June is closing out, making it a good moment to recap the latest Windows 11 changes Microsoft delivered in the second half of the month. While there are no headline-grabbing feature drops, the updates continue to refine the overall experience with a steady set of improvements across the system. Microsoft also confirmed active development of Windows 11 version 26H2, the next major release on the roadmap.

During the final two weeks of June, preview builds in the Experimental channel transitioned their versioning from 25H2 to 26H2, signaling the formal shift toward the next development cycle.

At the same time, Taskbar customization gained more flexibility, allowing users to adjust its size independently of button scaling, offering finer control over the desktop layout.

Meanwhile, the Future Platforms channel received a broader set of enhancements, including Screen tint, reduced reboot requirements for Windows Update, improved Magnifier zoom options, and refinements across Personalization, Storage, and Audio settings.

In the Experimental channel, we've seen builds 29617, 28120.2374, 26300.8758, 28120.2315, and 26300.8697. In the Beta channel, the company released builds 26220.8754, 28020.2366, 28020.2308, and 26220.8690.

In this recap, I'll highlight the latest and most noteworthy changes available through the Windows Insider Program.

Biggest improvements from the Windows Insider Program in June 2026

These are the most significant changes Microsoft has unveiled since my last roundup.

Windows 11 version 26H2

Although it's not a feature, starting with build 26300.8697 in the Experimental experience, Microsoft officially changed the version number from 25H2 to 26H2.

You will find the change in Settings > System > About, under the "Windows Info" section. Also, the version number can be found when running the "winver" command. However, the "Windows Insider Program" still reports this channel as "Windows 11, version 25H2."

This means that everything that the company makes available in the Experimental channel will become part of the version 26H2.

However, another point to note is that versions 25H2 and 26H2 share the same core file system, meaning that even though the company has announced the development of the new version, virtually all the changes intended for version 26H2 will also be available for version 25H2.

Privacy & security page redesign

Build 26300.8697 also updates the "Privacy & security" page with a new header that includes an entry point to the Windows Security app and a glance at details for various features, including location, camera, and microphone features.

On the rest of the page, the development team is also reorganizing the items into new sections, including "Your info," "Communication," "File access," and "System."

Other new entry points include "Custom Dictionary" and "Passkeys."

Although it's not officially available, it has been found that on the "Search" page, Microsoft is updating the "Show suggested results" setting to include options to disable web searches and Microsoft Store apps from search results in the Windows Search feature.

Mobile Devices changes

As part of the change for version 26H1, in the Beta and Experimental channels, builds 28120.2374 and 28020.2366 update the Mobile Devices page in the Settings app and add the ability to configure and manage mobile devices.

Emoji panel changes

Also, in version 26H1, the company is changing the GIF provider to GIPHY, replacing the Tenor API to improve the experience for browsing and sharing GIFs.

Taskbar resize option

Microsoft also made available build 26300.8758 for version 26H2, which updates the Taskbar settings with a new dedicated option to make the Taskbar smaller.

The setting is called "Taskbar size," and it features two options, including "Default" and "Small."

If you use the "Small" option, this action turns off the "Show smaller app icons" feature.

The description under the "Automatically hide the taskbar" option is also new in this release.

Sounds in dark mode

This isn't a flashy improvement, but it's worth pointing out that build 26300.8758 improves system sounds when using the system dark mode.

XBOX branding

In the Gaming section, the Xbox mode page is being rebranded to "XBOX mode" as the company refreshes the brand based on feedback.

Screen tint new feature

On Windows 11 build 29617 for the Future Platforms version, Microsoft introduced a new accessibility feature called "Screen tint." It's a system-wide color overlay designed to reduce eye strain and soften overly bright or saturated displays.

Unlike the Night Light feature, which primarily reduces blue light for nighttime use, Screen tint changes the overall intensity and color tone of the display during the day. The software giant notes that the two features solve different problems and can work together.

The feature is available in Settings > Accessibility > Vision > Screen tint, with six preset tint colors and an option to create a custom color.

In addition, you can also adjust the intensity with the available slider. However, one thing to point out is that enabling Screen tint disables Color Filters, and vice versa.

Magnifier new zoom controls

The Magnifier feature is receiving several enhancements for the Future Platforms version.

For instance, it's now possible to enter a specific zoom percentage directly in the interface instead of repeatedly clicking the zoom-in and zoom-out buttons.

Also, in the Magnifier settings, you can now find additional zoom presets, including 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 400 percent.

Personalization changes

The company has also improved the personalization experience by enhancing the accuracy of automatic accent color selection. This allows the operating system to better match the chosen accent color to the colors in your desktop wallpaper.

In addition, Microsoft has fixed a problem to improve how background images are preserved across restarts and upgrades.

These improvements are already available in other channels, but they won't arrive in the Future Platforms version until build 29617.

Windows Central's Take

I like the direction Microsoft is taking with these Insider builds. There isn't a single feature that completely changes how I use Windows 11, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Some of the best updates are the ones that quietly make the operating system more polished over time. A dedicated Taskbar size setting, a cleaner "Privacy & security" page, and accessibility improvements may not grab headlines. However, they're the kinds of refinements people notice after using the operating system every day.

The official move to version 26H2 is also significant. Based on Microsoft's recent release strategy, I expect the next feature update to focus more on improving what already exists than on introducing major new experiences. If that's the case, I'd much rather see the company continue investing in performance, consistency, and usability than chase flashy features that don't solve real problems.

Of course, these are still preview builds, so I wouldn't recommend installing them on a primary computer unless you're comfortable testing unfinished preview builds.

What do you think about these latest Windows 11 changes? 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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Last week, Microsoft quietly announced that it will extend support for Windows 10 through 2027, even though the operating system officially reached the end of support on October 14, 2025. Initially, the company had planned to offer just one additional year of updates under its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, but the new decision gives Windows 10 a longer lifeline.

However, critics and groups like The Restart Project, which helped co-develop the "End of 10" toolkit to support Windows 10 users who can't upgrade to Windows 11, claimed that Microsoft's move to continue pushing security updates to Windows 10 beyond its end-of-support feels like a last-minute snooze button, which only acts as a band-aid on a bleeding system.

They argued that the move would force up to 400 million working PCs into early retirement, prompting many users to brand it as programmed obsolescence rather than anything else. It also seems like an outright, blatant attempt designed to make users transition to Windows 11.

However, if previous complaints lodged are anything to go by — Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements for the operating system, coupled with arguments of flawed design elements, including unnecessary AI and Copilot integrations, will only widen the digital divide, making the jump even harder.

Currently, users enrolled in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will continue receiving critical security patches for one additional year, extending coverage beyond the original end-of-support date of October 14, 2025, through October 14, 2026.

Windows 10

As highlighted in the poll results, a clear majority of participants (68%) indicated they plan to continue running Windows 10 on their devices following Microsoft’s support extension. Interestingly, 19% of respondents said they have already upgraded to Windows 11, highlighting a smaller but notable shift toward the newer operating system.

Granted, only 321 people voted, so we need to take the results with a pinch of salt.

If you are still running Windows 10 on your PC, you can take advantage of the extended lifeline by enrolling in the ESU program for free by signing in with a Microsoft account, or pay for access via 1,000 Microsoft reward points or $30.

Last week, I wrote an article attempting to capture the overall sentiment from the community and tech enthusiasts following Microsoft's decision to extend support for Windows 10 through 2027. It quickly became apparent to me that many people are still running Windows 10 on their devices, with some outrightly calling for Microsoft to extend Windows 10's shelf life to 2028 because 2027 won't cut it.

The conversation about alternative operating systems like Linux also popped up. According to an avid Windows Central reader:

"Linux has gotten way better, and perhaps with some install help it does everything the common folks want to do (read: not gamers or others reliant on some very specific tailored app).

The way Microsoft has been talking about their future makes every conscious consumer know this is only the beginning, and regular os subscription payments, more surveillance etc is coming.

I might buy win 11 based pc in the future when the current one stops working, but I already know it will run Linux just fine, so MS has opened Pandora's box.

Though frankly I'm surprised MS cares so much. corporate world has been their sole focus for over a decade, and they still have a good stranglehold there. ofc one piece of wisdom might be that if people use Linux at home, eventually they'll start asking why we are using MS products at work. We are used to Linux and more competent with apps there."

"What they are admitting is that they are afraid of letting part the 25% Windows base go for Linux or worse, to become botnets for cybercrime after they get infected for lack of security patches, creating havoc," another reader added.

Some users came up with interesting ideas, painting a picture where Microsoft continues to support Windows 10 and Windows 11 simultaneously.

While it seems inevitable for users to eventually upgrade to Windows 11, the current RAM crisis due to AI's heavy appetite for computing power isn't making the jump any easier, as hardware prices are steadily increasing and becoming unaffordable for most people. According to another Windows Central reader:

"That people don't have the money to upgrade at today's prices.

Let's not make too much of this: MS OSes have always run a bit ahead of entry level hardware and conversely, people have always stayed with trailing edge software longer than safe. There are probably still people running Windows XP out there.

The security rationale of W11 over W10 can be debated but in the end, everybody will have to upgrade the hardware...

...when they can afford it. At least MS is being understanding that it's not just parsimony holding people back."

That said, it will be interesting to see if Microsoft will continue to hold its massive dominance in the desktop landscape with Windows.

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It's no secret that due to increasing RAM and NAND (storage) costs, everyone from Apple to Dell to Valve to Xbox is raising prices. And it's the latter here we're concerned with, as this may be your last chance to get the Xbox Series X below $700 until 2028. Indeed, we may not see prices on hardware drop significantly until 2030.

As such, I'm creating this page to show you the latest deals and inventory on the Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and associated accessories like the ever-so-important expansion cards.

I'll be updating this page every day, usually multiple times.

Xbox Series X prices

The Xbox Series X (see our updated review) is the top-tier Xbox model and is aimed at 4K/60 FPS gaming for those who want the best and fastest available.

Because it's in such high demand, this one often sells out or goes through frequent and rapid price shifts. We think it's the version most people should buy.

We have seen Xbox Series X (1TB, optical) drop down to $573 in the last few days (during Prime Day), and that could happen again for the July 4th holiday.

Xbox Series S prices

If you want to save some more money and don't quite need the power of the Series X (or simply can't afford it), you can go for the more budget-friendly Xbox Series S. If you're not familiar with this model, you can read our Xbox Series S review (2025) for more context and to see what we have to say about it.

The tl;dr is the Xbox Series X is the more powerful console, built for native 4K gaming, higher frame rates, and larger storage with its 1TB SSD. The Xbox Series S is a smaller, more affordable model designed for 1440p gaming, with reduced GPU power and a 512GB or 1TB SSD.

Both run the same games and features, but the Series X targets premium performance while the Series S focuses on value and accessibility.

The good news is that while the savings are not as much for Xbox Series S, they are often in stock at most stores either for pickup or shipping.

How much (and when) are Xbox prices going up?

Beginning August 1, the Xbox Series X Digital will rise to $749 (up from $599) and the Series S to $499 (up from $399) in the United States, with similar jumps across multiple regions.

And those are the entry-level models!

Xbox Series X (1TB) with optical drive is going up to $799 (from $649), while the Xbox Series S (1TB) increases to $599 (from $449).

To put that in perspective, the Xbox Series X (1TB) with optical drive launched at $499, but is going up a total of $300.

The company cites rising manufacturing and component costs as the primary driver, noting that the broader hardware market continues to face pressure that shows no signs of easing.

Analysts expect component prices to climb again in 2027, driven by supply constraints and increased demand for advanced chips. Microsoft’s own internal projections suggest that the “Rampocalypse” — the ongoing surge in RAM and component pricing — will continue well into 2028, making this price hike potentially the first of several.

For consumers, the timing is significant. Xbox consoles have remained relatively stable in price for years, but this shift signals a new era where premium hardware will cost more to produce and more to buy.

With the August 1 increase approaching, the window to buy an Xbox Series X|S at current pricing is closing quickly. We’ll keep updating this tracker as retailers react, deals appear, and the market adjusts, so you always know the best time to make your move.

What about expansion cards?

If you're picking up an Xbox Series X or Series S, extra storage becomes essential fast. Constantly deleting games or clearing space for updates interrupts play and makes managing your library a chore.

The Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S adds more room instantly with true plug‑and‑play support, giving your console the storage it needs without slowing anything down.

Like Xbox consoles, we've seen pricing on these vary a lot, and many times they go out of stock, so give it some serious thought, as we do expect these cards to cost even more later this year.

As to why get a storage card, it really depends on the size of your gaming library.

For instance, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 alone is 161 GB, without any DLC. The Seagate Expansion Card delivers similar speeds to the native storage of the Xbox Series X|S, so you can store games on the card and play them without having to transfer or delete files.

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

The 2026 XBOX Games Showcase was undeniably packed with exciting game reveals from AAA studios and independent teams alike, but there was one particular reveal that I can’t stop thinking about. As soon as the large purple text and adorably odd bird-like creatures appeared on screen, I recognized the art style. Everybody’s favorite little purple dragon was back to face a new foe, albeit with a little more of a mature redesign that reflects some of the new gameplay mechanics.

Toys for Bob unveiled Spyro: A Realm Beyond in a flashy cinematic trailer, complete with a tease for our hero’s newest ability — goodbye gliding, hello flight. Spyro can be seen soaring through the air with his new skill: freely flying through the arches of a bridge and collecting orbs in the sky of the beautifully color-saturated world, where the danger of a dark and mysterious big bad lurks above the clouds.

The reveal for Spyro: A Realm Beyond has been nothing shy of successful. The cinematic reveal trailer on the Spyro The Dragon YouTube channel has amassed more than 16 million views in just two weeks. Add yet another million when you combine view counts across the XBOX, Nintendo, and PlayStation channels.

But the successful revival of Spyro almost didn’t happen. Toys for Bob had to return to its independent roots after being targeted for closure by Activision to give its beloved purple dragon his big-boy wings.

The path forged by Toys for Bob — avoiding closure and spinning out to become an independent studio that continues to work in partnership with Activision and XBOX to publish its next game — could prove to be the solution that just might save studios like Ninja Theory and Compulsion Games, which are rumored to be next on the chopping block under new XBOX CEO Asha Sharma’s “reset.”

A notable history that led to a radical plan

Few game studios make it to see their 35th anniversary. With the tumultuous state of the games industry today, that elite club seems even more elusive. But Toys for Bob, originally founded in 1989 and operating as a partnership between founders Paul Reiche III and Fred Ford until the pair incorporated the studio in 2002, has somehow managed to not just see the 35-year mark — it has surpassed that milestone and continues trucking along, creating mesmerizing and meaningful digital worlds for a dedicated fanbase.

However, the Toys for Bob story is one of resilience. In 1990, the studio changed the landscape for science fiction games with the release of Star Control, followed by the 1992 sequel Star Control II with Accolade, Inc. and Crystal Dynamics as its publisher. Toys for Bob continued its partnership with Crystal Dynamics until the early 2000s, when it faced a layoff following the release of Disney’s 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue.

The studio found a new publisher in Activision and was fully acquired by the publisher in 2005. Activision then merged Toys for Bob with Vivendi Games, which held the rights to the Spyro IP at the time, setting the studio up to launch the Skylanders series and pioneer the toys-to-life game genre. “We had a fantastic, successful partnership over that time,” Toys for Bob studio head Paul Yan said in a recent IGN interview. Toys for Bob’s time with Spyro didn’t end there, as they then released the Spyro Reignited Trilogy in 2018.

After the unbelievably successful launch of Call of Duty: Warzone in March 2020, however, things changed for the studio as Activision began to allocate all of its studio teams to the resource-hungry free-to-play battle royale. Toys for Bob took its place as part of the dozen-plus studio machine that was fueling Call of Duty in addition to providing support for Overwatch 2 and other Activision properties.

“Toys for Bob stepped up to support those initiatives, and those teams, and those games. We’re very proud of the work that we did, but deep down inside, we knew it wasn’t the right fit. We were getting away from the types of games that we love to make and that we’re best known for doing,” said Yan.

Activision was then acquired by Microsoft in 2022. Despite statements by then Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer on the potential for studios to revive past IPs, Toys for Bob still found its studio offices closed down amid massive layoffs that affected 1900 jobs across Microsoft’s workforce in January of 2024. Just four months later, Toys for Bob successfully spun off from Activision and regained its independence.

How to save a game development studio the Toys for Bob way

Toys for Bob’s plan was unprecedented. Buy back its independence. Take back creative, financial, and organizational control. And preserve its tenured team. For the plan to succeed, it hinged on the past success of Spyro. The team pitched a new Spyro title, published by Activision and XBOX with plans to drop day one on XBOX Game Pass, to secure its future. Two years after going independent, the Spyro: A Realm Beyond trailer showing up during the XBOX Showcase feels like a step in the right direction for a radical plan at independence paying off.

The more things change, however, the more they stay the same. XBOX has a new CEO with fresh eyes for the future of the company, but rising hardware prices and ballooning development costs are cutting into the bottom line. We’re told a ‘hard reset’ is on the horizon. Microsoft-owned studios like Ninja Theory and Compulsion Games are the new sacrificial lambs sitting on the proverbial chopping block, despite a strong showing for Senua at the 2026 XBOX showcase and South of Midnight’s ongoing award-pick-up spree.

Studio closures are a scourge on the gaming industry. Studios are often formed from teams that come together organically to bring life to a creative vision, and then those studios are scooped up by publishers who promise financial security. Then, when the tides of a fickle industry shift, the studio is shuttered, and creative talent that was being fostered finds itself fractured between other studios, where the cycle starts again. That’s without taking into consideration the talent that simply leaves the games industry altogether.

Spyro: A Realm Beyond was more than just a game announcement. It felt like a victory lap for independent game development and a survival plan for how studios could keep things together even in the face of closure.

Should Asha Sharma consider taking any pages from Phil Spencer’s playbook as CEO, I hope it’s the one that saw fit to accept Toys for Bob’s independence plan so that we can continue to see studios in danger of closure have a chance to stand on their own and create what they love. When studios like Toys for Bob have the opportunity to return to their independent roots and keep creative teams together rather than just finding locks on the studio doors, consumers win.

With any luck, the radical plan that let Toys for Bob become an indie studio with creative control can serve as a roadmap for studios like Ninja Theory and Compulsion Games if the rumors of their impending closures turn true. If there's anything the games industry can use right now, it's radical plans for independence that pay off.

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Two more Surface devices were announced this week, at least technically. The ongoing RAM crisis forced Microsoft to follow in the footsteps of Apple and Acer by making laptops with 8GB of RAM in 2026.

During a week full of deals through Amazon and other retailers, Microsoft took a different approach to make its Surface devices more affordable, at least for certain models. The Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch can now be bought with just 8GB of RAM.

Those versions with less memory start at $849 for the Surface Pro and $949 for the Surface Laptop. I'm happy to see more affordable options, but Microsoft's timing was poor. Raising Surface prices during Prime Day meant better hardware was at or near the same pricing as the cheaper Surface Pro and Surface Laptop. And with other retailers dropping prices to compete with Amazon, the new Surfaces are a bad value.

Dell’s XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD is still $999.99, which means better hardware is sitting only $50 above Microsoft’s new “affordable” Surface models.

Deals, discounts, and rising prices were the focus of this week, but we also saw Windows 10 support extended and Bill Gates weigh in on AI. Here are the biggest stories from the week.

Biggest News of the Week

Microsoft is in a no-win situation with pricing. RAM and other components continue to go up in price, so manufacturers have to adjust to match. Even Apple, which was more insulated than most due to stockpiles of components, had to increase the cost of MacBooks, iPads, and other devices.

As a result of shortages, Microsoft has had to raise the price of hardware. Since people still need laptops at somewhat reasonable prices, models with 8GB of RAM can fill that gap.

8GB of RAM is better than many assume on a Windows 11 PC. Our Cale Hunt said using a device with that amount of memory is "Not only viable but quite enjoyable." Since that's the case, more affordable Surface devices are good news.

But announcing a Surface Pro and a Surface Laptop with lower price tags in the same week as one of the biggest shopping events of the year is a strange strategy.

A Surface Laptop with a Snapdragon X Plus, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage costs $949.99 through Microsoft's website. The Dell XPS 13 (9345) with a Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage is on sale for $999.99 through Dell.

Maybe Microsoft should have rolled out its cheaper Surface devices a bit earlier or held off until other sales ended.

Shopping with Sean

The best deal of the week is still up for grabs despite Prime Day ending, and it's the laptop I just highlighted. Dell's discount on the XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite drops that premium laptop to $999.99. That discounted price looks even better after Apple raised the prices of its MacBooks.

If you want something newer, the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 is $650 off. That gorgeous laptop is powered by the Snapdragon X2 Elite. I'm jealous of our Senior Editor Zac Bowden because he got to review it (the OmniBook 14 Ultra earned a perfect score in that review).

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If, by some miracle, you've been living on the moon in a soundproof dome for the last six months, you may not have noticed that gaming hardware has grown extremely expensive, making the hobby a mostly miserable affair for all involved. We first called it the RAM crisis, but the sad reality is that it's now spilling over into storage, and experts are predicting a grim future.

It's shredding PC gaming, as Valve's much-anticipated Steam Machine launched at over $1,000 for its cheapest model — a higher price than most might have expected — with its creators explaining that it "reflects the state of the world". Consumers are flanked at every turn, as anyone planning to buy older generations of memory sees that DDR4 and even DDR3 prices are going up.

It's easy to point fingers at Microsoft, given its undeniable, if somewhat retracted, obsession with AI, whether that's Copilot in Windows or an implementation across its Azure cloud stack. And let's be honest, it's not without irony that XBOX CEO Asha Sharma said that "gaming is becoming unaffordable" just before the brand announced a price increase on its consoles.

Sure enough, Xbox's Matthew Ball agrees that "crisis is the right term", and the effects of expensive RAM will undoubtedly be felt in the lead-up to its next-gen Project Helix console — which supposedly behaves more like a gaming PC — and who knows what its launch price might look like (over a thousand dollars?) In fact, hardware pivots are already appearing in Microsoft's PC hardware, as the Surface Laptop returns with 8GB of RAM to keep costs down.

I know, I'm hardly a beacon of good news or hopeful visions of the future, but this AI bubble will presumably break at some point, and it's good to take stock of what options we actually have. The usual midsummer onslaught of sales events brought some relief with retailer discounts, and pre-built gaming PCs maintain a hint of value throughout. Still, prospective buyers will have to brace for an inevitable sting if they plan to grab something later this year (or into 2027).

If you're interested in console gaming, you're looking at a minimum of $749.99 for a digital Xbox Series X — that's the one without a disc drive — or $499.99 for a similarly discless (and less powerful) Xbox Series S. On Sony's side, a PS5 Pro is now $899.99, or at least $599.99 for a digital base PS5. That's without any games, by the way, and Grand Theft Auto VI recently confirmed a $99 price tag for a code of its Ultimate Edition with all in-game content intact.

Gamers at large are already expected to spend close to $1,000 just to get started. The entire situation is absurd and unfair, but it puts the price of handhelds like MSI's $1,799 Claw 8 EX AI+ into perspective; that's just how much this kind of ultra-enthusiast hardware costs now. The whole thing reminds me of a bygone era of crypto mining that drove up GPU prices, but this time, it's bigger and even more insulting.

So, what are you supposed to do? You can penny-pinch your way through buying discounted and second-hand hardware, or you can submit to a future of subscription-based gaming streamed from the cloud. If you don't already own an Xbox, I'd suggest picking one up before the price increase happens in August, but that's about all you can do. Stay strong, gamers.

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If there ever was a golden age of cheap memory and storage, I'm sorry to tell you that it's over.

The 2TB NVMe SSD you bought early last year? It now costs three times what you paid. The 32GB kit of DDR5 RAM that was $90 last summer? It's now somewhere between $300 and $500, if you can find it for sale at all.

The effects of the RAM crisis are being felt downstream in tech markets everywhere. Xbox just announced this week another console price hike. Apple announced it's raising prices of its MacBooks. Microsoft recently raised the prices of its Surface PCs. The Steam Machine is making its debut at $1,049. I could go on and on.

The worst part of this whole RAMpocalypse? No one really knows when it's going to end.

Why are memory and storages prices still going up?

So what happened? AI happened. The way the world's memory market is set up relies on three major companies to supply everyone else with DRAM for consumer memory and storage.

Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron realized early on in the AI boom that they could make a whole lot more money by moving away from consumer memory and into high-bandwidth memory (HBM) that's used in AI datacenters.

Profit margins are enormous on the other side, and I really don't find it surprising that these massive corporations made the shift, as companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have essentially offered blank checks to buy up as much memory as possible.

The fallout of these moves by the three big memory manufacturers, of course, is a strangulation of the consumer memory market. And this isn't a typical supply crunch like we've seen in the past that can be remedied by a new manufacturing plant coming online.

This time around, the memory crisis is a reallocation of the world's DRAM manufacturing capabilities, and there's no real end in sight.

I don't think RAM and SSD prices will drop anytime soon

I'm not expecting to see tech prices drop anytime soon, and you don't have to take my word for it.

Counterpoint Research confirmed in February that memory prices rose in Q1 2026 by 80% to 90% compared to Q4 2025. Late last year, Kingston noted that it had seen a 246% increase in NAND wafer pricing compared to the start of 2025, the steepest ever in the company's 29-year history.

In February 2026, Gartner released findings suggesting that, by the end of 2026, DRAM and SSD prices could surge by 130% compared to 2025, which could raise PC prices by 17%. I believe we're already seeing that estimation come into play, and this same study predicts that global PC shipments could fall by 10.4% this year.

It gets worse. Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra signaled earlier this year that the RAM crisis would continue beyond 2026. This week, Micron announced that most of its DRAM has been bought up via long-term contracts through 2030, and that there's almost certainly no end to the crisis.

SK hynix, another one of the three big DRAM players, stated in 2025 that its HBM, DRAM, and NAND manufacturing capacity is sold out through 2026.

OK, I know that's a lot of numbers, but I'm trying to drive the point home: the RAM and SSD crisis isn't likely to end in 2026. It probably won't end in 2027, either. 2028 could be our lucky year, but that's relatively far into the future and harder to predict.

The problem is compounded by the fact that it takes a very long time to create new fabrication plants, not to mention the billions of dollars required to get the project going.

Micron is building a new fab plant in Idaho, for example, but it's not likely to begin producing anything meaningful until the end of 2027. Keep in mind that this is the same company that axed its entire consumer RAM and SSD portfolio in 2025 to focus on AI clients.

Samsung and SK hynix, meanwhile, are focusing on raising production in their existing plants, as new fabs won't be ready until the late 2020s.

Most of the analyst forecasts I've read rightfully point to some relief coming no earlier than late 2027, and I'm not talking about 2024-era prices. If those prices ever return, it will be at the end of a long, slow decline as the market levels out.

If memory prices drop, will PC prices also fall?

I certainly enjoy entertaining more conspiratorial ideas, and the one question that I don't think enough people are asking is about PC prices after memory and storage markets return to normalcy.

Will the laptops, PC components, consoles, tablets, and other affected tech products drop in price once RAM and storage markets return to normal?

If I'm being optimistic, then yes, I do believe that a correction in component costs would also lead to a correction in PC and console pricing. History suggests that this isn't out of the ordinary. There was a glut of memory and storage in 2023 and 2024, and I recall consumer prices did soften a bit.

However, I don't think 2026/2027/2028 is at all the same as years gone by. PC makers are expecting to see a major hit in worldwide PC shipments in 2026. As mentioned, Gartner predicts a 10.4% decline. IDC research points to an 11.3% decline.

The twist is that by raising prices for consumers, the PC market is still expected to grow by hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming years.

This is what I find particularly frightening. If the volume of sales drops but profits keep growing, is there really any financial pressure that will make PC makers drop prices?

I don't think most PC makers will care that entry-level buyers are priced out of the market when enthusiasts and enterprise customers continue to shovel money their way. Why bother with discount laptops at thin margins?

👉 Conspiracy theory or apt prediction? — The AI-fueled hardware shortage will kill local PCs, paving the way for subscription-based cloud computing

Gartner believes the sub-$500 laptop market will completely disappear by 2028, and I'd say we're already well on our way. Will that market recover when RAM and SSD prices return to normal? Hard to say.

I can reference the GPU price spikes from a few years ago during the crypto boom and pandemic shortages. GPU prices went up, the market leveled off, and GPU prices came back down. But they didn't go all the way back down, resetting at a higher baseline than before.

Consumers had become used to paying inflated GPU prices, and there was really no incentive to drop prices back to 2019 levels. I think the same logic applies to the PC market.

The Chinese wildcard could save us all

Competition is likely the only thing that can save us, barring a collapse of the AI boom and a bursting of the market bubble.

Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron currently control about 90% of the world's DRAM production, which makes it painfully easy to coordinate pricing. I'm not saying it's explicit collusion, but it's certainly something.

The best chance of breaking up this oligopoly comes from China. Companies like YMTC and CXMT have been steadily growing their share of the NAND market with newfound production and new fabs.

If these competitors can indeed scale up production and get their products out to international buyers, I don't see how that wouldn't disrupt the oligopoly. It's not exactly smooth sailing for China's manufacturers, though, as issues with exports, access to advanced equipment, and geopolitical concerns are all hurdles they must pass.

What does this mean for you and your next PC?

Gartner expects PC lifetime for regular consumers to increase by 20% by the end of this year. The cheap PC upgrade cycle has all but come to an end.

When new DRAM factories do come online, I expect them to serve AI customers first. Consumers will get the scraps, just like they are currently. Chinese DRAM makers might enter the international market and force prices to fall, but I doubt by enough to make a serious impact.

👉 Best Windows laptop in 2026

If you're waiting for the RAM crisis to be over before you buy your next device, I have some bad news. The most optimistic predictions put easing as early as late 2027 or 2028, while the most pessimistic push the dates into the 2030s.

Should you need a new PC now, I recommend buying one that will last for years to come. What some thought was a brief blip on the PC market's graph has some serious staying power. What it will look like, if it ever returns to normal, is anyone's guess.

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

Microsoft plans to begin the Windows 11 July 2026 Security Update on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. In this seventh month of the year, the company is rolling out several new features and improvements for existing features. In addition, this update is expected to deliver a number of bug fixes.

