E-Day alone to magically reverse years of shifting multiplatform strategy and hardware decline in a single month is incredibly short-sighted. One game will not persuade someone to switch ecosystems, but four or five over a two-year span might. Rebuilding brand confidence requires patience, something the internet commentary cycle lacks, and something Microsoft has notoriously lacked itself in the past.

The danger of short sighted pivots

If Microsoft interprets the initial retail sales of E-Day as a failure of exclusivity rather than a predictable outcome of their own subscription strategy and timing, they risk making another premature course correction, so for their own sake I hope they are ignoring the current discourse.

Niche or brand-new IPs like Clockwork Revolution won't single-handedly move the needle either. What’s really needed, if they have the appetite for it, is exclusivity around massive, platform-defining pillars; the moments where a game like The Elder Scrolls 6 is kept strictly within the Xbox and PC ecosystem are what actually might be the thing that makes casual gamers re-evaluate where they play.

I don't even think something like Elder Scrolls 6 alone would do it, but if it is preceded by a bunch of other exclusives, it might.

Game Pass was designed to change how players consume games. Blaming the player base for using the service exactly as advertised is a bizarre double standard. Plenty of players paid out of pocket for E-Day premium upgrade on top of their subscriptions. If Xbox wants to prove that exclusivity still matters, it needs to give the strategy room to breathe.

And virtue-signalling pundits should stop expecting subscription-first, "wait-for-a-sale," players to buy into a $70 retail model have been repeatedly and explicitly told they don't need to.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Microsoft spent October testing a surprisingly useful collection of Windows 11 features, and after digging through the latest preview builds, I found several changes that could make a noticeable difference in how you use your PC.

Some address long-standing frustrations. Microsoft is finally experimenting with a customizable right-click menu, while the Start menu is getting more controls over its size and contents. Windows 11 can also run an internet speed test without kicking you into a browser, and traditional desktop apps are gaining more granular privacy controls.

There are smaller improvements worth knowing about, too, including phone controls in Quick Settings, smarter Windows Hello behavior in low light, accessibility improvements, and changes aimed at handheld gaming.

Microsoft tested these features across eight Windows 11 preview builds during the second half of October. I've gone through the changes and pulled out the ones I think actually matter.

Biggest improvements from the Windows Insider Program in October 2026

Let's dive into the most noteworthy changes since my last roundup.

Windows 11 finally lets you customize the context menu

Windows 11 build 26220.9757 introduces a redesigned context menu with new customization options that let you simplify the interface and control which commands appear when right-clicking files and folders.

The updated menu reduces clutter by moving additional app commands into a new "App extensions" submenu. This keeps the main menu focused on frequently used actions while providing access to extensions added by installed applications.

The new "Customize menu" option opens a dedicated page under Settings > Personalization, where you can control the menu's layout and available commands.

Under "File actions," you can choose which options appear directly in the main menu, including "Send to," "Print," "Create shortcut," "Copy as path," and "Rotate image." "Send to" and "Print" are also new additions to the modern context menu design.

The customization options extend to application integrations. You can choose whether the "App extensions" submenu appears in the main menu and select which application extensions remain directly accessible.

The new settings let you arrange primary commands, such as Cut and Paste, vertically instead of using the horizontal layout introduced with the modern design. You can also move "Properties" to the bottom of the menu to restore its familiar placement.

For those who prefer the classic experience, Windows 11 now lets you bring back the "Show more options" entry. You can also continue opening the traditional context menu by holding Shift while right-clicking a file or folder.

Internet speed test without a browser

Starting with build 26340.9767 in the Experimental channel for version 26H2, the Windows team is refreshing the "Speed test" feature with a native interface in the Quick Settings that allows you to test your internet connection without leaving the desktop.

If you recall, the feature isn't new, but the previous version was an option that opened Bing in the Microsoft Edge browser to perform a speed test with the online tool.

In the new design, the feature is still using the same Speed Test service in the backend, but the tests happen within the desktop experience.

You can also access the feature from the Wi-Fi or Cellular flyout, or by right-clicking the network icon and choosing the "Test internet speed" option.

The Start menu is finally getting more customization

As part of version 26H1, build 26220.9739 introduces new Start menu customization options, including the ability to choose a "Small," "Large," or "Automatic" layout under Settings > Personalization > Start, using the "Start menu size" option.

Microsoft also renames the "Recommended" section to "Recent" in both the Start menu and its Settings page.

In addition, users can now hide their name and profile picture from Start and independently show or hide the "Pinned," "Recent," and "All" sections using the redesigned Start settings page.

Windows 11 is giving you more control over desktop app permissions

In the "Privacy & security" section of the Settings app, the Windows team introduced per-app permissions for camera, microphone, and location access, giving users more control over the sensitive resources traditional desktop apps can use.

Now, inside the Camera, Microphone, or Location settings, users can view and allow or deny access for individual apps. Apps that have not previously accessed a resource will prompt for permission when they first request access.

The update preserves existing permissions, so previously allowed apps retain access and denied apps remain blocked. No action is required, and existing settings are not reset.

Enterprise policies continue to work as designed, although Microsoft is exploring additional management capabilities.

Also, most desktop apps appear with clear names, but some that rely on shared system components or browser-hosted experiences may appear under unexpected names.

Finally, apps with unverified publishers may appear as "Unsigned," so users should grant permissions only to applications they recognize and trust.

These changes for privacy are available with the release of build 26220.9739.

Finally, in build 28020.3262, the "Privacy & security" page gets an update that improves the organization of specific settings, including Camera, Microphone, and Location privacy controls.

Your phone controls are moving into Quick Settings

In Quick Settings, you'll also find a new "Mobile devices" flyout that lets you control your phone without interrupting your workflow.

If you're connecting a supported Android phone, you can check its battery, change the ringer, remotely play sound to find your phone, and enable Do Not Disturb.

This new interface is available starting with build 26340.9767 in the Experimental channel.

XBOX mode new Task View

Starting with builds 26340.9750 and 26220.9739, Windows 11 introduces an updated Task View interface when XBOX mode is enabled.

The new interface adds a navigation bar that gives quick access to "Exit to Desktop" and "Power Options" while using the gaming controller.

Feature flags are getting easier to manage

On the Feature flags page, you won't see major changes, but a new "Filter by" option lets you find and review components you can turn on or off in the installation.

Windows Hello can brighten your screen when it can't see you

Another worthy improvement can be found in Windows Hello. Starting with build 26340.9750, a new option lets the system automatically adjust screen brightness to provide more light and improve the authentication experience when using Windows Hello Facial recognition.

The feature is called "Automatically adjust screen brightness during face recognition" and is available in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Facial recognition (Windows Hello).

Magnifier improvements

In build 26220.9739, the development team released an updated version of the Magnifier experience to support independent zoom levels for each monitor in "Extend" mode (Settings > System > Display), preventing the magnified view from spilling across screens.

Users can set different zoom percentages for each display using the "Windows key + Plus (+)," "Windows key + Minus (-)," or "Ctrl + Alt + mouse wheel," adjust the percentages in Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier, or move the Magnifier toolbar to the screen they want to adjust.

Per-monitor zoom is enabled by default, but users can turn it off from the Magnifier toolbar or Settings to restore the traditional behavior of a single magnified view spanning all displays.

The update also introduces viewport locking, which keeps a monitor's magnified view in place while users move their pointer to another screen. This lets users reference content on one display while working on another without losing sight of the information.

The locked screen stays live and interactive, letting users click, read, or copy content while its view stays fixed. A notification indicates when a screen is locked. Users can lock or unlock an individual display by pointing to it and using the "Ctrl + Windows key + K" shortcut, customize the shortcut to "Ctrl + Alt + P" under Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier, or use the "Windows key + Esc" shortcut to release all locks.

In build 28120.3302, Microsoft adds a new contrast theme toggle to Magnifier to help reduce screen glare without changing the original colors of photos, videos, and charts. Users can enable a contrast theme directly from the Magnifier toolbar, with the dark theme applied by default. The preferred contrast theme can be selected under Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier.

Unlike color inversion, which changes colors across the screen, the new option adjusts the appearance while preserving the original colors of visual content. One last thing to note is that color inversion remains available as a separate feature.

Home Device Info card

In addition, build 26220.9739 added the Device Info Card on the Settings Home page to more markets.

The new card offers a quick overview of the device's key specifications and usage for users logged in with a Microsoft account. Clicking the link will open the "About" settings page.

Recovery improvements

Build 26220.9739 for version 26H1 also adds a new "Rebuild this PC" entry point for Cloud Rebuild under Settings > System > Recovery, making the feature easier to find and access directly from the Settings app.

Search experience declutter

The Windows team has also simplified the Search home interface to reduce visual clutter and make recent searches easier to access.

Search results now show clearer source indicators, helping users distinguish between apps, settings, files, web results, and Microsoft Store suggestions before opening them.

Finally, and perhaps more importantly, a new option under Settings > Privacy & security > Search also lets users choose whether web and Microsoft Store suggestions appear alongside local search results.

Although these improvements have been available in other builds, they became available for version 26H1 with the release of build 28020.3262.

Pointer Indicator accessibility feature

As part of the accessibility features in build 28020.3262, Microsoft introduced the Pointer Indicator to help users with low vision locate their mouse cursor more easily.

You can enable the feature under Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch. Once enabled, users can toggle "Pointer Indicator" on or off using the "Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + X" keyboard shortcut.

Live Captions improvements

In build 28020.3262, the Windows team also added a new "Include Screen Reader audio" setting for Live Captions.

The option is turned off by default, preventing Live Captions from transcribing audio from screen readers such as Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA.

This keeps captions focused on microphone and system audio unless you choose to include screen reader audio.

Microsoft 365 billing interface built in

In a continued effort to make it easier to take your money, Microsoft is building a new native interface that allows Microsoft 365 subscribers to turn on recurring billing without having to open their account details in a web browser.

Microsoft is testing this interface in build 26340.9767 through the Experimental channel.

Windows Central's Take

Microsoft is making some genuinely good decisions here. I'm particularly interested in the redesigned context menu, because giving users control over what appears when they right-click could finally address one of the most frustrating changes Microsoft introduced with Windows 11.

The new Start menu controls follow the same theme. Being able to resize Start, hide sections you don't use, and remove your profile information gives users more say over an interface Microsoft has kept surprisingly rigid. Per-app privacy permissions for traditional desktop applications are another meaningful improvement that Windows should arguably have offered much sooner.

Even the smaller additions make sense. I would rather run an internet speed test directly from Quick Settings than have Windows launch a browser, and automatically increasing screen brightness when Windows Hello needs help recognizing you is exactly the kind of subtle feature that can make Windows feel smarter without getting in the way.

I'm much less enthusiastic about Microsoft building a native interface for turning Microsoft 365 recurring billing back on. Windows 11 already spends plenty of time encouraging users to sign in, subscribe, or enable Microsoft services. I'd rather see Microsoft devote that attention to the unfinished and inconsistent parts of Windows itself.

Taken together, though, this is a promising batch of changes. The features I'm most excited about aren't flashy. They give users more control, remove unnecessary steps, and make familiar parts of Windows less frustrating to use. I want to see more of that.

Which of these Windows 11 changes would make the biggest difference on your PC? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

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The official XBOX 25th anniversary is approaching fast, with November 15 flanked on both sides by plans for special hardware, celebratory merchandise, and a wave of themed cosmetics from Microsoft's gaming division.

It's almost hard to comprehend, given that I remember the much-anticipated launch of the original XBOX quite clearly.

But time marches on, and XBOX has proven it can iterate its hardware and innovate its experiences over the years.

So, in another mix of self-indulgent nostalgia and reflection on how far the technology has come, I'm looking back at how far performance has leaped across these console generations, from the original XBOX to the Series X and beyond.

