Xbox has been commenting a fair bit about how expensive things are getting.

In recent posts to staff, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma discussed how the division will deliver a "measly" 3% accountability margin to Microsoft this year, as users reduce spending and the memory crisis deepens. Microsoft reported that wholesale memory prices increased by 7x over the past year, leading Xbox hardware sales to negative returns territory.

Xbox has been hinting at ads as a way to bridge the gap and further lower costs potentially, and has already lowered the cost of Xbox Game Pass to help meet users where their budgets are. New code hints at another lever they might be gearing up to pull as well.

Fintech companies PayPal and Klarna are seemingly gearing up to offer their "BNPL" services in the coming weeks. BNPL being shortform for "Buy Now, Pay Later." The code snippets suggest that Klarna and PayPal will offer Xbox users ways to spread the costs over weeks or even months, without interest.

Given how expensive consoles have gotten recently (both for Microsoft and customers), spreading the cost out might be a smart way to improve access. Games have also gotten pretty costly at $70, and game makers' costs have also increased as well, as inflation bites and supply chains endure strain.

The gaming industry hasn't seen real user growth in a long time, and that's particularly true of the core industry where Xbox typically sits. Microsoft is exploring a variety of measures and levers to improve its finances, with heavy rumors of layoffs swirling as of writing. We Happy Few and South of Midnight creator Compulsion is reportedly on the chopping block for shut down, for example, joining studios closed like Arkane Austin, Tango, and The Initiative last year. Xbox Games Studios lead Craig Duncan also just departed the company ... potentially in protest at this impending wave of closures.

Whether the PayPal and Klarna integrations will move the needle for Xbox's balance sheet remains to be seen, but it's a tough time for all of consumer tech right now, both inside and outside the industry.

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

On January 8, 2026, Microsoft and PayPal announced that they had partnered to create Copilot Checkout — an AI shopping experience where you don't have to leave Microsoft's Copilot AI chatbot to make purchases.

This is one of the latest moves toward agentic AI, specifically in the realm of agentic commerce services, which is a future where AI programs autonomously help people with tasks based on their behaviors, such as shopping.

Microsoft's official announcement states:

"Copilot Checkout will enable merchants to reach shoppers as they complete purchases discovered directly within Copilot without being redirected to external sites. Copilot Checkout turns conversations into conversions — instantly. No redirect, no friction, and merchants stay the merchant of record... Trusted partners enabling this experience include PayPal, Shopify and Stripe. Shoppers will be able to purchase from leading retail brands such as Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Ashley Furniture, and discover unique and handmade items from Etsy sellers with many more joining soon."

For example, imagine you're in Copilot asking the AI chatbot for a good furniture recommendation. After getting some details from you to know what you're looking for, Copilot might suggest a specific set that meets your needs. You can then click on the recommendation and immediately see how much it will cost with shipping and tax, complete with a button that allows you to pay via PayPal. And it all happens without leaving the chatbot.

As part of this new service, Microsoft revealed that retailers can influence their Brand Agents to reflect a "brand's voice" when giving shopping guidance. It seems there will be an opt-out window, but otherwise, merchants at Shopify and other participating commerce sites will automatically get enrolled in this Copilot Checkout experience.

So why are companies making this shift toward agentic AI and AI-shopping experiences? As you probably already know, AI has been one of the biggest focuses for major companies over the last few years. They're in a race to figure out the best new agentic AI possibilities before their competitors do. And, changing consumer behaviors have also encouraged these new services.

According to Adobe, the 2024 holiday season saw an increase of 693% when it came to AI-driven purchases. As such, it makes sense that this could be the next stop on many AI-focused companies' roadmaps.

Copilot Checkout is rolling out now in the U.S, so you can try it out for yourself once it becomes available.

How do you feel about Copilot Checkout and agentic AI? Is this something you like and want to see more of? Tell us about it in the comments.

Not long ago, Valve began blocking the sale of many mature and adult-themed games on Steam. A similar thing happened on itch.io after pressure from payment processors like Visa, Mastercard, and eventually PayPal.