In this new quality update, Microsoft will be introducing brand new features, including the Point-in-time Restore recovery feature and the Screen tint accessibility feature.

This release also introduces the new Windows Update changes that allow users to pause updates indefinitely. The Widgets feature receives a few changes to make the experience quieter and less distracting.

Furthermore, in this release, users will also find changes to the Windows Magnifier, a new default for installing printers using Windows Ready Print support, as well as improvements to the Settings app, File Explorer, Bluetooth, network virtualization, touchpad, and much more.

In this guide, I'll highlight the most significant changes in the July 2026 Security Update for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, since both are identical.

Windows 11's new features arriving in July

As per usual, the company uses the Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) technology to roll out new improvements gradually, so it may take some time before you see them.

Point-in-time Restore recovery feature

Starting with the July 2026 Security Update, Microsoft is introducing Point-in-time Restore, a new recovery feature designed to quickly roll back a system to a previous good working state.

The feature works automatically and creates restore points that include settings, files, and apps using the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), allowing you to recover your computer when an issue arises.

Point-in-time Restore comes enabled by default in the Home and Pro editions of the operating system. However, the system must have at least 200GB of storage.

You can always control the feature in Settings > System > Recovery by using the "View or edit" button. On the page, you can turn the recovery feature on or off, configure the restore point frequency and retention, and decide how much storage the feature uses.

At the bottom, the feature will also notice the most recent restore points.

If something is working correctly, you can always access the feature from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), and from the "Point-in-time Restore" page, select the restore point to recover your device.

Screen tint accessibility feature

In this update, the company is also rolling out Screen tint. This accessibility feature applies an overlay color on the screen designed to reduce eye strain and improve viewing comfort.

The feature is available in Settings > Accessibility > Screen tint. Once enabled, you can choose from one of the six preset color overlays or create a custom color.

In addition, there is a slider to control the overlay strength.

While the Screen tint feature seems similar to the Night Light feature, they are different, and they can work alongside each other. However, this feature automatically turns off Color filters and vice versa.

Windows Update new controls

Windows Update is getting a major upgrade. In this release, Microsoft is adding the ability to pause updates indefinitely, which seems to be the closest we'll get to completely turning off automatic updates.

As part of the changes, the "Pause updates" option now includes a calendar view that lets you pause automatic updates for up to 35 days. However, you can re-pause updates as many times as you want.

The only caveat is that if you want to postpone updates for more than 35 days, you'll need to manually pause them again. Otherwise, the system will download and install updates automatically as soon as the scheduled expiration expires.

Widgets with less distracting defaults

The company is trying to make the experience quieter and less distracting.

Widgets now open directly to the dashboard on first use, with hover activation disabled and notifications and Taskbar badges minimized by default.

The experience also offers more control over notifications and personalization settings, allowing users to customize Widgets from the Settings menu.

The dashboard icons can display the number of alerts, while badges clear automatically after leaving the dashboard. Microsoft notes that some settings will continue to adapt based on usage patterns to help limit interruptions.

This update also includes improvements to reliability, responsiveness, and overall visual quality across the Widgets experience.

Windows Magnifier improvements

In a continued effort to improve accessibility features, the software giant is also updating the Magnifier with more granular controls, allowing you to enter exact percentage values rather than having to use the zoom buttons to increase or decrease the zoom level.

Also, in the settings flyout, the zoom adjustment now allows users to set increments up to 400 percent.

Printer default changes

Starting with the quality update for July 2026, the operating system will install printers by default using the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), provided the device is supported.

If you prefer to revert this configuration, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, and turn off the "Default install printer using Windows Ready Print" option.

Location settings improvements

Microsoft is making location settings easier to understand in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location.

When location services are turned off, options such as "Default location" and "Allow location override" no longer appear active, since apps and services cannot access location data.

As a result, these settings will now be greyed out until location services are enabled, helping clarify when the options are available and reducing confusion.

File Explorer improvements

After installing this quality update, you'll notice that File Explorer will launch faster thanks to new speed improvements.

Also, on the Home page, when hovering over files, users who are logged in with a work or school account should now see options like "Open file location" and "Ask Copilot."

In addition, the address bar now supports paths with double backslashes and quotation marks, making it easier to paste or type folder paths from different sources.

Continuing with the improvements to the address bar, the experience now closes more reliably after selecting an option. Finally, File Explorer improves its ability to rename files.

Bluetooth changes

Microsoft is rolling out a series of Bluetooth improvements focused on reliability, compatibility, and audio performance.

For example, Windows 11 now keeps the microphone mute status synchronized between the system audio controls and Bluetooth headphones that include dedicated mute buttons or indicators, providing a more consistent experience during calls.

The update also improves compatibility with certain audio accessories. For instance, AirPods should enter pairing mode faster, and Beats Studio Pro headphones should offer more reliable microphone performance.

Voice calls on devices that support the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) should be more reliable. LE Audio accessories can begin playing audio faster while the microphone is active, and Windows 11 stability has been improved for some systems affected by Bluetooth-related driver issues.

The operating system will no longer incorrectly display a "Remove failed" message when a Bluetooth device cannot be removed because the Bluetooth radio is unavailable or has changed since the device was paired.

In addition, the "Bluetooth & devices" settings page has been updated to provide a more stable and consistent experience.

Connection reliability has also been enhanced. Classic Bluetooth audio devices can reconnect more quickly after a computer resumes from hibernation. At the same time, LE Audio accessories should maintain more reliable connections when switching between devices and recover more smoothly from temporary disconnections.

Phone Link improvements

Microsoft is improving how phone calls are handled between Windows 11 and a connected smartphone through Phone Link.

When you place a call from your paired phone, the audio will stay on the phone while it rings, then switch to the computer only after you answer the call on Windows 11.

This change helps prevent audio from switching between devices unexpectedly before the call connects.

The update also improves the "Do Not Disturb" experience. When Do Not Disturb is enabled, incoming calls from a connected phone will no longer ring through the computer, reducing interruptions while you're working.

Voice Typing and Voice Access

As you speak, Voice Typing and Voice Access can now refine the text in real time. In addition, the feature improves its capability to adapt to background noise. However, this is only available for Copilot+ PCs.

Furthermore, Voice Access and Voice Typing are now available in German, Spanish, and French.

Networking changes

The software giant is introducing several networking improvements focused on reliability, performance, and virtualization.

For virtualized environments, Confidential Virtual Machines (CVMs) now use SR-IOV hardware acceleration by default to improve network performance. At the same time, a networking configuration issue affecting nested Hyper-V setups has been fixed to ensure virtual machines are provisioned correctly.

The update also enhances the reliability of the networking stack. It reduces some Wi-Fi-related blue screen errors, improves cellular (WWAN) connectivity, and adds better support for IPv6-based VPN connections.

In addition, Microsoft has improved compatibility with certain third-party VPN solutions and server configurations that use SR-IOV networking. Network adapter settings and bindings are now also preserved during operating system upgrades, helping prevent networking configurations from being reset after an operating system update.

Touchpad changes

If you use a compatible touchpad, there's a touchpad customization option that lets you adjust the size of the bottom-right right-click area.

In Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad, you can choose between "Default," "Small," "Medium," or "Large" to control how much of the touchpad responds to a one-finger right-click.

This feature is available only on devices with a pressable touchpad surface. If your computer manufacturer provides touchpad customization through its own software, the system will display a "Custom" option to reflect those settings.

Windows Central's Take

I find it interesting that one of the biggest additions in this update is a feature designed to help when Windows 11 breaks rather than when everything is working perfectly.

Microsoft has spent the last few years talking a lot about AI, Copilot, and new experiences, but Point-in-time Restore addresses a much more fundamental problem. Every user eventually runs into a bad update, problematic driver, or software conflict. When that happens, recovery tools suddenly become far more important than whatever new feature was added to the Start menu.

The Windows Update changes also stand out to me because they give users a little more breathing room. The software giant clearly isn't interested in letting people permanently turn off updates, but repeatedly extending the pause period feels like a practical compromise between security and user control.

As for the rest of the update, I see it as evidence that Microsoft is continuing to chip away at long-standing annoyances. Faster File Explorer performance, Bluetooth reliability improvements, and less intrusive Widgets aren't headline-grabbing changes. However, they're often the updates that have the biggest impact on how the system feels after months of daily use.

Which feature in the July 2026 update are you most looking forward to trying on Windows 11? 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.

With the latest Diablo 4 expansion, Lord of Hatred, behind us, and BlizzCon 2026 on the horizon, I find myself wondering what's next for the game.

Diablo 4 was the first Diablo installment to actually receive two story expansions, with the base game, Vessel of Hatred, and Lord of Hatred telling what is now dubbed the Age of Hatred saga.

And what a saga it was; many new characters were introduced to the fray and subsequently killed off... and returning characters came back... and were also killed off... come to think of it... the Age of Hatred was pretty much a bloodbath for most of the characters involved wasn't it?

With that in mind, I'm taking a look back through the records and combing through the deaths of those who tried to hold the line, as well as those who tried to destroy it.

The following feature, “Diablo IV - Those We've Lost," was provided by the Diablo 4 team and is reproduced here with permission.

The first Fallen, aka base game Diablo 4 casualties

Vhenard

No sooner did we meet Neyrelle's mother, Vhenard, than we were having to bring her life to a swift end.

Vhenard was a passionate explorer and seeker of knowledge, convinced by Lilith to embrace demonic knowledge and to assist her in crossing the Black Lake to reach the Necropolis of the Firstborn.

This demonic knowledge corrupted her mind, leading her to try and kill her own daughter. The Wanderer (us) had no choice but to bring her down.

In the end, Neyrelle performed a ritual to briefly raise her mother from the dead. Time enough for Vhenard to help open the way to pursue Lilith, and to bid her daughter, her “Magpie”, a regretful goodbye.

Vigo

Vigo was the less-than-pious watch commander of the Knights Penitent, sworn to serve the Cathedral of Light. Charged with guarding the condemned mines in the southern Fractured Peaks, preventing all from reaching the ancient ruins within.

Foolishly accepting a bribe from Vhenard and her companion (Lilith) resulted in his downfall and allowed them to enter the mines. This mistake cost both Vhenard and his fellow knights their lives.

Consumed by the weight of that mistake, Vigo submitted himself to the Reverend Mother Prava to serve out a brutal penance. Locked inside a painful suit of armor known as the "Father's Grace". Ouch. Clad in this armor, he caught up with the Wanderer within the Necropolis of the Firstborn, giving his life to cut a path through corruption.

Rathma

The first and most ancient of the Firstborn, son of Lilith and Inarius. Keeper of the sacred Balance between Light and Dark. Foundation of the Priests of Rathma (more commonly known as necromancers).

He had long ago rejected both Lilith and Inarius in favor of serving humanity as he saw fit. His methods and motives have ever been shrouded in mystery.

In a revelation of prophecy, he predicted that “the way to Hell would be torn asunder” and “a spear of light would pierce Hatred’s heart.” For this reason, Inarius sought him out and demanded the Hell Key, a dangerous artifact hidden in Rathma’s possession.

When Rathma refused, Inarius, his own father, struck him down, finally killing the Firstborn.

Donan

Donan was once a Horadrim and a colleague of Lorath Nahr until the two had a falling out. He remained ever a protector of humanity.

In his youth, he fought alongside the druids of Scosglen to defeat the demon Astaroth and in the aftermath helped them rebuild. Then Lilith arrived. She not only brought back Astaroth to burn Scosglen a second time, she resurrected the demon using Donan’s own son. Yorin.

He was lost in his grief until the Wanderer called on him again, this time with his old “friend” Lorath Nahr, to continue the fight against Lilith. Reluctantly he joined the cause but soon rose to the challenge, following his allies into the depths of Hell itself where he took a mortal wound.

Because of him, his allies were able to entrap Mephisto in the soulstone, thwarting Lilith’s ambitions and buying humanity precious time before the Prime Evil’s return.

Yorin

A young knight and only child of Donan and Braega. Eager to prove himself to his father, he set out with the Wanderer in pursuit of Lilith across Scosglen, using both his connections with the Knights Penitent stationed there as well as his deep understanding of local druid belief.

His efforts helped the Wanderer to confront the druid Airidah and force her to confess what aid she had given Lilith.

But in the end, Lilith seized Yorin and thrust a soulstone into his skull, permitting the demon Astaroth to possess him, body and soul.

The Wanderer was able to defeat Astaroth, but when the demon’s essence left Yorin, the boy was already dead. His father Donan carried him from the battlefield and laid him to rest.

Meshif

Once a renowned traveler and unflappable man of adventure. He was born in the city of Kurast but his home was the open sea. In his youth, he met a group of heroes and became entangled in the fight against the Prime Evil Mephisto, taking him from the deserts of Lut Gholain back to save his beloved Kurast.

He somehow survived this and every adventure since, but after several decades, his glory days were suddenly behind him. A new mission found him in the middle of nowhere Kehjistan, smoking away his twilight years in a den of bandits. The Wanderer needed a guide through the desert to infiltrate the palace of an evil mage. Smelling adventure, Meshif was thrilled to oblige.

Meshif guided his new friends across the desert and into the palace, but before he could escape with them, he was cut down. A bittersweet yet fitting death for such a man.

Elias

Once a brilliant mage and rising star of the Horadrim, apprenticed to Lorath Nahr.

Elias learned of Rathma’s prophecy and the foretold return of the Prime Evils. He became obsessed with finding a solution, and his ideas grew increasingly more radical. Too radical for Lorath to condone. The two of them argued endlessly until finally, Elias left Lorath and the Horadrim behind.

For him, all signs pointed to Lilith, the only being in all eternity (he believed) with the power and the will to save Sanctuary.

On his own, Elias did everything in his power to bring Lilith back from the Void, including promising his own head to the Tree of Whispers.He succeeded in summoning Lilith, and by her side he sought to make humanity suffer, forcing them to grow stronger for the fight against the Prime Evils.

But time and again Lorath and his allies frustrated his efforts. He confronted them one final time in the Black Tomb of Sankekur. In the end, he was defeated. His undying head taken in payment by the Tree of Whispers to hang for all eternity.

Inarius

The angelic father of humankind. Once the counterpart of the demon Lilith, their mother.

He and Lilith had sought to escape the Eternal Conflict between the Heavens and Hells by creating their own hidden world. Sanctuary. There, on the Skovos Isles, they gave birth to humanity, starting with their son Rathma. These days of peace would not last.

Inarius became fearful of his children’s power and eventually conspired against them, leading to a bloody conflict with Lilith. In the end, he banished her to the Void and attempted to sink the Skovos Isles to drown his children, only to stop at the last moment.

He resolved instead to diminish humanity’s power over time and hoped that was best, but for the sin of creating his children, the Heavens would not forgive him. Thousands of years and torments later, Inarius’ fellow Angels still forbade his return to the Heavens.

But, he believed, if he could fulfill the words of his son Rathma’s prophecy, lead humanity against the Hells, and drive his “spear of light into Hatred’s heart” the Heavens would finally forgive him.

It was not to be. He led his faithful forces into Hell itself in pursuit of Lilith, and there she defeated him. Running him through with his own spear before tearing his wings from his back.

Though his legacy is one of selfish hubris, humanity will always owe its existence to him and his original dream of freedom from the Eternal Conflict.

Lilith

Daughter of Hatred, Creator of Sanctuary, and Mother of All Humankind. Together, she and the angel Inarius created the hidden world of Sanctuary as an escape from the Eternal Conflict, and there, they gave birth to humanity.

Since then, she has remained absolutely devoted to her children, willing to commit terrible atrocities in the name of their survival. She was banished to the Void for such an act, but after thousands of years in that darkness, one of her children brought her back. Elias.

With him at her side, she unleashed terrible suffering upon Sanctuary. Not to torture or kill, but to make her children strong enough to face the Burning Hells. For herself, she sought to consume her father, Mephisto, and claim his power, enough to repel any threat to her children.

And yet the strongest among her children fought back. They would not allow her to turn Sanctuary into a living Hell. They pursued her into the Realm of Hatred and imprisoned her father in a soulstone before she could consume him.

Against all odds, they defeated her in the Cathedral of Hatred, but she issued a final warning as she turned to dust. “Without me, you would have no victory.” (And spoiler, she was right).

Vessel of Hatred (and more death)

Urivar

A Knight Penitent of the Cathedral of Light and alleged survivor of their ill-fated March on Hell. His scarred face and armor attest to his claims.

Whether a true believer or a cynical opportunist, Urivar seized the hearts and minds of the fractured Knights Penitent, filling them with renewed, violent purpose. To hunt the Horadrim they believed responsible for the death of the Father, Inarius.

With Lorath in the wind, Urivar and his Burned Knights set their sights on Neyrelle and pursued her all the way to the jungles of Nahantu, where through her, the demon Mephisto had begun to poison the land.

But the Wanderer would not allow Urivar to harm Neyrelle. In a final confrontation, they cut him down and ended his mad crusade.

Maka

A proud spiritborn and member of the Council of Kurast in Nahantu. In effort to help Neyrelle resist the corruption of Mephisto, Maka set out with the Wanderer and Eru, her former mentor, to find a solution in the spirit realm.

She was strong, brave, and true in her care for Neyrelle, but the evil within the young woman lashed out and took her life. Maka was mourned by Nahantu but most of all by Eru, her lifelong friend.

Akarat

A benevolent student of the Light whose teachings gave rise to the Zakarum faith. They would name him their holy prophet.

Born on Xiansai to an Umbaru mother and Xian father, Akarat and his family were forced to flee their home when fallen demons attacked. He spent his early life disillusioned by conflict until he beheld a vision of Light, compelling him to teach a revelation, that every human holds the Light within them.

Ultimately, Akarat returned to his mother’s homeland of Nahantu to battle the spreading corruption there, teaching his faith to all who would listen. Then he disappeared into the jungles. Some said he fell in battle against great evil, and while his body was entombed, his spirit continued to serve humanity. The faithful have searched for his tomb ever since.

Then, with the help of the spiritborn Eru and guided by the Spirit of Akarat himself, it was found by Neyrelle and the Wanderer. They hoped that Akarat’s body and spirit could safely secure a soulstone — one with Mephisto, Lord of Hatred trapped inside. Indeed, it seemed like it could until they were betrayed and attacked.

The Spirit of Akarat fought fiercely to defend them. In the end, he sacrificed himself to defeat Mephisto’s harbinger, removing the Spirit of Akarat from the world forever...Until Mephisto stole his body to walk Sanctuary in his image.

The final toll: Lord of Hatred

Neyrelle

A brilliant, young explorer and seeker of knowledge whose fateful encounter with Lilith, the Daughter of Hatred, set her on a path to become a true Horadrim. At her mother’s side, Neyrelle came to the Fractured Peaks in search of the Horadrim, but soon, Lilith tempted her mother with the promise of demonic power.

The Wanderer helped Neyrelle find her mother, but by then, she was beyond saving. Rather than despair, Neyrelle stayed with the Wanderer and pursued Lilith, proving her worth as a scholar and protector of Sanctuary. It cost her greatly, including her own left hand.

She followed the Wanderer and her new Horadrim friends into the depths of the Burning Hells, and there, she was asked to make an impossible decision: Imprison Lilith and allow her father Mephisto to return? Or imprison Mephisto to delay his return and deny Lilith her prize?

She chose the latter. And she tried with all she had to find a way to keep Mephisto imprisoned, but his corruption proved too much to bear. Even after Neyrelle was rid of the soulstone, she remained haunted by his presence.

She never stopped searching for a way to stop Mephisto. To break the cycle of Hatred for good. But just as she found it and sent word to her friends, Mephisto found her. And at last, took her life.

She died as a true Horadrim, wearing the talisman given to her by Lorath.

Queen Adreona

High Queen of the Amazons, matriarch and protector of the Skovos Isles.

Adreona did not inherit her position. She joined the Amazons in her youth, serving as one spearmaiden among thousands in the Amazon Legion. Through martial prowess, strategic mind, and a little luck, she rose through the ranks until at last, she was selected by the Council of Veterans to endure the Passage and become Queen of the Amazons.

For decades, her rule kept Skovos safe from the chaos of the continents, making a paradise of the isles. But she did not do it alone. Her faithful companion and adviser, Captain Tharra of the Amazons, stood ever at her side. And once, she accepted help from abroad.

A Horadrim named Lorath Nahr came to Skovos in search of lost members of his order. Together, they learned what happened to them, averted disaster, and forged a close bond. But it could not last.

Years later, when the fires of Hatred had consumed the mainland, another outsider arrived on Adreona’s shores. The holy prophet Akarat. Along with scores of pilgrims, Akarat promised her he would save her people from the Age of Hatred.

But in reality, he was Hatred Incarnate. Mephisto—disguised in the body of Akarat. Mephisto tricked and coerced Adreona into believing his lies, slowly turning her against her own people and tragically, against the one man she had almost loved.

Convinced Lorath had become her enemy, Adreona killed him in cold blood. An act which sealed her fate, giving Lorath’s allies no choice but to strike her down on the cliffs of Mount Hefaetrus.

Lorath Nahr

The last Horadrim of the modern age, tenacious defender of humankind, and a dear friend.

Lorath was born the son of a blacksmith in the city of Westmarch. He grew up with stories of the brave Horadrim and had ever dreamed to become one.

He joined their order just before the Reapers descended upon Sanctuary. Alongside the archangel Tyrael and a small band of heroes, he fought and triumphed over them, helping to stop the Reaping of Malthael.

Lorath doggedly served the Order for the rest of his life, and in his twilight years, he fought to deliver Sanctuary from the Age of Hatred. First against Lilith and then her father, Mephisto.

To accomplish this, he suffered the loss of friends, endured persecution, bargained his head to the Tree of Whispers, and ventured into Hell itself without guarantee of victory or gratitude. He considered it simply his duty.

When Mephisto came to the Skovos Isles in the guise of Akarat, Lorath alone spoke truth to the people. And when he was brought low by Mephisto’s trickery, he persevered, both supporting victory in Athulua and finding the weapon that would stop Mephisto for good. But he would not see it come to pass. He was cut down by Queen Adreona, a woman he had loved, and his head was taken to the Tree of Whispers.

His soul would have languished there forever, but his allies would not permit it. Setting fire to the Tree they laid Lorath Nahr, the last Horadrim, to rest. His duty done.

Mephisto

One of the Three Prime Evils. Lord of Hatred and father of Lilith. Since the dawn of the Heavens and Hells, Mephisto has been a snake in the garden of creation, ever conspiring, manipulating, and corrupting all he touches.

He has long sought to possess and control humanity to wield as his own; if for no other reason than to prove his daughter Lilith, their creator and mother, that her beloved children are nothing. Mere pawns to be wielded in the Eternal Conflict.

Mephisto has suffered defeats throughout eternity, but his demon soul was always reborn in Hell. Each time, giving only a short respite before his return.

Engaging in his old ways, Mephisto had disguised himself as the prophet Akarat and sought to corrupt all of humankind, starting with Skovos.

But with the help of his daughter Lilith and the weapon she had made from her own body, a single human got the better of him. Mephisto was stabbed through the heart with this weapon and banished screaming into the Void between realms.
Not dead, not alive, and unable to return to Hell. There he will remain.

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Windows 11 brings major changes to the Start menu and Taskbar in 2026, finally giving users more control over customization.

Microsoft spent the first years of Windows 11 simplifying the Start menu and Taskbar, often at the expense of features that users had relied on for years. In 2026, the company is correcting its direction.

In recent preview builds, the operating system has revealed a growing list of improvements that bring more customization and control back to the experience. From Taskbar positioning and resizing to Start menu layouts and recommendation controls, the software giant is restoring capabilities that many users have been complaining about since the original release of Windows 11.

However, the company's approach isn't about recreating Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft is rebuilding these experiences around the design principles of Windows 11 while giving users more flexibility than they have today.

Microsoft is giving users more control over the Taskbar

The biggest change is the reversal of positioning controls. Users will once again be able to place the Taskbar to the top, left, right, or bottom edge of the screen.

For many users, this feature never should have disappeared in the first place. The ability to place the Taskbar where it works best has been part of the operating system for decades.

At the same time, the company isn't restoring the exact Windows 10 experience. Previously, users could unlock the Taskbar and drag it directly to a different edge of the screen, or change its position through the Settings app. On Windows 11, changing the position requires using the option available through the Settings app, more specifically in the Taskbar settings under the "Taskbar behaviors" section.

Taskbar sizing is also making a comeback. However, the company is updating the "Show smaller taskbar buttons" option so that enabling it makes the buttons and Taskbar smaller, not just the buttons.

The feature improves flexibility, but it still doesn't offer the same freedom available on Windows 10, where users could manually resize the Taskbar and even create multi-row layouts.

The Start menu is finally becoming more customizable

The Start menu is being updated with some of the most significant improvements since the operating system's launch.

One of the biggest additions is support for different Start menu sizes. Instead of relying entirely on the automatic layout, users will be able to choose between different menu configurations based on their preferences.

You will find these settings on the updated "Start" page from the Settings app.

Microsoft is also introducing dedicated controls to show or hide sections such as Pinned, Recommended, and All apps. These changes address one of the most common complaints about the Start menu, which has often felt too limited compared to previous versions of the operating system.

The company is also separating recommendation settings from recent files and activity history. As a result, users will gain more granular control over what appears in the Start menu without affecting other parts of the operating system.

Privacy is also receiving attention, with a new option that lets users hide their account name and profile picture from the Start menu.

These changes reflect a broader shift in Microsoft's strategy

The Start menu and Taskbar updates are part of Microsoft's wider Windows K2 initiative, an effort focused on improving performance, reliability, and usability across Windows 11.

While much of that work happens behind the scenes, the Start menu and Taskbar provide visible evidence that Microsoft's priorities have evolved since 2021.

When this version of Windows launched, the company emphasized simplicity and consistency, even when it meant removing long-standing customization features. A lot of users felt those decisions made the operating system less flexible than Windows 10.

The changes expected to roll out in 2026 suggest Microsoft is rethinking and taking a more balanced approach. Rather than limiting customization in the name of simplicity, the company is finding ways to offer more control while preserving the modern design introduced on Windows 11.

Windows 11 is becoming a more flexible operating system

Microsoft's reinstatement of Taskbar positioning and sizing, Start menu layouts, and recommendation controls may not seem revolutionary on their own. However, these changes represent one of the most notable shifts.

The company is not abandoning its vision for Windows 11, nor is it trying to turn the operating system into Windows 10. Instead, the company is acknowledging that flexibility remains one of the operating system's greatest strengths.

For years, many of the conversations around Windows 11 focused on features that were removed. In 2026, the conversation is increasingly focused on the features Microsoft is bringing back and what that says about the operating system's future direction.

Windows Central's Take

I think the most interesting part of these Start menu and Taskbar changes isn't any individual feature. It's what they reveal about Microsoft's evolving approach to Windows 11.

When the operating system launched in 2021, the software giant removed a noticeable amount of customization in favor of simplicity. The Taskbar lost positioning and resizing controls, and the Start menu became significantly more limited compared to Windows 10. At the time, those choices felt deliberate, almost like a firm design reset.

In 2026, that direction looks less fixed. The reintroduction of Taskbar positioning and resizing options, along with more granular Start menu controls, suggests Microsoft is recalibrating how much flexibility the operating system should offer without undoing its modern design language.

What are your thoughts on the Start menu and Taskbar changes coming to Windows 11? 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.

There’s no shortage of hype surrounding Summer Game Fest, and its orbit of smaller indie game showcases, as well as the wildly successful Xbox Games Showcase. This year’s events were chock full of exciting game reveals, especially for AAA lovers.

Titles like State of Decay 3, Fable, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 dominated the post-showcase conversation, and it can be difficult for indie game reveals to get enough time in the limelight.

So we here at Windows Central want to take this opportunity to highlight ten indie game reveals for Xbox from this month’s showcases that have stolen our hearts. Maybe you’ll find a few that you want to bump up to the top of your wishlist, too.

Grave Seasons

Life sims are having a moment. The genre has been on the rise for a few years now, though, which means that it is at risk of feeling stale. This has led to a new wave of genre mashups where newly released life sims have unique plot twists that keep players intrigued.

One of the best mashups of this genre is the cozy horror life sim. Grave Seasons, developed by Perfect Garbage and published by Blumhouse Games, is a shining example — we find ourselves playing as an escaped convict who has made themselves at home in an idyllic town called Ashenridge.

As one does in a cozy life sim, we set ourselves up with a darling little farm, rubbing elbows with the locals and maybe even falling in love. Hit the mines, grow your crops, and drown a few worms at the local fishing hotspots. It's all you would expect from a pixel art cozy life sim. Until the murders start, anyway, then you find yourself tossed into the chaos of investigating a murder and protecting the next victim whenever possible.

Grave Seasons is a narrative feast, with each playthrough having a different potential killer in the town — it could even be your current love interest. Different playthroughs of the game result in new details and conversations based on your relationships with the locals, keeping gameplay fresher than your garden harvest.

Start your new creepy life in Grave Seasons when it comes to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud with support for Xbox Play Anywhere on August 14. Grave Seasons will also launch day one on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.

Moss: The Forgotten Relic

In 2018, Polyarc released a 3-D action-adventure puzzle game about a little mouse named Quill, called Moss, and it stole our hearts. There was just one problem — Moss was only available in VR.

Those of us on Xbox or who were unable (or unwilling) to play in VR had to just look on at trailers and screenshots of Moss longingly and hope that someday it would eventually find its way to consoles in a non-VR variant. Though at the time, it didn’t seem likely at all for that to ever happen.

Imagine the surprise when the first trailer for Moss: The Forgotten Relic dropped. This stunning adventure that takes place in a living fable has players exploring a fallen kingdom that is slowly being reclaimed by nature.

Quill, the courageous but small mouse protagonist, will need your guidance and protection as you uncover hidden secrets and navigate puzzles in a story that feels plucked from the pages of a classic fairy tale.

Both Moss: Book I and Moss: Book II have been combined for a complete fairy tale epic that is enhanced and reimagined for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and compatible handhelds.

Moss: The Forgotten Relic is developed and published by Polyarc and is expected to release this Summer.

