This week, Stardock revealed Ashes of the Singularity II, set to inject another fresh option into the passionate RTS fanbase. To that end, we had the opportunity to speak to Stardock CEO Brad Wardell, whose independent publishing house is known for popular strategy games like Galactic Civilization, Offworld Trading Company, and Sins of the Solar Empire — as well as great Windows software tweaks, such as Start11.

During our conversation, Brad Wardell opined on AI in gaming, industry concerns about Xbox and PC Game Pass, and the future of RTS and other strategy games in an industry seemingly dominated by the Fortnites and Robloxes of the world.

Jez Corden, Windows Central: With Ashes of the Singularity 2 and Elemental: Reforged, it could be said Stardock is doubling down on strategy titles in an industry that seems increasingly prioritising "forever" shooters like Fortnite. How does Stardock choose which types of games to greenlight, and do you ever see Stardock expanding to other genres?

Brad Wardell, Stardock CEO: There’s a bunch of factors involved in deciding what type of game to make. And those factors really apply to any game developer, big or small:

What kind of game are you personally interested in making? What audiences can you potentially reach with your game? What other games is your game contending with for the attention of that audience? How much will it cost you to make that game? If you spend $1.00, can you make $1.30 back?

The problem today is that too many decisions are being made without taking question 1 into account. If the people making the game don’t eat, sleep, breathe that type of game, they won’t be able to compete against the games made by people who do, no matter how much money you throw at it.

At Stardock, we really, really love strategy, RPG, and simulation games. We can go onto Discord and talk to our fans and chit chat about units from Total Annihilation or quirks in how the AI in Civilization I had, or genuinely appreciate the love and attention put into Crusader Kings III, and so on. Even when I insult StarCraft Protoss players, because they aren’t people, they know why I’m such a bitter, bitter Terran player.

Suffice to say, we love this stuff. Then, you throw in the fact that we’ve been publishing games for so long that we have a pretty large audience that knows us to start with, and it takes away a lot of the risk. Except, of course, for Protoss players. Screw them.

What are some of the key ways Ashes of the Singularity 2 builds on its predecessor?

The first Ashes of the Singularity was kind of an homage to Supreme Commander. Or at least, Supreme Commander if it had 1/9th the budget and a hack (me) designing it instead of a god like Chris Taylor.

The goal of the original game was twofold: One, to show off huge, cool battles on Oxide’s Nitrous engine, and two, to tell a fun story about the relatively near future where an AGI and her agents (The Substrate) take on Post-Humans for control of the solar system.

This time, we have a much bigger team, tech has come a long way, and Oxide has grown into a much bigger player, having just successfully released a game (Ara: History Untold) with Microsoft. And we have a really awesome story to tell in addition to having an RTS that’s going to be a blast to play single player or multiplayer.

Now, because of the budget, the first one was confined to hover tanks fighting each other. We purposely avoided having the humans in the game because humans are squishy and limby. For the sequel, the humans are in with their full squishy limby glory. And the battles are not just continent-spanning, but do real damage to the terrain over the course of the battle.

People liked the gameplay of Ashes of the Singularity but it did also become a kind of massive blob on massive blob conflagration as the game progressed because no one is fast enough to position thousands of units in real time. In the sequel, the hardware has advanced enough that we have (programmatically speaking) AI agents whose job is to seamlessly ensure the player’s orders are carried out. No need to create “formations” because the commanders will take care of that. Your job is to command the entire battle space, not worry whether your artillery is running ahead of the infantry to certain death.

So, in short, you have much better gameplay with the most relatable faction (humans) now available to play with and against that looks really good while keeping the massive scale we had in the original that made it distinct.

As a major independent publisher in the games industry, we've seen a lot of turmoil and upheaval hit the market in recent months and years. What's your perspective on the difficulties some publishers and studios are facing?

Indeed! And it’s going to get much worse, I’m afraid. Game development is in a vicious cycle. Games cost too much to make, and so publishers tend to be very conservative on trying new things. And by not trying new things, they don’t compete well with the games that came before them.