In July 2025, Steam quietly updated its publishing guidelines to align with the demands of these financial partners. This led to the removal of hundreds of adult-themed games. While some removals were likely justified, it set an uneasy precedent. Many players questioned why it should matter what someone buys if they’re using their own money.

Despite backlash, the system remains in place. Mastercard has publicly denied pressuring Steam, but Valve has confirmed that payment processors and banks communicated these new standards behind the scenes.

While that policy has stayed in effect, Valve now appears to be rejecting games based purely on their themes. It’s a shift from removing released games to blocking them before they launch. But is there more to it? Let’s dig deeper.

Valve’s new Early Access restrictions

First reported by GamesMarkt, Dammitbird, a developer behind Heavy Hearts, revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that its game was rejected from Steam Early Access. The developer shared the reason publicly, stating:

“Your app has failed our review because we’re unable to support the Early Access model of development for a game with mature themes. Please resubmit when your app is ready to launch without Early Access.”

This confirms the game was explicitly denied because of its themes, suggesting Valve has quietly changed its Early Access rules.

In an interview with GamesMarkt, the developers explained that they had rushed to submit after recent events, saying:

It marks an escalation of content restrictions on the platform, driven by payment provider demands. Developers are now seeing their games rejected before release, with adult-themed titles blocked from entering Early Access. Another example is The Restoration of Aphrodisia, which was denied with a message similar to the one received by the developers of Heavy Hearts.

What was Heavy Hearts and The Restoration of Aphrodisia?

The developers of Heavy Hearts describe it as an adult RPG dating sim with a 2D hand-drawn pixel art style that uses CG scenes. It’s a story-driven game that blends slice-of-life moments, relationship building, and turn-based combat.

It also includes sexual content and explores themes of trauma, romance, and emotional storytelling. The developers have said that LGBTQIA+ representation is a core part of its central cast and the story being told.

Another game denied by Valve was The Restoration of Aphrodisia, an adult-themed title from Blue Fairy Media Games. It focuses on shape-shifting transformations, featuring story-driven elements like gender changes, character fusion, physical alterations, and shifts in mindset that drive the narrative.

It seems Valve is drawing a clear line here. As far as I can tell, there haven’t been any reports of adult-themed games being approved recently either. The last notable adult-themed game that comes to mind, which launched in Early Access, was Baldur’s Gate 3, and that went on to be a resounding success. Though BG3 wasn’t as in-your-face with the sexual content, it was still very much present.

Who gets to decide what content is allowed?

I’m not sure about anyone else, but I’m not exactly comfortable with a payment provider deciding what content I can and can’t enjoy. It’s already bad enough here for me in the UK, having to prove my age on Xbox. But it also raises an even more interesting question about where the line is for these payment processors.

Are porn subscriptions still okay? Is subscribing to OnlyFans fine? These aren’t necessarily things I personally think are healthy to do, but if people want to spend their money on those outlets or on gaming content, I don’t think it should be up to payment processors to decide that.

I’d love to know what others think — do these games getting rejected matter to people, or is it not a big deal?

Steam is the largest PC gaming platform in the world, serving millions of players with a massive trove of games, useful community features, and much more. Recently, however, many Steam users have been having issues making purchases via PayPal.

Valve, the company that owns Steam, didn't immediately say why this was happening, and many users assumed it had to do with recent vendor-driven game censorship that saw many games delisted.

That's now changed. If you attempt to buy a game with PayPal using a currency other than EUR, CAD, GBP, JPY, AUD, or USD, you'll be met with a disclaimer stating that PayPal is no longer available and an explanation as to why.

Here's what you need to know about the situation, as well as how to work around the new PayPal limitations in certain currencies on Steam.

Why is PayPal no longer available on Steam for certain currencies?

The updated Steam checkout page was flagged by a Reddit user early Tuesday morning, with the OP including a screenshot of the explanation as to why currencies other than the six I listed above are now blocked by PayPal.