Bad Magpie

Sometimes in life, you just want to be a magpie — burning meadows, finding shiny objects, and creating generalized chaos using cartoon logic. There’s just one problem. In Bad Magpie, your magpie self only has one wing. Surely that couldn’t have anything to do with the chaos and arson, right?

Anywho, Bad Magpie sets you loose in a small but densely packed world with plenty of chaotic things to do as a grounded magpie who wants nothing more than to win the heart of a fallen star and cure its own loneliness in the process.

It’s a delightfully chaotic romp through a colorful world packed with puzzles that give you the freedom to solve them however you see fit, as long as you’re curious enough to try.

Despite there being no text, no dialogue, and no cutscenes, Bad Magpie does have a rich story with a cast of critters and tactile interactions that encourage mischief and exploration in order to experience an emotional narrative told through environment and interactivity.

Bad Magpie, developed and published by Milktooth, is coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC with Xbox Play Anywhere support and Xbox Game Pass in 2027.

Momento

The “put stuff in a room to learn a story” genre is an interesting niche that explores environmental storytelling through beautiful art and puzzles. In the five years since Unpacking popularized the concept, there have been several new entries, but few have captured the same gut reaction we all experienced when we finally started to understand the game’s narrative.

Developers Fat Alien Cat & Nomo Studio and publishers Silver Lining Interactive may have managed to expand that experience with the upcoming release of Momento.

Similar to Unpacking, Momento is a cozy room decorator where players place objects around a beautifully illustrated room, but there is a slight twist. It’s up to you to choose the objects that matter most to decorate with, and the objects you select have a lasting impact on the path the story takes.

Starting with your childhood scene, Memento asks us to choose the toys that represent our dreams and future, which then lead into different scenes in adulthood that explore unique themes.

Wonder, love, heartbreak, and the significance of sentimentality are at the heart of Momento, as you experience a lovingly crafted tactile world that reacts to you.

Unlike similar narrative room decorators, Memento does not have a puzzle element to its gameplay. Instead, small decisions made by the player have lasting impacts that ripple throughout the story. Memento is coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and compatible handhelds with support for Xbox Play Anywhere.

The Witch’s Bakery

Nothing heals a broken heart better than French pastries, which leads us to The Witch’s Bakery. Playing as Lunne, you can experience a colorful adventure in Paris as you serve the locals tasty treats from your newly opened bakery. Lunne’s not your ordinary chef, however. She’s also a witch with the power to see into people’s hearts.

Developed by Sunny Lab and published by Silver Lining Interactive, The Witch’s Bakery lets players experience Paris in three parts each day. During business hours, Lunne manages her bakery and serves up pastries.

As the sun goes down, Lunne closes up shop, and players can explore Paris and uncover the secrets of the city while building up relationships with her friends and neighbors. Sometimes characters’ emotions are locked away, and it requires a little more than just a chat to help them overcome their troubles.

During the evening hours, Lunne can use her witchy abilities to go inside of her friends’ troubled heart palaces and discover that person’s key ingredient — the secret touch to the recipe for a magic pastry that can heal them.

After guiding emotions through heart palaces and exploring Paris, Lunne can return to her atelier for the night to rest, improve her magic, and decorate her bakery before the next day begins anew.

The Witch’s Bakery is coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S in August.

Magicians: The Devil’s Deal

If you prefer a more action-heavy take on magic, developer Uppercut Games and publisher Focus Entertainment’s upcoming narrative-driven first-person shooter, Magician’s The Devil’s Deal, just might scratch the itch for you. Uppercut Games is previously known for the narrative, no-dialogue, no-combat adventure Submerged and its sequel, making Magicians: The Devil’s Deal a new challenge for the experienced studio.

Magicians: The Devil’s Deal follows the story of Jacob Menteuro, an illusionist bound to a deal with the Devil, who unfortunately finds himself cast into Hell. Combat, exploration, and stage magic come together as Jacob and the player experience a narrative where he must overcome the Masters of Theatreland on an infernal stage that turns everyday magical props into lethal weapons.

Compelled by the Devil himself, Jacob must topple the Masters to take their powers for himself in this visually stunning world inspired by Victorian London.

Magicians: The Devil’s Deal takes the stage in 2027 on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC. And for the final trick, you can play it day one on Xbox Game Pass.

Cassette Beasts 2002

In 2023, Cassette Beasts crashed onto consoles and introduced fans to a world where they could collect and transform creative monsters with the power of retro cassette tapes. During the recent rash of showcases, developer Bytten Studio and publisher Raw Fury showed off the upcoming sequel, Cassette Beasts 2002.

Cassette Beasts 2002 starts in a quiet neighborhood of London, but players will find themselves and their custom-created characters pulled down to the land of Nodnol. Players can explore Nodnol alone or with friends via online multiplayer, and can even opt to import their original character from the first game.

In Nodnol, players can form bonds with the colorful cast of twelve different companions who can be bonded with, recruited, and even romanced. Similar to its predecessor, Cassette Beasts 2002 lets players record audio from beasts using cassette tapes that can then be played back to take on their form in battle. Fusions are also making a return, but Cassette Beasts 2002 ups the ante with over 57,000 fully-animated fusion forms.

Cassette Beasts is coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC with Xbox Play Anywhere entitlements and support for Xbox cross-platform multiplayer.

Deer and Boy

Upcoming platformer Deer and Boy has long had a spot on our wishlists, and we will finally be able to get our hands on a heartwarming and poetic journey about a young runaway boy who befriends a delicate fawn very soon.

Deer and Boy is an original adventure with a unique twist: a single-player game where you are never alone as your companion grows into a majestic deer during your story, changing the way you interact with the game’s world and puzzles.

Developed by Lifeline Games and published by Dear Villagers that offers a deep narrative adventure with complex story layers that change how you see the game’s tale, with young players experiencing a wholesome story about the friendship between a boy and his deer companion. More mature players may see deeper meaning in the story, even though it has no dialogue or text.

Deer and Boy promises to be an easy, relatively short game that can be completed in a few sessions and is suitable for all members of the family — even the little guys. You can enjoy this interactive cinematic story when it releases on June 23 on Xbox Series X|S.

Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit

A beautiful island awash in a watercolor aesthetic, a wholesome character creator, and an ominous bus crash that leaves you stranded at a spooky campsite — welcome to Cozy Grove.

Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit is the much-anticipated sequel to the 2021 life sim, where players became Spirit Scouts stranded on an island inhabited by the ghosts of adorable bears. To return home, your Spirit Scout had to help those bears become at peace with elements of their past lives.

Some stories were tragic, others heartwarming, but all of them were meaningful and left us just a little sad when the bear’s ghost would move on and become golden.

Netflix snapped up Cozy Grove developer Spry Fox in its earliest days of reaching into the gaming industry, and initially hoarded the ghost-bear-helping life sim on its mobile platform before deciding to sell the studio back to its founders at the end of 2025.

That return to independence is great news for console and PC players who were desperate to return to this incredible world and experience more haunting bear stories, because now Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit is coming to Xbox on July 15.

Grab your badge sash, we’re going decorating and helping ghosts remember their pasts and come to peace with their deaths. New bears, new island, new NPCs to meet. Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit comes to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and compatible handhelds with support for Xbox Play Anywhere. A free demo is available now.

Grim Trials

There’s more to look forward to than just cozy games, so we’re closing out the list with a coming-of-age tale set in the afterlife, complete with heavy metal riffs and action roguelike gameplay. You can still craft, but like, in a hardcore way.

Grim Trials lets you customize your weapons and equipment as Avelin, a young woman who has been recruited to serve as one of Death’s reapers. It’s up to Avelin to track down impure souls, but in doing so, she will be forced to come to terms with her own untimely demise and face her own demons.

Grim Trials features endless hex-grid arenas where Avelin will need to overcome monsters and traps before tackling the 7 sacrilegious bosses. Players are armed with customizable scythes, crossbows, and Blessings from the Gods of Death.

A victory on the battlefield affords Avelin the spoils of war, and she can use the materials collected to craft better weapons, armor, and consumables to aid in the journey through the afterlife.

Developed by Rolling Glory Jam and published by Soft Source Pte Ltd, Grim Tales is sure to pique the interest of those who fell in love with Hades 2 and similar roguelikes with deep customization options, relationship-building side quests, and a full cast of characters to learn more about.

A demo for Grim Tales is available now, and you can look forward to it launching on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and compatible handhelds, though no release date has been confirmed just yet.

As part of the Experimental experience for Windows 11 version 26H2, Microsoft recently released build 26300.8697. While the official announcement focused on fixes and improvements, a more interesting discovery was hiding beneath the surface. A new Search setting that can turn off Bing-powered web results in the Windows Search experience.

Search may finally get a Bing off switch

Windows Search has long mixed local files, apps, and settings with web suggestions, often surfacing Bing results even when users are simply looking for something on their computer. The appearance of a dedicated toggle to remove those web results suggests that the company is exploring a more streamlined Search experience with fewer distractions.

However, this isn't entirely new. Users in the European Economic Area (EEA) have had similar controls for some time as part of Microsoft's compliance with the Digital Markets Act. What's notable here is that the company now appears to be building the same functionality for all markets.

The story I see is much more than user choice. This appears to be Microsoft acknowledging that not every Windows Search query needs a web result attached to it. Instead of forcing online content into the experience, Windows 11 could soon let users decide what belongs in Search. For many people, that could make finding apps, files, and settings faster and more predictable.

New Search controls reduce clutter

The setting is currently tucked in under Settings > Privacy & security > Search in build 26300.8697. The option is labeled "Web Searches" in the "Show suggested search results" section.

Microsoft is also testing a separate "Microsoft Store" toggle to prevent Store apps from appearing in Search results. Together, these options would give users more control over what surfaces when searching from the Start menu and Search box in the Taskbar.

Privacy & Security settings are getting reorganized

The same preview build also includes an updated version of the "Privacy & security" page. Microsoft has reorganized the settings into clearer categories and added a new header that provides quick access to Windows Security, along with glanceable information for location, camera, and microphone permissions.

The company is also adding new entry points for features such as Passkeys and the Custom Dictionary.

Availability of the Search experience

At this stage, the feature is not officially available, and it's not an option you can turn on from the "Feature flags" page either. It was spotted by @PhantomOfEarth inside the Insider build and can only be enabled using ViveTool feature IDs, indicating that Microsoft is still actively developing and testing the experience.

If testing goes as planned, the company could refine the feature through future 26H2 preview releases before deciding on a wider rollout.

Windows Central's Take

I think Microsoft should have offered this option to everyone a long time ago. When I'm using Windows Search, I'm usually looking for a file, app, or setting, not a Bing result. While web integration has its place, it often makes Search feel more cluttered than helpful.

What's interesting is that similar controls have already existed in Europe, so this isn't really a new feature. The bigger story is that Microsoft appears to be testing the same level of control for users across all regions, including the addition of an option to suppress apps from the Microsoft Store in the experience.

I wouldn't consider this a major feature for Windows 11, but it's the type of improvement that can make the operating system feel less intrusive and more focused on what users actually want to find.

What are your thoughts about having the option to remove Bing results from Windows Search on Windows 11? 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.

During 2026's Warhammer Skulls event, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide announced its 3rd DLC expansion, where players could play as the new tech-based Skitarii class.

I'm not too familiar with the Skitarii myself, so I was curious to see how they would stand out from the rest of the classes, especially when the developers, Fatshark, mentioned they would have more customizable freedom in their skill trees compared to the other classes.

My curiosity would be quickly satiated as Fatshark invited me to attend a sneak preview presentation of the Skitarii class, as well as provided me with a Steam code to try it out myself.

After getting hands-on with the Skitarii, it may just be my favorite class in the whole game and one that may convince me to play it more often and finally strive for its endgame content.

This preview was made possible thanks to a Steam code, Preview presentation, and B-Roll footage screenshots provided by Fatshark. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this preview before publication.

What are the Skitarii?

The Skitarii are a unique military force that fights for the tech-worshipping Adeptus Mechanicus faction. They are heavily augmented cyborg hunters that specialize in plasma and lightning-based weaponry, multi-purpose gadgets, and other technologically advanced ways to purge heretics, aliens, and mutants.

They usually act in groups, but in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, you play as an upgraded Alpha Skitarii, who can act as a solo operative.

My preview of this class began with their character customization, which is probably one of the most disturbing yet cool character creators I've ever seen in a game.

You get to customize how royally horrifying your Skitarii look underneath their robes with all their cybernetics, what kind of robotic limbs they have, and even adjust the distortion and pitch of their modulated voices.

Once I finished creating my Skitarii (which took a long while because I wanted to recreate the iconic voice of Soundwave from Transformers), I was off to the training room to learn about their abilities.

How do the Skitarii play?

What sets Skitarii apart from all the classes in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is that their skill tree, which looks like the Sphere Grid from Final Fantasy 10, rather than a linear line like the others.

This means you can spend points to adjust the Skitarii's playstyle however you want, rather than being restricted to a certain playstyle like the other classes due to their more open-ended skill tree, and the Skitarii have A LOT of playstyles to experiment with.

You can create a support-focused Skitarii that focuses on using Servo-Skull drones to crowd-control enemies while reviving downed teammates or operating terminals to save players from having to do it themselves.

You can make a long-range sniper Skitarii that's all about destroying elite enemies using a special ability that augments the ammo of their weapons, like the iconic Galvanic Rifle or Arc Rifle, to auto-track targets without aiming.

Heck, you can even make a melee-focused Skitarii that uses a special forcefield that blocks incoming ranged attacks that explodes once depleted, and rushes enemies down with melee attacks using electrified maces or dual blades before ripping out their heart with a giant, gnarly robotic claw.

Plus, thanks to the Skitarii's open-ended skill tree, you can mix up the various abilities of these playstyles together and create your own custom build that sort of functions as a jack of all trades.

Now, all this sounds cool on paper, but it won't mean much if it doesn't come together during real combat scenarios. So, after deciding to adapt a melee-focused build with the anti-ranged shield, I decided to take my new Skitarii class into live combat to see how it would fare.

Now I'm not the best Darktide player in the world, as I've casually played here and there, getting my shiny metal butt kicked plenty of times. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the Skitarii class because it was so fun to play as.

There's just something so empowering about being able to strut up to an enemy screaming in terror that his bullets aren't penetrating your shield and then snuffing out his Nurgle-worshipping, heretical existence by ripping off his head with a giant claw.

Also, I enjoyed the utility of the Skitarii's Servo-Skulls for how surprisingly useful they were. Commanding it to hack terminals instead of having to deal with the annoying image-match mini-game yourself and using it to revive teams so you don't leave yourself wide open to enemy attacks is so convenient and gives your team a better, and less frustrating, chance at survival when things go south.

I can't wait to zap heretics to ash in the name of the Omnissiah

Overall, I was impressed with the Skitarii class by what I saw and played. Its tech-based weapons and abilities are fun to play with, and the personalities you can assign to your Skitarii are a joy to listen to during moments when player characters talk to each other,

Also, I LOVE the idea of having a voice modulator when designing your character's voice to give it a robotic feel, which I hope to see more often in games in general and not just Warhammer 40,000 games featuring the Adeptus Mechanicus.

If the Arbites were the class that convinced me to play Darktide, then the Skitarii may be the class that will motivate me to play at a higher level beyond the occasional casual weekend romp with friends and check out its endgame content.

Bottom line, the Skitarii are awesome, and I can't wait to play more of them alongside everyone else as the Warhammer 40,000: Darktide's Skitarii DLC expansion launches on June 23, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam, which happens to be today.

🗨️ Over to you

What do you think of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide's new Skitarii class? Do you think it will be your main class, or are you waiting for a different kind of servant of the Imperium to become playable, like one of the Sisters of Battle, for example?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll below, the comments section, or our Reddit page.

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

After facing intense scrutiny for quirky crossovers in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Treyarch committed to keeping its operator bundles more lore-accurate for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Then they added Dave Chappelle as part of a Half Baked crossover in April. Now with Season 4 Reloaded, we're getting a crossover with Nick Cage.

Call of Duty: Season 4 Reloaded kicks off on June 25 at 9AM PT/12PM ET, and here is everything you can expect for multiplayer, Zombies, Endgame, and Warzone.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 S4R Endgame

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's Endgame mode was originally locked behind campaign progression, but Treyarch ultimately decided to move the underappreciated mode to Call of Duty: Warzone and make it temporarily free-to-play. However, at the time, no end date for the free-to-play era was announced. It is now confirmed that Endgame will remain F2P until the end of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 5.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is expected to launch on October 23, with campaign early access going live on October 16. While it has not been confirmed that Black Ops 7's post-launch support will end at Season 5 instead of the standard 6 seasons we've seen with previous launches, the early launch date for MW4 does make that possibility more likely.

For Season 4 Reloaded, Endgame fans can expect Operation King Killer to be the next chapter of the story, which will push players to locate the Central Command Node and eventually face off against the Glitch Boss. Ten escalating challenges in Zone III and higher will challenge players as they unlock new rewards and weapon camos.

Endgame players can work their way through the new Guardian skill track with the Payback perk that ricochets enemy damage and increased ammo spawns on enemy eliminations. The Guardian skill track is for the tanky team player, allowing for friendly revives just by being in proximity to downed teammates, reduced flinch, and reduced damage for equipped armor plates.

The newest minor ability for Season 4 Reloaded is the psych grenade with a brain rot affect common in other Black Ops 7 modes. A new Exotic Skill, Fission, will result in players triggering an explosion that deals damage to nearby enemies when killing elite foes. The latest nightmare skill to make its way to Endgame is Sleeper Agent, which provides a chance for base enemies to become allies that rush nearby hostiles and detonate on impact.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 S4R Multiplayer

Season 4 Reloaded will bring two new maps to the multiplayer roster, one brand-new and one remastered.

New map: Zenith (6v6, 2v2, Medium-sized)

Zenith is a brand-new map coming to Black Ops 7's multiplayer during Season 4 Reloaded, bringing back to the Jungle vibes we've seen in previous Black Ops titles, but this time featuring a massive compound with state-of-the-art tech and security. The three-lane map features flanking paths on either side and a running waterway that leads into the compound's lower bunker.

Remastered map: Launch (6v6, Medium-sized)

This classic map from the original Call of Duty: Black Ops has officially been remastered for Black Ops 7, featuring a Russian rocket facility where the launch initiation protocol begins at the halfway point of each match. Launch has a soft spot in many COD players' hearts for its design, which caters to a variety of play styles thanks to the complex layout that lends itself to long sniper sightlines from elevated positions and tight corridors with plenty of potential flanking paths.

Returning mode: Team Blueprint Sharpshooter

Blueprint Sharpshooter challenges players to eliminate enemies with a rotating cycle of loadouts. The higher your kill streak, the more power ups you unlock to help you keep going. Operator bonuses are as follows:

• 1-Streak: Faster movement speed.
• 2 -Streak: Faster reload speed.
• 3-Streak: Faster sprint recovery.
• 4-Streak: Faster aim down sights speed.
• 5-Streak: Double score.

Returning mode: Knife Fight

This melee-only mode is a close-quarters variant of Gunfight for the 2v2 crowd who are looking to make some progress on weapons like the H311-SAW and MK.II. No scorestreaks or field upgrades, though players can receive ranged equipment a few seconds after the round starts. The first duo squad to win six rounds wins the match.

New updates: Black Ops Classic

Treyarch has been priming fans of Black Ops for the Black Ops 1 and 2 ports coming to PlayStation later this summer with the Black Ops classic playlist that will now become a permanent fixture in the playlist rotation. This mode features the roster of classic Black Ops maps and weapons with limited mobility, perks, and scorestreak options for that throwback vibe.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 S4R Zombies

Welcome to Kowakujō, the newest round-based map for Black Ops 7 Zombies coming in Season 4 Reloaded. Treyarch has been teasing Kowakujō for a couple of weeks, as well as the supernatural Oni enemy, scorched Zombies, and a fiery new take on Hellhounds.

The story will have players battling the undead on the slopes of a volcano with a dragon flying overhead as they attempt to free the final Shadowsmith and recover the World Seed — failure means catastrophe for the material world. That's easier said than done, however, when the foreboding Oni is ready to attack with its electrified melee weapon. A new wonder weapon could help make things easier, but Treyarch is keeping the details of the new tool close to its chest until Season 4 Reloaded goes live.

The Main Quest for Kowakujō goes live on June 25 at 9AM PT/12PM ET.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 S4R Warzone

Season 4 Reloaded will bring some new changes to Call of Duty: Warzone, though not as significant as we've seen in some other updates. Players who have been enjoying the snow-covered Rebirth Island will have to say goodbye to the frost caps as the island returns to a more seasonally appropriate color palette. However, the Season 2 changes to points of interest will remain intact.

New modes are coming to the playlist rotation for Warzone, including Squad Gun Game on Resurgence maps and Buy Back Quads for Battle Royale Maps. Those of us pining for duos or trios playlists on Black Ops Royale are still out of luck, unfortunately. But hey, the Champions Quest is back for those teams who want to challenge themselves to consecutive victories that meet specific criteria.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 S4R Events

It's not a new season without some new events, and the first one planned for Season 4 Reloaded gives us Nick Cage — for, reasons? Treyarch is touting the addition of Nick Cage to Call of Duty as part of its "action-packed summer" themed event, offering a free and premium track to unlock a variety of rewards by earning XP during a limited time. The free track includes:

• “Opportunist” Samuels Operator Skin
• “Wide Eyed” Spray
• 1-Hour Double Weapon XP Token
• “On Set” Loading Screen
• Battle Pass Tier Skip “Art of Respect” Animated Emblem
• “Hired Muscle” Grimm Operator Skin
• “Personal Tyrant” Weapon Charm
• New “Executioner’s Duet” Melee Weapon
• New “AN-94” Assault Rifle

While the premium reward track will cost players some out-of-pocket cash and include the following:

• New “Nick Cage” Operator
• “Elegant Transformation” Animated Calling Card
• “Shedding Limits” Peacekeeper MK1 Assault Rifle Weapon Blueprint
• “Get In Position!” Emote
• “Snake Handler” Jäger 45 Pistol Weapon Blueprint
• “Calmly Ended” Finishing Move
• “Burn Into Memory” HUD Theme
• “Studded Pelt” Dravec 45 SMG Weapon Blueprint
• “Fiery Streak” Gunscreen
• “Unlimited” Nick Cage Operator Skin

The "Summer of Action" event will feature a new Daily Login event that includes the following rewards:

• 1-Hour Double Player XP Token, Tier Skip
• “Loaded and Locked” Emblem, Tier Skip
• 1-Hour Double Weapon XP Token, Tier Skip
• “Air Time” Sticker, Tier Skip
• 1-Hour Double XP Token, Tier Skip
• “Against the Odds” Calling Card, Tier Skip
• “Catharsis” X9 Maverick Assault Rifle Weapon Blueprint, Tier Skip

Zombies players can also look forward to their own Kowakujō Event with rewards including weapon camos and GobbleGums.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 S4R Free Trial

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has been a contentious entry to the franchise, with the game's psychologically-thriller style campaign deterring players who were expecting a more traditional single-player experience. However, the multiplayer has been applauded as one of the best in the franchise's modern history, mainly due to Treyarch's willingness to listen to player feedback on features like out-of-place operator skins and Skill-Based Match Making.

If you haven't yet tried out Black Ops 7's multiplayer and Zombies mode, a free trial period is coming later during the Season 4 Reloaded window to give players a chance to check out what they've been missing.

Treyarch has excelled at listening to player feedback, but still drops the ball on operator bundles

Call of Duty's development teams have taken quite a hit in the 'goodwill' department from fans of the franchise since the explosion of weed-themed and cel-shaded operator bundles hit the in-game store in full force during Modern Warfare 3 (2023)'s post-launch seasons. The ridiculous operator bundles and cross-overs became even more egregious with Black Ops 6, when we were stuck with the likes of cel-shaded Beavis and Butthead and American Dad operators running around.

A lot of players have hot takes about other operator bundles like Nicki Minaj or the more colorfully adorned operators, and I can almost see their point. What I, personally, find more frustrating is the out-of-universe nature of some of the crossovers. I don't expect Call of Duty to be a milsim, and I am not ashamed to say that I am first in line to scoop up a unicorn bundle or a female operator with some witchy vibes. I'm still gleefully jaunting around Black Ops Royale in the witchy raven operator bundle I purchased a few years ago, actually.

Treyarch has had a spectacular year in multiplayer, where they've really made an effort to give players the Black Ops experience they've been begging for, and it has been — hands down — one of the best Black Ops multiplayers in recent memory. And yet, they just refuse to turn loose of these senseless crossovers with celebrities. It's a commitment to going against the audience that I just don't understand. Give me rainbow tracers any day of the week. It's Dave Chapelle, Nick Cage, and other out-of-universe celebrities that have me feeling like the ball is being dropped.

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On Windows 11, I often see users concerned about high memory usage when they open Task Manager. It's not uncommon to see RAM utilization sitting at 70, 80, or even 90 percent. When that happens, many people assume their computer is slowing down, the operating system is using too many resources, or it's finally time to upgrade to more memory.

Microsoft PC Manager is one of the tools designed to address this concern. The app includes a one-click "Boost" feature that promises to free memory and improve performance instantly. However, before you start clearing memory every time you see a high percentage, it's important to understand what the system is actually doing behind the scenes.

Why Windows 11 uses so much memory

Nowadays, modern operating systems are designed to use available resources efficiently. Instead of letting memory sit idle, Windows 11 uses available RAM to cache data and keep frequently used apps ready to launch faster. The goal is to make the system feel more responsive.

As a result, high memory usage isn't necessarily a warning sign. In many cases, it's evidence that the operating system is taking advantage of the hardware you already paid for. This is also why two computers with the same amount of memory can show very different usage in Task Manager, even when performance feels nearly identical.

It's important, though, to separate "good" memory usage from "bad" bloat. When the system uses RAM to cache files, it'll immediately give that memory back when another app needs it. On the other hand, if a single app or browser tab is consuming several gigabytes of memory because of poor optimization or a memory leak, that's a legitimate resource problem and a valid reason to close the app or use a tool like PC Manager.

Where Microsoft PC Manager fits in

Microsoft PC Manager can help when memory consumption becomes excessive. The Boost feature quickly closes unnecessary background processes and releases memory back to the system. If you've left dozens of browser tabs open, forgotten apps running in the background, or are working on a computer with limited memory, the feature can provide an immediate improvement.

For users who don't want to dig through Task Manager looking for resource-hungry processes, PC Manager offers a much simpler approach.

However, the tool works best when it's solving an actual memory problem rather than chasing a lower number.

The mistake many users make

The biggest mistake I see is treating memory usage as a score that should always be kept as low as possible.

If Task Manager reports 85 percent memory usage, many users immediately assume they need to free RAM. After using the Boost feature, they feel reassured because the percentage drops to a lower number.

The problem is that lower memory usage doesn't automatically translate into better performance.

Windows 11 often stores useful information in memory to speed up common tasks. Clearing that data may reduce the percentage shown in Task Manager, but it doesn't always make the computer faster. In some situations, the operating system simply reloads the same information back into memory moments later.

When should you actually worry?

The percentage itself isn't what matters most. What matters is whether you're experiencing symptoms that indicate the system is running out of available memory. Apps taking longer to open, sluggish multitasking, and random slowdowns are usually better indicators than the number shown in Task Manager.

Another sign is when the system begins to rely heavily on virtual memory, forcing it to move data between RAM and storage. That's when performance can start to suffer noticeably. Also, keep in mind that many other factors can affect system performance, including the type and speed of your local drive, available disk space, thermal throttling, processor limitations, and excessive startup apps and background processes, just to name a few.

If your computer remains responsive throughout your normal workload, high memory usage alone usually isn't a reason to worry.

So how much RAM usage is too much?

There isn't a magic number that applies to every computer. For some users, 90 percent memory usage may be perfectly normal because they're running dozens of browser tabs, editing photos, or working with virtual machines.

Actually, I fall into this category. When I built my system, I installed 96GB of RAM, and I haven't noticed any slowdown in the applications I use when the usage is around 90 percent or even more.

However, context is also important. On an 8GB system sitting at around 85 percent memory usage, there's very little room left to work with. At that point, Windows 11 has to rely more on memory compression and move data to the storage drive, which can lead to noticeable slowdowns or stuttering. High memory usage on a high-end computer is usually just normal caching. However, on a lower-end system, it often means the hardware is starting to struggle.

My rule of thumb is simple. If memory usage consistently stays at 85-90 percent and you're noticing performance issues, it's probably time to investigate and consider a RAM upgrade. If performance remains smooth, Windows 11 is likely managing memory exactly as intended.

Windows Central's Take

Every time I see someone post a screenshot showing 85 or 90 percent memory usage on Windows 11, the first reaction is usually, "You need more RAM." In reality, that's often not the case.

I've tested Windows 11 on systems with 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB of memory, and one thing I've learned is that the system will happily use available RAM if it can improve performance. That's exactly what modern operating systems are supposed to do. Unused memory doesn't make your computer faster.

This is why I think Microsoft PC Manager's Boost feature is both useful and potentially misleading. It's useful because it can quickly free resources on low-memory systems or when an app is misbehaving. However, it can also reinforce the idea that high memory usage is always bad, which simply isn't true.

The one major exception here is right before you launch a heavy workload. If you are about to open a demanding game or start rendering a 4K video, it could make sense to hit the "Boost" feature beforehand. It forces background tasks to clear out early, ensuring your heavy application has immediate access to raw blocks of memory without waiting for the system to reallocate resources on the fly.

If you open Task Manager and see memory usage sitting at 80 or even 90 percent, I wouldn't rush to upgrade your memory. Instead, I'd ask a different question. Is the device actually slow? If apps open quickly and multitasking feels smooth, Windows 11 is probably managing memory exactly as intended.

For me, the real sign that it's time for more RAM isn't a percentage in Task Manager. It's when I start noticing slowdowns, app reloads, stuttering, or other performance issues during my normal workflow. That's when additional memory makes a difference.

What's the highest memory usage you've seen on Windows 11 without noticing any performance issues? 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 Royal Festival Hall in London was recently transformed into a musical gateway to the burning pits of Hell, and no I'm not talking about a recreation of the London Underground.