A game that is released in 2025 isn’t just competing against the other games on the shelves at GameStop, like was the case a decade ago. Now, they are competing against every game that has ever been made, along with every little vibe game or mobile hobbyist game or even Roblox game.

As a result, there are games that come out that cost tens or hundreds of millions of dollars that sell almost nothing. That’s a situation many an “indie” studio knows very well, but if you’re a studio with 300 people on a game for 5 years and your game comes out and sells that poorly, it’s a catastrophe.

What we’ve been working on is a new type of way of making games that is less expensive and lets people make better quality games. We’ll be ready to talk about that soon. In the meantime, we can empathize with our friends and colleagues that are having to deal with the turmoil. We are rooting for them.

There are a lot of opinions out there about the place Xbox Game Pass has in the wider games industry. I wondered how you felt about subscription-based "all-you-can-eat" gaming services? Is Game Pass something you would work with?

Game Pass is great deal for gamers. Although, I do have some concerns about how it could impact revenue for many game studios. A gigantic percentage of games are purchased by gamers that never get around to playing them. They go into the infinite backlog. But these gamers are really the unsung heroes of the game industry. Their support of games is what allows studios to innovate.

But if that same gamer has Game Pass, they won’t buy the game because they already “have” it.

I’m not sure what the best model for digital, interactive entertainment will be. Each generation has their own take on it. But I do believe that gamers, culturally, are not equivalent to the consumers of music and movies.

AI has a significant presence in tech discourse right now, but even the smallest applications to games seem to trigger big backlashes. What's your perspective around AI and generative tech in gaming, or beyond?

AI is still very new, and it is often badly used. It hasn’t been around long enough for more nuanced takes on it to come out. What I can say is that transparency is critical when it comes to using AI.

For example, Galactic Civilizations IV was, I think, the first game to use generative AI in a big way. It lets the players type in a description of the alien species they want to have in their game, and the AI generates the text and grabs an AI-generated image to represent that species. But there was no backlash. Why? Because we were very clear up front that the art we generated with it was derived from the art our artists were making. Gamers are pretty reasonable as long as you’re up front with them and don’t just throw “AI slop” at them.

What’s ironic is that AI-generated art and writing content probably aren’t the biggest story on AI. It’s the programming. And I think it’s going to result in a lot of great things for gamers and for the industry as a whole.

Let me give you an example of how AI programming is a game changer: our recently announced Elemental: Reforged. The original game (Elemental: War of Magic, released in 2010) was hard coded for English. We’re talking tens of thousands of strings spread across hundreds of files. So how do you do a German, Polish, French, Chinese, or Russian version of the game? Without AI, the answer is, you can’t. It would take human developers many months of very tedious programming to fix this.

So in Elemental, we used AI to go through the hundreds of thousands of lines of code and data, extract out the strings, and put them into a proper string table. Then we needed the AI to go back and fix all those (the devs reading this are going to laugh): "sprintf(string,”%s was hit by %s for %d damage”, strName, strWeapon, ulDamage)" and rewrite it as a proper modern string replacement system. And mind you, these lines are spread seemingly randomly across hundreds of files written by young developers long ago.

And Elemental is just one example of this kind of thing. I think you’re going to see a lot of really good games that were made over the years, and be able to come back and be modernized. Not just big projects, but think of some of your favorite games from the '90s or early 2000s that weren’t popular enough to justify spending millions to remaster them. Give me a Kohan remaster or a remaster of Planetscape: Torment. It’s going to be glorious.

A big thanks to Brad Wardell and Stardock for fielding our questions!

A huge thanks to Brad Wardell for taking the time to talk to us. The industry is undoubtedly going through a rapid transition right now, as a generational divide seems to split audiences and increase risk for games of all shapes and sizes. Artificial intelligence undoubtedly has some role to play in the future of game development, even if creative industries are very cautious about the potential backlash that comes with its use.

Xbox Game Pass too has become a significant driver of Microsoft's gaming revenue, and there's been some intense debate over its potential impact on the industry — even if its clear value is loved by consumers.