XBOX (2001)

Microsoft's first console was comically gigantic and heavy, packed with parts that felt at home in a mid-to-high-tier desktop PC of the time. Its DVD drive sat alongside a 3.5-inch hard drive with 8–10 GB of space, connected via old-school IDE ribbon cables, and together they made up most of the heft. Some of my braver friends replaced their HDDs, requiring injected softmods to work.

Deeper inside, Intel provided a modified Pentium III x86 CPU built on a 180 nm process, which it has since scaled down incredibly far to the latest 18A process node used in its mainstream chips. Running at 733 MHz, the processor sat alongside 64 MB of DDR RAM (that's megabytes, not gigabytes) clocked at 200 MHz and an NVIDIA GeForce 3-based GPU at 233 MHz.

Looking back, it's fascinating how the OG XBOX resembled many of my friends' PCs at the time; we either paired Intel CPUs with NVIDIA GPUs or opted for AMD CPUs with ATI (later acquired by AMD) GPUs. It wasn't a permanent partnership for Microsoft, but it powered a compelling competitor to Sony's PlayStation 2, even if it remained out of reach for my teenage self.

XBOX 360 (2005)

Design-wise, this slim console was a far cry from its behemoth predecessor. Sure enough, the XBOX 360 made an instant impression on me and an even faster dent in my first self-earned paychecks. This time, Microsoft opted for a 64-bit PowerPC-based CPU design from IBM, moving further away from traditional PC architecture, with a massive clock speed jump to 3.2 GHz in its tri-core chip.

This leap to a multi-core processor makes direct clock speed comparisons a little moot, but it's still impressive to see how far the XBOX jumped in one generation. Its unified memory moved from DDR SDRAM to 512 MB of GDDR3 RAM clocked at 700 MHz for eight times more capacity and triple the bandwidth, and the GPU swapped teams to the ATI-designed 'Xenos' at 500 MHz.

Storage space is where it gets harder to define, because Microsoft offered so many different models, redesigns, and expandable add-ons. The earliest XBOX 360 consoles I saw ranged from selling with no hard drive at all to a 'Premium' model with a 20 GB HDD in the box. For game discs, Microsoft kept DVDs, but increased the read speed and moved to a SATA-connected, dual-layer disc drive.

XBOX One (2013)

Ah, the all-in-one entertainment unit. I bought into the XBOX ONE so eagerly because I wanted to play Quantum Break, but I was also intrigued by its appeal as a TV tuner with live programming snapped to the side of my screen. Of course, I'd never get the promised DVR function, and the Kinect 2.0 sensor did little more than collect dust, but the console still had its gaming appeal.

This is when Microsoft's consoles started resembling PCs again, with an octo-core AMD Jaguar CPU running x86-64 instructions, clocked at 1.75 GHz. It wasn't as mind-blowing as the XBOX 360's evolution, but the XBOX ONE came with 8GB of DDR3 RAM for a 16x generational memory capacity leap; all part of a new console that was generally easier for game developers to target.

This is also where Microsoft's modern AMD era began, building a GPU running at 853 MHz into its singular APU and delivering raw graphical compute performance about five times faster than the XBOX 360. Storage saw a huge jump to 500 GB to support game installations, and Microsoft finally adopted Blu-ray with a BD-ROM disc drive, but games were already going digital.

XBOX Series X (2020)

Yes, the current generation is almost six years old. We're once again entering an age of speculation about what comes next, but the XBOX Series X (and Series S) remain the brand's primary focus. There's even a transparent green 'Xbox Series X25' special edition console and controller launching in November, though I'm still quite satisfied with my original Series X|S variants.

The specs have more nuance these days, but the AMD octo-core Zen 2 CPU runs at 3.66 GHz, paired with an AMD RDNA 2 GPU at 1.82 GHz in another custom APU. For unified memory, Microsoft moved up to 16 GB of GDDR6 RAM, while storage starts with a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, depending on the model you choose. Proprietary external storage also returned this generation, up to 4 TB.

An Ultra HD Blu-ray drive was also standard at launch, but later 'All-Digital' models have dropped it, in keeping with an ongoing trend shift towards digital gaming. Some major releases are already launching without physical media, and it's reasonable to assume that the Series X could be Microsoft's last console to support them by default.

XBOX Project Helix (2028?)

So, what comes next? We already know that Project Helix will be "powered by a custom AMD SoC", much like the APUs in previous XBOX consoles, and that high-end visuals are a focus for the brand. Ray-tracing technology, in particular, delivers incredibly realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows, but it's demanding on any hardware, which is where AI comes in.

AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) upscaling tech is already making its way to current-gen XBOX consoles via FSR 4.1, and early testing with beta drivers on XBOX Ally handheld gaming PCs shows some promise for improved visual fidelity at the same performance. A new AI-assisted upscaler seems likely for the next XBOX, but it'll depend on what AMD can support with its hardware plans.

Of course, the utterly gigantic elephant in the room right now is the ongoing memory crisis. Shortages have pushed up the cost of components and completely removed some of the highest-end consumer GPUs from sale, as major brands like NVIDIA focus on hardware for large-scale artificial intelligence platforms instead. It'll likely be the most PC-like console yet, but at a severe cost.

Its literal cost will continue to be the most pressing prediction posed by long-serving XBOX gamers. Both of the Series X|S consoles already suffered a price hike, which has many wondering what they'll have to pay for the next-generation console. Is $1,000+ a realistic expectation, or can Microsoft pull some favors to offset the inflated manufacturing costs? Let's see what 2027 reveals.

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Motorcycle racing games have been around for decades, but where four-wheeled titles have had support from wheel and pedal (and beyond) setups, bikes haven't seen the same support.

That's starting to change, though. At two SimRacing Expo events this year in Charlotte and Frankfurt that I've been to, both had interesting new products on display for bike fans.

The latest I got to take a look at is from Moza Racing, a brand we're already very familiar with for its excellent racing and truck simulator wheels. There's now an officially licensed MotoGP simulator designed to mimic a race bike's handlebars, and it can be used with existing Moza wheelbases. You don't need to have an actual bike simulator setup to use it.

The MotoGP collaboration is more than just a badge, too. It's been designed to closely follow MotoGP proportions and design.

I've checked out Trak Racer's full motorcycle simulator already this year, and while it's an incredibly impressive product, you need an immense amount of space (and a fairly large budget) to use it.

By contrast, Moza's can be used hooked up to your desk. It does work with dedicated motorcycle sim setups, but the beauty of it is that it's not required. You just need a wheelbase. Since it's a bike, you don't need pedals underneath you.

The handlebars are completely adjustable, so you're able to locate the throttle, clutch, and brake, exactly where it's most comfortable for you. The buttons on both sides are easily reachable without having to take your hand off the handlebars, and there's a D-Pad in the center for navigating menus and other such things you would do while you're not racing.

The whole thing is made of a magnesium alloy, so it's durable but also lightweight. The clutch and brake feature Hall Effect sensors, so they're accurate and will also stand the test of time. You're even able to swap out the brake and clutch with "compatible real motorbike components," which is remarkable. Score one for added realism.

Admittedly I haven't been able to actually try it out; the unit I saw wasn't hooked up to an active wheelbase. But the thing I was most curious about is how you actually use it, because, unlike cars, motorcycle racers lean into corners rather than simply use steering alone. So how does that work?

Moza's system allows for two methods of input. The handlebars can be set up as such that you can use either Direct Lean Mode or Countersteering Mode for an immersive experience. This will also help in future games that are less focused on track racing bikes, giving you the flexibility to ride all kinds.

There are a few games already out with full support, not least MotoGP 26, which has full force feedback built in, but there are more in development.

I'll be the first to admit that I am hopeless at the MotoGP games. I love watching the real thing, but I've never ridden a motorcycle, and I struggle with the virtual ones, too. But I'm really excited to see this is a space getting more attention. The more people that can enjoy this hobby, the better.

Sim racing as a whole is a category that continues to explode, and frankly, our two-wheeled friends deserve as much attention as four-wheeled racing. It's hoped that Moza will have it on sale by the end of the year, but there's no pricing information at this time.

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Browsing the web without an ad blocker is a brave adventure, especially on the mobile web. That's a big reason why I opted for Microsoft Edge and its built-in blocker on Android so many years ago; I just wanted to read articles in peace. Then again, it's sometimes an experience that's forced upon me when certain pages manage to bypass my ad blockers.

Of course, there are plenty of other browsers to choose from. Almost too many. But I'm not in a position to migrate my bookmarks, history, and logins to yet another Chromium clone just to escape overbearing ads for a while. That's why I've been leaning more on Reading Mode for the past few months or so, and it's a mostly flawless experience.

Reading Mode isn't new, but underappreciated

Microsoft Edge switches into Reading Mode for compatible articles with a single press of the F9 key, while Google Chrome needs a slightly more involved Alt+Shift+R shortcut. Alternatively, a tiny 'page' icon appears in the address bar on desktop browsers, while the Android app uses an 'open book' equivalent and activates the same thing.

Inside, I can toggle a few customization options, like text size, paragraph width, and color themes for the entire page that go further than a simple light or dark mode. A sepia-toned background might be easier on the eyes for some, and overriding the font to serif (or sans-serif) also helps some users read dense text faster. It's designed as an accessibility feature, but it helps in other ways.

The only downside is that, occasionally, some articles are inexplicably incompatible with Reading Mode, and it doesn't work as the icon disappears completely. It's usually specific to a certain website or outlet, which is even more confusing when they're often geared toward written content. I could probably solve it with another browser plugin, but I'd sooner look for a better ad blocker.

It isn't perfect either, but it's better than ads

It's a small change, but switching to Reading Mode on the regular has made the mobile web (and sometimes the desktop web) feel less cluttered and, for the most part, less annoying. Admittedly, there are still times when it goes a little haywire, blowing up tiny .svg icons into full-page eyesores, but, again, it's better than ads that follow me down the page.

There's nothing magical or groundbreaking about it, and no implication that I struck gold on finding some hidden feature. Instead, it feels more like one of those "Huh, I should have been using this for years" kinds of moments. I already contribute to brands that I care about the most through various memberships, but for the rest of the time, I don't want to be bothered with ads.

"Yet you display ads on your website. Curious!"

Indeed, but you also control your own devices, and what you see generally depends on your choices. Advertising can work when it's done well, and we request ads relevant to our content, even if that doesn't always work out. In that, I'll generally only switch to Reading Mode once I've landed on a (usually long-form) article, to keep distractions to a minimum.

Ultimately, I'd much rather read some creative writing and human-driven opinions over an AI summary, and Reading Mode is proving to be the best way to do it. Again, I could consider an even better plugin as a replacement, but so far, I've been quite happy with this setup for now. Hopefully, Microsoft won't mess with it (or remove it entirely) on mobile.

Maybe you've found an even better solution? Perhaps an extension that has a little more determination to work on absolutely any article? I'm open to suggestions. Let me know in the comments if you have a setup that works for you, or what you think about reading articles on the mobile web in general. We'll always forward any feedback on our ads to the right people, too. We hear you.

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On my recent jaunt to the SimRacing Expo in Frankfurt I got to play with a lot of incredible tech, but nothing like this. The ImSim Porsche Raceborn is designed in collaboration with the legendary German automaker, so it definitely looks the part.

The idea was not to simply slap some Porsche branding on one of ImSim's existing simulators but instead to create a bespoke product with a tailor-made look and feel. The level of detail is extraordinary, right down to the carpet.

Yes, the Raceborn has genuine Porsche carpet. Just as it has Porsche lights on the front and a lit-up, true-to-life Porsche logo on the rear. Does your expensive racing sim need lights and a carpet? Of course not. But in this case it's part of the experience.

You can even choose the color of the 'paintwork' and custom liveries if you've got the budget.