As I sat in the audience for the Diablo 30th Anniversary Symphony on 06/06/(202)6, surrounded by hundreds of fellow fans, it felt like a somewhat full-circle moment for me. After all, it was my rambling spam texts I would send to friends about the current state of Diablo 3 that got me into writing about games in the first place. This franchise has changed my life in many ways, and the concert was something of a pilgrimage through three decades of iconic, haunting, and deeply atmospheric music that has defined the Diablo franchise from its humble 1996 beginnings right up to Diablo 4.

Watching a full live orchestra play the Diablo music that permeates every game session was like an out-of-body experience. I found myself in awe of how the choir's human voices, booming over the strings, functioned as instruments in their own right, really carrying the weight of the game’s gothic horror.

The instantly recognizable 12-string guitar melody from the Tristram theme was the highlight of the night. As those familiar, melancholy notes rang out, I could hear a collective intake of breath from the other fans sitting around me. It was a shared connection to a piece of music that has been the background of many a session over the years. It was heard a few times throughout the performance, as it's woven deep into the soul of Diablo 4’s soundtrack, linking all of the franchises, yet distinctly recognizable as a Diablo 2 sound.

Ahead of the performance, I had the privilege of sitting down with two of the architects behind these sounds: Charlotte Pyle, Principal Audio Producer, and Derek Duke, Music Director at Blizzard Entertainment.

Getting the right people for the job

For those who live and breathe these games, it is easy to assume that the people making the music have been lifelong gamers in the traditional sense, but the paths to Blizzard are as diverse as the scores themselves.

Charlotte Pyle joined the studio nine years ago, coming from the film industry. "I was contacted when I was working in the film industry about a production role for cinematic sound," Pyle explained. "I did a whole gauntlet of interviews, and they called me to say they were interested in me joining, but wanted me to actually be the music producer lead".

Derek Duke, on the other hand, is a cornerstone of the Blizzard legacy. "I started at Blizzard as a contractor, writing music, and then I got an opportunity to come on board full time," Duke shared. Having been with the studio for roughly 25 years, his tenure spans the evolution of Blizzard's entire musical identity

Blizzard's "darkest" franchise

We touched upon the distinction between Blizzard's franchises, and the creative process behind Diablo's unique and ominous sound.

"Diablo is our 'M for Mature' game. It’s our darker, gothic franchise," Duke explained. "It’s heavier, it’s even more immersive; it has that sense of dread. World of Warcraft is definitely a bit brighter, a bit more neoclassical."

I’ve always felt that Mephisto's theme in Diablo 4 gives a sense of creeping death comparable to having Jaws nipping at your heels. When I asked if they looked to horror/thriller cinema for inspiration, Duke noted that their influences come from all over, explaining that they listen to a wide array of music and film rather than limiting themselves to one genre.

How collaboration has evolved

As technology has advanced, so too has the way Blizzard creates its soundtracks. The team works with musicians and singers from all over the globe. In fact, it was explained that this evening would be the first time many performers had performed in the same room, despite their sounds being woven together for years as we step around Sanctuary.

"Technology has evolved a lot, but it’s only just allowed us to move a little bit faster and work more efficiently," Duke noted. "Especially with things like Diablo 4, it’s made collaboration amazingly better. We’re working with vocalists and instrumentalists all over the world — from electric violinists in Canada to percussionists in LA. It’s amazing".

This collaborative spirit extends into the game’s development cycle itself. I asked how early the guys got involved with the writers when it came to making a piece of music for a specific cutscene or side quest.

"We’re constantly in contact with the game team — that’s one of the benefits of the central music team being so embedded with every single game," Pyle said. "The minute we start hearing about something, we’re getting on a call, getting concept art, and looking at narrative storylines as early as possible".

Duke gave an example. "Neyrelle's theme would have been created when we started on that cinematic with Neyrelle in it, so we would have decided that Neyrelle needed a theme for her, because she was being used in the storyline, so we started working on a theme for her that could be used in multiple cinematics as well throughout the story,"

Translating the digital to the live stage

The challenge of taking music meant for a PC headset and moving it to a grand concert hall was one of the most exciting topics we touched on. For the symphony, the team didn't just play back digital files; they leaned into the human element of the soundtrack.

"The arrangements were created specifically for the symphony," Duke explained. "We have four of the soloists that we used on Diablo 4 flying in to perform live. There won't be any stopping or starting or second takes; it’ll be captured in one go"

A legacy of sound

One of the most impressive things about Diablo 4 is how its soundtrack manages to feel entirely new while sneaking in those "twangs" of nostalgia, those specific notes we talked about that instantly transport you back to Diablo 2.

"We’re always conscious of the past and keeping that legacy," Duke said of their approach to the latest entry. "We always want to evolve the sounds of the franchises, but keep that past present in the future. It’s great that you picked up on that".

I left that evening with a sense that the team behind Diablo 4's sound has a deeper focus on history than you might think, aided in no small part by a group of Blizzard veterans. It can't be easy to keep the franchise's legacy alive while still fostering a unique identity for Diablo 4, but they've pulled it off. This was felt more than ever when experiencing the Infernal Symphony itself. The shift in pace from the classic Diablo 2 tracks to the melancholic despair of Kyovashad’s theme made it clear they have been able to go bigger and bolder with Diablo 4. Yet, even amidst that grand orchestral scale, I am incredibly glad that there is still room for that classic 12-string guitar.

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As a lifelong PC gamer, I know well the woes that Denuvo and other Digital Rights Management (DRM) platforms can cause for even the most law-abiding consumers.

Whether it's a noticeable performance impact, a roadblock to modding, or annoying online check-ins, DRM has become something despised by those in the games industry. And I'm talking about those who design games and those who buy them.

Unfortunately, what is likely the leading alternative to DRM tools like Denuvo doesn't make me very happy, either. Nor should it make you excited for the future of gaming.

DRM has been getting less effective over time as popular game crackers become more effective. I can easily imagine a time when no DRM is effective anymore. The leading alternative that I think will replace it?

Subscription-based game "ownership", where you own nothing and are happy just to be able to play at all. Let me explain.

Video game popularity goes nuclear and piracy begins

The mainstream video game industry got its start in the '70s, with home consoles like the Magnavox Odyssey, running (in retrospect) rudimentary games like Pong.

Countless consoles were launched at consumers over the next couple of decades, with the vast majority featuring embedded games (like the Magnavox Odyssey) or physical media (like the original Nintendo Entertainment System).

It wasn't until the '90s that a perfect mixture of hardware advancements for personal computers and groundbreaking games like DOOM fueled a huge PC gaming boom.

Let me be clear: video game piracy has been happening basically since the start of video games.

Savvy users were duplicating games sold on magnetic tapes in the '70s and '80s, and once the internet came about, the rise of the Warez subculture saw countless cracked games being shared in online forums.

I'm old enough to fondly recall visiting computer stores to buy physical PC games, but the CDs used to ship games were rather easy to rip and reburn to a new disc. That is, if the games weren't just being sent to share online.

Steam, the wildly popular digital games distribution hub, began to gain popularity in the '00s. It provided gamers with an extremely convenient way to buy games, but again, the digital copies were easy to share after being "cracked."

The PC gaming industry soon realized it had a real problem. Gamers were downloading titles via torrent hubs like Napster and LimeWire at a frantic pace, robbing developers and publishers of revenue.

The response to game piracy was two-fold. On one side, Steam (and its parent company, Valve) realized it could make buying games more convenient than stealing them. And to make that strategy work, games had to be harder to steal via DRM efforts.

DRM was effective at stopping game piracy ... until it wasn't

A peer-reviewed 2024 study published in the Entertainment Computing journal is one of the best resources that proves the effectiveness of DRM. The study tracked 86 games launched on Steam between 2014 and 2022.

The highlights? Games that had cracked versions hit the internet in the first week after their initial launch saw roughly 20% decreased revenue. When those cracks were delayed by DRM by at least six weeks, revenue only dropped by 5%.

If a game's DRM managed to hold out against cracks for at least three months, there was no noticeable loss of revenue.

This study shows that DRM indeed did exactly what it was supposed to do. If it could slow down free versions of a game from being uploaded to the web, studios and publishers stood to make a lot more money.

As DRM improved, however, so did the individuals and groups dedicated to cracking it. Whereas something like Denuvo was frequently able to hold out for long periods of time, Denuvo today is often being cracked mere hours after launch.

Such was the case with LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, which showed up online in cracked form shortly after launch. Speaking of recent games, 007: First Light was also notably cracked in less than two weeks.

You won't own your games, and you'll be happy to play them

It's becoming clear that there's really no foolproof way to stop someone from cracking a game that they have full access to, and I fear that the answer to Denuvo's demise is contractual rather than technological.

I'm talking about subscription-based gaming that lets you "rent" a game that's then streamed to your device from a cloud server instance. With live authentication handshakes at every step and no real access to a game's files and no actual downloads, piracy potential is basically nonexistent.

This logic is, of course, already being applied in some ways. Xbox's PC Game Pass, a service to which I've been a longtime subscriber, grants access to countless games for one price. Of course, I'm still downloading those games to my PC to play. Xbox Cloud Gaming takes the downloading part out of the equation, delivering games straight to your devices from the cloud.

The convenience these types of services afford, as well as Steam's frequent and deep sales, helped curb piracy. But piracy is far from dead, especially as game (and hardware) prices continue to rise.

A bargain that no gamer asked for

Because AI has caused RAM and storage (and other component) prices to skyrocket, there are valid concerns that a majority of gamers soon won't be able to afford the hardware on which games run.

The leading solution that doesn't involve payment plans and interest-free financing? Again, it's cloud gaming, where you don't actually own any hardware and instead pay a modest monthly subscription fee to rent a GPU and CPU sitting in a data center somewhere nearby.

What I find particularly troubling about this trajectory is that gamers are the ones being shafted. As usual. Sure, a subscription-based model would remove piracy almost entirely, but the idea of not actually owning any games is frightening.

Imagine if, like Netflix, the gaming service to which you subscribed decided to remove a selection of games from its library. Where would you turn then? A new subscription? You'd better hope the rights to those games are purchased by someone else.

Will the final boss of piracy indeed be a complete lack of game ownership? I can't say for sure, but it certainly feels like we're headed in that direction.

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Microsoft announced the Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12 this week, but thanks to a confusing naming scheme and the lack of an event or stream, the new PCs have not drawn the attention they deserves.

Those who paid attention and saw the announcements may have experienced sticker shock, since the new Surface devices are at least $500 more expensive than their predecessors. Microsoft will include a free keyboard to ease the pain, but still.

This week marked the third time this year that Microsoft announced new Surface PCs, and I feel cheated. This isn't how Surface week is supposed to feel.

Biggest News of the Week

Microsoft has announced a whopping six Surface devices this year. But information trickled out in a series of press releases. No on-stage event. No live stream. No buzz.

I can understand Microsoft skipping a Surface event when there's little to announce. In a couple of previous years, there's been little to talk about. But in just the first half of 2026, Microsoft unveiled:

• Surface Laptop Ultra powered by NVIDIA RTX Spark
• Surface Pro 12 for Business and Surface Pro 12 for consumers
• Surface Laptop 8 for Business and Surface Laptop 8 for consumers
• Surface RTX Spark Dev Box

Those PCs aren't just spec bumps. They include two new form types of PCs for the Surface family (a true clamshell workstation and a mini PC), and the latest components from Intel, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm.

The Surface Laptop 8 for Business has an innovative privacy screen that should make non-business users jealous. The new consumer Surface hardware runs on the Snapdragon X2 Elite. The Surface Laptop Ultra runs NVIDIA's RTX Spark superchip and Windows on Arm.

Microsoft had the partners, internals, form factors, and unique features to fill a keynote. Instead, inboxes were filled with emails of spec sheets and basic information.

Shopping with Sean

The new Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8 are beautiful machines, but I think it's hard to justify their price. Instead, I suggest a Dell XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite and 32GB of RAM.

If you do get a Surface Pro, the discounted Surface Pro Flex Keyboard is worth grabbing. It can be used wirelessly or when physically attached and features a large haptic trackpad.

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An essay published last week by a Microsoft Principal Scientist and University of York Researcher is getting some viral heat, and the title alone was enough to make me do a double-take: "If LLMs Have Human-Like Attributes, Then So Does Age of Empires II."

The paper, authored by Adrian de Wynter, is not a joke. Well, it's sort of a joke, but not in the way I first thought. The premise is simple (heh heh). De Wynter built and trained a working neural network inside Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, the remaster of 1999's legendary real-time strategy masterpiece.

Using the game's rather powerful custom map editor, de Wynter constructed operational NAND gates using palisade walls, grass, and bridge terrain, with goats as signal carriers.

While admittedly rudimentary, de Wynter essentially built the basics of a modern AI system. And by doing so, he flipped one of the biggest assumptions in AI research on its head.

Do AI systems have human qualities? AI research wants you to believe so.

There are countless AI studies out there that you can read suggesting that Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Claude possess human-like qualities. I'm talking about empathy. Anxiety. Morality. Self-awareness. The stuff that makes humans human.

Researchers design experiments around these assumptions, test LLMs with them, and report on their findings. There's a problem with this approach. De Wynter looked at more than 300 AI research papers published in the last two years and discovered that more than half of them were created under the assumption that, yes, LLMs do have human attributes.

If an AI paper's author specifically set out to prove that LLMs possess human properties, a whopping 77% concluded that those properties existed. You can see how there's a rather serious confirmation bias at play.

Playing Age of Empires 2 at a truly high level

Age of Empires II is one of my favorite games of all time, and its thriving competitive scene nearly three decades after its original launch is something to behold. But I've never seen something like this.

In his essay, de Wynter proves that Age of Empires II is "Turing-complete," which means it can theoretically run any computation.

As mentioned, he used the game's map editor to build NAND logic gates using custom scenario triggers, with a functioning 1-bit perceptron (a "fundamental build block of neural networks").

Taken to a grand scale with a lot of effort, de Wynter effectively proves that, yes, Age of Empires II could create something functionally similar to an LLM.

Applying the same rules to Age of Empires II as we apply to AI

What de Wynter proves with this experiment is that anyone claiming LLMs have anxiety or morals also has to admit that Age of Empires II, given enough time and complexity, is in the same boat.

De Wynter doesn't stop at Age of Empires II, either.

You might look at this experiment and assume that AI is actually not as smart as everyone thinks it is. In my eyes, that's the wrong take. Instead, the experiment essentially proves that human-like behavior is actually a part of any complex system designed to produce certain results.

For AI researchers attempting to make us believe that LLMs are on the verge of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), that's a rather heavy blow.

Is it time to break up with your AI partner?

AI firms design their products to feel as human as possible. That's probably why so many users form emotional attachments to soulless server racks, using them for therapy and to help with serious life decisions.

Researchers writing papers suggesting that AI possesses human-like qualities feed back into a loop of product and policy decisions from the big AI firms, creating a false illusion of what AI actually is on the inside.

De Wynter's paper posits not that AI lacks truly interesting properties, but that researchers need to be more honest in their approach. He believes that tests should be performed using a "null assumption" that doesn't start with "AI is human," with tests designed to prove the claim.

It's a pretty obvious scientific change that even I, a rural imbecile, understand is necessary to reveal the true nature of AI.

The call is coming from inside the house

I'd like to point out that de Wynter isn't an outsider hoping to discredit AI. He's an established AI researcher based at Microsoft, the company that has poured untold billions into OpenAI and that has jammed Copilot into products as much as possible.

I absolutely love that it's Age of Empires II that was used for the experiment, and I hope that de Wynter's paper has a positive effect on the AI research community. I'll be keeping a closer eye on the goats gathered around my Town Center the next time I play some Age.

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Microsoft is often referred to as the software giant — and for a good reason. Windows and Office are among the most profitable products in its ecosystem, thanks to their widespread global adoption. However, the tech giant has seemingly shifted its focus from its bread and butter to chase the elusive generative AI.

It dates back to Microsoft's first investment in OpenAI in 2019. CEO Satya Nadella revealed that his company's original co-founder, Bill Gates, wasn't party to the idea, citing the AI firm's non-profit structure. "Yeah, you're going to burn this billion dollars," Gates warned.

Conversely, a separate report claimed that Bill Gates is still intimately involved in Microsoft's affairs, despite stepping away to focus on his philanthropic efforts. His advice is reportedly regarded as gospel, with Nadella frequently relying on his guidance for the company’s transformative AI initiatives.

Nevertheless, Satya Nadella indicated that the company was moving away from Bill Gates' software factory vision: "That idea has guided us for decades," he indicated. "But today, it's no longer enough." According to Nadella, that original vision is becoming outdated as we edge closer to the AI revolution.

Instead, Microsoft is pivoting to security, quality, and AI transformation as its core business priorities. While it sounds good on paper, reality paints a very different picture (at least in the short term). Microsoft has faced a wide array of challenges in this age of AI, which could potentially undermine the backbone that has propelled it to a market capitalization of 2.82 trillion.

Too little, too late for Windows?

I've used Windows all my life, with a few side quests with Linux (Ubuntu) and macOS. Over that period, there's been a paradigm shift in Microsoft's OS, and not necessarily for the better. Windows 11's slow adoption rate before Windows 10's death is a clear depiction.

Many blatantly expressed their preference for the previous edition for a range of reasons, including Windows 11's stringent hardware requirements, flawed design elements, and more.

According to a recent HP survey, 3 out of 10 HP PCs are still running Windows 10 despite Microsoft pulling the plug on October 14, 2025. Then again, the number of Windows 10 holdouts has slightly decreased from September 2025, when HP and Dell indicated that up to 50% of PCs were still running on the operating system.

As a result, many users may not switch to Windows 11 immediately, instead delaying the upgrade until later this year, likely when ESU support officially ends.

Consequently, groups like The Restart Project group, which helped co-develop the "End of 10" toolkit to support Windows 10 users who can't upgrade to Windows 11, claim Microsoft's move to continue pushing security updates to Windows 10 beyond its end-of-support feels like a last-minute snooze button, which only acts as a band-aid on a bleeding system.

Critics have even branded Windows 10's end of support as programmed obsolescence on Microsoft's end, because the move forced millions of working PCs into early retirement, as they didn't meet the requirements to upgrade to Windows 11.

While it might seem like a stretch to some, rival platforms like Linux have shown some increased traction with incentives like a lack of ads and telemetry tracking fueling the switch from Microsoft's ecosystem. Some of our own Windows Central community members share the same sentiments, too.

That said, it might be too early to write off Windows. At the beginning of the year, Microsoft pledged to improve the overall user sentiment around the operating system, and has made good on its promise with its Windows K2 initiative (an internal initiative designed to address major pain points across Windows 11 based on customer feedback), including reducing where Copilot and other AI integrations appear across the operating system.

The company even brought back Windows Insider meetups to bridge the gap between users and the Windows development team, potentially making it easier to voice concerns and even provide feedback that will help steer the platform in the right direction.

However, Microsoft plans to evolve Windows into an agentic AI operating system — a move that has been received with mixed feelings. It indicated that Windows will ship with a new agentic workspace feature right out of the box, containing AI agents in their own secure sessions.

Last month, Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s head of product marketing for AI and Copilot, transitioned to a new role focused on "reimagining Windows for the agentic era" before eventually departing the company. This is a clear indication that the evolution of Windows into an agentic OS is already on track and could happen sooner than you think.

It'll be interesting to see how this will impact Microsoft's massive market share on desktops with Windows, and whether users will jump ship to "less intrusive" alternatives.

Office lost Teams, and Microsoft thought Copilot would sweeten the deal

In case you missed it, Microsoft unbundled Teams from Office 365 to dodge EU antitrust fines in 2025. The new arrangement offers Office 365 and Microsoft 365 without Teams at a lower cost, at around $2.20 (€2) less per user each month. This means you'll have to get Teams as a standalone service for about $5.50 (€5) per user per month.

In April, Salesforce filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, citing anticompetitive practices related to its Microsoft Teams app: "Microsoft's practices harmed ⁠competition, using tying and bundling of Teams to ​limit customer choice," the Slack maker claimed.

However, Microsoft dismissed the claims, citing that the antitrust case lacked merit. At the same time, it used the opportunity to throw jabs at Slack's lackluster growth and inferior capabilities compared to Teams and Zoom.

In the interim, Microsoft Office could potentially be looking at a competitive threat from the likes of The Document Foundation's LibreOffice and even newcomers like Euro-Office.

Euro-Office is Europe’s bold alternative to Microsoft 365, promising sovereignty and control. Perhaps more interestingly, the service ships a familiar user interface as Microsoft's service, which should technically make the jump less drastic for users.

However, the threat doesn't seem that serious, at least in the short term, unless the rival platforms address major concerns affecting their services and commit to improving compatibility. According to Windows Central member, GraniteStateColin:

"Microsoft Office is cheap and excellent. It's a bargain for anyone who benefits from its feature set. If all you need is a simple text entry window, then it is overkill, but at $20/year/user ($120/year for 6 users), it's still one of the cheapest options. That's $2/mo! If that's what's bankrupting Europe, they have bigger problems."

"LibreOffice's compatibility with MS Office docs is terrible. If there's anything more than the occasional bold or italic word, formatting is almost always a mess when trying to open a LibreOffice document in Word. That's on them, not Microsoft. They have had access to the file standards for more than a decade and CHOSE not to implement them properly."

This isn't the first threat to Microsoft's dominance with Windows and its Office productivity tools. In April, the French government revealed that it was ditching Windows for Linux as part of the country's broader strategy to reduce its dependence on American tools.

Similarly, at the beginning of this year, France announced plans to ditch Microsoft Teams and Zoom for a domestically developed platform called Visio across its public institutions by 2027.

Microsoft's toxic relationship with AI

Last year, Microsoft started automatically installing the Copilot AI app on Microsoft 365 users' Windows PCs. However, it temporarily suspended the forced installation following backlash and complaints from users, including a critical bug that allowed the chatbot to access sensitive data and read confidential emails.

However, the company is resuming automatic Microsoft 365 Copilot installations, starting July 1, for all Microsoft 365 users. It's worth noting that admins can opt out of the experience.

Despite Microsoft's fixation on AI, shareholders recently filed a class action lawsuit against the company, alleging it deliberately overstated Copilot’s success and its partnership with OpenAI. They also claimed that Microsoft failed to disclose Azure’s revenue slump while pouring billions into expanding AI data center infrastructure.

Market analysts and experts warned that Microsoft could be facing its worst quarter since the 2008 financial crisis if it continues blowing money on AI that isn't meeting investor expectations for returns.

Microsoft's big bet on AI and consequent setbacks go beyond Office and Windows; Azure is a victim too. According to a former engineer, Microsoft reportedly rushed the service into the market to compete with Google and Amazon.

This resulted in a talent exodus and lackluster software, which seemingly left Microsoft's cloud fragile and unable to compete on an even playing field with competitors. Either way, the next few years will reveal whether Microsoft's AI gamble strengthens its legacy products or leaves them further behind.

What are your thoughts about the current state of Windows and Office as Microsoft pivots to AI? Share your thoughts with me in the comments.

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The first Echo Generation was announced back at an ID@Xbox showcase back in 2020, and I remember reading how Vanessa Chia, Writer & Producer and Co-founder of Cococumber, wanted the game be a reflection of the childhood many players grew up in, with the nostalgia of the era being a theme with that small town vibe that was prevalent in media of the time, such as Stranger Things, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, or The Goonies. Gameplay-wise, with RPG mechanics feeling familiar with a lack of mechanical bloating, you would be amiss to not feel nostalgic for games like Paper Mario or Super Mario RPG.

It was no surprise that Echo Generation continues this nostalgia-ridden trip with Echo Generation 2, giving the player a feeling of chill familiarity, like they are watching a Saturday morning cartoon with a bowl of cereal. What I did find a surprise, however, was how invested I would get into the characters and world the team at Cococumber would create.

You follow the game through the perspectives of two characters to begin with: Sister M & Jack, two completely different characters, sharing the same story without knowing. From the beginning, you can choose where you want to start, which is a nice addition if you think you will favor one over the other, though I find it hard to decide. As with some games with multiple playable characters that feel like a re-hash of each other, the stories are distinct and somehow, tonally different while keeping the same vibe, if that makes sense.

Sister M begins her story escaping the research facility she and the other children have been raised in and experimented on. Where are all your friends, and who is ‘The Commander?’

Jack’s story begins with him and his family having a weekend away in a cabin when there’s an explosion at Jack’s workplace, a local science facility. Jack then has to get his family home to safety before being called back into work to help save the day.

Is it the same facility? You’ll have to play the game yourself, but I played the first 3 chapters for this preview and also had the option to play two others, each chapter with a brand new character: Annata Z, a zombie who awakens with no memories other than that she’s missing her daughter, and Nolivia, a bounty hunter from the future.

The art style of the game follows on from the first being retro pixel art 3d extravaganza for your eyes, with each screen you enter being just as beautiful as the last. Within Jacks chapter, the game opens with a shot of a sunset across a lake but the one I keep coming back to is the guest bedroom.

With how the light shines through the window on either side of the bed, the cleanliness of the room which allows the greens and reds around the room to be highlighted, adding a greater level of 3d space to the already 3d pixel art. I don’t think I can think of a screen I entered that I thought was a let-down.

The game’s gameplay is a simple nostalgic take on a turn-based RPG battle system, where the good guys and the bad guys politely take turns in trying to beat the other to a pulp, one move at a time.

The difference this time around, though, is the reworked battle system, which works on a card-collecting system, where throughout the world, glowing trading cards will be hidden for the player to find, each giving you a new attack, defense, or support card to add to your arsenal. Each belongs to a certain type of card, either diamond, spade, or heart. Each enemy will have a stance bar above their health; using cards with matching symbols will eradicate their stance bar, making your subsequent attacks do more damage.

A choice that Cococumber made to distinguish the two stories is to put Sister M as a solo character who battles to escape the oppression of her overlords, and Jack as the typical dad who teams up with his babies to fight with knives and axes. It’s a great way to keep the player engaged with your gameplay as you change your tactics from being allowed one or two attacks per turn to 3-6.

​Echo Generations 2 is short and sweet, with a completion time of around 9 hours if you want to see all the game has to offer, giving you a great bite sized game to pick up and play before you tackle your next mammoth of an RPG, or if you do want a trip down memory lane and play a game that feels like it could have been a console from your childhood.

Echo Generations 2 is available right now on Xbox Series X| S, Xbox on PC, Xbox One, Steam, and compatible handhelds. The game is also a part of your Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription and features support for Xbox Cloud Gaming and the Xbox Play Anywhere program, making it the perfect game to play when you get 5 minutes, wherever you are.

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I'm not a naysayer of VR; I've used it plenty over the years and had a lot of enjoyment. But one of the issues I've always had is fatigue, purely from hanging these things off my head for extended periods.

Be it the Meta Quest lineup or the last PC VR headset I owned, the now-defunct Lenovo Explorer (RIP Windows Mixed Reality), the form factor and the weight ultimately turned me off.

At the recent Sim Racing Expo in Charlotte, I had my first chance to try out the Pimax Dream Air, a high-end, PC VR headset that's smaller and lighter than anything I've ever worn before. All while preserving the quality of the image inside the headset, which is easily up there with the best I've ever seen.

It's not cheap. Not at all. If you're looking for budget-friendly VR, you'll still want to look at a Meta Quest 3S.

But for more serious VR players, specifically here looking towards Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 or sim racers in titles such as iRacing, aka experiences where you'll be inside VR for much longer, I think this could be a winner.

Lightness makes a huge difference (to me) for VR

The Pimax Dream Air isn't the lightest headset out there; there's still one from Bigscreen that has it beaten there. But compared to the likes of the well-known kings of the space, like the Meta Quest 3, it's night and day.

The Pimax Dream Air is around 170g for the headset, compared to the 515g of the Meta Quest 3 (and a hair lighter than this for the Meta Quest 3S). You could wear three of the Pimax headsets and still be under the weight of a single Meta Quest 3. That's significant.

Of course, as it's a PC VR headset, it doesn't have all the computer bits inside that a Meta Quest 3 does, which certainly helps. But the form factor combined with this lack of weight means it's extremely comfortable.

The bulk of my previous iRacing career was done using VR, partly for immersion, but more so because I don't have space for massive screens. But with the Lenovo Explorer, which at the time was one of the lightest headsets around, I couldn't race for more than an hour because I just started to feel uncomfortable. This meant I couldn't really take on longer races.

I'm not saying the same wouldn't eventually happen with this VR headset, but given how little it weighs, it'd certainly be longer before it did. That's where I think this could be a killer piece of hardware.

Sim racers and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 pilots will really feel the benefit during those longer sessions.

High-end hardware if you have the budget

There's no getting away from the fact that both the Pimax Dream Air and Dream Air SE are expensive VR headsets. The Dream Air SE drops a huge chunk off the price by 'only' featuring 5K resolution, and it's also the lightest of the two.

The full-fat Dream Air has an 8K resolution, and it's this one I tried out. Simply put, the visuals are mindblowing. It's by far the best VR display I've ever tried, with deep blacks, glorious colors, and razor-sharp images.

Eye tracking and Dynamic Foveated Rendering also helps preserve system performance, rendering only the sharpest images where your eyes are focusing.

With titles such as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 in mind, the resolution available to replicate the detail both in and out of the cockpit would be insane. All from a tiny headset.

The full specs of each version are broken down in the table below.

The Dream Air and Dream Air SE both have the option of SLAM (inside-out tracking) or saving $300 and going with a Lighthouse system.

It's also worth highlighting you don't need a monster rig to run either of them. Pimax says the minimum requirement is an RTX 2070, while the recommendation is an RTX 3080. You can run it off a laptop, too, so long as you have a good enough GPU and its outputs to either a miniDP port or USB-C.

But if you're in the market for a high-end VR headset, you probably already have a PC that's capable of running it.

It's been a while since I've really been impressed with VR, but the Pimax Dream Air certainly ticks that box. The experience is astonishing, and with its small form factor and lack of weight, I could happily lose hours flying or racing in one of these.

The only real issue seems to be when you can actually get one. Both headsets are available to preorder on the Pimax website, but there's no indication of when shipping is expected. Hopefully they start landing soon.