It's great to see big budget RTS titles continue to emerge, though. Microsoft itself publishes Age of Empires and has been quite vocal about returning to the StarCraft IP since it acquired Activision-Blizzard a few years ago. Ashes of the Singularity II and Elemental: Reforged both look like they're shaping up nicely indeed. Thanks again to Stardock and be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Stardock Entertainment has officially announced a sequel to its real time strategy game, Ashes of the Singularity.

The sequel, appropriately titled Ashes of the Singularity 2, builds upon the massive battles of its predecessor while introducing a third faction to the battlefield: Humans.

Originally released in 2016, Ashes of the Singularity was based on a science fiction dystopia where humans were under assault from an AI Substrate they themselves had created. As the Substrate fought to wipe out its own creators, a Post-Human Coalition rose up from the ashes to fight the Substrate for control of the galaxy.

Ashes of the Singularity was a project made with lots of love but very little budget. There was no room for fancy animations, but there was a goal: Show off how it would look for tens of thousands of units to battle it out on a map the size of a small continent.

While Ashes of the Singularity certainly hit its goal the first time around, the developers wanted the sequel to have a little more oomph. "This time, we've got things that animate, and we get to bring in a third faction: the humans!" said the team in a press release.

Ashes of the Singularity 2 features an intense narrative campaign where players take on the role of a commanding officer in the United Earth Forces. With strategy and sheer willpower, the humans must fight to reclaim the Earth from the clutches of an AI gone off the rails and a Post-Human Coalition that is relentless in its quest to take control.

Players can flesh out their strategies with each faction's unique technologies, philosophies, and units as they battle it out across sprawling continents in epic battles for the very soul of the solar system.

Each faction offers its own point of view on reality: The Post-Human technologists who are seeking to usher in a new era following the rise of AI. The humans who developed the AI Substrate with their desire to reclaim the solar system and their destiny. The AI Substrate itself sees humans as having fulfilled their evolutionary purpose. All scrambling for control in a not-so-distant future that eerily mirrors the sudden rise of AI in today's world.

Players will experience changes to gameplay based on their faction choices, as each experiences its own specific needs and objectives.

Stardock views Ashes of the Singularity 2 as a unique experience due to its massive scale of gameplay. Rather than focusing on micromanaging small units or individuals, players will instead be tasked with managing massive armies in battles that span continents.

Players can expect base building and resource harvesting mechanics, and on-screen battles with hundreds of fully rendered 3D units duking it out for control. Everything is done on a mega scale, with bases being managed by regions instead of individual buildings.

The world of Ashes of the Singularity 2 is complex, and player actions will have a direct impact by either restoring land to its natural state or marking it for total destruction.

Ashes of the Singularity 2's science fiction narrative about a super-intelligent AI uprising admittedly sounds a little on the nose for a reality where massive corporations are investing heavily into AI technologies.

Even Stardock Entertainment, the publisher behind Ashes of the Singularity 2, has a history of utilizing AI in game development. The publisher was previously behind Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova, a title that generated eight hours of character voices with artificial intelligence.

In addition to the voice acting, generative AI was used to create maps and lore for Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova. In an interview with Windows Central's Sean Endicott, Stardock Entertainment CEO Brad Wardell shared that the company used Microsoft Azure for its generative AI computing needs and trained its models on Stardock's own videos.

Despite Stardock's history with generative AI, Ashes of the Singularity 2 does not currently indicate on its Steam page that generative AI was used in the development process.

Ashes of the Singularity 2 does not yet have a confirmed release date, but you can wishlist the game now on Steam.

If you miss the vertical taskbars seen in previous versions of Windows, Stardock is here to help. The latest beta version of Start11 adds support for vertical taskbar, bringing back the oft-requested feature to Windows 11. Start11 supports placing a vertical taskbar on the left-side or right-side of your screen.

Over 55,000 people have viewed this specific Microsoft community post about vertical taskbars on Windows 11. Thousands have commented on similar posts on Microsoft's website. Many other people have gone to Reddit and other forums with similar requests. But to this point, Microsoft has not fulfilled requests to add a vertical taskbar to Windows 11.