An all-in-one racing sim with integrated gaming PC

Speaking of, the one I tried at the event had a price tag quoted as €70,000 (approx. $78,000). Yeah, it's very expensive. But it's also not a product with a consumer target, not even the keenest of sim racers. Given how expensive even an RTX 5090 is these days, the PC alone will account for a decent chunk of it.

It is a perfect example of how far sim racing technology has advanced in recent years, though. The Raceborn is a complete system that can integrate a high-end gaming PC, ultrawide display, motion platform, haptics, and even active seatbelts. Yes, those are a thing now. And obviously, your choice of wheelbase and wheel.

The display and its mounting also deserve shouting out. It's integrated into the Raceborn unit, but it doesn't move. As the simulator's motion platform operates, the display remains perfectly still. What this also means is that if you'd prefer a three-monitor setup over the ultrawide I experienced, you can have just that. Or you can have VR if you wish. The entire product can be built as you wish.

The haptics are provided by a quartet of ButtKicker transducers, one for each wheel on the car. Each operates individually and has their respective vibrations isolated from the others. Paired with telemetry from the simulator, these are able to reproduce incredibly accurately what's happening with the tires and communicate the overall feeling of the car back to the driver.

So, what's it like to actually use? Honestly, it's the sort of experience I find hard to put into words. Just as in real life, when I've driven supercars on a track, knowing I'll never have the budget to own one. The same applies here. I thought for a second about taking my shoes off; the carpet looks so nice.

It is truly a magical thing to experience, though. The craftsmanship is sublime, and it feels like a Porsche product. The Raceborn at the SimRacing Expo was, naturally, top-spec, with a 21 nm wheelbase. The PC specs were undisclosed, but as with everything else, they can be customized to a customer's demands.

It FEELS like driving a car, not a video game

I've tried motion platforms before, and my feelings vary. Sometimes it feels like a roller coaster, but not the Raceborn. The motion platform is quite subtle but effective, and paired with the haptic feedback, the sensation of driving a car is very much there. It feels alive. The seatbelts even pull you in. The feedback is incredible.

One issue I've always had at home with titles such as iRacing is that because I only have feedback through the wheel, I'm constantly thinking, constantly trying to decipher how I think the car is behaving. On a setup like the Raceborn you don't have to think. Like driving a real car, you just instantly understand how much grip you have, whether you're starting to slide or whether someone just rear-ended you.

It's a gold-standard example of how sim racing is no longer just playing a racing game with a wheel and pedals. The hardware and software out there nowadays can put an extremely lifelike experience into anyone's hands. Sure, it all comes at a cost, but I can promise you that even a basic sim setup with haptics is cheaper than going racing in the real world.

As for the Raceborn, it's disappointing to know I'll never be in a position to own something that brilliant (though always holding out hope for a cheeky lottery win). Sure, rich people who buy Porsches will buy them, but I also see a different possible outcome.

For one, this is an exceptional marketing tool for Porsche. Why wouldn't a dealership or something like the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone get in one or two of these? While you wait for your service, hop on the sim, and drive the 963 prototype racer round Le Mans?

Something like this also opens up the possibility of giving actual racing drivers access to a world-class simulator without having to go to the factory. I've toured an F1 factory before, and their simulators take up an entire and large room. The technology is now getting to a point that drivers can get most of the experience from their own homes.

The ImSim Porsche Raceborn is a mindblowing product from every possible angle. The design and attention to detail, the quality of the driving experience, and the fact that it's a complete PC setup and I could barely even spot a cable. What a magical thing it is.

A final note too: The SimRacing Expo will be returning to Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 21 - 23, 2027. So if you're in the States and want to check out some of the latest and greatest virtual racing gear, I highly recommend a visit. The added bonus is it happens right next door to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

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Apple has finally made a touchscreen MacBook Pro, and you know what? Good.

I’ve been using touchscreen Windows laptops for well over a decade. Microsoft made touch central to Windows with Windows 8 in 2012, and PC makers have spent the years since experimenting with convertibles, detachable keyboards, pens, dual-screen PCs, foldable displays, and nearly every combination of those ideas imaginable.

Now Apple has decided touch belongs on a Mac, too.

There’s an obvious temptation here to point and laugh, particularly given how long Apple spent telling everyone that touchscreen laptops were a bad idea. But I don’t think Apple adopting touch in 2026 is really the problem. Technology improves. Consumer behavior changes. Companies reconsider old assumptions. Ideas that didn't make sense 15 years ago can make considerably more sense today.

Companies should be allowed to change their minds. In fact, I wish more of them would.

What bothers me is the corporate absolutism that so often comes before the reversal, and how readily consumers absorb those talking points and repeat them as though they were established technological truths.

Your favorite company is not your friend

Steve Jobs didn't merely say that Apple wasn't interested in making a touchscreen Mac. In 2010, he argued that vertical touch surfaces were “ergonomically terrible” and that after using one for an extended period, “your arm wants to fall off.”

Apple continued defending that philosophy long after Jobs. Craig Federighi argued that reaching up to touch a screen was fatiguing, while John Ternus explained Apple's position in 2021 by saying the iPad was optimized for touch and the Mac for indirect input.

And now we have a touchscreen MacBook Pro.

Apparently, our arms have recovered.

But there was never anything inherently ridiculous about occasionally touching your laptop screen! You don't use a touchscreen PC by spending eight hours with your arm suspended in front of you like you're directing traffic. You type. You use the touchpad. You use a mouse. And sometimes a button is sitting right there on the screen, so you reach up and tap it.

That's it. Nobody needed a grand philosophical argument for why that was useful.

Microsoft certainly got plenty wrong with Windows 8, especially its attempt to aggressively redesign a desktop operating system around touch. But the underlying idea that a computer could accommodate a keyboard, mouse, pen and your fingers was perfectly reasonable. Windows laptop makers proved that years ago.

Yet because Apple didn't want to make that computer, the company's decision somehow became evidence among some of its most devoted followers that these computers shouldn't exist at all.

That's the part I think is worth remembering.

We've watched this happen before

And touch isn't an isolated example.

When Microsoft was trying to blur the line between tablets and PCs with Surface, Tim Cook famously compared converging products to combining a toaster and a refrigerator. Years later, Apple built the iPad Pro and paired it with increasingly sophisticated keyboard and trackpad accessories. The implementation is Apple's own, but the supposedly absurd idea of a tablet increasingly behaving like a laptop doesn't seem quite so absurd anymore.

I've seen the same attitude around foldables and devices like Surface Duo. Years ago, I found myself explaining to Apple fans, practically like children, why someone might find value in a large display that folds into something much smaller and more pocketable. The response inevitably centered on all the reasons folding phones were unnecessary, compromised, gimmicky, or "solving a problem that didn't exist" (the line always used by people with no imagination).

Now Apple is making foldable devices too.

And again, good. I want Apple to make these products. Competition drives improvement, and Apple entering a category can push everyone else forward. I recently discussed on Schwab Network (above) how strategically important the iPhone Duo is, and its growing pains—or whether it’s the perfect $2,000 phone—are less of a concern in the long term.

This isn't an admonishment of Apple for adopting ideas that competitors got to first. It's an admonishment of the corporate theater that often precedes those reversals, and especially of consumers who willingly participate in it.

Stop turning corporate PR into your personality

Every technology company does some version of this. Microsoft does it. Google does it. Samsung does it. Apple does it.

I've interviewed enough executives over the years to know the standard response when you ask why a product doesn't have some particular piece of technology. You usually get something along the lines of: We're watching the technology, we're talking to our customers, and when we think the experience is right, we'll consider it.

That's corporate PR, but it's also a perfectly respectable answer.

What companies shouldn't do, and what consumers absolutely shouldn't help them do, is transform today's product limitation into some grand design philosophy explaining why the missing technology is actually stupid.

(Anyone else remember Apple not making large iPhones because your thumb couldn't reach across the screen? yeaaahh...)

Companies have roadmaps. They have price targets, manufacturing constraints, engineering limitations, internal politics, and products they aren't ready to announce. Sometimes they haven't figured something out yet. Sometimes a competitor simply got there first.

And sometimes they're just wrong. Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, and Craig Federighi were wrong. And it wasn't the tech that changed; it was the opinion.

Consumers and the technology press shouldn't turn those temporary business realities into articles of faith.

Apple is particularly good at controlling the language around its products, which makes resisting this tendency even more important. When Apple doesn't offer something, there's often an impulse among its most ardent supporters to rationalize the omission and explain why nobody really needs it anyway.

Then Apple ships it, and suddenly it's useful.

That's why the lesson of the touchscreen MacBook Pro isn't that Apple lost, and Windows won. Frankly, that kind of platform-war thinking is just another version of the same problem.

The lesson is much simpler: stop putting corporations on pedestals.

You don't work for these companies. You don't owe them ideological consistency. Buy the products you like. Praise them when they're good. Criticize them when they're bad. And when an executive explains why a technology their competitors already offer is unnecessary, ridiculous, inelegant, or something customers don't want, maybe don't adopt that argument as part of your identity.

Because a few years from now, they may be standing onstage trying to sell it to you.

And when that happens, changing their mind is perfectly fine. Pretending they never told you otherwise is something else entirely.

But tell me, am I wrong or missing something? What do you think about Apple suddenly being interested in foldables and touchscreen laptops in 2026? Let me know in the comments.

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It has been a year since the Xbox Ally X launched, so I figured it was about time we did a re-review.

We have FSR 4.1 on the Xbox Ally X now, a big Xbox app revamp is around the corner, and I'm probably one of the few content creators who actually uses this device on an almost daily basis. So, I really want to answer that burning question for Xbox ecosystem users: is it actually still worth a thousand big ones, even now, one year later?

How has the battery life stacked up? Is Windows 11 actually functional for handheld PC gaming yet? Does FSR 4.1 make for a killer feature?

Let's discuss.

FSR 4.1 is, indeed, a killer feature for the Xbox Ally X

The Xbox Ally X launched around this time last year (depending on your market) in partnership between Microsoft and ASUS. I'll do a write-up and a video on its less powerful Xbox Ally Z2A cousin in the future too. But we're looking at the $1,000 Xbox Ally X today. It was the first device to sport the Z2 Extreme chipset from AMD, making it the most powerful handheld at the time. AMD's new FSR 4.1 tech has given it a further boost on top of that as well.

FSR 4.1 is a heavier upscaling model than FSR 3, but it's all about boosting image quality, giving you more flexibility over how you play. You can now run quality modes that would previously look too ugly and blurry to bear, and still maintain a good level of performance. This extends to very graphically intensive games like Control Resonant, Cyberpunk 2077, Gears of War: E-Day, and games like Warhammer 40K Darktide, which have lots of enemies on-screen at any one time. FSR 4.1 will be adopted natively by more games over time, potentially extending the lifespan of the device even further. AMD has a list of games that already support it over here.

Using Performance and Turbo modes for maximum power, you're easily getting anywhere between 40 and 60 FPS at 1080p for most games out of the box. Heavier games will benefit more from FSR 4.1 being set to performance mode, which appears as crisp as quality mode did on FSR 3 models. I find FSR Frame Generation is also a good way to loop in more frames at the cost of some latency, although in most games I tried it was barely perceptible.

Heavily-optimized games like Death Stranding and the new Witcher 3 enhanced edition look absolutely stunning on this device, both in high and low power modes. Games with FSR 3 automatically benefit from FSR 4.1, which are presently in beta testing on the Xbox Ally X here. Witcher 3 absolutely sings on this device, although games with heavy reliance on ray tracing, like Silent Hill 2, still struggle a bit.

Either way, FSR 4.1 is going to vastly improve the lifespan of compatible devices like this, and it'll be interesting to see how it boosts the base Xbox Ally Z2A model (and Xbox Series X|S platform) in the future.

The hardware holds up, but Windows 11 still needs work

On the topic of lifespan, I'm someone who uses this handheld very regularly, at least every other day before bed. I've been using it mostly to grind Darktide recently, but I will also be using it for WoW: Forever in the coming weeks since it now supports a controller.