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Through a series of staggered press releases, Microsoft has unveiled six new Surface devices this year. The Surface Laptop Ultra and Surface RTX Spark Dev Box have distinct names and designs that make them easy to identify. But the situation is less clear for the other Surface hardware.

The business and consumer versions of the Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12 were announced separately by Microsoft and have key differences. But the average shopper will struggle to find the right PC because of Microsoft's Surface naming scheme.

Let's say you found out about the new Surface hardware because you're an enthusiast. Despite the lack of an event, business devices launching without consumer counterparts at first, and the overall blasé attitude of Microsoft toward Surface, you learned that consumer versions of the Surface Pro and a Surface Laptop are on the way. What are you met with? A confusing naming scheme that basically requires you to already know which device you want.

Microsoft's website doesn't even have a device officially called "Surface Laptop 8." Instead, the company has a "Surface Laptop, 13-inch" and a "Surface Laptop 13.8-inch" available. Considering many companies round screen size within names, I'd forgive you for assuming these are the same device.

Head over to a third-party retailer, and things get worse. Search for "Surface Laptop" on Best Buy's website, and you'll see a mixture of Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (7th Edition), Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (8th Edition but not specified on the search results page), and the Surface Laptop 13.

Normally, I wouldn't criticize a company for keeping the same name across generations. Car shoppers never seem confused about the difference between 2025 and 2026 model of the same car. But things get a bit muddier when there are devices with similar names from different generations of the same line and a PC from a separate line.

The Surface Pro family adds another layer of complexity because it's been around so long that its generation numbers overlap with screen size configurations.

The Surface Pro 12-inch came out after the Surface Pro 11 (officially called the Surface Pro 13-inch (11th Edition)), confusing people and causing some reviews and references to call the smaller device the "Surface Pro 12."

My head hurts writing about this. Just look at this chart covering the last handful of devices:

Maybe Microsoft would argue that its official names are clear, but the company swapped its naming scheme a couple years ago, and that added to the confusion. The first handful of Surface Pros were just Surface Pro followed by a number. Microsoft tested a new naming scheme with what many call the Surface Pro 5, but then reverted for a while to traditional numbering.

But Microsoft doubled back and now uses the "Edition" naming structure except for the confusingly named Surface Pro 12-inch.

Let's be real

I predict people will claim they understand all the Surface names and that I'm an old man yelling at a cloud. But please take a moment to consider folks who aren't tech experts. Shouldn't a Google search for "Surface Pro 12" show one device? Shouldn't searching Microsoft's own website for the same thing provide clarity?

The average shopper doesn't eat, live, and breathe Surface announcements. Microsoft's Surface naming scheme is about as consistent as that of Xbox and Windows.

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I remember the first time I tried Bus Simulator 21, with the first thought being "how is this going to be fun?" Turns out it was — mostly —and now there's a new version coming later this year.

Bus Simulator 27 has a free demo available now as part of Steam Next Fest. Since it's been a few years since I got behind the virtual wheel, I thought I'd give it a try. And you can too by grabbing it from Steam before June 22.

What I found was equal parts of relaxation and frustration. After a long day working I hit the buses and at times enjoyed the tranquility and the scenery, and at others I was shouting and bashing the horn.

The important thing to remember is that this is just a demo; the full release isn't scheduled until September. It's also a very small snippet of what the final thing will be like.

But I feel like it's offered enough to both get me interested in playing when it's released and feel there's still some serious work to be done.

Bus Simulator 27 can be super relaxing

One of the things I enjoyed the most about the old Bus Simulator 21 was that it was such a (generally) relaxing game to play once you got into the swing of it.

You're not racing anyone, you're not trying to park trailers and pick up loads, you're not landing a jumbo jet in a crosswind, and you're not generally doing anything stressful at all. You're following your route, the pace is relaxed, and generally all is calm.

The same is true in Bus Simulator 27, and the new setting certainly adds to it. You're running the routes in a fictional location based on Southern Europe, and it feels like it. Any time I've visited the real-life region, I fall for the pace of life, the warm climate, and the beautiful towns.

Bus Simulator 27 looks like it's capturing that vibe superbly, and even in the demo, the map looks quite extensive. The default color palette is warm, and the town streets have a charm to them.

I really like the little electric bus you start out in, too. As I've discovered in reality, an electric vehicle is a relaxing way to travel. Both buses in the demo are really easy to drive, even with a controller.

A special shoutout is deserved for the menu system, too. For controller players (it is launching on console, after all), it's very easy to understand and navigate. You can operate the buttons in the cockpit if you want, or with a couple of button presses, you've done the same from the menu.

Bus Simulator 27 can also be extremely frustrating

For all the nice, chilled-out, fun parts, there are also some that are less so. There's also clearly still work to do.

The performance is pretty rough, for one. The system requirements on the game's Steam page are pretty ridiculous, and I really hope it's not final. Recommended to have 32GB of RAM? In this financial climate?!

Sure, it looks nice, but it's hardly photorealistic, and when you compare to how good Forza Horizon 6 looks with far lower requirements, that screams of not being optimized well.

The demo doesn't have DLSS or FSR, either, and running at 1440p on high settings using an RTX 5090, I'm only seeing 70-80 FPS, with some pretty horrid frame drops at times. But there's still time to work on this in the next few months, of course. And I hope they do.

Perhaps more frustrating is the AI, though. It's just dumb. Plain old dumb. AI traffic will inexplicably just stop in front of you, go far slower than the speed limit, sit in the middle of a junction, or just drive into your bus. And when they drive into you, you'll be the one getting the penalty.

The environment in the demo feels alive, with plenty of traffic. But on the whole it's just so dim-witted. The same goes for pedestrians. I 'ran over' a pedestrian at a bus stop because they weren't getting on my bus, but kept walking into it as I was trying to pull away.

The voice acting as well is quite annoying. There's obviously a 'story' here, but good lord, the AI characters do not stop talking! You'll be cruising along just nicely, and then out of nowhere, some completely useless comment will pop into your ears. No distracting the driver!

You can't properly judge a game from a demo months before the full release. But, while it's clear there is work that can still be done, there's also some promise.

It's not an expensive game, either, at just $30 for the base game, with further purchasable content thereafter if you want it. It feels like a nice game to play, a simulation title without being too nerdy or serious and approachable for more casual players.

But please, I'm begging you, Astragon, do some optimization on it. And tweak the AI traffic, because it'll get old fast otherwise.

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On Windows, screensavers once defined a small but memorable part of the experience. They served a clear purpose in the era of CRT monitors in the 1980s and 1990s, preventing burn-in while adding a layer of personality to otherwise idle machines. Over time, they became part utility, part expression, and part nostalgia.

By the time Windows 95 and XP became mainstream, screensavers had changed from utility to expression. Users weren't just protecting displays anymore. They were customizing them using options like 3D Text, Bubbles, Mystify, Ribbons, and photo slideshows, which became part of the personal computing identity (don't even get us started on the awesomeness that was After Dark and flying toasters).

In 2026, that original purpose is gone. The majority of modern displays no longer require burn-in protection, and Windows 11 already relies on power management and lock screen behavior to handle inactivity more efficiently. However, screensavers still exist inside the operating system, largely unchanged and tucked away in the legacy Control Panel.

That raises a question. Do screensavers still belong on Windows 11, or are they a feature that no longer has a clear place in modern computing?

A feature that outlived its original purpose

From a technical standpoint, screensavers are no longer necessary. For example, displays now sleep intelligently, and system security is handled through the lock screen rather than idle animations.

However, screensavers were never just about utility. They also represented one of the earliest forms of personalization, which users used to express themselves. While that role has shifted to features such as lock screen images, desktop slideshows with Windows Spotlight, and widgets, none of them fully replace the experience screensavers once offered.

How screensavers are used today

Although screensavers are still available, usage has changed significantly. Today, they tend to fall into a few categories, including personal photo slideshows during inactivity and basic visuals used for aesthetic setups.

The closest the operating system gets to a modern interpretation is the "Photos" screensaver, which can cycle through images from a local folder. However, it remains limited, disconnected from cloud services, and largely untouched by modern design evolution.

You can still access the feature from Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Screen saver, which opens the feature through Control Panel.

As part of the options available, you can use 3D Text, Bubbles, Mystify, Photos, and Ribbons.

Microsoft's reason to keep it

Microsoft's focus has changed to bigger priorities, such as AI features, performance improvements, security, and modernizing the desktop interface. At the same time, the original reason for screensavers has disappeared, as modern displays no longer need protection from burn-in (excluding OLED displays), and the system can simply turn off the screen after a period of inactivity.

Also, Windows 11 already offers several ways to personalize the experience when you're away from the keyboard, including the lock screen, desktop backgrounds, and widgets. As a result, screensavers have become a legacy feature that the company has continued to support but has not actively developed.

Where screensavers still make sense

Even though screensavers are no longer needed to protect displays, they can still be useful in modern operating systems.

Instead of showing simple animations, screensavers could make better use of the time when a computer is idle. For example, they could display personal photos like a digital picture frame, surface useful information such as weather or calendar events, or simply add another layer of personalization to a desktop setup.

In other words, screensavers no longer need to save the screen. Their value today lies in making an idle device more useful (without affecting energy usage), more personal, and more visually appealing.

Missing evolution on Windows 11

Windows 11 already contains many of the components needed for a modern idle experience, but they exist separately.

For instance, lock and sign-in screens handle authentication and some personalization, widgets provide glanceable information, and desktop backgrounds offer static or slideshow visuals.

What's missing is a unified system that activates during inactivity and blends these experiences into a consistent, intentional layer. Instead, the system offers overlapping features that never fully converge.

Should Microsoft bring screensavers back?

The answer depends on how Microsoft approaches the feature. If screensavers remain limited to simple animations and photo slideshows, they probably don't deserve much attention. Modern power management and lock screen customization already cover that territory more efficiently.

However, if screensavers are reimagined as a modern ambient mode for Windows 11, then the idea becomes far more compelling.

In that form, they could evolve into something closer to a system-level experience, turning idle screens into personalized, context-aware displays rather than simply blank or static states.

Windows Central's Take

Screensavers solved a real problem decades ago, but I don't think that's why many people still remember them. They added personality to the operating system in a way that today's lock screen and widgets still don't quite match.

Personally, I don't miss the old screensavers themselves. I haven't used Bubbles, Mystify, or Ribbons in years. What I miss is the idea that the operating system did something interesting when I stepped away from my computer.

Windows has evolved in many ways over the years, yet when you step away from your device, it usually just shows the lock screen or turns off the display. Maybe that's enough. Or maybe the software giant is missing an opportunity to make idle time a little more useful.

What do you think? Should Microsoft bring screensavers back as a modern feature, or is it a piece of computer history that's better left in the past? 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, and Microsoft in general, really reminds me of this old webcomic called Persistence, depicted above. It shows two dudes mining, as one gives up right before hitting diamonds.

I feel like this mentality has long been the bane of Microsoft all over, and its inability to see things through has led them to miss the boat on various computing paradigms and other types of opportunities.

We're seeing it play out again now with Xbox. New leadership has come in, with a mandate from Microsoft higher-ups to "make Xbox sustainable," whatever that means. This is despite the fact Xbox posted record profits last year. But decisions like this are made on future projections, rather than past wins.

Xbox has a variety of headwinds to contend with, as does the entire gaming industry. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has suggested that Microsoft's gaming division will finish the year with "only" a 3% accountability margin. The lion's share of the blame falls on the ill-fated Xbox Game Pass price hike (now reversed), the memory availability crisis, and a soft year for both Call of Duty and Candy Crush Saga. But all of these things will abate over time.

Microsoft's instinct has long been to cut and run at the wrong time. It's potentially making the same mistake now, too, in my view.

Some of Xbox's teams just haven't delivered profitability Microsoft wants, but that's not all on them

Rumors suggest that studios like Double Fine, Compulsion Games, and Ninja Theory are all being explored for closure right now — with others too likely on the block.

Nothing is set in stone yet, but these talks are happening. CEO Asha Sharma is going over the books and seeing how much has been spent on certain studios, and what their returns have been. It's true that none of these studios have delivered a hit game since joining Microsoft, in terms of retail sales or Xbox Game Pass engagement. It could also be argued that they weren't exactly positioned for massive success stories either.

Ninja Theory, in particular, is a frustrating case. The UK had a particularly aggressive Covid shutdown regime, which Ninja Theory can hardly be blamed for. They also spent a huge chunk of time moving studio locations. Ninja Theory is also based in Cambridge, one of the UK's most expensive regions.

Hellblade won awards for its character acting, technology, atmospherics, and depiction of mental health struggles. But I would argue it was on Microsoft's leadership for not identifying the hard truth: interactive walking simulation games just aren't big sellers. It's particularly true when Hellblade is at least superficially similar in presentation to Sony's God of War, albeit without the gameplay depth to complement it.

I'm not armed with intimate knowledge of how Hellblade 2 was greenlit in this genre, but the solution to its soft sales was readily obvious to me and anyone else watching: it should've been an action-adventure title, meeting the market demand where it is. We've seen a huge variety of superficially similar hack n' slash games absolutely blow up on comparatively smaller budgets. Stellar Blade comes to mind, Lies of P comes to mind as well.

We're finally getting Hellblade in the genre it was always destined to be with Senua, which Microsoft announced at its own Xbox Showcase just a few days ago, only for reports to emerge that Xbox isn't even going to see it through to completion.

As a fan and customer who is tired of Microsoft's "announce first, then cancel" approach to games people have been waiting years for in some cases ... this is an absolutely awful pill to swallow. Again. But it's far worse knowing the human cost of these cancellations. Ninja Theory has never been given the runway to fully spread its wings.

Covid wasn't Ninja Theory's fault. And someone, somewhere along the chain, should've identified that Hellblade 2 wasn't going to be a big game in the genre or budget it had been saddled with. Someone, somewhere along the chain, should've invested in it becoming something more.

Studios eventually have to sell games, but how can they if Microsoft keeps thinking so quarterly about things?

There have been a large variety of projects greenlit under Xbox Game Studios that they had to have known were never going to sell or get any kind of engagement in Xbox Game Pass. Keeper from Double Fine, for example, is a great and fun art project, but in an era of restless non-stop neon lights grabbing our attention-deficient brains at every angle, how can these types of projects cut through the noise?

The pressure Microsoft puts on Xbox to deliver "results; now," betrays the reality of modern game development. Games need to either be turbo-unique, cultural phenomena, or absolute AAA bangers. South of Midnight, Kiln, Keeper, Hellblade 2, and even Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 didn't have the scope, polish, edge, or marketing budget to compete with very similar titles that either do it better or just grabbed more attention.

The studios and teams backing the games ultimately work with what they're given. Those who have been around long enough remember Xbox's anemic Terry Myerson era, where the products being shipped barely even hit AA quality bars. What would Avowed or The Outer Worlds 2 have looked like with a more dynamic world or reactive engine? What would Hellblade look like if it were a wide-linear action-adventure instead of a walking simulation? Do smaller projects like Keeper and Kiln detract development time from a more ambitious project? What if South of Midnight had better combat and a broader scope?

I wish we lived in a world where important and artistic games like Keeper and Hellblade 2 could thrive. Xbox Game Pass funds were supposed to be that. But we don't live in that universe, and likely never will. I would argue it's on Xbox Game Studios to guide and invest in the creativity of its teams, steering them towards the kind of quality bars we know Xbox is capable of. We've seen it emerge with Gears of War: E-Day, Clockwork Revolution, State of Decay 3, Fable, Grounded 2, Sea of Thieves, Forza, and so on.

The talent is clearly there. I know Microsoft isn't going to listen to me or any of us, but I would love to see what would happen if these studios were given a chance at a longer runway. Acknowledge that previous management mistakes were not their fault, and things like Covid surely represent mitigating factors.

RELATED: Xbox fans have run out of trust for Microsoft

Alas. CEO Satya Nadella betrayed his position on a recent interview where he bemoaned the fact "there’s more monetization of Xbox games happening on YouTube than at Microsoft ..." I would argue that it's a privilege that so many millions of people want to talk about, watch, and share content based on those worlds. Perhaps there'd be more video monetization going on at Microsoft if it hadn't bailed out on growing Mixer ... but I digress.

Nadella takes the wrong lesson from gaming's popularity on YouTube. The value and interest are obviously there. It's Microsoft's fault for not unlocking that value properly — and the developers shouldn't be punished for it.

How are you feeling about the state of Xbox? Should Xbox give their studios more time? Let us know your thoughts below.

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It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks in the tech world! Following a busy stretch of trade shows, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden sit down to break down one of the most consequential weeks for the Windows and PC ecosystems in years.

From the show floor of Computex in Taipei to the developer tracks at Microsoft Build, the guys dissect the massive shift toward ARM computing, the hardware taking aim at Apple’s high-end territory, and the future of "agentic" AI operating systems. Plus, the show caps off with breaking news regarding Xbox's business health and a massive report on the future of Microsoft’s gaming division.

• Nvidia’s "Super Chip" Shift: A deep dive into the shocking announcement of the Nvidia RTX Spark (built in partnership with MediaTek on TSMC's 3nm process). Zac explains why Nvidia completely took control of the messaging from Microsoft, ditching the "Copilot Plus" branding to pitch an ultra-premium workstation ecosystem aimed squarely at Apple’s M5 Pro and Max MacBook Pros.
• The Surface Laptop Ultra: Zac shares his hands-on impressions of Microsoft’s brand-new, thick-and-dense 15-inch powerhouse. We look at the gorgeous mini-LED display, a massive haptic trackpad, and a mystery magnetic breakaway USB-C port that could spell the end of the proprietary Surface Connect port.
• The $599 Laptop Wars: Dell stuns the industry by pushing the XPS 13 downward to a student-friendly $599 starting price, pitting it right against the MacBook Neo. We compare the premium build, its 120Hz display, and the new Intel Wildcat Lake chips against the Acer Swift Air 14 and Qualcomm’s budget-oriented Snapdragon C processor.
• Project Solara & Build 2026: What is an "agentic OS"? We break down Microsoft's Android-based platform shift away from traditional app stores and toward just-in-time user interfaces, including a look at their hardware "badge" and "desk" concept prototypes.
• Breaking Xbox News: Daniel and Zac react in real-time to a staggering report from The Information. Is Microsoft preparing to spin off Xbox into a wholly owned subsidiary like LinkedIn or GitHub? We discuss the fallout from the Xbox Games Showcase, Sarah Bond and Phil Spencer's leadership legacy, and the aggressive new mandate under Asha Sharma to pump out massive franchises like Halo, Fallout, and Elder Scrolls.

Timestamps

• [00:30] Welcome & Computex vs. Build Retrospective
• [04:12] Nvidia RTX Spark: The ARM Workstation Disruption
• [30:09] Surface Laptop Ultra: Hands-on Specs & The Mystery USB-C Port
• [42:05] Dell's Sub-$700 Flagship Strategy & Intel Wildcat Lake
• [56:26] Acer Swift Air 14 & The Internet's Linux vs. Windows Debates
• [01:01:14] Project Solara: Microsoft’s Future "App-Less" Agent Ecosystem
• [01:10:10] Xbox Showcase Fallout & First-Party Exclusivity Backpedaling
• [01:29:25] Breaking News: Is Microsoft Spinning Off the Xbox Business?

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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As part of the Windows Insider Program, Microsoft made available several preview builds of Windows 11 in early June 2026. Although these preview builds didn't introduce many new features, the company dedicated most of its work to improving existing ones.

In the first two weeks of June, the company unveiled a new Beta channel for version 26H1, and in the different channels, we've also seen a number of features and improvements. For example, we've seen new features like Screen Tint and Low Latency Profile.

In addition, a new version of Widgets with fewer distracting settings has rolled out, an updated Magnifier with new settings has also rolled out, and there are improvements for File Explorer.

Furthermore, Microsoft continues improving the Windows Update experience, Windows Search, and more.

In the Experimental track, we've seen builds 28120.2242, 26300.8687, 29610, and 28120.2302, and builds 26220.8575, 28020.2236, 26220.8680, and 28020.2298 have been released in the Beta channel.

In this recap, I'll highlight the latest and most noteworthy changes available through the Windows Insider Program.

Biggest improvements from the Windows Insider Program in June 2026

These are the most significant changes Microsoft has unveiled since the last roundup.

Screen tint new feature

On Windows 11 build 28020.2298, in the new Beta channel for version 26H1, Microsoft introduced a new accessibility feature called "Screen tint." It's a system-wide color overlay designed to reduce eye strain and soften overly bright or saturated displays.

Unlike the Night Light feature, which primarily reduces blue light for nighttime use, Screen tint changes the overall intensity and color tone of the display during the day. The software giant notes that the two features solve different problems and can work together.

The feature is available in Settings > Accessibility > Vision > Screen tint, with six preset tint colors and an option to create a custom color.

In addition, you can also adjust the intensity with the available slider. However, one thing to point out is that enabling Screen tint disables Color Filters, and vice versa.

In June 2026, Screen Tint also became available on build 26220.8680 through the Beta experience.

Low Latency Profile

Also, for version 26H1, on build 28020.2298, the company introduced Low Latency Profile, a feature that temporarily maxes out (or near-maxes) the processor frequency for 1 to 3 seconds during interactive tasks on Windows 11. Instead of focusing on sustained performance, the feature appears designed to reduce delays during actions like opening apps or opening flyouts, such as the Start menu, File Explorer, and context menus.

The feature can result in up to 40 percent faster application launch times and up to 70 percent faster interaction times with system features, such as opening the Start menu or context menu.

Low Latency Profile works automatically, so you won't find an option to turn it on or off in the Settings app or Control Panel.

It's important to note that responsiveness improvements will vary by hardware. Computers with lower-end or older components may notice the biggest difference because these systems typically struggle more with interface responsiveness, app launches, and short bursts of activity.

Widgets with quieter defaults

In the Beta channel for version 25H2, starting with build 26220.8680, the development team updated the Widgets experience with less distracting default settings.

For example, Widgets no longer open in hover and turn off badges in the Taskbar by default. In addition, alerts will be limited until you open the app and engage with the experience.

When you open the dashboard, Widgets will appear under your "widgets" rather than in the news feed. In addition, the company is updating the Taskbar badging to use a color scheme that follows the system accent color, rather than the red indicator, to reduce the sense of urgency.

Another change being developed is adaptive behavior for user engagement. This means that the system will now adapt the Widgets feature based on user interaction. For example, highly engaged users will continue to receive the current experience. On the other hand, less engaging users will notice quieter default settings, including reduced or disabled badging.

Magnifier additional controls

As part of the accessibility improvements, in build 26220.8680, the Magnifier feature is receiving several enhancements.

For example, it's now possible to enter a specific zoom percentage directly in the interface instead of repeatedly clicking the zoom-in and zoom-out buttons.

Also, in the Magnifier settings, you can now find additional zoom presets, including 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 400 percent.

File Explorer changes

Although File Explorer remains visually the same, Microsoft has been pushing various improvements focused on compatibility, performance, and reliability.

For example, on build 26220.8680, the address bar now supports paths with double backslashes and quotation marks. Microsoft has also improved performance when mounting ISO files to prevent the application from becoming unresponsive during SmartScreen scans.

On build 26300.8687, you can now use the middle-click support to open folders in a new tab directly from the address bar and the Home page.

In addition, the company has made further refinements to improve File Explorer responsiveness at higher text scaling.

Windows Update single monthly restart

Alongside the ability to pause updates indefinitely, Microsoft continues improving its Windows Update system, and starting with the release of build 26300.8687, the company is unifying drivers, .NET, and firmware updates with the monthly quality update install to reduce restarts to one per month.

Windows Search with typo handling

Starting with build 26300.8687, Windows 11 includes an updated version of the search experience that improves the handling of typos, missing letters, extra characters, and partial app names.

It all means that, when searching the system, making mistakes should now be more likely to show the right answer. For instance, if you type "utlook," the Outlook app should be the first result.

Furthermore, local results now take priority over web results.

Windows Central's Take

These June Insider builds don't introduce many brand-new features, but they do show where Microsoft's priorities are right now. The majority of the features highlighted this month have already appeared in other preview builds. However, they're now making their way across additional testing channels as the company continues developing future versions of Windows 11.

Personally, I think the most meaningful changes are the ones that improve everyday usability. The Windows Update changes, better search results, and ongoing File Explorer refinements may not generate the same excitement as a major new feature. However, they have the potential to make the operating system feel more polished and less frustrating to use over time.

What are your thoughts about these latest Windows 11 improvements? 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.

Caught up in the excitement of the June 2026 Nintendo Direct and Dragon's Dogma 2 getting a DLC expansion, Capcom made one crucial announcement that many people (including me) overlooked.

On June 25, 2026, Capcom will be removing several DLC microtransactions from Dragon's Dogma 2 and delisting its Digital Edition from the Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Steam's digital stores due to the gameplay changes its Summer patches and Dark Arisen 2 expansion will bring.

These items that will be removed from the base game include:

• Dragon’s Dogma 2 Deluxe Edition
• A Boon for Adventurers – New Journey Pack
• Harpysnare Smoke Beacons – Harpy Lure Item
• Heartfelt Pendant – A Thoughtful Gift
• Ambivalent Rift Incense – Change Pawn Inclinations
• Makeshift Gaol Key – Escape from Gaol
• Art of Metamorphosis – Character Editor
• Portcrystal – Warp Location Marker
• Wakestone – Restore the Dead to Life
• 500 Rift Crystals – Points to Spend Beyond the Rift
• 1500 Rift Crystals – Points to Spend Beyond the Rift
• 2500 Rift Crystals – Points to Spend Beyond the Rift

If you had bought any of these items, you would still be able to use them in-game.

The only DLC items that will remain untouched will be the Explorer’s Camping Gear – Camping Kit and the Dragon's Dogma Music and Sound Collection – Custom Sounds.

As an added bonus, the base game of Dragon's Dogma 2 will receive a permanent discount on all digital storefronts.

Windows Central's take

If you've played Dragon's Dogma 2 since it launched in 2024, you may have caught wind of people giving Capcom harsh criticism over these microtransactions.

While they were available to obtain the game naturally, they were hard to come by and limited in supply, especially the Portcrystal items.

These were needed to activate the game's fast travel system, and the idea of making a crucial in-game item a microtransaction sparked debate about whether or not this broke immersion or was a pay-to-win item that manipulated people to buy their way out of skipping the tedious travel time so they can progress through the game faster.

So Capcom decided to appease its naysayers by making more Portcrystals obtainable in the base game through its latest update, along with creating an Eternal Ferrystone item so they can fast-travel as much as they want without the need for consumable Ferrystones.

Now, I personally didn't engage in these debates back then as I was more annoyed at Dragon's Dogma 2's sub-optimal performance at launch, but I'm happy Capcom's willing to pull back on controversial DLC like this and just make these features a permanent part of the game.

In fact, I'm shocked a big-time company like Capcom is willing to do this because they could've just easily kept it in to make extra money off completionists who can't help themselves (speaking from experience here). You would never see a company like Activision or EA do this with any of their games, so I consider this a small blessing.

It also makes me wonder: if Capcom can remove microtransactions from a game and make their content permanently more readily available in-game, why don't they do it for other games, like Monster Hunter?

Ever since Monster Hunter World, Capcom has been making piecemeal DLCs for the Monster Hunter series. Most of these paid emotes, chat pictures, and cosmetic armor sets can be safely ignored, as their mid-tier designs don't outshine what you get from playing the game normally.

However, recent games like Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Wilds have had some paid cosmetic gear DLC with insanely over-the-top designs that make most of the weapon and armor designs of the games they come from look lame by comparison.

Examples include the Cosmoloid armor and weapon set in Monster Hunter Wilds, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak's Lost Code Weapon set, and cosmetic outfits locked behind Monster Hunter Rise's Nintendo Amiibo figures.

Thanks to Dragon's Dogma 2's update, there's no reason why Capcom can't go back to these games and make these cosmetics permanently available through completing extremely challenging quests where you have to fight multiple hard monsters at once.

Now I realize that this change isn't as needed as Dragon's Dogma 2's DLC was because they were paywalling in-game resources for crucial gameplay mechanics rather than optional cosmetic armor pieces.

However, I'd argue that paywalling cosmetic sets is just as egregious as adding prices to limited gameplay resources, especially in a game like Monster Hunter.

Hunting giant monsters and collecting their parts to make gear is part of why I play these games in the first place. If we just start paying money for these awesome-looking weapons and gear instead of earning them in battle, we're no longer playing Monster Hunter; it's just whale hunting.

By removing Dragon's Dogma 2's microtransactions, I'm hoping that Capcom is starting to realize nobody wants to pay extra money for microtransactions for premium, non-free-to-play games that are getting more and more expensive to buy.

Thus, this could potentially lead to Capcom no longer pay-walling any additional piecemeal content for their games and just having them in the base game by default, whether it's gameplay or cosmetic.

Granted, Capcom's not going to stop charging people for extra cosmetics anytime soon, as its most recent games, Pragmata, Monster Hunter Stories 3, and Resident Evil Requiem, have cosmetics DLC outfits you have to pay extra for besides the main game, but there's always hope for the future.

Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, the large-scale DLC expansion for Dragon's Dogma 2, will be dropping on October 9, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Steam.

🗨️ Over to you

What do you think of Dragon's Dogma 2's gameplay-related microtransactions? Do you think Capcom should start removing cosmetic microtransactions from all its games and make them earnable in-game by completing ultra-hard challenges?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll below, the comments section, or our Reddit page.

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

Ten years ago, we covered one of Microsoft’s most forward‑looking ideas: encouraging Android developers to port their apps to Windows 10 and link notifications through Cortana. It was a glimpse of a company trying to unify ecosystems before “cross‑platform” became a default expectation.

In 2026, that vision still feels important. Microsoft’s current AI strategy — spanning Windows, Android, and the cloud — builds directly on the same connective tissue Astoria (Android app emulation) and Cortana (early AI assistant) once represented. Back then, it was about notifications and app parity; today, it’s about intelligent context and seamless device continuity.Some are even predicting that we won't need apps in the coming years, as AI will handle it all.

Looking back, this story reads like an early chapter in Microsoft’s long game to make Windows not just an OS, but a hub for every platform around it. While it didn't work out quite as expected, we do have Phone Link today to help bridge that gap. — Daniel Rubino, Editor-in-Chief

The original article, Microsoft encouraging Android-to-Windows 10 app ports via Cortana notifications, was published on June 10th, 2016, by John Callaham.