Now, Stardock has stepped in to fill the void. Requiring a third-party app to add a feature to Windows 11 that was supported on older versions of Windows feels a bit odd, but Start11 has other features as well. The app allows you to customize the look of the Start menu to appear like Windows 11, Windows 10, or Windows 7. You can also tweak your Start menu using more options than the native Start menu in Windows 11 offers.

Vertical taskbars ship with Start11 v2.5, which is in beta right now. The update also adds support for centered taskbar buttons when the Start icon is left-aligned.

Does Windows 11 support vertical taskbars?

Unfortunately for those who love vertical taskbars, Microsoft does not seem interested in adding official support for the feature in Windows 11. When Microsoft removed the option to move the taskbar to the side of a screen, many questioned the decision. Previous versions of Windows allowed the taskbar to be dragged to the top or side of a screen, but Windows 11 does not (Start11 now supports both if you're on the latest beta).

Back in 2022, Microsoft held an Ask Me Anything (AMA) that covered several topics, including vertical taskbars on Windows.

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

Microsoft is a small tech company with only a few developers one of the most valuable tech companies in the world, so it's a bit strange that a third-party app maker like Stardock could figure out a way to reflow the taskbar and tackle the "huge" challenges of the development task.

I imagine that Roth's further comments from 2022 are more of a driving factor as to why Microsoft has not implemented a vertical taskbar on Windows 11:

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

It is one of those things that we are still continuing to look at, and we will keep looking to feedback, but at the moment we do not have a plan or a set date for when we would, or if we should, actually build the side taskbar."

In other words, it is technically possible for Microsoft to make a vertical taskbar on Windows 11, but it is not worth the time and effort required to make a feature used by so few people.

What you need to know

• Stardock released a major update to DesktopGPT that adds support for GPT-4o and GPT 40-Mini.
• The update also lets you use your own API key if you already pay for a premium tier of OpenAI.
• DesktopGPT is a new app from Stardock that lets you access AI with a keystroke and choose between which model you'd like to use.

Windows 11 integrates closer with AI as each day goes by. Microsoft Copilot lives in the taskbar and an increasing number of Microsoft services rely on AI in 2024. But Microsoft isn't the only tech giant in town. In fact, it can't even claim exclusive rights to placing an AI model at your fingertips through the desktop. Stardock's DesktopGPT allows you to summon AI with a keystroke, and the app just received a major update.

The latest version of DesktopGPT supports OpenAI's GPT-4o and GPT-4o-mini models. But the headline feature is that the app now lets you use your own API key if you pay for a premium tier from OpenAI. DesktopGPT will then use your available credits to perform tasks.

Some quality-of-life improvements improve the DesktopGPT experience as well, including the default hotkey for the app being set to Ctrl+Alt+O. The app lets you view your history by pressing Alt+H as well. Pressing F1 when using the app will show all available keyboard shortcuts within DesktopGPT.

Stardock also added support for using Markdown when having DesktopGPT works through a chat template.

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How to get DesktopGPT

DesktopGPT started as a tool used internally at Stardock. The company then decided to refine it and roll it out to the public as an app. "DesktopGPT is the evolution of a tool that we were using internally at Stardock to help us be more effective with our AI interactions," said Stardock GM of Software Brad Sams. "And at the heart of DesktopGPT are templates that are a powerful way to streamline your repetitive tasks."

At the moment, the only way to use DesktopGPT is to purchase the Object Desktop suite, which normally costs $49.99 (it occasionally goes on sale).

Copilot vs GPT

Microsoft and OpenAI have a strange relationship. The two companies are both close partners and competitors. Microsoft Copilot relies on OpenAI's tech and that OpenAI tech, in turn, relies on Microsoft Azure. Microsoft is also OpenAI's largest investor, having shipped billions of dollars to OpenAI.