The hardware itself has held up incredibly well for me, but it would be neglectful not to mention the quality issues I've seen with the thumbsticks online and on Reddit. I think ASUS could've done a bit more to reinforce the sticks here, but if you go gently on it, I guess, like I do, perhaps you'll be okay. The most wear I have is that the paint on some of the buttons is beginning to wear off, but besides that, my Xbox Ally X seems rock solid.

I find that even a year in, the battery life is still decent on the Xbox Ally X too. I use Battery Care mode religiously to keep the charge topped off at around 80% to protect the lifespan of the cell, but when fully charged at 100% you're easily getting 4-5 hours in 13w silent mode in 2D games, and maybe 2-3 hours in 17w performance mode in a more intensive game, with trade-offs. If you go turbo mode, then yes, the battery will drain out in an hour or so. However, I find that when traveling these days on planes or trains, there's usually an outlet available to give you some extra juice.

There are a lot of games that offer a solid 3D experience even in silent 13w mode, if you're willing to compromise on visual quality and performance to maximize the Ally's longevity.

What is perhaps less solid is the operating system experience. This isn't ASUS' fault, of course, but more on Microsoft and Windows. Xbox and the Windows teams have been collaborating to improve the experience for users on devices like this, but the results have been mixed. The Xbox Ally X is particularly painful to use when hooked up to a TV in a Switch-like "docked" setting. Sometimes the controller loses the focus window, and there's no way to get it back without tapping the screen.

Basic parts of Windows still aren't navigable without a mouse, and the Xbox PC app still leaves a lot to be desired whether docked or not. Luckily, Microsoft is shipping a big update to the Xbox PC app in the coming weeks, and Windows 11 itself is picking up further refinements. It still feels overall like you're a bit of a beta tester for the OS itself, but you do get the full power of Windows as a trade-off, able to turn this device into a work laptop if you so desire (as I've done while traveling myself). You can run any launcher without hassle, like Steam or GOG, and you can connect any accessory that's compatible with Windows, including gamepads, mice, keyboards, and even printers.

The bottom line: I still adore the Xbox Ally X

But the bottom line is this: when you're actually in a game, this device absolutely sings. In Turbo mode at 35W, it will provide a solid 1080p 30~ish experience in the heaviest AAA games, even on a medium or even high quality setting, particularly with FSR 4.1 tweaks injected. You can get up to 60 FPS if you're willing to compromise on quality, generally speaking. There are many higher-end games that have been well-optimized for handhelds that deliver a 1080p 60 FPS experience too, such as The Witcher 3 Enhanced Edition.

I've never encountered a scenario where I couldn't get a satisfactory experience from a game, which cannot be said about the Steam Deck and other older or lower-end handhelds.

Given the state of the RAMpocalypse and component market in general, I expect it might be a while before developers push their visuals beyond what is available today. The Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch 2, and devices like this are probably going to be the baseline for a longer period than usual. If you were to buy the Xbox Ally X today, I expect you're going to get at least 3 to 4, maybe 5 years of solid use out of it before it might start feeling obsolete.

This is a fantastic device, a perfect companion for any Xbox player with a big Xbox Play Anywhere library. Even if you're dedicated to Steam, you can set Big Picture Mode as your default launcher and skip the Xbox ecosystem entirely if you fancy it.

For gaming evenings in bed, portable co-op with friends, or even as an emergency workhorse, the Xbox Ally X is a fantastic PC companion that I hope will be a staple of my gaming experience for a long time to come. And I would absolutely recommend it — as long as you think you'll get a good amount of use out of it.

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Original article:

Infinity Ward is celebrating some glowing reviews right now for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, which has hit a comfortable 89 on PlayStation and 86 on PC. By extension, it should be a slam dunk for Microsoft, given that they, you know, own Activision.

Unfortunately, there is one glaring omission from that Metacritic infographic, and it's Xbox.

If you head over to Metacritic, the lack of mention of an Xbox score makes sense immediately. The Xbox Series X version of Modern Warfare 4 doesn't have an official Metascore at all. It sits at a bleak "tbd" based on a grand total of two critic reviews.

So Microsoft owns Activision. Microsoft owns Call of Duty. Yet when it comes time to aggregate critical acclaim for the biggest blockbuster under its banner, there aren't enough critic reviews on Xbox to even generate a baseline score. It's not a good look, is it?

I'm not going to lay blame with "Xbox tax" on this one, don't worry; the reality is far more banal. Platform preference isn't to blame here, but the review process itself on Xbox is unnecessarily painful, and Xbox needs to do something about it.

Game keys vs Whitelisting shenanigans

Most gaming journalists and creators will be offered a choice of platforms on which to review a game, and they choose the path of least resistance. That path is generally PC/Steam, where you get a simple game code or access to a pre-release beta branch, or PlayStation, where you can redeem a code and you're good to go.

On Xbox, however, the process is more convoluted. You have to give your Xbox Live Device ID, which is buried within developer and system settings, to a PR company and wait for the publisher to manually whitelist your individual hardware before a code or build will even register.

Many of us are working against tight embargoes under an influx of game releases, especially in this absolute storm of releases that is Q4, and any extra steps to take can mount up in the inbox. Even if someone wants to cover the Xbox version of a game, convenience almost always dictates picking Steam or PS5 instead.

Xbox had the forethought to take over everyone's Xbox dashboard for Modern Warfare 4, but not to secure any kind of Metacritic presence.

Even Xbox outlets struggle (like us!)

Here at Windows Central, we obviously try to play within the Xbox ecosystem, yet even we constantly run into this wall. Case in point: for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 specifically, our own review was conducted on PC simply because that was the platform offered for the official review event.

When covering major releases or updates, PC and Steam codes are almost always pushed first because beta branches make distribution painless for publishers. Meanwhile, getting early access on Xbox feels a bit like doing my tax self-assessment.

Some titles, like Gears of War: E-Day, have had a healthier ratio. It was accessible through an insider build on the dashboard and much easier, so yes of course while it wasn't on PlayStation, we've a healthier skew of 87 Xbox reviews to 83 PC reviews. This isn't the norm, though.

When reviewing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered, I had to start my playthrough on Steam and wait a few days for the Xbox whitelisting to be completed before I could switch platforms (thank heavens for cross-save). I could have waited, sure, but when you're on a tight schedule, time is a luxury you don't have. I've had this exact same problem when checking out DLC for Goat Simulator 3, too.

When an outlet specifically dedicated to covering Xbox has to resort to playing pre-release games on PC just to hit embargo, what chance does the average reviewer at a multiplatform outlet have? Why would a critic jump through extra technical hoops for Xbox when a PS5 or Steam key is sitting in their inbox ready to download with a single click?

Xbox needs to fix this early access issue

Xbox already faces an uphill battle when it comes to hardware market share and media coverage. But allowing its own pre-release access to remain this cumbersome is self-harming to the brand.

When publishers don't distribute Xbox codes efficiently, fewer outlets review Xbox builds. When fewer outlets review Xbox builds, Metacritic scores sit at "TBD." This, in turn, creates a public perception that nobody is playing or caring about the platform, even when the game in question is published by Microsoft itself. Gamers looking for reviews may purchase on the platform where more coverage exists. It quickly becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

If Microsoft wants Xbox to remain a primary platform for game reviews and media coverage, it needs to make access to its platform for reviews much easier. Until redeeming an early-access Xbox code is as simple as punching in a key on PlayStation or Steam, we’re going to keep seeing Xbox-owned games celebrated everywhere except on Xbox.

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Microsoft is making it easier to check your internet connection on Windows 11 by replacing a browser shortcut with an actual built-in speed test tool that runs directly from Quick Settings. The redesigned tool is rolling out in preview on the Experimental channel with build 26340.9767.

The new experience lets you check your download and upload speeds and ping without opening Bing in Microsoft Edge or using another online tool. It's a small improvement, but one that makes more sense for a feature designed to help users troubleshoot their network connections.

Try the new integrated speed test

To run a test, open Quick Settings from the Taskbar and select the new "Speed test" option. You can also start a test from the Wi-Fi or Cellular flyout, or right-click the network icon in the system tray and select the "Test internet speed" option.

The operating system displays the test's progress and results directly in the Quick Settings interface, using your active internet connection.

If you don't see the option on build 26340.9767 or higher, open Settings > Windows Update > Insider Program > Feature flags, select the "Enabled" option for "Quick Settings Speed Test," and restart the computer.

In the announcement, Microsoft hasn't confirmed the provider in its official release notes. However, the tool includes an information tooltip noting that the service is "powered by SPEEDTEST," and the link points to OOKLA's privacy policy online, which confirms that the tool continues to use the same service as the previous version.

Windows 11 needs more features like this

I'm glad to see Microsoft making these kinds of changes to Windows 11. For too long, the company has been disguising web shortcuts as Windows features, sending users to the internet to view information or complete tasks they could handle more conveniently on the desktop.

These shortcuts often felt like a cheap solution, more focused on driving traffic to Bing and encouraging people to use Edge than on delivering a well-integrated experience.

The previous internet speed test option was a good example. Rather than measuring the connection directly from within the desktop, it opened a browser and redirected users to Bing's speed test page. The new experience removes that unnecessary step.

This isn't about whether a feature uses native code or web technologies behind the scenes. It's about letting users complete a task without being pushed into a browser when there's no good reason to leave the desktop in the first place.

Microsoft is applying the same idea to other parts of the operating system. In build 26340.9767, the company also introduced an updated Microsoft 365 subscription experience that lets subscribers turn recurring billing back on directly from Settings, instead of opening a separate webpage to make changes to their accounts.

These are relatively small changes, but they make the operating system feel more cohesive and less dependent on browser shortcuts.

The new speed test is still experimental, and the company hasn't announced when it will be available to everyone. For now, it's another welcome improvement that makes Windows 11 a little more useful without adding unnecessary complexity.

More resources

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• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

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On this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden tackle behind-the-scenes reporting on internal tensions between Microsoft’s Windows and Xbox engineering divisions regarding the next-generation Project Helix hardware. Sparked by a detailed report in Fortune, we examine conflicting visions over whether future Xbox hardware—including a rumored 2027 handheld and 2028 home console—should run a streamlined desktop Windows build or iterate on the locked-down, hyper-optimized, containerized Xbox OS.

We also breaks down leaked Microsoft internal survey research investigating potential shifts in first-party exclusivity for blockbuster franchises like Fallout and Minecraft. Daniel then details his comprehensive review impressions of the ultralight 3.9 lb ASUS ProArt P16 and the HP OmniBook Ultra 16, followed by an overview of AMD FSR 4.1 rolling out to handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally series to boost frame rates on constrained hardware.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast is sponsored by Surfshark VPN. Unlimited devices, access your content from anywhere, and auto-block malware on Windows, Edge, and other platforms from $2.50/mo, with 3 months extra FREE. Sign up today!