Microsoft is using the Cortana notification sync feature in Windows 10 to add a "request app" feature if the notification comes from an Android smartphone.

The notifications were first spotted by Reddit user "MrPromaster'. The "Request app" link goes to a UserVoice page where anyone can recommend that an app be added to the Windows Store.

This new method to encourage more Android apps to come to the Windows Store comes several months after Microsoft officially canceled its "Project Astoria" bridge tool plans that would have made it easier for developers to port Android apps to Windows 10.

Notification syncing between Android and Windows 10 is currently only available for those running Insider builds of 'Redstone'.

While the notifications are configurable on Android the request is rather nondiscriminatory too. For instance, we had the request feature show up for the Google Play store after it performed some app updates. Likewise for Shazam, even though there already is a Shazam for Windows 10 app available. While this tactic is not a slam dunk to get more apps to Windows 10, it is a rather clever move to reach the millions of Android users who also use a Windows PC every day.

We'll have to wait and see how well this new strategy pays off once the Windows 10 Anniversary Update rolls out later this summer to the masses.

Microsoft has spent the past year trying to convince users that it's listening. Through its Windows K2 initiative, the company has been focusing on improving Windows 11 with better customization, interface refinements, bug fixes, and other changes driven by user feedback.

However, one of the most persistent complaints about Windows 11 remains unresolved, which is the company's insistence on requiring a Microsoft account during setup.

A recent discussion on Reddit started with a simple request. User 2025Fishy argued that Microsoft should restore the option to create a local account directly during the Windows 11 setup experience.

"I genuinely do not accept how Microsoft removed the local account in OOBE," the user wrote.

The thread quickly filled with suggestions for bypassing Microsoft's restrictions using Rufus, command-line tricks, and domain-join options. However, the original poster repeatedly made it clear that workarounds weren't the point.

"I don't need tips, I just want Microsoft to change it," the user replied.

That sentiment resonated with other commenters. "The point is, there should be an option in the OOBE that lets you choose to set it up with a local account instead. Like we had since forever," wrote Affectionate_Creme48.

At first glance, this looks like another debate about local accounts. After reading through the comments, I think it's actually about something bigger, which is user control.

Microsoft's push toward mandatory Microsoft accounts isn't only about syncing settings and accessing cloud services. It's also tied to security features such as BitLocker.

One commenter, Timusius, explained Microsoft's likely reasoning: "To avoid the next problem: 'Microsoft locked my data behind bitlocker, and now I can't get it back.' they need to store that key on the MS account."

If you look at it from a security perspective, that argument makes sense. Devices should be encrypted by default, and storing recovery keys online can prevent users from permanently losing access to their data.

The problem is that many people don't realize this is happening. A user can set up a computer with a Microsoft account, switch to using a PIN every day, and never think about that account again. Then, one day, after a firmware update, a hardware change, or an unexpected issue, the system may display a BitLocker recovery screen requesting a recovery key.

At that moment, many users discover for the first time that the key is stored in a Microsoft account they may barely remember creating.

As Drakkaar pointed out in the discussion: "Technician's know how to get around this, but not everyone using a computer is a technician."

That's the disconnect the software giant still hasn't solved. What's particularly interesting is that this debate comes as reports suggest there are people inside Microsoft who agree with the criticism. Microsoft Vice President Scott Hanselman has also previously revealed that some employees have been pushing the company to reconsider its mandatory Microsoft account requirement during setup.

However, despite the company's Windows K2 efforts and internal discussions, Microsoft has not committed to restoring a straightforward local account option for all users.

And that's why this conversation continues to surface. A lot of users aren't asking for another workaround. They're asking for a choice, and more importantly, they're asking for a clearer explanation of how features like encryption, account recovery, and cloud integration affect their computers before those decisions are made for them.

Windows Central's Take

I find it interesting that Microsoft is spending so much effort through its Windows K2 initiative trying to rebuild trust with users. Yet, it still hasn't addressed one of the most common complaints about Windows 11 setup.

The local account debate has never been about finding workarounds. If someone wants to bypass Microsoft's requirements, there are plenty of ways to do it. The real issue is that users feel they're losing control over decisions that used to be theirs to make.

I also think Microsoft could avoid much of this criticism by making the online account the default with a local account option, similar to how it works on Windows 10, so people can choose without friction.

Do you think Microsoft should bring back a straightforward local account option during Windows 11 setup? 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.

I’ve historically been a Windows desktop guy, building my own PCs over the years and spending the majority of my years content with that situation. However, the more I travel to events and conferences, the more I see the value in Windows laptops. In that, I also subject myself to inquisitive family members and friends, who forever ask the same question: “Which laptop should I buy?”

The answer, as I’m sure many of you know, boils down to “it depends”. Naturally, I have a shortlist of the best Windows laptops that are always at the front of my mind. Then again, not everyone has the disposable income to afford my favorite ASUS Zenbook A14 or Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x examples. Here’s where the problems start. Many will then walk into their nearest supermarket (or some other megastore) and pick up the cheapest option available.

It’s not as though affordable laptops are all terrible. On the contrary, the budget laptop bracket is showing signs of significant improvement, as examples like Dell's XPS 13 respond to the introduction of the entry-level MacBook Neo. Annoyingly, few enthusiasts would previously entertain a conversation about $599–$699 Windows laptops in the pre-Neo age, but that’s all changed since Apple made its move. For many, choosing a Windows laptop is still confusing.

A big part of that disorientation comes from an onslaught of specs when shopping, and most people just don’t care. I’d argue that, aside from storage space and a laptop's physical size, the rest is just incidental number-crunching that wouldn’t matter to your average user. If you want to close out your afternoon feeling exhausted, dig into the argument of whether 8GB of RAM is enough for Windows. It all comes back to that linchpin: "It depends."

For me, there is so much more value in a laptop’s weight, display type, and battery life than the waves of other components you could spend all day comparing. However, that longevity aspect depends heavily on your choice of processor, which is one of the worst cans of proverbial worms you could ever open, as Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and now even NVIDIA ship laptop chips with complex names.

So, who’s to blame, Microsoft? It’s easy to understand the accusation when I look at Apple’s walled garden and how simplistic it can be to shop for a MacBook. But no, it’s not Microsoft’s fault. It even feels disingenuous to accuse manufacturers of saturating the Windows laptop market, because each brand presumably has its reasons for building so many variants. Everyone has different needs, but what is the everyman supposed to do?

Ironically, Microsoft came close to a potential solution with its Copilot+ PC initiative. It was part of the AI PC trend, encouraging buyers to pick up a laptop with a built-in NPU and other comparable components to support local AI apps and features. It’s a mostly forgettable affair, with only the mandatory Copilot key appearing in modern Windows laptops reminding us of its attempts.

Instead, Microsoft could take notes from a certain gaming brand and lean into a 'Seal of Approval' method, curating category flagships from each manufacturer. If you shopped for a certified 'Windows Pro' laptop, it could guarantee a 120Hz display and 32GB of RAM (or higher) with the most powerful mobile processors on the market. Too much? Opt for an imaginary 'Windows Core' alternative that sticks to IPS screens but delivers at least 16GB of memory.

Unfortunately, that implies anything outside this magical certification might be viewed as disposable e-waste, but I think consumers still need help making that distinction, anyway. The real challenge would be convincing all the major laptop brands to get on board, but then again, they already did it for confusing Copilot+ PCs, so how far-fetched could this idea really be?

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

Last week was packed full of Windows 11 and Microsoft news. Since then, Xbox has taken center stage, and it's not all good news.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma explained in an interview that the company's "business isn't particularly healthy" and warned that "tough decisions" are ahead for Xbox.

Microsoft did ship a big Xbox update after Summer Game Fest and the Xbox Showcase, but it's difficult to focus on that right now.

It's a shame that focus got taken away from games like Halo: Campaign Evolved, Fable, Clockwork Revolution, and Gears of War: E-Day. Normally, I'd be thrilled to wax poetic about classic games while pointing out that the reveal of the new Spyro beat Marvel's Wolverine in views.

But when the head of Xbox says the company became "over‑extended" and that major changes are needed, that's the biggest news of the week.

Biggest News of the Week

Our Managing Editor Jez Corden explained how Xbox got to this point, what external factors contributed to the crisis, and what's ahead for Xbox. Instead of rehashing that, I'll focus on just a single question: "Should Xbox CEOs have term limits?"

Phil Spencer saved Xbox. He rebuilt goodwill among gamers, championed cross-play, and engaged with the community from day one as CEO. Throughout his tenure we saw Xbox grow, games become more accessible through Xbox Game Pass, and classics receive the love they deserve.

Spencer also led Xbox for the years leading up to the current crisis. That's not to say Spencer is entirely at fault for the challenges Xbox faces. It's not as if Spencer drove RAM prices through the roof.

But a lot of the "tough decisions" Sharma will have to make are the result of missed opportunities by Xbox over the last decade. The price hike to Xbox Game Pass and major misses by several games compound issues in an already turbulent industry.

Xbox would not be where it is today without Spencer. The real question is whether Spencer should have stepped aside after saving the brand, and whether Sharma should do the same once her reset is complete.

Shopping with Sean

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

Ten years ago this week, we published one of the strangest and most fascinating stories from the Windows Phone era: Microsoft’s unreleased Moonraker smartwatch. It was a moment frozen in time when Microsoft was still experimenting with bold hardware ideas, still trying to carve out a future in mobile, and still convinced it could build an ecosystem that stretched from your PC to your wrist.

(We later got a prototype in our hands on an even earlier idea, the Xbox Joule, Microsoft's canceled fitness watch for gamers).

Looking back now, Moonraker feels like a glimpse into an alternate timeline. A smartwatch with personality, color, and a UI that leaned into the Metro design language instead of running from it. It never shipped, but it showed how close Microsoft was to having a wearable strategy years before the Apple Watch reshaped the category.

A decade later, Moonraker stands as one of those “what could have been” moments that defined the Windows Phone era as ambitious, stylish, and ultimately abandoned just before the industry took off. — Daniel Rubino, Editor-in-Chief

The original article, "Meet the Moonraker, Microsoft's unreleased smartwatch," was published on June 12th, 2016, by Rich Edmonds.

New images have been found on the Tumblr account owned by Microsoft design employee Pei-Chi Hsie, clearly showing off a smartwatch running Microsoft's Windows OS. Codenamed the Microsoft Moonraker (model LS-50), this smartwatch looks to sport a Modern UI resembling that from Windows Phone.

Unfortunately, you're not able to purchase this device, nor are we sure if it will ever see the light of day. According to information obtained by The Verge, this smartwatch was actually cancelled by Microsoft after taking over Nokia's devices and services division.

The device was to be unveiled alongside the Lumia 930, offering support to read texts by lifting one's arm or lower the watch to turn off the display. The images were spotted by Evan Blass, who shared some details on Twitter: Behold, the Microsoft Moonraker (via http://t.co/f9wmwd8k8c) pic.twitter.com/k2cRZdS1md

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) June 12, 2015

As for Microsoft's own wearable that you can actually purchase today, the company is working on Band version 2, which is slated to be hitting sometime later this year.

It's currently unknown as to what Microsoft's plans are for the smartwatch. Would you have been interested in the Microsoft Moonraker? The images have since been removed from Tumblr.

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

Windows 11 has a new command-line terminal with AI agent integration, but don't worry, Microsoft's not adding AI to the Windows Terminal. Instead, the company forked the open-source terminal project and created a new tool known as "Intelligent Terminal."

The tool was introduced during the company's developer conference (Build 2026), and it's basically the Windows Terminal you already know, which comes with a side panel that lets you interact with the GitHub Copilot agent by default.

The tool is being advertised as an assistant that you can use to explain errors, build commands, and troubleshoot issues without leaving the terminal to complete the research in other applications, such as the browser.

In my opinion, Microsoft took the right approach by forking a new version of the original tool rather than integrating Copilot into the existing Windows Terminal. This was a smart approach to avoid another AI backlash.

In this guide, I'll outline everything you need to know about the Intelligent Terminal.

Intelligent Terminal for Windows 11

The Intelligent Terminal won't come as part of the default Windows 11 setup. Instead, it's a tool that you have to download and install manually.

You can access this command-line tool by launching the Windows Terminal as an administrator from the Start menu and then running the "winget install Microsoft.IntelligentTerminal" command.

When you run the terminal for the first time, you'll choose which Agent Client Protocol (ACP) compatible agent to use in the Agent pane. Intelligent Terminal automatically detects agents installed on your computer, with GitHub Copilot appearing as the default option when available.

From the initial setup, you can also enable automatic error detection and suggestions, session management, and pane positioning within the terminal.

One thing to note is that during the setup, enabling error detection installs shell integration that allows Intelligent Terminal to monitor command failures. In contrast, session management installs hooks that track agent activity across terminal sessions.

Terminal interface

The terminal with AI integration offers two main experiences, including agent chat and agent management.

The agent chat pane can be accessed through the toggle at the bottom-left (if you're using a bottom position), or by pressing the "Ctrl + Shift + ." (period) keyboard shortcut. Or use the "Ctrl + Shift + I" shortcut to hide it.

In this area, that's where you'll also find the error detection icon, which lights up whenever a fixable error is detected. Of course, you can always bring up the chat page to manually ask to explain an error or anything you need.

Now, if the agent has to complete multiple tasks or something complex, it'll run a background task automatically without leaving you out of focus.

The idea behind the experience is for the terminal to lend a hand and help you resolve command-line-related issues without breaking your current flow by having to jump to another app, like the browser, for research.

Although the default agent is GitHub Copilot, you can use Claude Code, Google Gemini, and OpenAI Codex. Also, since the terminal uses the open ACP standard, you're not limited to cloud-based AI agents. However, you'll have to install the agent CLI locally on your computer before the Intelligent Terminal can see it.

Agent management pane

Also, at the bottom-right (assuming you're using the bottom position) is the agent management icon, which opens the session management pane. Microsoft has also assigned the "Ctrl + Shift + /" keyboard shortcut.

On the management pane, the Intelligent Terminal will track your active and past agent sessions. At any time, you can jump back to any specific activity.

In other words, it's a central hub to view all agent activity. Using this experience, you can view every AI agent currently running, check task details, monitor long-running tasks, resume previous sessions, and dismiss completed tasks.

For instance, imagine you have multiple tabs, including one creating a Python script and another running tests and fixing errors, without agent management, you'd need to remember which tab contains which task.

On the other hand, with the agent Management panel, you can open one view and see all the details.

Command Palette with AI

Intelligent Terminal also extends the Command Palette with AI actions. By using the "Alt + Shift + /" keyboard shortcut followed by a request, you can send the current terminal context to an agent and start a task without interrupting your workflow.

The agent runs in the background while you continue working in the active terminal session.

Intelligent Terminal settings

When you open the settings for this (Windows) Terminal with AI integration, you'll be able to customize the terminal as well as agent settings.

First, you have control over the AI agents, depending on the agents previously installed on your computer.

Second, from this page, you can change the pane position, as well as configure automatic error detection and error suggestions.

If you ever change any of the settings, remember to click the "Save" button. Sometimes, I even forget, and I assume the changes apply automatically, but that's not the case in the terminal.

Windows Central's Take

I think Microsoft made the right call by keeping AI out of the Windows Terminal and building a separate experience instead. Over the last few years, we've seen the company add AI to everything from the Settings app to Notepad, and not every integration has landed well with users. Developers tend to be especially protective of their tools, so forcing AI into an established terminal experience would have likely created unnecessary friction.

At the same time, I can see the appeal of the Intelligent Terminal. Looking up command syntax, troubleshooting errors, and figuring out why something failed usually means jumping between the terminal, browser tabs, support pages, and forums. If the AI can help reduce those context switches without getting in the way, it could become a genuinely useful productivity tool.

What are your thoughts about Intelligent Terminal and AI-powered command-line tools? 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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With so many games and so little free time, I find those such as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 that can require a significant time investment often get left to one side.

But after the recent Xbox Showcase and the reveal of World Update 22, something in my brain said "you should finally try this." Maybe it was the idea of flying along the Grand Canyon, one of the most impressive places I've ever been to in real life.

So I jumped in; after all, it's on Xbox Game Pass, so I didn't need to fork out any extra to buy it. I first played Microsoft Flight Simulator about 30 years ago, but it's been probably 20 or so since I actually put any time into it.

So I'm almost a complete beginner. One thing has come to light pretty quickly, though; I know why people buy one of the best flight sticks they can, and I'm getting one as soon as possible.

You don't NEED a flight stick, but I feel like it's a worthwhile investment

Right now I'm using a controller after the initial attempt to just muddle by with a keyboard and mouse turned into an absolute disaster.

Maneuvering a plane is a delicate operation, and a keyboard switch is either on or off, not leaving much room for precision.

A controller has been much better, making it so there's actually some level of finesse to steering a plane. Steering isn't so much the issue for me, though; it's everything else you have to also do while concentrating on not barreling out of the sky.

One of the things I'm really struggling with is the throttle. Using a controller, you can increase and decrease with a button press, but it's hard. I'm finding that jabbing at a button is either doing too much or not enough, and I'm getting distracted trying to balance the throttle properly and taking my eye off the ball.

It's the throttle management that first made me look into a flight stick, or HOTAS, to have a better time. A physical throttle with finer control will certainly relieve one of my pain points so far.

The other thing I'm finding is that because generally I'm holding a controller in two hands, it's a little cumbersome trying to look around the cockpit to find things such as the trim wheel.

The rudder is another pain point, and in this instance I think it's just how my brain has been wired from years of playing racing games with a controller. Using the left and right triggers for the rudder goes completely against my muscle memory. I'm not using it when I should, and I'm using it accidentally when I shouldn't.

It's perfectly playable with a controller, and I'm not saying it's horrible by any stretch. But I want to get better and do more, and I feel like sticking to a controller isn't giving me the fine control I need.

Enter the Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas One

The next step I'm going to take is with a Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas One. This particular system seems perfect for a beginner such as myself looking to take the next step.

Not only does it come recommended by my colleague, Ben Wilson, rating it as the best budget pick on our roundup of the best flight sticks for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, it's not too complicated and it's affordable.

I'd have preferred the stick to be on the left so I still have my right hand free all the time for the mouse without having to switch, but otherwise, it ticks the main boxes I'm looking for.

Obviously there's the stick for finer control of the aircraft, but it also has two options for rudder control — either a twist or a dedicated rocker on the back of the throttle — and, of course, that manual throttle control. Being compatible with PC and Xbox Series X|S is a handy bonus, too.

For me it's less about adding realism — though this is definitely a more realistic way to play — and more about having a tool for the job. I'm committed to trying to learn Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, so in the same way I use a controller with rear paddles for shooters, using a HOTAS seems like a logical step.

I totally get it, though, already. I can already see why folks spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on equipment for flight sims. I'm more familiar with racing, myself, but it's the same principle. You want to get better, and having specialist control equipment is part of it.

So I'm jumping in. I'll be back in a couple of months, perhaps to update on how it's gone.

If you have any tips for a newbie Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 pilot, be sure to drop them into the comments below!

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I was at Computex last week, and one of the biggest announcements of the show was the new Dell XPS 13.

Starting at $599 for students and $699 for everyone else, it's nothing but prime competition for the MacBook Neo, and it's aimed straight at students searching out an affordable-but-premium device.

In fact, I put together an XPS 13 vs. MacBook Neo comparison shortly after returning home from Taiwan. Unsurprisingly, the most common argument against the XPS 13's perceived value is its baseline 8GB of RAM.

👉 I tried the new $599 Dell XPS 13, and I can't believe how good it is: MacBook Neo is no longer the best deal in computing

But wait, the MacBook Neo also has 8GB of RAM, and no option to upgrade either, unlike the XPS 13. Well, the argument here is that macOS doesn't require as much memory as Windows 11, making the 8GB maximum a non-issue. That's an argument for another day; this is Windows Central, where we focus on Windows PCs.

It's been quite a while since I used Windows 11 with anything less than 16GB of RAM, so I thought I should test it out. Here's what I found out.

How I tested Windows 11 on 8GB of RAM

For this test, ideally, I'd like to have a modern system with an Intel Core Series 3 chip and integrated LPDDR5x memory, just like the new XPS 13 (launching June 16, 2026) or the new $699 Acer Swift Air 14, also announced at Computex.

Instead, I ripped one stick out of an older Windows 11 desktop I had lying around, leaving 8GB of single-channel (and relatively slow) DDR4-2666MT/s RAM paired with an Intel Core i5-10400 CPU.

This is about as bad as it gets compared to something like the new XPS 13's System-on-Chip (SoC) with speedy integrated LPDDR5x RAM and 60GB/s memory bandwidth. For comparison, the DDR4 RAM in the desktop I'm using for comparison shows only 10.6GB/s bandwidth.

In any case, I'm more interested in how quickly 8GB of RAM fills up when going about the tasks a student would regularly tackle. Note that this PC has been in use for some time now; it's not a fresh Windows 11 install, so that should give a better idea of real-world use.

Heavy browser usage with 8GB of RAM

The first test I performed involved heavy web browsing. I opened 10 tabs in Edge: 4K YouTube streaming, Netflix, Gmail, Reddit, Airtable, our CMS, and general webpages.

Memory usage didn't climb above 6.6GB with all these webpages open. Closing the 4K video stream YouTube tab, memory usage fell to 5.7GB.

Poking around with these tabs open (sans 4K stream), memory use fluctuated between the 5.7GB low and 6.0GB. So far so good.

Adding more apps alongside heavy browser usage

I know that students aren't just using a browser, so I added in the GIMP app for photo editing, Spotify for music streaming, and Microsoft Word for writing. All with the same ten tabs open, including YouTube streaming at 4K.

Memory usage pushed up to 7.2GB under these conditions, but the system showed no signs of slowing down. The 4K video stream did get choppy, but that falls on the older CPU/GPU.

I was able to resize and edit images without delay, and switching apps was just as snappy as ever.

Moving my workload to a PC with 8GB of RAM

I was so impressed with the PC's performance on 8GB of RAM that I finished out the rest of my workday on the system, determined to find the breaking point.

I'd say that I'm handling the same type of work that a student might tackle: writing, heavy web browsing, photo editing, streaming, etc. I didn't try heavy gaming or any specialized apps that are known to chew up RAM. These aren't tasks that $699 Windows laptops are made for.

Surprise? Maybe not, but the PC ran fine under my needs. The only time I found the breaking point was when I opened a huge article in our CMS, a task that regularly bricks my main work PC with 32GB of RAM. No difference there, really.

Is 8GB of RAM enough for a smooth Windows 11 experience?

I honestly wasn't expecting these tests to go as smoothly as they did. Having used PCs with 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB RAM for so long, I thought surely 8GB would immediately pose problems.

That's just not the case. Within reason, running Windows 11 on 8GB of RAM is not only viable but quite enjoyable. Assuming you're not attempting to run some specialized design software or a demanding game, there's quite a bit of memory runway to work with.

An idle system might sit at around 3.8GB of RAM usage, but the remaining 4GB or so is apparently more than enough for general productivity, multitasking, streaming, and photo editing.

Dell's strategy with its new XPS 13 is to hook fresh users (especially students) with a low introductory price, premium design and features, long battery life, and snappy performance.

Just like the MacBook Neo, the baseline XPS 13 isn't intended to run every single app and game out there. Just like Apple, Dell has plenty of other XPS devices (or even an XPS 13 with more RAM) that can fill those advanced needs.

Considering the biggest argument I've seen so far against the XPS 13 is that Windows 11 doesn't run well on 8GB, those detractors will soon have to find a different avenue of attack.

Is macOS still more efficient than Windows? Probably. Does that mean Windows 11 is useless on 8GB of RAM? Evidently not.

Haven't we seen this before?

My tests with an 8GB Windows 11 system remind me of the time our Editor-in-Chief, Daniel Rubino, trolled everyone by running games on an "8GB" version of the original Surface Go from 2018.

After showing how smoothly the games were running, it was revealed that the video was shot using the 4GB RAM model as a test bed.

I could have probably done something similar here; after all, 4GB Windows 11 laptops are still being sold at some retailers. Instead, I'll save that sort of trickery for another day.

The bottom line: Windows 11 runs better than I expected on 8GB of RAM

Dell's new XPS 13 launches on June 16, and the new Acer Swift Air 14 is expected to arrive in NA markets in August 2026. I'm hoping we get our hands on 8GB models to test the Windows 11 experience directly.

In any case, I expect these laptops to be wildly popular not only for students, but also for general users who are fed up with Windows PCs that live up to their "cheap" pricing in all the wrong ways.

The bottom line? Windows 11 ran a lot better than I expected on 8GB of RAM, even when multitasking with multiple browser tabs, video streams, a photo editor, music, and more.

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

As a longtime fan of RPGs and Warhammer 40,000 games, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is one of the best I've played in the past couple of years.

Its story was compelling and a perfect introduction for non-Warhammer 40k fans; its combat system was gory and rich with playstyle diversity, and it had infinite amounts of replay value through its branching dialogue options and character-build theory crafting.

Not to mention Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader has two epic DLC expansions, The Void Shadows and The Lex Imperialis, that go out of their way not just to add new content here and there, but completely transform the entire game with new mechanics, companions, and stories.

Its latest DLC expansion, The Infinite Museion, is no exception. This expansion brings a rich cybernetic augmentation system, an intriguing new companion, various gameplay changes, and additions to make Heretic playthroughs more fun, and a thrilling storyline starring one of Warhammer 40,000's more popular lore characters, Trazyn the Infinite.

How do I know this? Well, I managed to get my hands on the DLC early through a preview code provided by Owlcat Games. I have to say, this might be Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader's best expansion yet, and I can't wait to start another 100+ playthrough to uncover the rest of its secrets.

This article was made possible thanks to a code provided by Owlcat Games. The company did not see the contents of this article before it was published.

The Infinite Museion: Story

The new questlines introduced by The Infinite Museion DLC begin in Act 2 and continue in Acts 4 and 5 of the base game. While exploring the Koronus Expanse one day, you stumble upon some undiscovered planets and decide to investigate them if they hold anything of value, like treasure or resources.

The expedition goes south in a hurry as you get pulled into an insane adventure where you will discover secrets regarding the Von Valancious Dynasty and explore ancient vaults belonging to Trazyn the Infinite.

Trazyn is an ancient Necron Overlord devoted to collecting or, most of the time, stealing artifacts and kidnapping creatures and people to be used as exhibits for one of his intergalactic museums as part of his goal to preserve history, no matter the cost.

Along the way, you will recruit a new Tech-Priest party member called Eogunn Februs and unlock a compartment for your ship where you surgically upgrade your crew with cybernetic limbs and augments to help you survive exploring Trazyn's vaults, teeming with deadly Necrons.

I don't want to go into too much spoiler territory, but I will say that the new storylines in this expansion were a joy to sit through.

It has interesting commentary about the potential dangers and loss of humanity that can occur when augmenting yourself with too many cybernetic prosthetics; the new locales you explore were packed with so much intriguing lore, and Trazyn is such a cool, charismatic, diabolical villain that he puts all the other antagonists in the game to shame.

What's even cooler about The Infinite Museion DLC's new storylines is that they introduce a ton of new scenes and consequences to the base game's main storyline, depending on the dialogue choices you make. What those changes are, you will have to find out for yourself because they're too awesome to spoil.

As for the new companion Eogunn Februs, he's an interesting addition to the cast who acted in ways I wasn't expecting. Unlike most Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus faction you meet in the game who are cold and mostly logic-driven, Eogunn is more jovial, passionate, and human by comparison.

However, beneath Eogunn's optimism and pleasant demeanor lies a darker side that's obsessed with conducting horrific, unethical experiments that border on heresy in the pursuit of knowledge. Whether or not you wish to curtail Eogunn's obsession or enable it is up to you.

Eogunn Februs is also a great party member to use in battle. He's a support specialist who provides shields, buffs, and extra turns to allies while shocking enemies with long-range lightning gun attacks, which are perfect for taking the more annoying mechanical enemies in the game.

The Infinite Museion: Gameplay

The gameplay of The Infinite Museion DLC follows the gameplay structure of Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. As a Rogue Trader working the Imperium of Man, your goal is to explore the Koronus Expanse and its worlds for riches, resources, and glory.

You will converse with NPCs to advance the plot or buy new gear, and engage in tactical turn-based battles against heretics, mutants, and aliens who dare defy humanity's will.

So what new gameplay additions does The Infinite Museion DLC bring to the table? For starters, it brings a new augmentation system that completely revamps how you build most of your party members, and it's my favorite new feature of the whole game.

This system allows you to replace your normal human limbs with robot ones and even your organs and eyes with cybernetic implants that can drastically boost your combat effectiveness or grant you completely new abilities.

For example, I surgically grafted one of my party members, Abelard, with a robot hook hand to drag enemies closer out into melee range, and then beat them to death with lightning-elemental enhanced attacks granted by a new mechanical nervous system I placed in him.

That's just one of hundreds of ways you customize your characters, as there are over a hundred augment parts to collect throughout the whole game, thanks to this DLC.

I absolutely love this system because not only does it make you look like a horrific cyborg abomination akin to Adam Smasher from Cyberpunk 2077, but it also makes certain playstyles from the base game more viable now.

For example, certain augmentations can negate the negative side effects of combat stimulants, which I never used before because their drawbacks were too severe to be useful.

However, don't take this to mean that this system is overpowered, because the more robot bits you shove inside a character, the more damage they'll take from lightning and EMP attacks, so you will need to plan for this drawback accordingly. Plus, certain party members can't be augmented because they're too disgusted by it or they're physically incapable, so keep that in mind.

One last thing I liked about The Infinite Museion DLC is that it includes several other hidden gameplay changes throughout the whole game that will make roleplaying as a Heretical character more rewarding and fun.

While I won't go into the specifics due to spoilers, I will say that a certain secret party member you can recruit on a Heretical playthrough has received some highly requested reworks to make them more deadly and enjoyable to use in battle.

The Infinite Museion: Final thoughts

Overall, I had a blast with The Infinite Museion DLC. The new storylines and companions were compelling; new areas were fun to explore; there were some crazy and creative puzzles to solve that rewarded satisfying gear; and the new augmentation system has me addicted.