The nature of the relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI may not matter to either company, as long as both see consistent growth, but there are doubts surrounding AI. ChatGPT passed 200 million weekly active users recently, but OpenAI is reportedly on the verge of bankruptcy. Despite being one of the hottest topics in tech, OpenAI is projected to lose $5 billion in 2024. OpenAI may need to call on its competitor/partner/investor Microsoft. The Redmond-based tech giant is said to be prepared to bail out OpenAI with some additional investment from Apple and NVIDIA reportedly on the way to OpenAI.

Several questions surround AI at the moment, including if the tech can be financially viable for all parties involved. High electricity and water consumption are also key concerns. Several studies have warned of AI projects being abandoned in the future. We'll have to see what's in the cards for OpenAI and Microsoft in the AI space. For now, there are several ways to bring up tools powered by those companies on the Windows 11 desktop.

What you need to know

• Developers at Stardock have released Start11 v2, which replaces the stock Start menu, and now natively supports ARM64 for Windows on Arm devices.
• Microsoft's standard Start menu has undergone divisive changes in Windows 11, including app advertisements.
• Users can try Start11 v2 for free or pay for a $7.99 single-device subscription at Stardock's official website.

The Start menu is arguably the most iconic feature in Microsoft's operating system, initially introduced in Windows 95. It remains a staple in Windows 11, but changes to category views and a disappointing move to integrate ads in the top half of the Start menu have made it a divisive feature among users. Thankfully, software developers at Stardock have completed beta testing of its fantastic Start menu replacement 'Start11 v2' on ARM64 devices, now natively supported for Windows on Arm.

"With native ARM support for Start11 v2, this means that you can use the latest Windows 11 devices, powered by Qualcomm Elite chips, with Start11 v2 to make these new devices a more personalized and productive desktop."

The latest build has more updates than platform support for the best Windows on ARM laptops. However, it's the most exciting addition since I still use a previous-generation Surface Pro X and have long awaited a third-party fix for Microsoft's frustrating design changes. To be completely transparent, I'm a nostalgia addict with rose-tinted goggles firmly attached to Windows, so I'll always fall back to the old-style Start menu whenever I can, and I love it here with Start11 v2.

"Several other updates in this release including enhanced search for legacy Control Panel items – more legacy Control Panel items will now show up when searching."

• RELATED: Adobe Illustrator has a beta ARM version for Windows

Check out Start11's full range of features at the official Stardock website to see why I love it so much. Any native support for Windows on Arm devices receives high praise from all of us at Windows Central, as we saw first-hand the benefits of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processors running cutting-edge ARM64 devices like Microsoft's "stunning" Surface Pro 11. As soon as a 5G-capable Surface Pro 11 launches to general availability, I'll undoubtedly upgrade, but I'll still use Start11.

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How much is a Start11 subscription?

Stardock offers a free trial for Start11 v2, and single-device subscriptions start at $7.99. Alternatively, you can access it as part of Object Desktop, a more comprehensive suite of customizable options for Windows 11 that allows users to apply themes to their desktops and even restore Windows 2000 aesthetics. I recommend starting with Start11 v2 to test the Start menu customizations and graduate to Object Desktop to experiment with Stardock's full range of Windows 11 tweaks.

What you need to know

• Stardock has unveiled a new AI desktop app dubbed DesktopGPT.
• It ships with access to several models, including GPT-3.5 Turbo, GPT-4, and GPT-4 Turbo.
• DesktopGPT provides insightful templates designed to help newbies in the AI spaces interact with LLMs easily.

A new AI-powered app in the block that could take on Microsoft's Copilot AI for Windows. Stardock, well-known for its best Windows 11 alternative apps like Start11, WindowsBlinds 11 recently unveiled DesktopGPT exclusively on its productivity and personalization suite for Windows, Object Desktop.

According to Stardock, DesktopGPT "brings the latest AI models to Windows 10/11 for quick interactions and powerful prompting with templates." The AI-powered app ships with many sophisticated features, making it easy to interact with multiple large language models (LLMs) directly from your keyboard. 