The standard "PayPal is currently unavailable in your country" pop-up is still in place, but Valve now adds a lot more exposition. Here's the full explanation:

"In early July 2025, PayPal notified Valve that their acquiring bank for payment transactions in certain currencies was immediately terminating the processing of any transactions related to Steam. This affects Steam purchases using PayPal in currencies other than EUR, CAD, GBP, JPY, AUD, and USD.

"We hope to offer PayPal as an option for these currencies in the future but the timeline is uncertain. We are also evaluating additional payment methods on Steam for the customers affected by this.

"In the meantime, please use one of our other current payment methods during checkout. If you can't use any of the available options, you can consider using a Steam Wallet code to add funds to your account."

Valve, to my knowledge, hasn't offered any other words regarding the PayPal situation. That leaves most people to assume that PayPal said it was done dealing with most currencies on Steam's platform; it doesn't seem like the same limitations have affected other PC gaming storefronts that accept PayPal.

As mentioned, Steam is currently looking into an alternative for those dealing with currencies outside of the six cleared by PayPal, but in the meantime, it's leaving a lot of gamers stranded without a way to buy games.

Comment from r/Steam

In a response to the Reddit thread, another user highlights a similar issue they had in Malaysia, and suggests that "some sort of local payment" process is on the way. As the user explains, PayPal hasn't been available in Malaysia for 10 years, and eClub eCash gift cards are the go-to method instead.

This is, of course, speculation, with neither Steam nor PayPal offering any clear explanation as to why there was such a sudden decoupling in July 2025.

Does the new PayPal issue relate to Steam's recent NSFW financial censorship?

I can't say for certain one way or the other, but it doesn't at this time appear that the PayPal limitations have anything to do with the recent NSFW game censorship controversy that saw Steam remove countless games after receiving pressure from certain payment processors.

This all came about following the addition of a new clause in the Steamworks Documentation onboarding documents, which added a provision for what you shouldn't publish on Steam: "Content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam’s payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers. In particular, certain kinds of adult only content."

An explanation from SteamDB's social media account basically confirmed the change as the cause of the recent censorship.

Whether you buy these types of games or not, seeing payment processors — pressured by protestive campaigns — decide what you can buy certainly seems like the start of a slippery slope.

The fact that Australia and the UK haven't been removed from PayPal's services seems to suggest that this is also unlikely to be due to new age verification laws arriving in certain countries.

How do you buy games on Steam when PayPal doesn't work?

PayPal removing itself from activity with certain currencies on Steam doesn't necessarily mean that those gamers can't buy games. As Steam's new disclaimer explains, "other current payment methods" are still available at checkout.

Those different payment methods vary depending on where you live. Most users will still be able to spend money using a credit or debit card, and the Steam Wallet can still be topped up with cards and codes.

Depending on where you live, Steam might also accept bank transfers and specific local payment methods.

Steam Wallet codes and Steam gift cards are sold around the world, and they could end up being the savior for many PC gamers. Here's how to redeem them:

1. Launch Steam and ensure you're logged in.
2. Click your account name in the top-right corner of the window.
3. Click View my wallet in the dropdown menu.
4. Click Redeem a Steam Gift Card or Wallet Code in the small menu on the right side of the window.

Just type in the code from your gift card or wallet code and see the money appear in your Steam account.

What you need to know

• Microsoft and PayPal have agreed to offer additional payment options in the Microsoft Store.
• Venmo is now available as a payment option in the Microsoft Store on Xbox.
• PayPal Pay Later has been integrated to the Microsoft Store in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.

The Microsoft Store is getting a new payment method to make buying your new Surface device, movies, music and games even easier. PayPal and Microsoft have had a long-standing relationship with consumers able to make use of PayPal checkout to pay for purchases made in the Microsoft Store but today the two corporations have announced an extension to their partnership that brings Venmo payments and PayPal Pay Later support into the fold.