• [01:47] – Introduction & Episode Overview: Daniel and Zac kick off Episode 408, laying out the agenda: Windows vs. Xbox internal friction, Project Helix roadmaps, hardware reviews, and AMD FSR updates.
• [04:35] – Project Helix & The Fortune Report: Analysis of reported tensions between Asha Sharma’s Xbox leadership and the Windows team over software architecture for next-gen hardware.
• [06:49] – Updated Launch Timelines & Handheld Rumors: Dissecting expectations for a potential Xbox gaming handheld targeting late 2027 and the living room console shifting toward late 2028.
• [08:20] – Xbox OS vs. Windows Desktop Shell: Comparing console-level security, sandboxing, and background stability against open PC desktop architecture, and examining official executive responses.
• [15:08] – The Handheld Software Dilemma: Out-of-box user experience friction on Windows-based gaming handhelds (driver updates, launchers) compared to dedicated console environments.
• [23:51] – Security, Containerization & Publishers: Why game publishers prefer isolated hypervisor environments over open desktop file systems to prevent tampering and day-one piracy.
• [30:27] – Windows 12 & State Separation: History of Microsoft’s state-separated OS initiatives (Core OS, CorePC) and whether architectural isolation could arrive in future Windows releases.
• [35:31] – Leaked Exclusivity Research Survey: Discussion of leaked internal questionnaires gauging consumer reaction if future releases in franchises like Fallout or Minecraft become Xbox console exclusives.
• [46:00] – ASUS ProArt P16 In-Depth Review: Daniel breaks down the 3.9 lb RTX Spark laptop, evaluating 3K vs. 4K OLED panels, thermal cooling under 50 dB, and everyday 10-hour battery life.
• [54:32] – HP OmniBook Ultra 16: Contrasting ASUS’s utility suite (OLED dimming, taskbar protection) with HP’s build weight and software support.
• [55:55] – AMD FSR 4.1 Launch on Handhelds: What the new upscaling and frame generation driver update means for the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally family and constrained hardware.
• [01:00:08] – Live Audience Q&A: Viewer questions addressing Windows on ARM anti-cheat progress, Xbox Play Anywhere adoption incentives, and high-end hardware expectations.

Have a question you want us to answer on the podcast? Send it to us at podcast@windowscentral.com

Hosts:

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

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XBOX is rarely the focus of the Windows Wrap, but when reports claim clashes happened between the Windows and XBOX teams at Microsoft, gaming pushes itself to the front.

Last week I discussed how Windows 11 is holding back the Surface Laptop Ultra. This week, we learned that a different hardware division from Microsoft expressed frustrations with Windows. Reportedly, things got so heated between the XBOX and Windows teams that an XBOX leader threatened to cancel a gaming handheld if forced to run Windows 11 on the device.

Over the last few years, we've seen XBOX and Windows 11 grow closer together. The Windows 11 experience on gaming handhelds has improved drastically since day one, though it still has a ways to go. The XBOX app on Windows has been updated several times to align more with the console experience, which has a trickle-down effect on all gaming handhelds that run on Windows.

But despite the growth of Windows 11, the operating system still falls short of the requirements of the XBOX team, at least according to the latest reports.

Biggest News of the Week

There are some caveats to this entire discussion. Notably, Microsoft's Xbox CTO, Scott Van Vliet, refutes the claims made by Fortune.

Van Vliet said that Helix OS is "being built on Windows." He did not say that Helix OS is Windows. For what it's worth, I don't think we'll ever see an operating system called "Helix OS." But his post makes it clear that the OS powering Project Helix is built on Windows. That's not the same as saying it is Windows. At minimum, it's highly unlikely the Xbox will run the traditional Windows desktop you see on laptops and desktops.

Microsoft has used a customized version of Windows for several generations of XBOX hardware. The Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles already run an operating system that's built on Windows. Even the original XBOX ran an OS based on Windows, though the Xbox One ran an operating system much closer to Windows.

I asked Van Vliet if Project Helix is an evolution of the OS XBOX consoles already run or a freshly made custom OS, but he did not respond.

Microsoft has never specified that Project Helix will run Windows 11 and the Windows desktop, but several reports have suggested that was the plan for the console.

His post on X argues that the original report "misrepresents both the technical work and the relationship between the teams." For a moment, let's assume that's accurate and that the Windows and XBOX teams are working side-by-side in harmony. There's still a clear implication that Microsoft no longer views Windows 11 and the desktop as the right starting points for an operating system for Project Helix.

Earlier reports about Project Helix said the next generation of XBOX would run a customized version of Windows 11, much like the Xbox Ally and other gaming handhelds. It appears Microsoft has changed plans, though it's still not clear to what extent.

If you've used a gaming handheld running Windows 11, you may even agree with the sentiment that the OS is not the best starting point for a console gaming experience. Some of the best gaming handhelds are held back by Windows rather than boosted by it. For example, the out-of-the-box experience for the ROG XBOX Ally X20 is terrible because you have to go through three different sets of updates.

Shifting from Windows 11 powering XBOX consoles to those devices running an OS built on Windows is a massive change of plans. Though ironically, it's not much of a change from what Microsoft already does with XBOX.

Project Helix has reportedly slipped into 2028, so it may be a while before Microsoft explains exactly what changed.

Shopping with Sean

This week's biggest news may be about XBOX and gaming, but my top shopping recommendations of the week are laptops. Whether you want an Intel chip or a Snapdragon processor, there are great deals available.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

On October 13, 2026, Microsoft made available its latest cumulative update (KB5127648) for Windows 11 with several new improvements, including an option to always launch apps maximized, the ability to remap the Copilot key with new options, a new "Tips" widget, and additional touchpad controls. However, the update also includes a smaller set of improvements that may have gone unnoticed.

While this month's features have already received plenty of attention, some less prominent changes could still make a difference. The October update improves Bluetooth reliability, fixes mouse stuttering in some games, restores fingerprint sign-in on affected devices, and addresses printing and Always On VPN connection issues.

Here are six improvements and fixes worth knowing about after installing the October 2026 Security Update for Windows 11.

1. Windows 11 improves Bluetooth reliability

This monthly update includes eight Bluetooth improvements designed to make connecting to and using Bluetooth devices more reliable.

During voice calls, the system now shows the volume flyout when you adjust the volume using the controls on a compatible Bluetooth Classic Audio accessory, giving you visual feedback on the new volume level.

The update also improves how the operating system reports the connection status of disconnected Bluetooth accessories. It fixes an issue where the Bluetooth radio could be turned off even though its toggle in the Bluetooth and devices page in Settings still appeared to be on. Microsoft has also improved the stability of this Settings page when managing Bluetooth and audio devices.

For audio, the update improves microphone compatibility with certain Bluetooth Classic Audio accessories and makes shared audio more reliable.

It also fixes a crash (error code 0x139) that could happen while streaming Bluetooth audio and improves the reliability and performance of Bluetooth Low Energy (LE Audio) accessories.

2. Fingerprint sign-in works again after a cold boot

This release also fixes an issue that could prevent Windows Hello fingerprint sign-in from working after a cold boot on some computers.

Fingerprint authentication is convenient because it lets you sign in quickly without entering a password or PIN. However, a problem that appears after a full shutdown can make the feature unreliable.

If fingerprint sign-in fails after you power on your computer from a full shutdown, installing the update may resolve the problem.

3. Microsoft fixes mouse stuttering in some games

The October update (KB5127648) fixes an issue that could cause mouse input to stutter in some games. This problem can make aiming, camera movement, and other actions feel inconsistent, particularly in games that require precise input.

Since this fix targets an specific bug, it doesn't guarantee a solution for every mouse stuttering or performance issue.

4. Windows 11 fixes printing problems with certain drivers

Microsoft has also addressed a printing problem that could affect some apps and devices using RAW or Generic Text Only printer drivers after installing the August 2026 Security Update.

These driver configurations are used in certain printing environments, and the issue could prevent some print jobs from completing successfully.

Users affected by this problem should install KB5127648, then test their apps and printers again to confirm the problem has been resolved.

5. Always On VPN connections become more reliable

In addition, this rollout fixes an Always On VPN issue introduced by the earlier KB5124008 update.

On affected systems, automatic protocol selection or protocol fallback could leave a VPN connection stuck on Connecting or cause the initial connection attempt to fail. Subsequent attempts could also show the "The specified port is already in use" error message.

These problems can prevent users from establishing a reliable VPN connection, especially in managed business environments where remote access is essential.

6. File Explorer no longer crashes in certain multi-user environments

The update also fixes a File Explorer problem affecting some multi-user environments, including Azure Virtual Desktop deployments that use FSLogix.

On affected systems, "explorer.exe" could fail to start after sign-in or repeatedly crash, potentially leaving users with a black screen.

How to install the October 2026 update

The October 2026 Security Update for Windows 11 should install automatically, but it can be installed from Settings > Windows Update by clicking the "Check for updates" button.

The update is available for versions 26H2, 25H2, and 24H2, with builds 26300.9711, 26200.9711, and 26100.9711, respectively.

However, keep in mind that Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro reached the end of support with this security update released on October 13. This means that 24H2 will no longer receive security fixes and improvements, nor will the company continue offering support.

If you're still on version 24H2, I highly recommend upgrading to the latest version. Since versions 26H2, 25H2, and 24H2 share the same core system, switching versions only requires the latest updates for the current version and the enablement package, both of which should be available for download through Windows Update settings.

Windows Central's Take

Although the October update includes features and changes that are easier to notice, the smaller fixes can be just as useful when they address problems that disrupt your workflow. The Bluetooth improvements stand out because they cover several areas, from connection status and Settings reliability to audio compatibility and crashes.

The fixes for fingerprint sign-in, gaming, printing, and VPN connections are more specific, but they could make a difference to affected users. If you've experienced any of these problems, it's recommended to install this month's update as soon as possible.

Have you noticed any of these issues on your device? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

PowerToys, the "Swiss Army knife" of Windows 11, is now available in version 0.102, introducing several features designed to improve your desktop experience.

This release adds Mouse Button Lock to make dragging and selecting items easier, while CursorHide automatically hides the mouse pointer under specific conditions. Command Palette also gets an update with quick access to frequently used commands. In addition, PowerToys expands its command-line and automation features, and ZoomIt now lets you use voice input to set image descriptions.

In this guide, I'll highlight the five new features and improvements in PowerToys version 0.102 and explain how they can help you get more out of Windows 11.

1. Mouse Button Lock for easy dragging and selection

Selecting large groups of items or dragging files across the desktop can get tiring when you have to hold a mouse button down for an extended period. Starting with version 0.102, PowerToys introduced Mouse Button Lock to make these actions easier.

When this feature is enabled, you can press and hold a mouse button briefly, then release it. PowerToys keeps the button virtually held down, letting you keep selecting items or dragging files without physically holding the button. To release the hold, simply click any mouse button.

Mouse Button Lock can help when you're working with large file selections, moving items, or doing tasks that require extended dragging. It can also improve accessibility for people who have difficulty holding a mouse button down for long periods.

You can enable the feature in PowerToys > Input & Output > Mouse Utilities by turning on the "Mouse Button Lock" toggle switch.

From the "Buttons and behavior" settings, you can decide whether the left, middle, or right button should lock while pressed.

The settings also let you choose the hold duration before the button is locked as pressed, and the drag threshold allows you to specify how far you can move the mouse before PowerToys cancels the Mouse Button Lock.

2. CursorHide for fewer cursor interruptions

PowerToys also introduces a second mouse utility, CursorHide, which lets you hide the mouse pointer while you're typing, after a period of inactivity, or both.

CursorHide is useful when the mouse pointer gets in the way of what you're doing on the screen. For example, hiding the pointer while typing makes it easier to focus on text without the cursor covering words or other elements.

You can enable the feature in PowerToys > Input & Output > Mouse Utilities by turning on the "CursorHide" toggle switch.

In the "Activation and behavior" settings, you can choose to hide after keyboard input and set the cursor to hide after a period of inactivity.

3. Command Palette quick access to favorites

If you use Command Palette, this update rolls out an update to Compact mode that lets you pin frequently used commands under the search box.

Once you pin an item, you can launch it with the "Alt + 1" through "Alt + 9" shortcut or select it without running it with the "Alt + Shift + number" shortcut.

It's also possible to drag items to reorder them, right-click to access more options, and display recent apps and commands.

4. PowerToys expands command-line support

PowerToys version 0.102 expands its command-line capabilities, allowing you to control more utilities, automate tasks, and retrieve information directly from Command Prompt or PowerShell.

The update adds CLI commands for Advanced Paste, Light Switch, Settings, Peek, and PowerDisplay. These commands let you run actions, manage light and dark mode settings, turn utilities on or off, preview files and folders, and retrieve display information in script-friendly formats.