Furthermore, it ships with access to several models, including GPT-3.5 Turbo, GPT-4, and GPT-4 Turbo. As such, users can select any one of the models that best suits their needs.

DesktopGPT features a unique user experience that's designed to enhance your workflow. It provides insightful templates designed to help newbies in the AI spaces interact with LLMs easily, including translating text to another language and writing cover letters or emails. 

DesktopGPT joins Stardock's productivity and personalization suite of apps designed to improve and complement the Windows operating system. It's worth noting the inclusion of DesktopGPT in the Object Desktop suite won't impact its price.

DesktopGPT is about to give Copilot a run for its money on Windows

As you may know, Windows 11 and Windows 10 ship with an AI-powered assistant dubbed Microsoft Copilot (formerly Bing Chat). Microsoft has been fully focused on integrating AI across its products and services after making a multi-billion investment in OpenAI's technology. 

In the past few months, rumors hitting the windmill indicate Microsoft recently transitioned some of its staffers from the Teams Chat app to help with Copilot AI projects, despite the EU watchdog forcing it to unbundle Teams for its Office 365 package globally. 

Going by the recent earning call, Microsoft's AI efforts are paying off having ranked as the world's most valuable company ahead of Apple with over $3 trillion in market capitalization. The same efforts also contributed to Bing's overall success, which has surpassed over 140 million daily active users.

On the flip side, Copilot AI has been received with mixed feelings by Windows users. These sentiments were echoed by a poll featured on Windows Central, with more than half of the polled participants indicating they never use the tool. Microsoft recently announced that it won't be pushing new Copilot experiences to Windows, and will use this time to refine existing ones based on user feedback. 

If DesktopGPT can address some of the critical issues flagged by users about AI on Windows, it could quickly become the best alternative for Copilot on Windows. Besides, it already ships with access to several models that can be used to generate desired outputs by users.

What you need to know

• Stardock recently shipped a major update to ObjectDock, making it more modern and in sync with the latest versions of Windows.
• The app has been updated with a 64-bit version that supports Windows 11 and Windows 10.
• It ships with several neat features, including high-resolution displays, UWP apps, animation improvements, and more.
• ObjectDock will cost $9.99 for new users or $3.99 for those upgrading from a previous release. 

Stardock, a software development company well-known for its best alternative apps for default Windows 11 apps like Start11 and Fences 5 recently announced that ObjectDock now ships with a 64-bit version that supports Windows 11 and Windows 10. 

It's been several years since the popular docking utility received a significant update. For those unfamiliar, Stardock develops third-party tools that can be installed on Windows devices and ships with nifty features and customization options that allow users to add a modern and classic touch to default apps on Windows. 

Like how Start11 adds different flavors and variety to the stock Start menu on Windows, ObjectDock allows users to integrate a macOS-like dock on Windows. Once installed, you can launch and access your favorite programs and files directly from the dock. 

According to Stardock's General Manager, Brad Sams:

“ObjectDock is a classic Stardock application, and we are thrilled to be able to modernize the app so that it supports the latest versions of Windows. And with ObjectDock now included in Object Desktop, the best value for accessing all of our productivity applications gets even better.” 

You can also navigate the settings and enable the auto-hide option to keep the dock at bay when it's not in use. You can easily access it by moving your mouse cursor to its position. The option to auto-hide the taskbar recently shipped to Stardock's best alternative for the Start menu on Windows 11 (Start11).

Depending on the number of icons you want included, the dock can be adjusted to meet your specific needs. You can move the dock across your desktop or use it to replace your taskbar. 

Perhaps more importantly, it puts you in control of how big or small your dock is, and how many icons populate it. In addition to the animations when mousing over icons, you can decide where you want it on the desktop, up top, on the left or right, or as a complete replacement of the Windows taskbar at the bottom (which you still cannot move around in Windows 11). You can even add a second dock to another screen.

Another interesting bit from this news is that ObjectDock is now part of the Object Desktop suite of desktop enhancements and customization apps. You can download it without paying extra cash if you're an Object Desktop subscriber. However, you'll need $9.99 for the standalone license or $3.99 for the upgrade.