The Microsoft store on Xbox has long had PayPal support as a payment option, but now customers will be able to pay with Venmo as well. They will even have the option to split the cost of their cart between payment options, such as Microsoft credit and Venmo. 

PayPal Pay Later support is also coming to the Microsoft store in the following regions:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Australia
• Germany
• France
• Spain
• Italy

The introduction of PayPal Pay Later will allow users to purchase products including Microsoft's Surface family of devices, Xbox consoles, and Microsoft 365 products with the help of a flexible payment solution. In their most recent earnings report, Microsoft revealed that its Surface products have continued to have sharp drops in revenue despite exceptionally high earnings elsewhere within the company. Offering additional ways to pay for these higher price tag devices may help bolster this struggling division.

Update: We received this official response from PayPal. Unfortunately, it does not confirm or deny it is working on a Windows 10 Mobile app:

PayPal's now discontinued Windows Phone app is posting a message hinting that a Windows 10 Mobile version of the online payment app could be in the works.

As previously announced, PayPal shut down its Windows Phone app on June 30. However, people who opened up that app today got a message that indicates a new version is "on its way":

While this in-app message is no guarantee that PayPal is in fact working on a Windows 10 Mobile app, it's certainly very promising. We have contacted PayPal to see if they will comment on any future developments in this area.

Thanks to Mark for the tip!

After launching a few weeks ago and then removed a few days later, the PayPal Here app for Windows Phone has returned to the Windows Phone Store for download.

PayPal removed the card payments app due to, according to the app's project manager Christina Li, "something unrelated in our sign-up webpage". Apparently that problem has been corrected. People who had already downloaded the app could continue to use it without any issues.

With its return, both Windows Phone and Windows 8.1 small business users can now access PayPal Here for any mobile payment needs. Keep in mind that Windows 8.1 version still has a 1.9% per swipe fee on eligible transactions in the US, versus the normal 2.7%, until June 15.

Thanks to Chauhan for the tip!

Download PayPal Here from the Windows Phone Store (Free)

Download PayPal Here from the Windows Store (Free)

After making its debut on Windows 8.1 in March, PayPal Here is now available on Windows Phone 8.1. The app works in conjunction with a credit and debit card reader that plugs into a device's 3.5mm audio jack, allowing businesses to conduct point-of-sale transactions through a phone.

PayPal Here's functionality is similar to that of Square, but with the latter company not announcing plans to support Windows or Windows Phone, PayPal's solution is the best alternative for businesses looking to conduct and process transactions through tablets and phones. There isn't a monthly fee involved in using the service, but it does come with a per-transaction fee, which is 2.7 percent in the U.S. The service is available in the U.S., Australia and Hong Kong, with a pilot program initiated in Canada.

If you're a merchant looking to get set up with PayPal Here, head to this link. Once you register, you'll have to request for the accompanying card reader.

Download PayPal Here for Windows Phone 8.1

Thanks for the tip Brent!

The PayPal Here credit card transaction app is now available for Windows 8.1 users, and PayPal and Microsoft are offering a special promotional discount for US swipe transactions while using the app to celebrate its launch.

From now until June 15, US users of the PayPal Here app for Windows 8.1 will only have to pay a 1.9% per swipe fee on eligible transactions, versus the normal 2.7%. Here's the feature list for the app:

• POS
• Mobile credit card reader
• Accept credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal, plus track cash/check payments and send invoices
• Fast access to your funds, usually available in your PayPal account in just minutes
• Manage your back-office on your mobile device or computer
• Run daily, weekly, monthly, or custom sales reports
• One account works for multiple locations; create sub accounts for your staff
• World-class, PCI-compliant security and 24/7 Live customer support

In addition, the Microsoft Store site and its retail locations are now selling the PayPal Here card reader for $15. Microsoft is also selling the same reader bundled with a custom designed WindFall stand for the Surface Pro 3 tablet, along with a Kensington ClickSafe cable lock, for $164. Finally, that bundle is available with the purchase of a Surface Pro 3 itself for prices starting at $963. This bundle does not come with a discount for either product.