These additions are especially useful for automating repetitive tasks, creating scripts, or controlling PowerToys utilities without opening their graphical interfaces.

Here's a list of the new command-line support you can use with PowerShell:

• Advanced Paste: PowerToys.AdvancedPaste.CLI.exe
• Light Switch: PowerToys.LightSwitch.CLI.exe
• Settings: PowerToys.Settings.CLI.exe
• Peek: PowerToys.Peek.UI.exe
• PowerDisplay: PowerToys.PowerDisplay.CLI.exe

To learn about the options for each command, use the "--help" command. For example, PowerToys.LightSwitch.CLI.exe -- help.

If, for example, LightSwitch is enabled, you can switch to dark mode with the PowerToys.LightSwitch.CLI.exe dark command.

You can use the command to manage it, but you must enable the utility in PowerToys settings first.

5. ZoomIt adds screenshot dictation

Finally, ZoomIt now lets you dictate a description while capturing a screenshot, making it easier to document what's on the screen without typing the text separately.

To use the feature, open PowerToys > System Tools > ZoomIt, turn on the feature, and then under the "Snip" section, turn on the "Snip with dictation" toggle.

Once you have done that, drag to select an area of the screen, press the "Space" key, and describe what you're capturing. ZoomIt transcribes your speech locally, allowing you to paste the screenshot and its accompanying text together.

The feature uses the microphone selected in the "Record" settings.

Wrap up

PowerToys 0.102 is a surprisingly and unusually interesting update, despite the simple version-number change. The popular app serves as a clear reminder of how much Windows 11 continues to evolve thanks to community-driven tools — these additions make everyday workflows smoother and show how Microsoft’s open‑source ecosystem continues to fill gaps the OS itself doesn’t yet cover.

Whether you’re a power user or just someone who loves small quality‑of‑life upgrades, this release proves that Windows can still surprise you with clever, genuinely useful features.

What’s the most interesting feature in this rollout? Let me know in the comments!

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

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Xbox's 25th anniversary is here, and it's been a wild ride with plenty of ups and downs, to say the least.

To celebrate such a momentous occasion, I'm looking back on how I was introduced to the Xbox ecosystem, what convinced me to stick with it above all the other consoles, and how it shaped my most fond gaming memories.

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My first meeting with Xbox

My first memories of the Xbox ecosystem were during the early 2000s, when my brother came home with his friends to play some strange new sci-fi shooter called Halo on the original Xbox.

We all had a blast playing through the single campaign in co-op (despite my brother constantly getting us killed with his grenade obsession and bad Warthog driving skills) and even spent some time in the PvP modes fighting in the iconic 'Blood Gulch' map.

Admittedly, as a kid, I didn't play much of the OG Xbox's catalog, like Halo 1 and 2, as I was more obsessed with Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's GameCube at the time.

Sadly, that meant I missed out on classics like Psychonauts, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Jade Empire when they were brand new, and I wouldn't get to play them until decades later.

I certainly can't say the same for the Xbox 360 when it came out in the mid-2000s, as I was obsessed with it as a teen.

Hooked by the Xbox 360

While I was still enjoying the amazing games on the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, I found myself spending more time with the Xbox 360 and its library of iconic games like Gears of War, Mass Effect, Fallout 3, and BioShock, and underrated gems like Kameo: Elements of Power and Lost Odyssey, just to name a few.

I got to the point where I played multi-platform games like Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Transformers: War for Cybertron, Batman: Arkham Asylum, the Saints Row series, and Devil May Cry 4 only on Xbox 360, as I enjoyed its controls more for 3D games than any other home console.

And, in case anyone's wondering, my Xbox 360 managed to escape the infamous "Red Ring of Death", but I remember having technical issues of my own to deal with, mostly of my own making.

I somehow jumbled several Microsoft accounts together due to my inexperience with email addresses as a teen, and it took my brother several months to fix. I owed him big time for that and repaid his service by doing the "Scan the Keeper" quest in Mass Effect for him whenever he played (which has sadly become a family tradition I'll never escape from).

Thriving on the Xbox One

When the 2010s rolled around, there came a huge turning point in my gaming career. I was starting to become bored of how stale Nintendo games had become and was tired of dealing with motion-control gimmicks.

Plus, I was sick of having to deal with Sony's poor cybersecurity, as it was getting hacked every few months, forcing me to constantly change my account details on my PlayStation consoles.

As a result, I found myself playing console games exclusively on the Xbox One despite its disastrous launch, which mandated always-online requirements while being forced to be bundled with the Kinect, which Microsoft quickly backpedaled on.

While I didn't play the Xbox One as much as I did the Xbox 360 due to me getting into PC gaming during the mid-2010s, the Xbox One era held some of my fondest gaming memories and triumphs.

The Xbox One brought back one of the few fighting games I ever liked, Killer Instinct, with an amazing reboot that lasted for several years. It had amazing AAA titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Devil May Cry V, and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, and cool indie retro throwbacks like Cuphead.

However, all of those memories paled in comparison to when I was introduced to one of my favorite games of all time on the Xbox One (even though it's not an Xbox exclusive), Monster Hunter: World.

With over 2,000 hours on my Xbox save file, I have never before (or since) been so maddeningly obsessed with a single game as I was with Monster Hunter World on the Xbox One. The in-depth combat system, the vibrant, interactable world laden with secrets, the cool and challenging monsters, the endless amount of gear to grind for — it was amazing.

Even dealing with Monster Hunter World's cumbersome multiplayer matchmaking system and story-locking was worth suffering through, as hunting giant monsters the size of buildings with my friends was some of the most fun I ever had, and no other multiplayer game has topped it since for me.

A shaky modern era and the unknown future

And that brings us to the current Xbox Series X|S era, and it's been a mixed bag, to say the least. While it's brought us some amazing games like Elden Ring, Lies of P, Psychonauts 2, and Baldur's Gate 3, this era has brought about some depressing situations that made me almost consider quitting Xbox altogether.

The controversial Xbox 'reset' that has laid off hundreds of people, Microsoft banning people's hacked accounts instead of trying to recover them, the rising cost of everything due to the RAM crisis, and the horrifying realization that if something were to go wrong with Xbox Live, both digital and physical discs wouldn't work.

Yet despite this bleak era we're currently in, I'm not giving up. If Xbox was able to survive the global credit crisis of 2007 and the COVID-19 pandemic that lasted for several years, then I believe it will weather this cyber apocalypse as well.

So long as my friends keep playing Xbox games, I will stay the course so we can make more precious memories together as we ponder what the Xbox Series X|S's successor, Project Helix, will be like.

Happy anniversary, Xbox, and here's to another 25 years of gaming!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

I try not to write too many doom-and-gloom cybersecurity stories, but this week's vulnerabilities involving PHP are too big to ignore.

With the help of AI, PHP flaws that had been lying dormant for years were dredged up and exploited, resulting in parts of the internet going dark as IT experts attempted to fix the problem.

Although your Windows PC isn't in the direct line of fire this time, the sheer speed and ability of AI when it comes to discovering (and exploiting) flaws shouldn't go unnoticed.

I've put together this guide to help you be proactive rather than reactive towards whatever security crisis comes next.

ELI5: What's actually happening with PHP and the internet?

PHP is a programming language that's been around for more than three decades, and it quietly runs a large portion of the internet. Nearly 70% of websites with a known server language use PHP, including WordPress, Yahoo, Etsy, and Wikipedia. To say it's important is an understatement.

This week, two serious PHP security flaws known as "PHP2Shell" were made public. The exploits essentially allowed bad actors to take over servers and steal data. Once this news was public, countless bad actors began directing AI at the vulnerabilities.

The reaction? Some governments pulled their websites down to wait for a fix. IT teams worked countless hours to patch holes. Cloudflare fended off thousands of attempts to exploit the bugs, even before they were publicly announced.

The PHP Foundation released a patch on October 21, but it's only targeted at newer versions of PHP. There are countless millions of websites and servers running older versions of PHP that didn't get the fix (and may never be secure again).

Is PHP2Shell a one-time incident?

To give you an idea of what we're heading into (and not just in the middle of), Dan Lorenc, CEO of Chainguard, shared on LinkedIn a tale of his journey to find PHP vulnerabilities.

His team had the PHP news early, and it attempted to independently discover the vulnerability. All it took was a prompt for their frontier model to "find bad vulnerabilities in PHP" for this to happen.

No special AI voodoo. No deep knowledge of security systems. Just a powerful AI with a simple command. As Lorenc points out, "This is unfortunately the new normal for the industry."

I hate to fearmonger, but I'd rather help get you ahead of the next security flaw than pretend everything will work out fine.

Should you be concerned about PHP vulnerabilities?

There's no reason for the average Windows PC user to panic, but you should be aware of what's going on. Being proactive is the best line of defense.

PHP runs on servers, not your desktop or laptop PC, so ordinary users don't need to rush to patch their apps or browsers. However, if you use a website that's now vulnerable, personal information could be exposed.

What to do right now to protect yourself

As seemingly the entire internet goes into high-alert mode, there are three quick tips every regular PC user should be using to protect themselves against attacks.

1. Don't enter your credentials on websites that appear to be broken.
2. Keep an eye on your email inbox. Vulnerabilities like this often lead to spam and phishing emails. Don't download shady files or visit links you didn't expect to see.
3. Keep an eye on your bank statements for any shady activity.

These three tips will get you started, but there's a lot more you should be doing in order to prepare for the next big vulnerability.

How to prepare for the next big vulnerability

We're now entering an era of cybersecurity where you can assume that at some point you will be attacked. Your goal isn't to fend off every attack, but to make the fallout as easy to deal with as possible.

1. Use a password manager. Give each account a unique, complicated password.
2. Use an authenticator app or passkeys wherever possible. Two-factor authentication via SMS is becoming increasingly risky.
3. Keep your PC updated and Windows Security enabled.
4. Enable activity alerts from your banking apps.
5. Set up a new email address for anything financial.
6. Back up your data offline.
7. Update your Wi-Fi router's firmware.
8. Retire older hardware and devices that no longer receive security updates.
9. Remain vigilant.

The bottom line

AI is now able to find security flaws much faster than humans are able to fix them, and the PHP2Shell fallout from this week is very likely only the beginning of a wave of critical security issues that threaten the foundation of the internet.

It's not up to you or me to stop the next problem, but it is up to us to ensure that we mitigate risks.

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Apple finally "invented" the folding phone, bringing flexibility and multitasking to the masses. iPhone Duo reviews are in, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu.

All the talk of passport-shaped phones, mobile multitasking, and optimized apps sent me back to the days of Microsoft's Surface Duo. A lot of the phrasing in iPhone Duo reviews could have been copied and pasted from reviews of the Surface Duo.

So, I put together a quiz to see if people can identify if a quote is from an iPhone Duo review or a Surface Duo review.

I've changed all of the quotes in this quiz as little as possible and all changes are noted with brackets. I only altered a quote if it includes something that's a giveaway like iPhone Duo, Surface Duo, Apple, or Microsoft.

I sent this quiz to a few friends and colleagues before publishing it. No one got a perfect score, and many only got 50% correct. I'm curious to see if that trend continues as more people take the quiz. Please let me know how you did in the comments!

Below are all of the reviews I used to create this quiz.

• TechRadar iPhone Duo review
• TechRadar Surface Duo review
• The Verge iPhone Duo review
• The Verge Surface Duo review
• 9to5Mac iPhone Duo review
• Tom's Guide Surface Duo review
• Tom's Guide iPhone Duo review
• Windows Central Surface Duo review

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I got my hands on Lenovo's Pro 9n with an NVIDIA RTX Spark chip last week, and I've been using it as a daily driver ever since. Equipped with a powerful onboard GPU with unified memory — meaning it can 'borrow' from the system RAM when VRAM is needed, like in AI tasks — I figured it was time to finally set up a local agent on a laptop.