Stardock also indicated it had to sunset some "minor" features tied to the legacy components of Windows that have since been deprecated to align with the modernized and overhauled ObjectDock app. "But the core functionality of the app has been streamlined and with the new support for higher resolution displays, ObjectDock has never looked better," says Stardock.

Stardock is running a sale on its apps — 25% OFF

As it happens, Stardock is also running a Spring Sale on its third-party apps, including WindowsBlinds, SoundPackager, CursorFX, Groupy 2, and more. And for a limited period, you can get them at a 25% discount.

Here's everything currently on sale, including Stardock's highly recommended all-in-one premium package for Windows 11's best alternative apps, Object Desktop which is $10 cheaper right now. 

Windows 11 has been available for two years and change, but its global market share still struggles. Perhaps this is one of the main reasons Microsoft has been using "aggressive" tactics, including full-screen multipage popup ads designed to encourage Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11. 

Despite Windows 10's imminent end of support slated for October 2025, the operating system still holds the largest global market share. This can be attributed to the stringent system requirements for running Windows 11 on PCs, coupled with the flawed design pointed out by multiple users. 

Luckily, it's not written in stone that you must conform to Microsoft's Windows 11 design. Recently, there's been an influx of third-party software designed to "fix" some of the shortcomings/design flaws in Windows 11. Stardock is notoriously good at this with its Start11, WindowsBlinds, CursorFX, SoundPackager, Groupy 2, and more.

If you've been looking to add a bit of razzle dazzle and gain access to more customization options and flavors on your Windows PC, you're in luck! Stardock's top third-party software apps are currently on sale with a 25% discount.

All-in-one premium package for Windows 11's best alternative apps

Stardock recommends the Object Desktop suite of desktop enhancements and customization apps as its best deal during this Spring sale, and I can see why. At $10 cheaper, you'll get access to more than a dozen customization apps, including Start11, Fences 5, SpaceMonger, Tiles, IconPackager, and DeskScapes, as well as the ones listed above. 

If there's something you don't like about Windows 11 or Windows 10, this suite of customization apps will help you fix it. Stardock says using the tool is "like getting the next version of Windows today."

What you need to know

• Stardock recently shipped a new update to its Start11 V2 app.
• The update ships with new features, including an auto-hide option for the taskbar and more.
• It also features several bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements.

Stardock recently released a new update to its Start11 v2 app, bumping it to version 2.06. The new build ships new features, bug fixes, and several quality-of-life improvements.

The update ships with a new option that lets users auto-hide the taskbar from the right-click menu. It also adds "universal apps, all apps, and steam apps as options for quick access shortcut menu links."

According to Stardock:

"All of these features are the result of direct feedback from our users and is our commitment to making Start11 v2 not only the most advanced Start menu experience for Windows, but also one that is shaped by those who use it every day."

As usual, the new Start11 update should roll out automatically, but you can trigger it manually by launching the app and having it check for newer updates.

Last year, Stardock shipped an update to its Start11 app that added rounded corners to the taskbar, ultimately making it look like the next version of Windows.  

Righting Microsoft's shortcomings one feature at a time

Multiple users have blatantly expressed dissatisfaction with Windows 11's Start menu. Besides the strict minimum requirements to run Windows 11, its flawed design is also one of the main reasons most users are reluctant to upgrade from Windows 10. This is despite Microsoft's relentless efforts to try and get users to transition (including the use of aggressive pop-up ads) and the fact that Windows 10 is set to hit its end-of-support in October 2025. 

While Microsoft has made subtle improvements to the app, it doesn't seem enough (at least for most users). Perhaps this is why we are seeing an influx of third-party software tools, like the Files app (which serves as an alternative to Windows 11's File Explorer app), aimed at fixing some of the issues outlined by users.

What you need to know

• Stardock just announced Object Desktop Insider, which allows people to get early access to several programs from the company.
• The first wave of Object Desktop Insider builds includes versions of Start11 v2, Fences 5, and Groupy 2 that support ARM PCs.
• 2024 is expected to be a big year for Windows on ARM PCs, due in large part to Qualcomm's upcoming release of its Snapdragon X Elite processor.