PayPal also announced plans to release a PayPal Here app for Windows Phone devices in November but that app has yet to be publicly released.

Download PayPal Here from the Windows Store (free)

Source: Surface blog, Microsoft Store

PayPal announced today that an SDK with Windows support for PayPal Here, which is a point-of-sale credit card service akin to Square, will be launching publicly later this month.

The news was originally detailed by TechCrunch, which says:

We previously reported back in November that PayPal was expected to debut a PayPal Here app for Windows and Windows Phone in early 2015, and it looks like the company is set to deliver on that.

Update: And just like that, PayPal has an official announcement ready:

Update 2: Added promotional video to top of post.

Sources: TechCrunch, PayPal

PayPal Here (site), a credit-card scanner and app service akin to Square, is set to debut on Windows and Windows Phone sometime in early 2015.

The information comes via an email sent to a reviewer asking about the app, who is informed that a pilot program is set to begin in "January-February 2015". The PayPal Here app is releasing to Windows 8.1 first and then Windows Phone 8.1 shortly thereafter.

PayPal Here was announced way back in spring 2012 as a way for the financial-transaction company to compete against Square, who was then dominating mobile point-of-sales through tablets and phones. The service includes a card-reading dongle that is placed in the 3.5mm headphone jack that works with software to process the transaction and monitor sales.

Square has no plans to support Windows or Windows Phone, at least to our knowledge. With PayPal Here finally arriving, Windows and Windows Phone stands a much better chance of mass-adoption by independent companies, who so far have had to eschew the OS due to lack of service parity. PayPal Here is available on iOS and Android.

Currently, PayPal has an app for Windows Phone but only for consumers to manage their accounts.

Windows Central will continue to follow the development of the app, which is likely not due until the early spring following testing.

Thanks to our source who wishes to remain anonymous

eBay will spin off its online payment division PayPal into its own separate, and publicly traded, company sometime in the second half of 2015. eBay claims that keeping PayPal around beyond 2015 "clearly becomes less advantageous to each business strategically and competitively."

eBay acquired PayPal for $1.5 billion way back in 2002. In announcing today's separation, eBay said:

Devin Wenig, who currently serves as eBay's Marketplaces leader, will become the new CEO of the company when the PayPal spin off is complete. Dan Schulman, previously the president of American Express's Enterprise Growth Group, has been named as President of PayPal and is currently scheduled to be its CEO when the two companies part ways.

Do you think it is a good decision for eBay and PayPal to separate?

Source: eBay

The past few weeks we've seen apps pulled from the Marketplace with little to no explanation. A few days ago PayPal was one that went MIA for Windows Phone 8 devices, but was still available for those running a 7.x device. Crashes were the most likely culprit for the dissapearing act. Good news though, it's back.

For Lumia 920 and 8X owners this should be a welcom return as the app would always crash after logging in. I held off updating PayPal on my 920 and sure enough a crash occured right after entering my credentials. After updating PayPal, everything is peaches and cream. My account showed up great with no crashes.

Now you can look forward to sending and receiving money on the go. Another cool feature, is you can pay for point of sales transcations at select locations. Just check using the app for places near you that allow you to pay with PayPal for Windows Phone.

You can download PayPal for both Windows Phone 7.x and 8 right here or use the QR code below. Let us know in the comments below how the update is running on your devices.

We're used to witnessing apps being pulled from the Windows Phone Store with little reason provided or announcement published prior to such actions taking place. Now PayPal has joined the list with its recently updated solution now MIA. We've confirmed issues regarding crashes, but now one can add to the list the inability to download the app on Windows Phone hardware.

The recent update bumped compatibility to cover Windows Phone 8 with new functionality and features, including instant resume. We're not entirely certain as to why the app has been removed from view (still listed if using direct store link) but we expect to see an update in the works to address the issues present.