Not to mention that The Infinite Museion DLC has made playing as a Heretic-aligned player more entertaining thanks to its new additions to the main storyline and reworks to the base game's gameplay.

If you're a fan of Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, do not miss out on this DLC because it was every penny and the hundreds of hours you will spend uncovering all its new gameplay additions.

If you've never played Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader before and are a fan of CRPGs like Baldur's Gate 3, I highly recommend picking it up now, along with all its DLC, as it's in the best state it's ever been in.

If you want to learn more about the base game, check out our review of Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (do note that most of the bugs my former colleague Samuel encountered in this review have long since been fixed as of this writing).

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 5, and PC via Windows and Steam.

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Ten years ago, Windows Central published a heartfelt editorial titled “I love you, Xbox — don’t cancel things your fans love.” It was written during a turbulent era for Xbox, when the brand was struggling to define itself after the Xbox One’s rocky launch and a wave of canceled projects left fans frustrated.

A decade later, Xbox stands in a very different place — stronger in hardware, broader in ecosystem, but still wrestling with the same tension between creative ambition and corporate caution. Looking back, that plea feels both prophetic and painfully relevant. This retrospective revisits the moment Xbox nearly lost its identity, and how the lessons from that era still echo through today’s decisions. — Daniel Rubino, Editor-in-Chief

This article, "I love you Xbox, but don't cancel things on your fans," was originally published on June 9th, 2016, by Richard Devine.

To be clear; personally it's not something I was interested in. I have cable TV and two DVRs in my home already, so this isn't a rant about something I was excited for myself.

But Microsoft announcing, then pulling the plug, isn't a road to travel down. Xbox fans are passionate. Lots of them were excited about this feature coming to their console.

But above all that, it's about promising something and then going back on it. That's never going to go down well, regardless of the product in question.

At gamescom in August 2015, Microsoft announced the upcoming DVR feature. I was sat in the audience and the reaction from the crowd suggested plenty were happy to hear it. At the same event I saw the feature working in a closed-door session. We had all the details: an external USB 2.0 hard drive and the OTA TV tuner were required, and there would be substantial mobile integration.

While not something for me, I wrote about it with a smile on my face because it was both impressive and likely to make a difference to a lot of Xbox One owners.

When it was announced and first demonstrated to the press, the Windows 10 powered Xbox One Experience was still in development, but clearly the DVR feature had been an integral part of the early works. Sure, it was a staged demo, but it seemed impressive. Another box to tick over Sony's competing PS4.

So fast forward to June 2016 and Microsoft's statement on halting the project:

It doesn't actually say cancel, but that Microsoft felt it necessary to put out a statement tells me that the Xbox One TV DVR isn't happening for a long time, if it ever happens at all. It's no secret that Microsoft has a lot going on in the Xbox division, with the same event in 2015 clearly showing that its a more a platform now than just a gaming box under your TV.

Microsoft's Phil Spencer has also openly pushed the idea of Xbox being about the games and the gamers. And that's exactly where it should be going — like it or not, the Xbox One has become a center of many entertainment systems. The pre-Spencer days weren't exactly a high point, but the Xbox One is packed with features for the home entertainment fan.

More than that though, it's TV DVR for Xbox One was a high profile feature that was announced at a major event, hyped up and then taken away. And looking at the uservoice page right now paints a picture: of displeased users

That's just a few; there are many, many more. Along with background music playing, which has been pushed back to this summer's Anniversary Update, it seems TV DVR was hotly anticipated. It doesn't exactly shine a great light on Xbox to suddenly decide to pull it.

And just a few days before what's sure to be an incredible show at E3, too.

I love Xbox, and personally I'm happy still that it became my number one purchase for the new generation of consoles. I've owned both previous consoles as well as every PlayStation bar the current one. Overall I still think the Xbox One has the best experience as both a games console and an entertainment unit.

But I don't like to see fans disappointed like this. It doesn't really matter what the product, feature or company it is, promising something with much fanfare and then quietly sweeping it under the rug nearly a year later is a dangerous thing to do. It disillusions those most loyal to the brand, and no-one wants that.

Either deliver, or don't say you're going to do something. That's how it has to be.

Each week, dozens of indie games make their way to the Xbox storefront. Each new game is an opportunity to explore a new world, experience a new story, and solve new puzzles. But there’s only so much time in a week, and it can be a challenge to sort through every offering for the hidden gems.

To help, we here at Windows Central have been sorting through indies to help you discover interesting new stories and adventures, from cozy bug-collecting extravaganzas to perilous survival horror puzzlers. Here are a few recently released indies that we think should be at the top of your “to-be-played” list.

Hollowbody

If you’re looking for that early 2000s horror nostalgia set in a tech-noir infused world, Hollowbody should be on your radar. Hollowbody is a survival horror puzzler set in the dystopian near-future.

Players become a Shipper named Mica who has traveled into a deadly exclusion zone, but she only has a two-hour window to find her missing partner, Sasha, and get out. It would be pretty boring if things went smoothly, however, and Mica quickly finds herself in a dangerous predicament where her equipment has failed, and she is trapped in a twenty-mile death zone sealed off by towering walls.

Players will have to manage Mica’s limited resources and solve challenging environmental logic puzzles in order to push through the exclusion zone. Hollowbody does favor puzzles and resource management over combat, but there are some difficulty options for those who want to ramp up (or down) the difficulty.

This fully voice-acted, single-player horror adventure, which developer Headware Games originally launched on PC in 2024, sits at a respectable Very Positive rating with over 1400 Steam reviews — and is newly available on Xbox Series X|S as of June 4.

Escape Simulator

Not all puzzle aficionados are fans of horror scenarios or playing alone. For those of us who want the help of a friend and a more casual puzzle-solving experience, there’s Escape Simulator. Developed and published by Pine Studio, Escape Simulator brings the fun and challenge of an escape room to your game room.

The standard edition of Escape Simulator features 28 rooms, each filled to the brim with unique puzzles that require players to search the room for solutions. Need to unlock a cabinet? First, you’re going to have to find a book and decipher the hieroglyphics to secure the code.

Or maybe a glowing message from the other side can help you to spell out the hidden passcode for the puzzle behind the painting? Every puzzle in Escape Simulator can be completed solo, but it’s so much more fun with friends helping you break vases, move furniture, and collect tokens before the timer runs out.

Players can grab friends to escape from a wild collection of themed rooms, from ancient Egypt to outer space. Should the initial 28 rooms not be enough puzzles for you, there are five additional DLC packs to expand your options, including Steampunk, Magic, and Wild West themes.

Escape Simulator is available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and compatible handhelds. This one’s on Xbox Game Pass and Play Anywhere, making it even easier to convince your pals to help you out with the gamerscore completion.

Kabuto Park

Summer is fast approaching, and it's bringing with it sun, heat, and bugs. Sunburns and bug bites are no fun, but thanks to developers Doot and Zakku, and publisher Seaven Studio — the team behind cozy city builder Minami Lane — we can all enjoy the perks of summer without the downsides in Kabuto Park.

Playing as a little girl on summer vacation, Kabuto Park allows players to catch beetles, butterflies, bees, and more, then train them for the Summer Beetle Battles Championship.

This short and sweet bug-collecting game lets you build up a team of elite bugs from the ones you collect from around the world. Pet them, feed them candies, and train them up to be victorious in tiny bug sumo battles. Upgrade your bug net and boots at the local shop to unlock new areas with new bugs or make rare bugs appear more often so you can secure even more victories.

Kabuto Park is a wholesome, 2–4-hour single-player experience that even arachnophobes can enjoy. Try it now on Xbox Game Pass or pick it up for under $6 on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud Gaming, and compatible handhelds.

CRASHOUT CREW

Aggro Crab — known for Peak and Another Crab’s Treasure — is back again with another challenging friendslop adventure, this time at the De Nile Shipping company. Grab your friends to create a crew of up to 4 forklift drivers and head to the warehouse to ship out orders on waiting trucks. How hard could it possibly be?

Crashout Crew has the potential to unseat Overcooked as the best game for ruining friendships. Every player has their own little Easy-Grab forklift, which can be customized via color and funny little hats and is equipped with the most important equipment (a horn, plus boosting and drift capabilities, of course!)

Warehouses are built for speed, which is important when your crew is facing near impossible deadlines to deliver devious combinations of packages like bulls and fine china, barrels of oil and lanterns, or rambunctious chickens and very fragile eggs.

Just when you think you’ve got a handle on the process of shipping out unruly cargo, the ghosts start acting up, throwing around your package to create dangerous hazards. If it’s not the ghosts, then the AC goes out and turns the floor into actual lava. Rolling blackouts leave your crew scrambling in the dark, and let’s not forget the invasive cacti and sneeze-inducing pollen.

Grab your friends on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud Gaming, or compatible handhelds and race to finish more than 20 challenging contracts in Crashout Crew, available now on Xbox Game Pass with Play Anywhere support.

Luna Abyss

After spending some time with cozy and chaotic coop this month, we round out the list with something a little more hellish. Luna Abyss is a story-rich first-person shooter and bullet hell with fluid platforming, where players step into the shoes of a prisoner by the name of Fawkes. Beneath the surface of the mimic moon, Luna, is a sprawling but derelict structure where prisoners like Fawkes are sentenced to explore in search of lost technology.

Luna Abyss features multiple endings for its deep narrative that plays out with the help of environmental storytelling. However, not everything we’re told about this megastructure is perfectly accurate, and it’s up to the player to discover the secrets hidden among the horrors below the surface while under the watchful guidance of the prison’s AI, Aylyn.

While weaponry and abilities are scarce at first, players can guide Fawkes through Luna Abyss’ visually commanding red, black, and white world to discover upgrades that can help them push through the challenging campaign. Combat, while important in Luna Abyss, isn’t exactly center stage.

Fawkes’ looted arsenal can make quick work of enemy combatants. Finding movement upgrades, however, like double jumps and air dashes, can help you overcome obstacles and provide a new level of challenge that isn’t common for first-person shooters.

Luna Abyss, developed by Kwalee Labs and published by Kwalee, is available now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and compatible handhelds with support for the Xbox Play Anywhere program. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscribers can play Luna Abyss at no extra charge as part of their subscription plan.

Microsoft is working on a new accessibility feature for Windows 11 known as "Screen Tint," and it could become a useful option for anyone who spends long hours in front of a monitor.

Currently, the feature is available through the Windows Insider Program, and it introduces a system-wide color overlay designed to make the desktop easier on the eyes. Unlike the "Color filters" feature that focuses on accessibility requirements such as color blindness, Screen Tint is aimed at overall viewing comfort, allowing users to adjust the visual tone of the entire operating system.

Once enabled, the overlay applies across the desktop and apps, creating a more consistent viewing experience without requiring third-party tools.

Windows 11's new Screen Tint feature

Screen Tint appears under Settings > Accessibility > Screen Tint, where Microsoft describes the feature as a way to "show a color overlay on your display to reduce eye strain and improve viewing comfort."

The setting is disabled by default, but turning it on reveals several preset tint profiles along with options for further customization.

Windows 11 currently provides six built-in presets, including:

• Amber for extended screen sessions.
• Rose tint for users sensitive to fluorescent lighting or migraine triggers.
• Yellow to reduce visual stress while reading.
• Blue for glare sensitivity in bright environments.
• Green to soften harsh white backgrounds.
• Gray for users who find high-contrast displays tiring.

On the page, there's also a "Custom" tint option that lets users choose any color they prefer.

Furthermore, there's a dedicated Strength slider that controls how intense the color overlay appears. Rather than forcing users into predefined filter levels, Screen Tint allows fine-tuned adjustments based on personal preference, lighting conditions, or specific visual sensitivities.

Not the same as Color Filters

While Screen Tint may look similar to Windows 11's existing Color Filters feature at first glance, the two tools serve different purposes.

Color Filters are primarily designed as accessibility aids for users with color vision deficiencies. On the other hand, Screen Tint appears focused on comfort and visual fatigue reduction.

Microsoft notes that enabling Screen Tint automatically disables Color Filters, meaning only one feature can be active at a time.

Windows Central's Take

I wasn't expecting a feature like Screen Tint, but I can see why the company is exploring it. While the operating system already includes Color Filters and other display adjustments, Screen Tint appears to offer a more flexible way to adjust the overall screen appearance based on personal comfort rather than a specific accessibility need.

The ability to fine-tune the overlay's color and intensity could be useful for people who spend long hours in front of a monitor, especially since everyone experiences screen fatigue differently.

Of course, this is still an experimental feature, so there's no guarantee it'll ship in its current form. However, I generally like seeing the software giant continue to expand the personalization and accessibility options available on Windows 11.

What are your thoughts about the new Screen Tint feature on Windows 11? 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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Intel is calling its new Arc G Series processors, announced at Computex, the "next step in handheld gaming." After getting a chance to personally test the new MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and Acer Predator Atlas 8, I'm inclined to believe the hype.

The closed demo, hosted in part by Intel Fellow (and general PC hardware wizard) Tom Petersen, revealed a lot of additional information about the new chips before I got to choose a device and game.

One thing I picked up on immediately is that these new Intel chips should probably be viewed as an Arc GPU with an integrated CPU, rather than a CPU with an integrated GPU. As Petersen pointed out, this is the first time Intel has created graphics-forward Systems-on-Chip (SoC), and they're built specifically for gaming handhelds.

Gaming on the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and Acer Predator Atlas 8

MSI's Claw 8 EX AI+ was my first stop on the tour. It's a gorgeous Void Purple color with an oversized screen that extends just a bit out of the bottom of the device to accommodate the 8-inch screen.

MSI's shoulder buttons, triggers, D-pad, and standard buttons felt very crisp and responsive. Despite being larger than Acer's Predator Atlas 8, the Claw 8 EX AI+ wasn't too heavy and fit into my hands quite well.

One area where Acer has MSI beat is its thumbsticks. Despite most of its inputs feeling less snappy (I found the Acer shoulder buttons to be particularly soft), the joysticks felt a lot tighter with less chance of accidental movement.

Acer's Predator Atlas 8 is also a bit more compact, and it doesn't have the lower overhang for the screen despite also having an 8-inch display.

Audio out of both devices was respectable, and neither handheld made much fan noise despite running a rather demanding game.

I was equally impressed with the 8-inch displays, and I'll have to spend more time with the handhelds to really dial in the differences (if there are any). Both 8-inch screens have a 1920x1200 resolution, a 120Hz variable refresh rate, and tons of brightness.

Crunching the Intel Arc G Series performance numbers

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight and Hogwarts Legacy were the games of choice in the demo room. You might not think that a LEGO game is taxing, but with a recommended requirement of an NVIDIA RTX 2070 SUPER/AMD RX 6650 XT/Intel Arc B580, it certainly isn't an easy go.

I can attest; I picked up the game before my flight to Taiwan, and my Steam Deck struggles to maintain even 30 FPS in most areas.

That's anything but the case on these new handhelds. The game ran perfectly, holding strong at 100-120 FPS on both systems. Yes, my Steam Deck is showing its age, but Intel had AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme handhelds available to show the direct difference in performance.

How do Intel's new Arc G3 chips compare to AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme?

AMD has had a stranglehold on the gaming handheld market for some time now, but its Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip is starting to show its age in the face of the new Arc G3 chips.

Petersen had plenty of graphs and charts ready to back up his claims, and I'm sharing them here to give you an idea of what sort of performance is expected.

Compared to the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme in the ROG Xbox Ally X, the Arc G3 Extreme chip averages out to being 42% faster at 1080p, with 2x upscaling enabled and both chips at a 35W TDP.

Dropping the Arc G3 Extreme to 17W and leaving the Ryzen Z2 Extreme at 35W, the Intel chip averages out to twice as much performance per watt in tested games. Even at 12W, the Arc G3 Extreme pulls ahead by an average of 37% in the games Intel tested.

This boosted efficiency is exactly what you want in a mobile device. It's even more impressive considering XeSS isn't as energy efficient as AMD's FSR.

While using the new Arc G3 handhelds, the smoothness was remarkable. Intel's intelligent bias control plays a big role in that feeling, focusing mostly on the GPU so that the CPU doesn't suck up all the power.

E-cores are scheduled first, and P-cores get parked when they drop below 13W, making the overall experience much more reliable and with fewer power spikes.

The new Arc G3 chips have all the big XeSS features you want when you're PC gaming. I'm talking about super resolution, multi-frame generation, and ray tracing. Not to mention handheld extras like boosted efficiency, precompiled shaders, configurable TDP, etc.

Pricing remains an issue

The global gaming handheld market is being stomped on by RAM and storage shortages, and what were originally affordable mobile gaming PCs have become expensive luxury items.

👉 Gaming handhelds are the new netbooks — will they suffer the same tragic fate?

Acer hasn't yet set a price for its new Predator Atlas 8 (expected to launch October 2026), but MSI's Claw 8 EX AI+ is supposed to make its debut at $1,500 in June. I hope that number holds out, despite it already being quite high.

In any case, the handheld market is experiencing some serious friction, and that's a shame considering the advancements in performance I saw at Computex. Intel's Arc G3 chips seem to be the real deal, and I look forward to having more time with them once the MSI and Acer hardware launches.

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Microsoft just had an amazing week, and a big part of that was thanks to Build. Sure, some excellent laptops were announced, but we've been blessed with good hardware for years. The biggest difference this year is that there are genuine reasons to be excited about Windows 11.

Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden highlighted the buzz around Windows 11:

"I spoke with various OEMs this week, and I could feel that all of them were super proud to be part of this renewed push in Windows. That's not something you can always say about Windows OEMs, but everyone I spoke to was very happy with Microsoft's work around Windows K2, and the improvements in silicon coming from Qualcomm, NVIDIA, and Intel."

The Windows K2 initiative appears to have some key converts, and that's great news for Windows PCs going forward. But a fully revamped Windows 11 will require software developers to embrace the OS and Microsoft's latest tools, and that's where Build played a key role.

At Build 2026, Microsoft taught developers how to build native Windows apps using AI and how to port x86 apps to Windows on Arm.

Microsoft also announced its own AI models, revealed its vision for "the next computer," announced a new Surface for developers, and unveiled new tools for creating AI agents.

Biggest Build News

Native Windows apps

There are two meanings of the word "native" when referring to Windows apps: applications that use a native framework like WinUI 3 and apps that are optimized for Windows on Arm. Microsoft focused on both types of native apps during Build.

Microsoft is making more parts of Windows 11 native, which will improve performance. Native apps (the WinUI 3 kind) will see similar benefits.

Apps optimized for Windows on Arm will benefit both Snapdragon X-powered PCs and systems featuring the new NVIDIA RTX Spark platform.

Agentic future

Microsoft announced and highlighted several tools developers can use to make AI agents. The Surface RTX Spark Dev Box was the biggest surprise of the week. That mini-PC features one petaflop of AI compute power and 128GB of unified memory. It can run up to 120B parameter models locally.

It comes with Microsoft developer tools preinstalled, features WSL2 with native GPU passthrough, and has full CUDA support.

Microsoft built the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box as a device for all developers making software and AI experiences. The tech giant emphasized that it wants Windows to be the platform for developers, not just Windows developers.

The Surface Laptop Ultra was announced at Computex. Based on its specs and design, it should also be a great tool for developers, but it is also aimed at creators and professionals who rely on AI models.

"The next computer"

While many of the announcements and sessions from Build focused on apps and agents that will run on traditional PCs, Microsoft also unveiled its vision for "the next computer."

Project Solara is a lightweight and secure operating system built on top of AOSP, not Windows. The OS hosts an Agent Shell that can dynamically load multiple cloud-based agents.

Rather than having a system that runs apps, the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform will have a device that calls on AI to perform tasks.

"These new devices are not meant to run traditional apps. They are designed for agents," said Microsoft. "That shift gives us more flexibility in the user interface, because the experience can adapt to the device, the screen size, the content, and even the mode of interaction—whether visual, voice, touch, or multimodal."

There are only prototype devices at this point, but Microsoft discussed a "Badge Concept Device" and "Desk Concept Device" at Build.

Smart wearables and AI hardware have been hit and miss up to this point. The Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit R1 failed for various reasons. AI hardware has to make a case for itself and feel like more than a smartphone add-on.

Microsoft's new platform will have to overcome that gap to succeed.

An exciting time for Windows 11 and Microsoft

Between Build and Computex, there's a lot to look forward to. Windows 11 is headed in the right direction and Microsoft has the tools developers need to make apps for the refreshed operating system.

Microsoft is also preparing for the next wave of computing. I'm skeptical that a future full of wearables and AI hardware is inevitable, but Microsoft is positioning itself to power that future if it does happen.

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

It's been a long time since I've felt energized and excited about the Windows platform and ecosystem, but between Microsoft Build and Computex 2026, Windows just had an amazing week full of announcements that should make even the biggest Windows critics feel good about what's in the pipeline.

For the first time in a long while, it seems like Microsoft and its partners are proud of the Windows experiences they are building. NVIDIA made lots of noise about its new RTX Spark superchip, the first Windows on Arm silicon to really give high-end Apple Silicon a run for its money.

Windows OEMs have also stepped up to build excellent, high-quality devices that rival MacBooks in design, features, and build. The upcoming wave of RTX Spark laptops from HP, Dell, Lenovo, and Microsoft all look and feel incredible, making even the highest-end MacBook Pros look antiquated.

And it's not just the high-end where competition is heating up. Dell and Acer announced the first true MacBook Neo competitor products, powered by Intel Wildcat Lake chips, which deliver good performance and battery life at a cost that allows these OEMs to focus on other areas of the laptop to ensure they feel as good as or more premium than the MacBook Neo.

I managed to test both the Dell XPS 13 and Acer Swift Air 14 this week, and I'm so very impressed. Both devices are $699, but the Dell XPS 13 especially is a true sight to behold at that price. Not only does it give the MacBook Neo a run for its money, but it's so good that it even makes the MacBook Air seem like a bad deal.

I don't recall another time in history where a product as high-end and flagship-like as the XPS 13 could be found new for as low as $699 (or $599 for students!) That's the MacBook Neo effect in full force, and the people who are winning from this are the customers looking to buy their next laptop.

I spoke with various OEMs this week, and I could feel that all of them were super proud to be part of this renewed push in Windows. That's not something you can always say about Windows OEMs, but everyone I spoke to was very happy with Microsoft's work around Windows K2, and the improvements in silicon coming from Qualcomm, NVIDIA, and Intel.

There's a lot of work going on behind the scenes to improve Windows on lower-end devices, too. Microsoft is working to ensure Windows 11 runs well on 8GB RAM, as well as increasing the overall responsiveness and performance of the OS with its new Low Latency Profile feature that's now beginning to roll out.

Microsoft also stepped up with its new Surface Laptop Ultra and Surface Dev Box, powered by RTX Spark and designed to carry forward the Windows platform for developers. The good news is this isn't about adding AI to Windows, but rather about catering to developers who wish to build AI experiences on top of the platform.

It's clear that Microsoft wants developers to view Windows as the premier platform for software and AI development. Windows isn't just a platform for Windows developers; it's a platform for all developers. "Whether you’re building applications, deploying AI models or experimenting with agents, our goal is the same: to make Windows the best place to build – today and into the future," said Windows lead Pavan Davuluri.

I think this week, we saw our first real look at the new Surface. Gone are the days of radical form factors and unique devices. Surface is now all about setting the narrative from a platform perspective. Surface Laptop Ultra is a straight-up laptop workstation, appealing directly to an audience that has otherwise been occupied by Apple and the MacBook Pro. Historically, Surface was mostly interested in appealing to niche or creating new markets, but now it's coming for the ones that Apple dominates.

Up until now, I don't think Windows or Surface have ever been in a position to do this. This speaks volumes as to how confident both Microsoft and its partners are about the Windows ecosystem right now. The Windows K2 effort is bringing real quality of life improvements to the OS, addressing critics' biggest complaints about Windows as a platform.

Microsoft is working around the clock to make it so "it runs Windows" isn't a complaint people can make when talking about these devices. The macOS vs Windows debate will last forever, but at least going forward, Windows itself won't be bringing the entire ecosystem down, something that many would argue was the case up until a few months ago.

It really does feel like this is the first time the Windows ecosystem has had viable alternatives to Apple's MacBook dominance since Apple Silicon. The MacBook Neo took the world by storm earlier this year, but Windows OEMs have already stepped up and beaten it in price and quality. MacBook Pro has seemingly been undefeated at the high-end, but this upcoming wave of RTX Spark laptops should make it so the MacBook Pro is no longer the only option for developers and creatives.

Even Chromebooks and upcoming Googlebooks should feel threatened by this renewed energy around Windows. Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon C, a low-end Windows SoC designed for Chromebook competitor devices between $300 and $500. Then there's the Snapdragon X2 series, which is an incredible SoC for devices that compete with the MacBook Air and entry-level MacBook Pro.

The point is that for the first time in a long time, Windows now has (or will soon have) good, viable offerings at every segment of the market. It should now be harder than ever for a reviewer to recommend the MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro as the de facto device for most people. There are so many good Windows laptops on offer in the segments that Mac has previously dominated.

There's still room for improvements when it comes to Windows, but as mentioned above, Microsoft is already working tirelessly to deliver them, with more to come. It's clear that the company wants to send an important message to the industry: Don't count Windows out just yet.

Overall, I am super excited about the current state of the Windows ecosystem, and with platform improvements being made weekly, there are good things to come from an OS perspective, too. For the first time in a long time, I'm proud to be a Windows user once again.

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

The biggest week of the year just wrapped up for Microsoft and Windows 11, and it was full of good news for everyone from power users to shoppers on a budget.

The week kicked off with Computex, which served as a midyear showcase for the state of Windows 11 PCs and what's around the corner for personal computing. Laptop makers have now had time to respond to the MacBook Neo, and they did so with gusto.

Build conference also took place this past week, highlighting ways developers can improve their apps and AI agents.

The new Dell XPS 13 starts at $699 ($599 for students), placing it squarely against the MacBook Neo. On the other extreme of PC pricing, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra, a powerhouse PC packing the newly announced NVIDIA RTX Spark.

Here's a quick rundown of the biggest news from Computex, Build, and more.

As a reminder, Summer Game Fest also took place this week and the Xbox Games Showcase is set for tonight. I'll send you to our expert gaming team for coverage of that event.

It feels like the first time in a long time that Microsoft and Windows 11 are moving in the right direction. Chipmakers will provide options at every price range and for every workflow and Windows 11 is being improved each month.

Microsoft needs to build on the momentum and stick the landing. A few months moving in the right direction can fall apart quickly if the tech giant's leaders lose focus.

Biggest Windows 11 News

I've been a rather verbal critic of how Microsoft has handled its Surface brand, accusing the tech giant of leaving Surface in the dust while it rebuilds XBOX and Windows 11.

Last month's Surface launch was so disappointing I regretted paying attention. I doubt I'd have tuned in if it weren't my job, and I'm sure many skipped it altogether. I still believe Microsoft left Surface stagnant for too long, but the May launch of the Surface Business devices makes a bit more sense.

Microsoft needed to wait for the NVIDIA RTX Spark to be announced to reveal the Surface Laptop Ultra.

Perhaps the staggered Surface launches are the price to pay for getting the latest chips inside Surface hardware. For years, new Surface devices were powered by already aging hardware. The shifted Surface strategy means brand-new chips but reveals beholden to chipmaker timelines.

I won't completely exonerate Microsoft though. The tech giant could still have announced its consumer-focused Surface Pro and Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X2 chips last month, just with a longer lead time to hit store shelves.

Shopping with Sean

I'm very excited about the new PCs on the way, but they won't hit shelves for a while. Plus, we still need benchmarks and pricing on the RTX Spark chips before knowing if they're worth grabbing.

Until we get those key details, I'll hold off on any recommendations. Instead, I'll point you to an excellent gaming monitor that earned a perfect score in our review and is now on sale.

The ASUS ROG Strix OLED 27 is great for gaming and was already one of the best bargains for under $1,000. For a limited time, it's discounted to $799.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 developers Infinity Ward revealed new information about the upcoming first-person shooter's dedicated third mode, DMZ, ahead of the 2026 Xbox Game Showcase, part of this year's Summer Game Fest activities.

The new mode will embrace the extraction shooter genre, adding a new set of gameplay options to the franchise's standard Campaign and Multiplayer offerings.

Four years ago, Infinity Ward released its first attempt at an extraction-genre mode with the initial DMZ Beta. The DMZ Beta launched for free as part of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022) and Warzone 2.0 package. The Infinity Ward team described the original DMZ beta as "a crazy experiment" that "quickly became a proving ground and a test bed... through seasonal updates and live experiments."

Studio Multiplayer Creative Director for Infinity Ward, Geoff Smith, said that watching the extraction shooter genre grow, as well as data from the initial DMZ beta, helped the team to learn what resonated with players and what the mode was lacking in its earliest state.

"All that knowledge and those action items became this foundation for us as we were shaping up this new vision of DMZ from the ground up," said Smith.

Infinity Ward's new take on DMZ has been crafted with a rich story — crafted by the studio's single-player narrative team — that picks up after the events of the Campaign and ties directly into the existing Modern Warfare universe and lore.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 DMZ — Hajin

The new extraction sandbox is set in the Korean city of Hajin, an area that has been affected by a nuclear reactor meltdown, creating a demilitarized zone polluted by radiation. Players will find Hajin marked with increasingly dangerous AI threats, environmental puzzles, and narrative story missions that make the world feel more like a game within a game than just a simple third mode.

Before infil to Hajin, players begin at the DMZ's forward operating base, a hub for player progression where you can manage gear, squad up, and prepare for combat. Each player is an off-book asset working for the CIA, scouring the DMZ for military tech to capture and neutralize. But there are other rogue agents to watch out for.

DMZ's Hajin map will launch with nine distinct points of interest:

• Hajin City
• Casino
• Fallout
• Hospital
• Military Base
• Farmlands
• Prison
• Broadcast
• Town

Three different countries converge to create the DMZ map, Hajin — a South Korean exclusion that has been hit the hardest by the radiation, makes up the majority of the map, while parts of North Korea and Russia also lend themselves to the mode's stage.