Why go with local instead of cloud? I lay out a few solid reasons after the short installation and setup tutorial below, but it mostly has to do with external token usage, privacy, and convenience.

Of course, you don't necessarily need a powerful RTX Spark chip inside your PC to do the same. If you're often using AI to chat, create images, study, summarize, and handle other light tasks, there aren't many reasons why you can’t make use of local AI on your PC.

As a relatively novice AI user, I found it shockingly easy to get everything up and running in about 5 minutes.

What you need before you start

A powerful GPU matters a lot more than a powerful CPU when it comes to local AI. Fitting an entire AI model into your PC’s VRAM will ensure the best performance.

For smaller local models, say within the 3 billion (3B) to 8 billion (8B) parameter range, you should aim for having a GPU with at least 8GB of VRAM. For medium-size models, say 8B to 14B parameters, aim for 12GB of VRAM.

For large models at 30B or more parameters, you’re getting into workstation territory where VRAM is either available from very expensive GPUs or from unified memory pools (as is the case with RTX Spark laptops).

I don’t recommend running local AI on a CPU only, but it is possible. Just be prepared for far slower performance, even with a powerful, modern chip with lots of cores.

PC gamers are likely the best equipped for this task, as they’re far more likely to have a strong GPU in their system.

How to install local, free AI on your Windows PC

For this walkthrough, I’ll show you just how easy it is to get AI running locally on your PC. It only took me about five minutes between launching a browser to begin downloading the necessary software and my first prompt sent to the agent.

The TL;DR? Download LM Studio. Pick an AI model to download. Mount it within LM Studio. Start chatting. Those are the basics, and I explain in more detail below.

1. Install LM Studio — It's free and easy to use

I have some experience with Ollama (another free piece of software for managing local LLMs) on my desktop PC, but in this case, I decided to test out LM Studio.

It’s a free app designed to make downloading, managing, and working with local AI models as easy as possible. The interface is modern and clean, and I’ve had no performance issues so far.

You can download it directly from the official LM Studio website. It runs on Windows (x86 and ARM), Linux, and macOS.

2. Download an AI model — there’s likely something to fit your hardware

Your next step is to choose and download an AI model (all within the LM Studio app) for local use. This is done with the Model Search feature in the app, which will recommend certain models to you right off the bat.

The open-source Qwen3.8 model is super popular right now, so that’s what I went with. Here’s where things get a tad tricky, but just for a moment.

The Qwen model I chose sits at 27B parameters, which is rather heavy and not built for the average PC. I’m using it to test the powerful RTX Spark laptop with unified VRAM.

Most casual users will have a lot more luck with AI models using fewer parameters. The beauty of LM Studio is that the search is all built right in, with flags for compatibility and performance. Websites like Codersera also have tools to help you find a suitable model for your specific PC.

If you find a popular model you think suits your needs and it comes with the “Full GPU Offload Possible” tag, chances are good that you’re in the right place.

Click the Download button on your preferred model and let it finish before proceeding.

3. Load the model and start chatting

Once your preferred AI model has finished downloading, the next step is to load the LLM into LM Studio. This can be done in a number of ways.

Probably the easiest way is to just click the Chat button in the top-left corner of the app, then click the “Select a model to load” button that appears in the top-center of the window.

Click the model you want to use and let it load. It will take a few moments to finish.

Once the LLM is loaded locally, you’re free to start chatting locally with your AI agent.

Local AI isn’t just for advanced PC users

Setting up a local LLM is about as easy as downloading and installing any other piece of software. If you’re interested in AI but want to increase privacy, use it offline, and not worry about expensive token usage, it’s basically the easiest method forward.

If you have a modern PC and a bit of time to spare, you can probably get a local AI agent running in the same time it just took you to read this walkthrough.

Local AI models — FAQ

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Before the DMZ Beta went live in 2022 as a bonus mode for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, it was widely considered one of gaming's worst-kept secrets. Pretty much everything about it had leaked in the months leading up to its launch.

When players did get their hands on it, the fledgling extraction mode was notably undercooked. The smarter AI for the time was impressive, but there was just not enough substance to keep a large player base active and excited.

Don't get me wrong, there were definitely DMZ die-hards in the Call of Duty community, but I was not among them. I liked the premise, and it certainly wanted to fill a void that had been left empty since I completed The Division's "Survival" DLC. But ultimately, I was convinced that I just wasn't meant to be an extraction shooter girly, and I made my way back to multiplayer and Warzone, where I belonged.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit Infinity Ward's studio and be among the first to see the reveal for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. This included the upcoming third mode — DMZ.

I'm not going to act like I wasn't surprised. Signs were pointing to DMZ's potential return, especially with the rise in the success of extraction shooters like Arc Raiders, for example, but I just wasn't sold on the idea that the previous DMZ Beta had warranted enough fanfare to justify spending 4 years of resources on this extraction mode over some other third mode like classic Spec Ops.

I grew even more nervous about the state of DMZ after the reveal, as launch inched closer and closer with absolutely zero marketing or reveals for the returning mode. No mention of DMZ during the MW4 Open Beta.

Finally, we had "DMZ Week", with a rush of information about the new mode flooding Call of Duty's marketing. When I returned to the studio to go hands-on with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 this month, it was DMZ that I was most looking forward to playing, surprisingly. I was starting to warm to the idea of the mode in general, at least.

For me, these hybrid PvEvP modes can be a hard sell. In the original DMZ Beta of yesteryear, I often felt like the AI combatants were more of an annoyance than an actual threat — just an obstacle in the way of finding the next squad to take down because I was thoroughly Warzone-brained. While there were tasks to complete on the inside, they felt menial and didn't really add much to the overall experience. Looting was an option, but it just didn't mean much at the end of the day.

We started our hands-on time in the Forward Operating Base, the opening hub world for all things DMZ. It's nicely designed, but I do find that overall the HUB itself is a bit disjointed. There's a laptop for every feature. Walk over to this side of the HUB to check your dog tag collection; go back to that side to buy intel on Lieutenants you can hunt. Certain features are locked until you reach the minimum level requirement. Once we were familiar with the layout, we were placed into teams and turned loose to explore Hajin.

Welcome to Hajin

Before I get too deep into overall gameplay, I want to talk about the design of Hajin. The map for DMZ is absolutely massive, especially when compared to the previous map used for the DMZ Beta, Al Mazrah. Al Mazrah felt spacious, but barren. Hajin, however, is a massive map that feels dense and alive. The large buildings tower against the DMZ's skybox, teeming with enemy AI that pose legitimate threats to your safety in the zone. Lush open outdoor areas offer plenty of trees with beautiful foliage and tall grass as cover, making it possible to take a stealthy approach when hunting targets.

The world of Hajin feels real. If you're looking for bandages, check a hospital. Need ammo? Head to a police station. This isn't a new concept, not even for Call of Duty. The original DMZ and the first attempt at Warzone 2.0 both relied on this mechanic of lootable items being found in areas that made sense instead of just stuffed in a box against the wall. For DMZ, it serves an added benefit of forcing players to explore areas outside of popular hot zones.

It's easy for communities to lock into certain areas of maps, especially ones this big, and only want to fight for control of a certain building or lootable box. But the most basic mechanics of Hajin are designed around that. If you're going to level up your operator, you're going to have to eventually go into dangerous areas to collect valuable gear and crafting materials.

Gameplay with meaning and depth

My biggest complaint with the original DMZ Beta was that completing tasks felt like they had little to no purpose. I'm happy to report that Modern Warfare 4's DMZ is overflowing with opportunity. From the story missions that continue the events of the campaign, to the dynamic ops that piece together new challenges with every deployment, to lieutenant hunts, and PvP encounters, this year's DMZ has plenty to offer players of all skill levels.

In my first attempt at DMZ during the hands-on period, I was paired up with a Sherpa from the development team and another player. We were pretty amenable to just exploring Hajin, taking in whatever came our way. Our Sherpa set us up with some dynamic ops that would let us get a little extra XP, and we dove in with the intent to free roam. We didn't start empty-handed; we had beginner-level vests and basic free loadouts to get us started.

Before long, we were collecting the necessary gear to take on bigger challenges, exploring areas with increased threat levels. Collecting gear and returning to the FOB gave us the opportunity to upgrade our operators' skill trees, making our progress feel even more meaningful than just "go in, grab things, get out." We became attached to our operators and their kits.

That is, until another team saw us heading for an exfil and opted to run us over with their trucks.

With my operator now MIA in the exclusion zone, I was left with a choice: Pay the ransom to get her back, or take the loss and go in as a fresh little newbie again.

I paid the ransom.

But then I decided to return to the DMZ for another run, this time solo. I'm too agreeable for my own good, and playing with a squad had left me following along with what they wanted to do. I wanted to see what happened if I went in and followed my own whims. I headed to a laptop in the base and ponied up $10,000 for intel on the location of a Lieutenant, a sniper with a ghillie suit and deer skull mask.

I didn't head straight for the marked lieutenant; I gave myself some time to look for important gear in case I ran into trouble. A med kit, some bandages, extra ammo. When I felt confident I could handle the fight, I headed that way. The lieutenant I had picked wasn't a particularly challenging one, but for a solo player with lower-tier weapons and armor, it certainly proved to be a challenge. I grabbed the dog tags when all was said and done and made my way to exfil, where I threw up a truce flag from the menu wheel and hoped for the best.

My next deployment into DMZ was once again with two additional players. This time our group took a more adventurous approach, diving into some of the more extreme areas of Hajin. We were grossly underleveled, but that didn't stop us from tackling the enemies that were coming at us. By playing it smart and working together, we were able to slowly fight our way through the mission and take down its in-world boss. We hadn't yet finished the mission in its entirety, and there was one other problem: the gas was coming.

We had a choice to hit the only exfil left, which was 900+m away, or we could attempt to finish the mission and hope that an in-place exfil would drop as a reward. Right as our helicopter took the air, the gas overtook the zone. We made it out, but only barely.

DMZ is an exhilarating addition to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

Call of Duty's third modes have always been a bit of an enigma. Treyarch's Zombies mode is an actual gold mine, building up a completely separate world that still ties in with the mainline title it's attached to and creating an intense alternative to multiplayer and Warzone that you can easily get lost in for hours, both solo and as a squad. It's genuinely impressive, but Infinity Ward's third mode, namely Spec Ops, never quite hit the community the same way that Zombies did.

The DMZ Beta was a dice roll for Modern Warfare 2, and whether it genuinely paid off at the time is dependent entirely on who you ask. But if we scope out and look at how the DMZ Beta has evolved into the DMZ that is part of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, I think it is safe to say that Infinity Ward has finally struck third-mode gold.

And I've finally found something to fill the void left behind by The Division.

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This year marks Xbox's 25th anniversary on November 15th, and over the last 6 months, we've seen more marketing from the brand than I've seen in the past decade. From a completely unexpected IKEA collaboration to the return of the Xbox Gear Store, Microsoft and third parties have teamed up to tempt Xbox fans with their hard-earned cash for some nostalgic goodies, as well as touring the globe with Xbox Fanfest.

I can't really complain, as there is some fantastic stuff available right now or for pre-order. Well, unless you wanted the limited-edition Xbox Series X25, of course, which got scalped in minutes. On the bright side, plenty of awesome collectibles won't cost you $900 buckaroos. Here’s everything worth checking out to help celebrate Xbox's 25th anniversary.

Even if you missed out on the $900 console, you can still get your hands on the official Xbox Series X|S Controller (X25 Edition) ($79.99). I’ve been practically begging Microsoft for an official transparent green gamepad ever since the Cipher series hit store shelves in Blue, Red, and White, but predictably, Xbox held out until the anniversary for the iconic Team Green aesthetic. Units start shipping on October 20, and like standard Xbox pads, it offers full cross-platform compatibility across PC, Android, and Xbox consoles.