An odd, yet interesting note is the PayPal app is still available on Windows Phone 7.x devices. It seems only the version for Windows Phone 8 is affected. Have you experienced issues using the app? Try download the app from the Store (if not owned already) and let us know how it goes.

The need to manage your finances is common and your Windows Phone can help you keep track of your expenses, earnings, and other financial tasks. This weeks roundup focuses on financial apps that are available in the Windows Phone Store.

To help save a little, we chose the top five free financial apps for the roundup and they include banking apps, a stock management app, and a personal budget manager. As always with our roundups, these apps only scratch the surface on what is available at the Windows Phone Store. If you have a favorite financial oriented app that isn't in this week's roundup, feel free to recommend it in the comments below.

Chase Mobile: If you are a Chase banking customer, the Chase Mobile app for your Windows Phone is a great way to keep track of your finances.

You'll need to enroll in Chase Online to make use of the Chase Mobile app and once that's done you can check account balances, transaction histories, view your credit/debit rewards status and pay bills from your Windows Phone. With Chase QuickDeposit you can deposit checks directly from your Windows Phone.

On top of all the transaction features, Chase Mobile will also let you track down the nearest Chase branch, ATM, and Chase service reps are but a tap away.

Chase Mobile is a free app and you can snatch it up here at the Windows Phone Store.

PayPal: Take PayPal on the go with the PayPal Windows Phone app. With the PayPal app you can send and request money, check your account balances, view past transactions and find local merchants who accept PayPal using the PayPal Here feature.

The PayPal app makes is nicely laid out and an convenient way to send or receive funds for a wide range of purposes. PayPal is a free app and you can find it here at the Windows Phone Store.

Budget Buddy: Budget Buddy is a financial management app that allows you to track expenses by utilizing your Windows Phone camera.

The idea is that you may have your hands full when making purchases and manually entering an expenditure could be challenging. Alternatively, it is a snap to take a picture of your receipt and enter the specifics later.

With Budget Buddy you set your daily spending limit, track your spending habits, create charts and graphs to examine your spending habits.

Budget Buddy won't convert your images into an expense entry but it is a handy and quick way to record the where, what and how much on your spending habits.

Budget Buddy is a freebie and you can find it here at the Windows Phone Store.

Bank of America: So you don't bank with Chase but maybe Bank of America? If so, the Bank of America app will bring a healthy set of banking services to your Windows Phone.

You'll need to enroll in Bank of America's Online Banking services and from there you have access to all your accounts. You can check balances, send money, deposit checks with Mobile Check Deposit, pay bills, transfer money and locate Bank of America ATM's and branches.

There is also a BankAmeriDeals feature that will find local deals in your area that will get you cash back when you use your Bank of America debit or credit cards.

The Bank of America apps is a nice looking, feature rich financial app for your Windows Phone. It is a free app and you can find it here at the Windows Phone Store.

E*Trade Mobile: So we've covered apps that help you manage your accounts, monitor your expenditures and now we'll touch on one that might give your finances a boost.

E*Trade Mobile for your Windows Phone will let you manage your E*Trade account while on the run. You can get real time stock quotes, place stock trades, and naturally manage your overall account.

You'll need to set up an E*Trade account before you can become a stock mogul but once set up the E*Trade Mobile app might give you a leg up on monitoring the stock market so you can trade your stocks to maximize your profits.

E*Trade is a free app for your Windows Phone and you can find it here at the Windows Phone Store.

This weeks roundup is but a small snapshot of the many financial oriented apps available at the Windows Phone Store. We're still missing a few (assorted banking apps and Quicken comes to mind) but as the Windows Phone Store grows hopefully we'll see more banking and financial apps come to light.

If you have a favorite financial app, feel free to toss it out for discussion below in the comments.

Nokia has today announced in a press release that a number of apps and games are to be exclusive to Lumia Windows Phones. At CTIA Wireless 2012, the manufacturer has focused on creating original app experiences to Lumia customers by building relations and forming partnerships with developers. Marco Argenti, SVP, Nokia Developer Experience, added the following comment.