Hajin creates a living world for DMZ, where players can look in the sky to see air carriers moving cargo overhead or intercept convoys moving throughout the world, but it's also a living world that is affected by dynamic weather conditions.

Some infils will drop you into a Hajin that is bright and sunny, while others can have you standing in the rain or obscure your vision with dense fog. The weather itself is not always severe; it can intensify or lighten up as your time in Hajin progresses.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 DMZ — Progression and gameplay

Before you can infiltrate Hajin, you must first choose what activities you want to experience while you're in the DMZ. Players can choose from Story Missions, Dynamic Missions, or Free Roam when loading into the zone.

Infinity Ward has shared that the story missions for the DMZ were crafted by the Modern Warfare 4 single player team and built upon the world experienced by players in the campaign. Dynamic Missions provide squads with a randomized checklist of activities to explore while in the DMZ, while Free Roam turns players loose to find their own activities.

Those who are queuing up without a full squad, but have squad fill on, will be matched with players who are queuing for the same tasks. For example, if you have a group of three and are looking to play a Story Mission while in the DMZ, the random player who is added to fill out your squad will also be someone who was searching to join for a Story Mission, minimizing the risk that your random squad mates might leave you hanging high and dry if you they don't want to play the same tasks as your group.

However, not all players in the DMZ will be performing the same mission as your squad. You may have signed up to free roam, but you may encounter other players who are attempting to complete story missions. The DMZ operates on a "Same world, same time" premise, where squads are grouped together by tasks, but the world itself is populated with players who all have a variety of goals.

Team members from Infinity Ward described the studio's philosophy for DMZ as "You push, and the world pushes back." Players will encounter various convoys and air traffic that can pose challenges for their squads, but only if they are willing to engage with them. Infinity Ward has baked in stealth mechanics that can serve as 'kill switches' for activated events, giving the player a chance to duck out from roaming encounters.

Run-ins with other players, however, are more difficult to escape. As players work their way up the food chain, earning player kills and making a name for themselves amongst the DMZ leaderboards, they may become subject to bounties. Players with bounties drop a dog tag that can be exfilled from the DMZ for a reward. Would-be bounty hunters can pay for intel on marked operators within their match, similar to how bounties of the past have played out in Call of Duty: Warzone.

Standard Call of Duty multiplayer fans might be wondering what the big deal is with having a bounty placed on you in the DMZ, and the answer to that leads us to player progression in the zone. Unlike multiplayer or resurgence modes, where spawning is free and virtually unlimited, players' progress in the DMZ is tied to operators similar to Black Ops 7's Endgame progression system.

Each operator has a set skill tree that players can unlock according to their own preferences, and players can have multiple operators in order to experience a variety of gameplay styles. Operator death in the DMZ is semi-permanent: downed operators lose their current gear within the DMZ, and after the match, the lost operator becomes MIA. Based on those operators' unlocked traits and the player's stats, a cash value is assigned to that operator that the player must pay if they want to bring them back from being MIA.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's DMZ progression is dedicated to the DMZ mode and is not impacted by gameplay in other Call of Duty modes.

When and how to play DMZ

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Battle.Net, Steam, PlayStation 5, and the Nintendo Switch 2 on Friday, October 23, 2026. DMZ is a dedicated third-mode, and — unlike its predecessor, which released as a beta — it is not expected to be free as part of the Call of Duty: Warzone package.

Those who want to infiltrate Hajin will need to pick up Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 to do so, as the game will not be included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscriptions until at least one-year post-launch.

Infinity Ward has shared a considerable amount of information about Modern Warfare 4's development since its initial reveal on May 28, with a recent dev talk going into detail about the game's audio development. We've taken the time to break down every multiplayer map and mode confirmed for Modern Warfare 4, new create-a-class and movement details, as well as give impressions on our time hands-on with the game.

For even more info about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, check out our interview with Infinity Ward ahead of the game's reveal.

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As part of the Build 2026 developer conference, Microsoft spent much of its time discussing AI agents, local AI models, and new hardware for developers. While those announcements grabbed the headlines, some of the most interesting news was much smaller in scope.

As someone who spends a lot of time covering the desktop version of the operating system and apps, four announcements stood out to me, including Coreutils, WSL Containers, Intelligent Terminal, and Windows Developer Configurations.

Warning: These tools are not flashy for home users. However, they show that the company is determined to make the operating system more capable and developer-friendly by reducing the friction that has traditionally pushed developers toward Linux or macOS.

Coreutils finally brings familiar Linux tools to Windows 11

I spend a lot of my time typing commands, and while I spend the most time using Command Prompt, I also use Linux, and sometimes I feel that some of the commands are better on Linux.

Windows 11 already includes some tools based on Linux, such as sudo, curl, and tar, but one of the more surprising announcements from Build 2026 was the general availability of Coreutils.

The Coreutils for Windows is based on the open-source uutils project, and it brings Linux-style command-line utilities directly to Windows 11. For developers who regularly switch between Linux servers, cloud environments, containers, and local Windows 11 machines, this means many familiar commands (such as ls, cp, touch, mkdir, and pwd) can work natively without relying on third-party ports or workarounds.

This may not sound like a major feature, but it addresses a long-standing pain point that Microsoft is trying to fix with the Windows K2 initiative. Consistency counts when you're switching between operating systems throughout the day. The less time spent remembering platform-specific differences, the more time you can spend actually building software.

You can install Coreutils from GitHub or by using Windows Package Manager with the "winget install Microsoft.Coreutils" command.

WSL Containers could make Docker optional for many developers

At Build 2026, the company also announced WSL Containers, which is a huge deal. In the past, if you wanted to run Linux containers on Windows 11, you had to install third-party platforms like Docker Desktop, Podman, or Rancher Desktop. However, WSL Containers introduces a built-in container runtime that replaces the dependency on third-party solutions in the operating system, using a new command-line tool called "wslc.exe" and an API.

According to the company, the WSL CLI uses a new binary that works out of the box for building, running, and deploying Linux containers.

The API for the container feature provides access to run "Linux containers programmatically" on native apps for Windows 11.

Behind the scenes, instead of requiring a complex, heavy third-party VM setup, WSLC spins up OCI-compatible Linux containers inside a dedicated, highly optimized Hyper-V utility VM managed natively by Windows 11. This virtual machine is completely isolated from your standard Linux distributions (like Ubuntu or Debian) and communicates with Windows via high-speed Hyper-V sockets.

The good news is that if you already know Docker, you know how to use WSLC, since the commands are pretty much identical. For example, to run a container, you'd need to run a command like: "wslc run -d -p 8080:80 --name web nginx". In Docker, you would have run the "docker run -d -p 8080:80 --name web nginx" command.

Although anyone can use containers, Microsoft is adding policies to manage the feature using familiar controls.

Containers for WSL are not yet available, but the company will release this support in the coming months through regular updates for the Windows Subsystem for Linux.

Intelligent Terminal is one of the more practical AI features Microsoft announced

Build 2026 included no shortage of AI announcements, but Intelligent Terminal was one of the few that immediately felt interesting.

The feature integrates AI agents directly into the terminal experience. Instead of copying error messages into a browser, searching for solutions, and manually applying fixes, developers can receive context-aware assistance without leaving the command line.

In other words, to avoid another AI backlash, the company forked a separate version of the Windows Terminal and added support for connecting AI agents, such as GitHub Copilot, rather than integrating Copilot into the Windows Terminal.

Microsoft says the feature can surface relevant context when commands fail, suggest solutions, and help complete multi-step tasks directly in the terminal.

Whether it'll become an essential developer tool remains to be seen, but unlike many AI demonstrations that focus on future possibilities, Intelligent Terminal addresses a workflow problem developers encounter every day.

On Windows 11, you can install the Intelligent Terminal via the Microsoft Store, directly from Command Prompt (as an admin) using the "winget install Microsoft.IntelligentTerminal" command, and you can download the tool from GitHub.

Windows Developer Configurations solves a problem every developer has experienced

Setting up a new development or testing machine is rarely anyone's favorite task, as it takes time and a very long list of steps.

Windows Developer Configurations aims to make that process dramatically easier through the Windows Package Manager (winget) configuration file (dev-config.winget), which installs common developer tools, applies recommended settings, and prepares a machine for development or testing with a single command.

The configuration includes tools such as Visual Studio Code, GitHub Copilot, PowerShell 7, WSL, Git, Python, and more. It can also apply developer-focused settings for the operating system, including showing file extensions and enabling Git integration in File Explorer.

This is not a tool that you need to install. Instead, it's a configuration file with the ".winget" extension, where you can specify how you want to configure a particular setup. Microsoft has published a README file listing everything you can install and configure on the project's official GitHub page.

What I like most about this announcement is that it focuses on reducing setup time. Whether you're replacing a device, configuring multiple systems, or preparing computers for new developers, getting from a clean installation to a productive environment becomes much faster.

Windows Central's Take

I found these announcements more interesting than some of the bigger Build 2026 reveals. New AI hardware and ambitious agent platforms are important, but they're also aimed at a relatively small audience. Coreutils, WSL Containers, Intelligent Terminal, and Windows Developer Configurations focus on something much more practical, making Windows 11 easier to develop on.

Microsoft has spent years making its operating system a more welcoming platform for developers, and these announcements continue that effort. Instead of pushing Windows-specific approaches, the company is increasingly embracing the tools, workflows, and technologies developers already use. They're not flashy features, but they're the type of improvements that can save time every day.

A lot of people will never use any of these tools, but developers build the apps we use every day. If Microsoft can make its operating system a better platform for developers, the benefits eventually reach far beyond developers themselves.

What are your thoughts on Microsoft's latest developer tools for Windows 11? Let me know in the comments!

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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
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The June 2026 Xbox Games Showcase is almost here, and it's a special one as it's celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original Xbox, which helped Microsoft become the video game powerhouse it is today.

For over a quarter of a century, the Xbox brand has brought the gaming community a ton of unforgettable reveals, like consoles presented by WWE superstars, the return of underrated franchises, and the debut of brand-new IP that would go on to become modern classics.

So in honor of the Xbox's 25th anniversary, I'm looking back at some of the most memorable Xbox game/hardware reveals or announcements, whether they're world-renowned moments or lesser-known examples that struck a personal chord with my colleagues here at Windows Central.

Bill Gates tag teams with The Rock to reveal the original Xbox

Let's start by looking back on the grand unveiling of the original Xbox on January 6, 2001. Bill Gates, then-CEO of Microsoft, was on stage at CES to present Microsoft's debut home gaming console, but he wouldn't be doing it alone.

He teamed up with none other than the WWE wrestling legend and Hollywood megastar, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, to show off the Xbox console to the world.

Bill Gates would go into the technical details of the Xbox's capabilities, while The Rock would use his charisma to hype it, while also making light jokes about Bill Gates to give the presentation a fun atmosphere rather than have it be a generic tech talk.

The presentation certainly paid off, as the original Xbox would later be released on November 21, 2001, and kickstart a new generation of video game franchises, give rise to legendary successor consoles like the Xbox 360, and give Sony and Nintendo new competition to motivate them into improving their games in the face of this newcomer.

It was such an iconic moment in Xbox history that 20 years later, Microsoft would invite The Rock again to help present The Xbox Vault, an online experience where fans could interact with Xbox-related items to learn about its history and win limited-edition prizes like a painting of The Rock, 12 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription time, and more in honor of the Xbox's 20th anniversary.

Backwards compatibility

On June 15, 2015, Phil Spencer took the stage at E3 to announce a long-requested feature for the Xbox One: Xbox Backward Compatibility. With this feature, players who owned digital and physical copies of OG Xbox and Xbox 360 titles will be able to play them on Xbox One via emulation, record their gameplay footage, and show them off online.

The best part was that if you already own digital copies of backward-compatible Xbox games from older systems, you didn't need to rebuy them to play them on the Xbox One.

This was one of the biggest reasons I grew to prefer playing Xbox One over PlayStation and Nintendo consoles in the 2010s, as they couldn't play physical copies of games from previous console generations, and they required you to buy digital copies of older games every time a new console came out.

This service would carry over onto the Xbox Series X|S until it went on hiatus in 2021. Five years later, however, Microsoft announced that it would revive the Xbox Backward Compatibility program, promising to add more classic Xbox games while ensuring four generations of Xbox games would be playable on current consoles.

I'm happy to know that all these games I've bought over the years will still be playable on current Xbox consoles, and I can't wait to see which classic title will be Backward Compatible next.

Xbox 360 reveal

On May 12, 2005, the original Xbox's successor, the Xbox 360, was revealed on an episode of MTV hosted by famous Hollywood actor Elijah Wood of The Lord of the Rings fame.

While this reveal isn't remembered as much as the original Xbox's, it's still a significant moment in gaming history because it would be the first time a gaming console was revealed on live television before E3, allowing it to reach out to a wider audience than just hardcore gamers.

It certainly paid off in the long run, as the Xbox 360 went on to become one of the best home gaming consoles of the 2000s (despite the infamous 'Red Ring of Death' crippling several units), selling over 85 million units and housing some of the greatest video game series of all time, like Gears of War, Mass Effect, and the Batman Arkham series.

The Xbox One to Xbox Series X|S

The Xbox One, as I remember, had a fairly standard reveal but faced a huge backlash from the gaming community.

It was marketed as an all-in-one TV device that prioritized non-gamer features like ESPN and Kinect voice controls; it had strict 24-hour DRM checks that made it harder to buy and trade used games; it had a high listing price of $499, and worst of all, no backward compatibility with Xbox 360 discs.

Microsoft would quickly roll back on these maligned features while eventually launching a cheaper version of the Xbox One without a built-in Kinect, which ultimately salvaged the system in the long-run.

And it's a good thing the Xbox One ultimately was able to bounce back after that disastrous reveal, as it would go on to house some of the best games of the modern HD-era like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Resident Evil 7, DOOM (2016) Devil May Cry 5, and one of my favorite games of all time, Monster Hunter World, to name a few.

Xbox Series X reveal

It's hard to believe that the Xbox Series X was first revealed six years ago, but time sure does have a way of slipping by you when you're not looking.

When I first saw the Xbox Series X, I admit I couldn't believe what I was looking at. There was no way this box that looked like the Monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey was a game console, let alone one that could match the power of PCs.

Sure enough, I was proven wrong because the graphical and frame rate quality this powerhouse of a console can pull off is phenomenal.

Plus, this system has given us some amazing games over the years, like Kingdom Come 2: Deliverance, Pragmata, and Indiana Jones: The Great Circle, and provided a spotlight to lesser-known titles that have gone on to become megastars like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 through the power of Xbox Game Pass.

Whatever the next console Project Helix turns out to be, I'll still be playing the Xbox Series X when it comes because this system has plenty of life in it yet.

Halo 3 E3 Reveal trailer

I think I speak for many old-school Halo fans when I say that the ending to Halo 2 disappointed many, especially if you were into Halo during the height of its popularity.

My friends and I had spent hours fighting the Covenant and the Flood in one of the most single-player campaigns ever in co-op, only for the game to end when the action was just hitting its climax, with Master Chief saying, "Sir.. finishing this fight".

It was one of the worst cliffhangers in video game history, yet it left us hungry for Halo 3, and we would eventually get our chance to 'finish the fight' when the Halo 3 reveal trailer was showcased at E3 2006.

The eerie opening with Cortana glitching out, Master Chief walking out of a smoldering wreckage, ready to fight the Covenant one more time, as the ringworld of Halo is falling apart, still gives me goosebumps to this day.

The final game didn't disappoint either, as the single-player campaign was incredibly fun (especially in co-op) and provided a satisfying conclusion to the original trilogy, which, in my opinion, has not been topped by any Halo game since.

Gears of War "Madworld" trailer

Sometimes the most memorable trailers for a game aren't its initial reveal trailer or action-packed gameplay deep dives, but a simple, emotional cinematic, as is the case with Gears of War's "Mad World" launch trailer from 2006.

Unlike most trailers for Gears of War, which were short action flicks, this one was a somber, emotional, and even scary trailer that conveyed the true horror of Gears of War's setting.

Civilization is in ruins, and humanity is on the brink of extinction, desperately trying to fight back a monstrous force that conventional weapons can't beat; all the while, Gary Jules' melancholy cover of Tears for Fears' iconic song, "Mad World," plays in the background.

It perfectly conveys that behind the macho bravery of the hardened soldiers you play as, deep down, they're tired, fearful, and nearly mentally broken by the heavy toll the war against the Locust has brought on them.

For the longest time since then, no trailer for a Gears of War game left quite an emotional impact on the fans until 2024, when Microsoft announced Gears of War: E-Day.

The reveal trailer was a nostalgic thrill ride for fans, showing younger versions of classic characters like Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago fighting Locust during the early stages of Emergence Day.

To compound the nostalgia further, the trailer was playing a slow, heavy-metal rendition of Gary Jules' cover of "Mad World" in the background, as an homage to the original "Mad World" trailer that has left its mark on fans two decades later.

Even for a casual Gears of War player like me, this E-Day trailer gave me goosebumps, and if that ain't a sign that the franchise is going to make an epic return to form, I don't know what it is.

The return of Killer Instinct in 2013

I'm not a fighting game aficionado, but I have fond memories of playing an old game in the 1990s called Killer Instinct. It had the cartoony aesthetic and spectacle of Street Fighter, the gore and edginess of Mortal Kombat, and a roster of insanely cool superhumans, monsters, and killer robots.

I could never forget my family and friends beating each other with never-ending combos that ended with the announcer screaming "ULTRA COMBO" and doing "Humiliation" finishers that forced their opponents to dance upon defeat. Good times.

Little did my childhood self know that many years later, the Killer Instinct franchise would return in 2013 as a launch title for the Xbox One during E3 2013.

I think @Maxmillion_Dood's reaction perfectly encapsulated what other people and I felt when Killer Instinct was getting rebooted, cuz we believed there was no way in a million years it could've happened.

But oh boy, are we glad to be proven wrong because the new Killer Instinct (2013) was awesome! The combat system was so in-depth that it gave long-running franchises like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat a run for their money, and characters from the original Killer Instinct and Killer Instinct 2 were reimagined with insanely cool new looks and moves.

Plus, we would get a whole new cavalcade of original characters like Hisako the ghost and Aganos the golem, along with surprise guest characters, the Arbiter from Halo, Rash from Battletoads, and even General RAAM from Gears of War.

Not to mention, it had one of the best soundtracks in video game history. Every theme song is a jaw-dropping, adrenaline-pumping thrill ride that covers various genres from dance beats to heavy metal, and they all fit the character they're associated with perfectly.

On top of that, Killer Instinct was not only fun to play at a casual level but was also fun to watch during esports because the mind games players played against each other using the game's innovative combo breaker system were a joy to watch.

Will we ever see a sequel to Killer Instinct (2013) on Xbox Series X|S or whatever Project Helix turns out to be? I hope so because this franchise has proved for several years with superb content updates that it could hang with the big-time franchises and deserves a next-gen follow-up.

I know Ed Boon, one of the creators of Mortal Kombat, is certainly interested in seeing Killer Instinct make a comeback.

The birth of the Alan Wake franchise

Back in 2005, Remedy Entertainment, the creators of the cult Max Payne series, presented a new IP they were working on called Alan Wake. It was a mysterious trailer that presented the titular character being stalked by obscure figures in a suburban town filled with dark secrets.

Five years later, Alan Wake would launch as an Xbox 360 exclusive title and go on to become a cult hit for its surreal, cinematic storytelling, thrilling action sequences and gunplay, and chilling atmosphere.

The game's success would inspire Remedy Entertainment to improve its craft in creating cinematic, third-person action games and produce well-received titles like Alan Wake's American Nightmare, Quantum Break, Control, and, most recently, Alan Wake 2.

While the birth of the Alan Wake franchise is not regarded as history-changing as far as Xbox moments go, it's quite personal to us at Windows, as many of my colleagues are huge fans of Remedy's works.

Our Executive Editor and longtime Max Payne 2 fan, Jez Corden, gave the Xbox One-exclusive Quantum Break a 4.5/5 Review Score, stating that "Disregard the fact Quantum Break is one of the most visually enthralling games I've ever played, forget its supremely satisfying and strategic take on third-person shooting; Quantum Break's story and its delivery are jewels that enrich the entire medium."

Meanwhile, our former staff writer, Samuel Tolbert, gave Alan Wake 2 a near-perfect 4.5/5 review while proclaiming, "Alan Wake 2 isn't quite perfect, but the raw story presented here is instantly compelling. Saga Anderson and Alan Wake take this messy journey through grisly turns and twists, revealing an ocean of darkness with no end. Improved survival-horror gameplay and brain-teasing puzzles round out an experience showcased in gorgeous detail."

With Control: Resonant on the horizon, Remedy Entertainment isn't going away anytime soon, and we look forward to seeing what mind-bending, thought-provoking, action-packed stories it will tell next on Xbox consoles and beyond.

Hellblade 2 trailer

One Xbox game reveal that stuck out to me with my colleague Jez Corden was the reveal of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the sequel to the cult cinematic third-person adventure game, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice.

It was a dark, surreal trailer showing the main character Senua chanting in a sinister tongue while images of horrific dismembered hands, skulls, druids, and otherworldly creatures howling in pain played in the background.

Advertisements for Hellblade 2 after that initial reveal would get crazier and darker trailers, along with a special live performance at 2023's Game Awards by the folk band Heilung, who collaborated with Ninja Theory to make Hellblade 2's soundtrack.

The game would eventually launch in 2024 to generally mixed reviews, most of which were fairly positive. One of our former Staff Writers, Zachary Boddy, gave Hellblade 2 a 4.5 Review score, citing that "A game like Senua's Saga: Hellblade II can only be the result of years of passion and talent, captivating you with its unbelievable visuals, impeccable audio design, and powerful, thought-provoking narrative."

Just goes to show how a well-made, provocative trailer can entice players to a game, even several years after it first launched online.

Keanu Reeves' "breathtaking" reveal for Cyberpunk 2077

During Xbox's E3 Press conference in 2019, famous Hollywood star Keanu Reeves made a surprise appearance to show off a trailer for Cyberpunk 2077, where he would be playing as one of the game's central characters, Johnny Silverhand.

This was a classic moment not just because of the awesome, action-packed cinematic trailer that played, but also due to Keanu Reeves making a playful, unscripted response to a fan screaming, "You're breathtaking!" by replying, "You're breathtaking! You're all breathtaking!", getting the fans hyped up for the presentation even more.

I know our own Jez Corden certainly found the moment 'breathtaking' because he was there in the audience as it happened, and he hasn't stopped gushing about it since.

This moment went so viral that CD Projekt Red included an homage to it through an achievement in Cyberpunk 2077 called "Breathtaking", which can be unlocked by collecting all of Johnny Silverhand's personal items in-game.

Sadly, this moment would be forgotten and mired by fans due to Cyberpunk 2077's disastrous, bug-ridden launch in 2020 on consoles (despite our Jez Corden giving its PC port a perfect score at launch).

CD Projekt Red could've just cut its losses and moved on to the next project, but it never gave up on Cyberpunk 2077. Through years of updates, a cool anime spin-off called Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and an incredible DLC expansion that we gave a 4.5 Star review to, CD Projekt Red was able to fix Cyberpunk 2077 and win back fans' trust.

As a result, Cyberpunk 2077's "Breathtaking" moment with Keanu Reeves is now looked back on more fondly again, and rightfully so. It was a funny and epic moment that showed you don't have to be super serious when announcing new games, and going off script and playing with the audience can sometimes entice them to buy what you're selling even more.

🗨️Over to you

What Xbox game or console reveal do you consider memorable, and if so, which ones are your favorites?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll below, the comments section, or our Reddit page.

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I'll be the first to admit that when it comes to simulation games I lean more towards racing than flight. But I can certainly appreciate some impressive hardware for fans of virtual flying.

Hardware such as the new Trak Racer Airbus TR550 cockpit that I saw at the recent Sim Racing Expo in Charlotte. It's hard to miss in its striking white and blue color scheme.

It's an officially licensed product taking design cues from Airbus. This new cockpit is small enough so that you don't need an entire room to set it up while still having the capability to house your dedicated flight sticks and any additional accessories you like to use with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

Trak Racer is keen to point out this isn't just a chair with a joystick attached, which is comforting when it costs over €1,000.

"The TR550 is a dedicated flight simulation rig engineered to replicate the seating position, sidestick geometry, and immersive environment of a modern Airbus flightdeck. Not a gaming chair with a joystick. The real thing — as close as you can get without walking the tarmac."

I can't say I've ever been in the cockpit of an Airbus jet, but looking for photos online, it looks like Trak Racer did a good job of recreating the layout and flying position. All while ensuring that if you're a yoke user, rather than a stick, you still benefit from the same quality and comfort.

All the mounts are fully adjustable, including the pedals, so virtual pilots have complete freedom to build a setup that works exactly how they want it to.

Even as a non-flyer, it's an impressive piece of kit. It feels exceptionally well made, and the seat is so comfortable that I could easily have had a snooze in it after a long day on the show floor.

I love that products like this exist for flight sim fans and that they're not in a position of having to repurpose a cockpit that was designed for sim racing first. The seating position feels great, and I love how easy it is to get in and out. Some sim racing rigs require being an expert gymnast to contort your body. Extra points for the armrests, too. They're fantastic.

It isn't cheap, though, but it feels worth the outlay if you're looking to take your Microsoft Flight Simulator experience up a notch or five.

It's priced at €1,028 and $1,198 in the U.S., but you'll have to wait a while to get your hands on one. Pre-orders are open, but shipping isn't currently expected until October.

Nevertheless, this looks like a simple way to add realism to your experience. Fitted up with the best flight sticks for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, it'll be a pretty nifty setup all round.

Importantly, it's also not particularly massive or over the top. It may not fold away, but the seat can be detached if you need a little extra space when you're not using it.

I really like it, even if I'm not the target audience. I think anyone who is would be very happy with it.

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I’m attempting to navigate my way to the heart of the Computex show floor, but there’s a crush of people all heading in the same direction. I can see the enormous ASUS booths somewhere ahead; they dominate the center of this exhibit hall.

The crowd is much larger than usual, and as I’m attempting to swim downstream, I hear murmurs of “Jensen” and “ASUS” from others heading in the same direction. Well, that explains the swelling crowd; NVIDIA’s CEO must be planning to visit the ASUS booth, where new ProArt laptops with the RTX Spark chip are on display.

I reach the ROG exhibit just as the crowd closes in. This booth, too, is crammed with interested attendees and ASUS personnel offering formal and semi-formal tours of the gaming products.

“We’re in a bit of a holding pattern,” I’m told. “Jensen is making an appearance any time now.” No problem. I’m here to check out all of ASUS ROG’s new releases.

The first stop around the ASUS ROG exhibit is to check out the new Strix OLED XG259QWPG ACE esports gaming monitor, the world's first of its kind. What makes it so special?

Well, it boasts a 540Hz refresh rate at 1080p for its gorgeous tandem OLED panel, something unseen anywhere else in tournament-grade displays. It's also sized at 24.5 inches, which is a sweet spot for many pros.

It was tough to get near them, popular as they were, but I eventually managed to see the new ASUS ROG Strix gaming laptops — including the ROG Strix Scar 18, ROG Strix G18, and ROG Strix G16 — just announced this week.

The biggest attraction here, in my opinion, is the Strix Scar 18's 4K Mini LED display with ROG Nebula Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB). Set at a 4K resolution with a 240Hz refresh rate, this screen looked incredibly smooth.

ASUS ROG is celebrating 20 years in style

I left the laptops behind and made a move to check out more of the ASUS ROG 20th anniversary gear.

Yes, the global gaming brand has been around for two decades; I still remember its first-ever Crosshair motherboard and G-series gaming laptops that launched the year I graduated.

As a lifelong PC gamer, I was eager to check out the new ROG Ally X20 special edition bundle, featuring the gaming handheld with a transparent shell and brighter OLED display, as well as ROG XREAL R1 Edition 20 smart glasses.

Believe it or not, this was the first time I've ever tried smart glasses, and I fear I've ruined myself for anything else. I have a 14-hour flight home, and there's nothing I'd like more than to sit back with a 117-inch screen with a 240Hz refresh rate in front of me. Alas, maybe next time.

The new ROG Edition 20 mouse and keyboard stole the show

Sitting in the center of the ASUS ROG booth on its own pedestal, gathering most of the attention (there was a small line of people waiting to take photos and video), were the new Edition 20 versions of the ROG Azoth Extreme keyboard, ROG keycap mystery box, and ROG Harpe II Extreme mouse.

I'm especially glad now that ASUS sent me this trio to test out before I headed to Computex; I wouldn't have had enough time with them at the show, popular as they were.

If the names sound familiar, it's because they're iterations of flagship ROG gaming peripherals. The ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20 is an updated version of the 2024 keyboard with the same name, now featuring gold accents, a 24K gold backplate, and stylized keycaps with new ROG branding.

In my ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20 review, I called it "the best gaming keyboard I've ever used," and I stick by that statement. Adding to the fun is the keycap mystery box, featuring six limited-edition, hand-painted keycaps.

Although I'm most in love with the keyboard, the ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 mouse is no slouch, either. In fact, I think it might have been more popular with the other booth attendees.

It's a take on the celebrated ROG Harpe II Ace gaming mouse, albeit with new colors, gold internal plating, and a new, superior sensor better cut out for competitive play. It's undeniably gorgeous, and I noted that it "has practically every high-performance feature I can think of" in my ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 review.

If you're interested, the ROG Edition 20 keyboard, mouse, and keycap mystery box are all available to preorder now.

ASUS and ROG are crazy popular in Taiwan

Remember the hubbub about Jensen Huang making an appearance? As I bid farewell to my ASUS guides, a roar went up through the crowd. NVIDIA's CEO had just appeared with his entourage, positioned between the ROG and ASUS exhibits.

With everyone's attention turned to the center of the hall, I took my chance to slip out. As I headed for the exit, alternating chants of "ASUS" and "Jensen" rocked the room.

It was a bit of a shock to see just how popular ASUS and its ROG gaming brand are here in Taiwan, but it makes sense. The company's laptops are the best they've ever been, its gaming hardware is a top choice for many (my RTX 5070 Ti is nodding its head), and its peripherals are used worldwide by pro and casual gamers alike.

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