If you’re looking for a slightly more budget-friendly route, the 8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Controller ($59.99 at Best Buy) is a stellar alternative. While it does require a wired connection when playing directly on Xbox consoles, it connects wirelessly to PC and Android, and it comes bundled with a charging dock right out of the box. It looks gorgeous on a desk setup, especially if you're pairing it with other retro-styled PC accessories.

Speaking of docks, the standalone 8BitDo Ultimate Charging Dock for Xbox Controllers (X25 Special Edition) ($39.99 at Amazon US) solves a very specific pet peeve of mine. I was so annoyed when my green 8BitDo controller originally shipped with a plain black charging cradle, so seeing them release a matching translucent green wireless dock for official Xbox Series X|S pads feels like a personal victory. Built specifically for official Xbox controllers, you simply drop your gamepad onto the magnetic contact points and charging begins automatically.

While not created strictly for the 25th anniversary, this green version of the 8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard (Xbox Edition) $94 at Amazon matches the Team Green aesthetic too well to ignore. Since it’s been on the market for a while, you can often catch it on sale. It sports a matte finish, very clicky Kailh Box Jellyfish switches, and 8BitDo’s iconic programmable Dual Super Buttons that let you map custom shortcuts.

If you’re grabbing the keyboard, pairing it with the matching 8BitDo R8 Wireless Mouse (Xbox Edition) ($59.99 at Amazon US) is a no brainer. The big advantage here over competitor options is that it comes bundled with its own magnetic charging dock right out of the box. Its design leans heavily into chunky 2001 retro vibes too, just like the keyboard.

For gaming on the go, PowerA has created a delightful leatherette PowerA Xbox Sling Bag ($39.99 at PowerA) that’s custom-built for handheld PC gaming, and specifically sized to fit an ROG Ally. It would easily fit a Steam Deck or Lenovo Legion Go though, so pick your poison. There are four storage compartments, internal cable pass-throughs for charging, and 25th-anniversary green accents. It’s currently showing as out of stock on PowerA’s site, as it hasn't officially gone up for sale yet, but it should be available very soon (we've reached out to confirm an exact date because I want it!).

Razer has delivered some of the absolute best-looking gear for Xbox’s 25th Anniversary (see our hands-on with them), and predictably, some of the priciest, but hey, it's Razer, and you're worth it. The translucent green Razer BlackWidow V4 75% ($209.99 at Razer) is stunning and serves as a tactile, much quieter alternative to 8BitDo’s loud, chunky retro board. Thanks to the clearer finish across the keycaps, the Razer Chroma RGB lighting shines through with a neater glow. Pre-orders will officially ship from October 20 onward.

If you're looking for a matching mouse, the Razer Basilisk lineup has long been hailed as one of the best gaming mice in the business, and the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K ($179.99) now comes Xbox-flavored. Beyond the shell, it packs up to 140 hours of wireless battery life, the customizable HyperScroll tilt wheel, and plenty of that all-important Razer Chroma RGB.

I wasn't completely sold on the concept of dedicated gaming earbuds initially, but having a lightweight pair for gaming, whether plugged into the Xbox or connected to my ROG Ally, has totally won me over. I'm currently using the SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds, but these Razer Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed for XBOX ($119.99) look the business. They have up to 35 hours of total battery life (10 hours on the buds plus an extra 25 from the charging case) and offer seamless multi-platform compatibility across Xbox, PC, and mobile (oh, and PS5 if you like)

Backbone was one of the first to ever hit the mobile controllers market, making them a natural fit for Xbox Cloud Gaming. Rather than sticking purely to translucent green, the Backbone Pro XBOX 25th Anniversary Edition ($179.99) comes in the real deep cut throwbacks like Halo Orange, Smoke Blue, and Crystal White. It’s an awesome nod for those of us old enough to remember. The catch is they are in blind boxes, and you have no way of knowing which color you will get!

Then onto GameSir, which makes some of my absolute favorite handheld controllers. They are seriously hard-wearing, ridiculously good value for the price, and come packed with drift-resistant Hall Effect sticks to boot. The GameSir X5 Lite for XBOX ($44.99) wraps all of that into an anniversary special edition.

Finally, the IKEA x Xbox "YXSTABY" collaboration has some surprisingly tasteful gaming chairs and more in-your-face gear-stick stools to wall-mounted controller shelves. But if you just want a small, fun piece of memorabilia without redecorating your whole living room, the XBOX x YXSTABY D-pad cushion ($17.99 at IKEA) is an easy win. It’s cheap and adds a subtle splash of gamer flair to any couch.

The Xbox Gloss Sweater ($59.99) is just one highlight from the official Xbox Gear Store, which features a surprisingly understated line of official 25th-anniversary apparel. Alongside minimalist sweaters and graphic tees, there’s even a bona fide "throwback" bucket hat if you really want to embrace early-2000s fashion. While a few popular sizes have already sold out, remaining stock is expected to ship by the end of October.

Over on Culture Kings, streetwear label 73 Studio has dropped its own collection, offering a broader and much more imaginative lineup of anniversary gear. My personal fave is the 73STUDIO X XBOX 25th Anniversary Console T-Shirt ($39), featuring a graphic of the original 2001 Xbox console across the back alongside the chonky Duke controller. Unlike pre-order drops, 73 Studio’s collection is available to buy and ship right now.

Another pick from me is the 73STUDIO X XBOX 25th Anniversary Play More Zip Hoodie ($95), which might be the ultimate cozy gaming hoodie for Fall.

Could there be more in store?

Now that's a hell of a lot of merch to choose from, and with the anniversary itself just around the corner on November 15th, it makes you wonder if Xbox still has a surprise or two up its sleeve for the big day. We've just had the Xbox Nano Controller drop (but only in white, boo!), but what else could be in store?

My money is on a long-awaited Xbox Elite Controller Series 3, which would make fans thrilled regardless of whether it comes in translucent green. I’d also be happy if they just sorted out proper Xbox Gear Store shipping to Europe (shakes fist)! Either way, I'm pretty sure we're in for at least one more unexpected drop when the big day finally arrives.

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Xbox turns 25 this year, and if you're going to commemorate a quarter-century of one of gaming's most recognizable brands, slapping a green logo onto some existing hardware isn't going to cut it.

Thankfully, Razer didn't phone it in.

The new Razer | XBOX 25 Anniversary Collection (now available) takes three existing Razer products, the BlackWidow V4 75%, Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, and Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed, and transforms them with translucent green shells, Xbox detailing, and some fantastic use of RGB lighting. Razer officially announced the limited-edition collection in August, describing it as a collaboration with Xbox celebrating 25 years of the brand.

I've now spent some time with all three, and there's one product that immediately stands above the rest.

The keyboard is ridiculously good.

The BlackWidow V4 75% is the star of the show

If I could only buy one thing from this collection, it would unquestionably be the BlackWidow V4 75%.

It's absolutely awesome-looking in person.

The translucent green chassis and keycaps make exceptionally good use of Razer's Chroma lighting because you're not simply seeing RGB through the legends. The light spills through the translucent structure of the keyboard itself, illuminating the switches and keys and giving the whole thing this glowing, almost radioactive Xbox-green appearance.

My photos don't really do it justice. I've generally kept mine predominantly green for obvious reasons, but you aren't locked into the Xbox color scheme. Razer Chroma gives you full RGB customization, including per-key lighting, while the keyboard also has two-sided underglow.

There are some lovely smaller touches, too. The spacebar carries the XBOX 25 branding; there are Xbox-inspired symbols scattered across the keycaps, and the familiar ABXY colors appear around the arrow cluster. Razer has even included a dedicated Xbox key for opening Game Bar.

But perhaps my favorite finishing touch is sitting in front of the keyboard.

The included magnetic wrist rest has Razer and XBOX 25 branding prominently printed on it in green, and that's the type of detail that pushes this beyond feeling like a basic special-edition colorway. It completes the look.

More importantly, this isn't just a keyboard that photographs well. It feels fantastic to type on (read our original BlackWidow V4 75% review for more details).

Razer uses its Orange Tactile Switches Gen-3 here, while retaining the BlackWidow V4 75%'s hot-swappable design.

At $209.99 on Razer.com, it's admittedly not cheap. But if I'm buying something specifically because it's a limited Xbox 25th-anniversary edition, I want it to actually feel special. This does.

The Basilisk V3 Pro 35K completes the look

My second favorite is easily the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K (see my review of the original non-35K Razer Basilisk V3 Pro for more info).

I'm already a fan of the Basilisk line, and underneath the translucent green makeover, this remains a very capable wireless gaming mouse. You get Razer's Focus Pro 35K Optical Sensor Gen-2, HyperScroll Tilt Wheel, 13 customizable controls, HyperSpeed Wireless connectivity, and Chroma RGB.

Razer lists up to 140 hours of battery life over HyperSpeed Wireless as well.

However, once again, it's the execution of the anniversary design that makes the difference.

The translucent green upper shell lets you see hints of the mouse's internal structure, while XBOX 25 branding runs down the side. RGB lighting beneath the mouse creates a bright green glow that makes it look fantastic beside the BlackWidow.

Honestly, if you're getting the keyboard, you really should just get the mouse too (sorry about your wallet).

There's even a translucent green 2.4GHz wireless dongle! Nobody needed to do that. Razer did it anyway, and that's precisely my point about this collection. Everywhere I look, there's another little bit of attention to detail.

The Basilisk costs $179.99 on Razer.com. Yes, Razer has subsequently moved the Basilisk family forward, so you're not buying the newest generation simply because this is a new Xbox edition. But considering what you're really paying for here, namely an excellent mouse transformed into a collectible anniversary design, I'm not going to complain too much.

The Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed does exactly what it needs to

Finally, there are the Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed earbuds.

I've been using these with my ASUS Xbox Ally X, where they've made a great little companion for handheld gaming. They sound great, and the transparent green design is wonderfully nostalgic without looking cheap.

The earbuds themselves are translucent right down through the stems, while the charging case gets the same treatment with a large XBOX 25 logo across the front. It's distinctive without Razer needing to reinvent the product underneath.

To be clear, I'm not sure what else Razer could have done here.

These support both Razer HyperSpeed Wireless over 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.3, including Razer SmartSwitch, alongside up to 35 hours of total battery life. They're also IPX4-rated, and Razer lists surround-sound support across Xbox and PC.

At $119.99 on Razer.com, they're also the least expensive route into the collection.

This is how you do an anniversary collection

The three anniversary models carry roughly a $10 to $20 premium over their standard counterparts, depending on the product. That's the sort of "special edition tax" I can live with when I'm actually getting something special in return.

And, in my opinion, Razer really went over the top here.

There's a consistency across all three products that makes them feel like an actual collection, rather than three unrelated products that happen to share a logo and color. Put the BlackWidow and Basilisk together on a desk, and they look fantastic.

The translucent green plastic immediately evokes Xbox, while the XBOX 25 logos, custom keycaps, ABXY colors, wrist-rest embroidery, RGB implementation, and even that ridiculous little green wireless dongle demonstrate that somebody cared about sweating the details.

And that's ultimately why I like these so much.

Razer started with some of its best hardware rather than using Xbox's anniversary to dress up cheaper peripherals, and then went far enough with the aesthetic changes that they feel genuinely unique.

The Razer | XBOX 25 Anniversary Collection is available to order from October 20, with the BlackWidow V4 75% at $209.99, Basilisk V3 Pro 35K at $179.99, and Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed at $119.99.

These are limited edition, so don't be shocked if they sell out.

If I were choosing only one, I'd take the BlackWidow without hesitation. (But let's be honest: the keyboard and mouse belong together.)

A+ from me, Razer. This is how you do anniversary hardware.

Hit me up in the comments if you have any questions while I still have these on hand! And you can follow the rest of our XBOX 25 coverage as we round out 2026.

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