Nokia has already built a strong arsenal of apps in their OEM collection, including the likes of Nokia Drive, Transport, Maps, Music and the recently unveiled City Lens. Crawford Del Prete, EVP, Chief Research Officer, IDC, had the following to comment on Nokia's progress with moving to Windows Phone and building developer relations.

So with al lthis talk of exclusive apps and games, partnerships and developing progress, what's on the horizon for Lumia Windows Phone owners? Check out the summarised list below of content that's destined to be exclusive for Nokia devices (and Windows Phone owners as a whole).

Sport

The PGA Tour app (12 months exclusivity) - Developed with Nokia, the app will be available on Lumia Windows Phones in late June 2012. With the app, users will be able to follow PGA TOUR tournaments, with live scoring, highlights and player information to create an immersive, interactive experience.

ESPN (exclusive to Nokia Lumia until May 2013) - Currently available on Lumia Windows Phones, the app will received a number of key updates in coming months, including sports scores on Live Tiles, team-level panoramas, personalisation of scores, leagues and teams, and additional sports coverage such as Tennis, NASCAR and the 2012 Olympics. Additionally, a Windows Phone version of the ESPN Fantasy Football app will launch exclusively on Nokia Lumia smartphones this coming Fall. That enough for our sport fans?

Games

Rovio - The popular studio will be introducing Angry Birds Space to Lumia Windows Phone owners, and will be dedicating a team of designers to create more games for Nokia smartphones as well as the wider Windows Phone ecosystem - Nokia still loves you, even if you do wield a HTC TITAN.

EA - The giant of the gaming industry (or the devil, whichever way you look at the company) is set to continue to bring leading titles to Windows Phone consumers, including FIFA, Madden NFL, NBA Jam, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®, Mirror's Edge and Yahtzee.

Lifestyle

Groupon (6 months exclusivity) - The company is working on an extensive upgrade of its app, which will include a newly developed augmented reality deal discovery feature. This will combine map and POI (points-of-interest) data to produce real-time virtual Groupon deals. Arriving in the summer of 2012.

Tripdots (3 months exclusivity) - This app enables drivers to monitor the operation of their vehicles to better understand fuel economy and how to save the pennies, as well as connecting to other drivers and share efficiency achievements via social networks.

Finance

PayPal - The official PayPal app is being developed with collaboration from Nokia to bring the experience to Windows Phone. It's stated the app will utilise live tiles to create a "compelling user experience". We like the sound of that.

Entertainment

AOL Entertainment Hub (6 months exclusivity) - AOL is set to unleash their entertainment hub, which will bring together the best of AOL's content and deliver an immersive experience for Windows Phone. Whether you're an active user of SHOUTcast, or enjoy streaming music and movie, you'll need to get this hub on your phone.

News

Time Magazine - Users of this upcoming app will be able to view TIME.com content, receive breaking news alerts, view rich media (video), and share stories via the integrated social networking functionality. Live tiles will again be used to deliver a convenient experience.

Newsweek - The Daily Beast is the digital partner of Newsweek and their app will deliver the latest news (among other content) through live tiles and a Metro influenced UI. For those familiar with Cheat Sheet, this will also be delivered through the app, with a unique design for Windows Phone.

Productivity

Box - This upcoming secure sharing app for Windows Phone will enable users to browse, search and share files on their account. With nine languages supported, Box will be available for Lumia consumers this summer.

All-in-all, a superb move from Nokia for all Windows Phone owners. Lumia consumers will enjoy exclusive apps and titles for a number of months (once released) before the content will then be available for all platform users. For those who are eagerly awaiting Angry Birds in Space, we feel for you, but the wait wont be too long. You may notice that some apps don't have any information regarding exclusivity. We can only assume that this points to either the app being available to all Windows Phones on launch, or we just need to wait slightly longer for details.

You can catch the full press release here at Nokia's website.

Thanks everyone who tipped us!