Stardock has a wide range of apps that enhance the Windows experience and allow you to customize your PC. We've covered many of these apps in the past, including Groupy, Fences, and Start11. Today, Stardock announced Object Desktop Insider, which lets members gain early access to software that's still in testing.

Many of our readers will be familiar with Insider testing, as quite a few of them are Windows Insiders. The general concept is the same as what Microsoft does, Stardock provides early access to Insiders and then receives feedback based on real-world usage.

"With the Insider program being part of Object Desktop, this allows us to bring some features and products to our customers faster," explained Stardock in its announcement post of its Insider program.

"While the testing and validation of each build for stability occurs with all of our releases, Object Desktop Insider builds will contain newer features before they may be fully baked as we evaluate the scenarios of how a feature functions in the real world."

The first wave of builds for Object Desktop Insiders includes versions of Start11 v2, Fences 5, and Groupy 2 that support ARM PCs. Windows on ARM can run non-native apps through emulation, but performance and efficiency is better when apps are optimized for Windows on ARM. You can download the ARM builds of the apps from the Object Desktop dashboard if you've purchased the suite.

Stardock also shared that it is "experimenting with a new application that lets Object Desktop members have access to AI-tools without having to sign up for each service that comes online." That app is in its early stages, however, so it's not available for Insiders at this time.

A big year for Windows on ARM

Stardock is only the latest company to embrace Windows on ARM. You'll see several companies follow suit, since Qualcomm plans to release its Snapdragon X Elite processor later this year in June. That chip promises to compete with the best from Intel, AMD, and Apple. If it meets expectations, Windows on ARM could have its most viable processor to date.

Qualcomm shared benchmarks for the Snapdragon X Elite that show the CPU can outperform Apple's M2 Max and Intel's Core i9-13980HX. Leaked benchmarks back up those claims, though we'll have to see real-world usage and testing to know for sure.

Windows on ARM has had a long journey. It started with smartphone processors powering PCs and has evolved gradually. All the while, Microsoft has improved Windows itself to work better on ARM-powered systems. But all the operating system improvements in the world won't mean much if software has to run through emulation. Developers optimizing their apps for Windows on ARM PCs will make as much or more of a difference than anything Microsoft can do.

Google has an ARM version of its Chrome browser in testing. Brave already has a stable release of its browser that's generally available for Windows on ARM PCs. Now, we have Stardock working on ARM-optimized versions of its suite of apps.

What you need to know

• Stardock just released an update to Fences 5 that adds the option to blend desktop icons into the background.
• You can now toggle the Peek feature in Fences 5 within the Taskbar following the update.
• Fences 5 is available in Release Preview and is discounted to $8.99 while in preview.

If you can't decide between hiding your desktop icons or showing them on Windows, Stardock may have a solution for you. The latest update to Fences 5 adds a Chameleon feature that lets you blend your desktop into the background. Files, folders, and apps all remain accessible on the desktop, but they are partially transparent. The result is a look that looks a bit like how macOS treats widgets.

The update to Fences 5, which is currently in Release Preview, also adds a toggle to quick access content through the Peek functionality, which allows you to bring up fences over your other applications. You can also access Peek through a Taskbar hot corner.

Here are all the highlights of the update from Stardock:

• Chameleon allows you to elegantly blend your desktop content into your wallpaper to reduce desktop distractions while maintaining quick access to your files, folders, and apps. 
• With a wide range of options like mouseover-highlight and more, Chameleon can be customized to your exact specifications
• Peek toggle on the taskbar enables quick access to the patented Peek(tm) functionality making it even easier to stay in your workflow. 
• Taskbar hot corner provides flexibility for accessing Peek with new control options from the taskbar. 
• Advanced deployment tooling designed for the enterprise simplifies fleet management with the ability to easily export a configuration and load on login. 
• Enhancements to the Fences engine to improve performance. 

Stardock has had a busy November. Earlier this month, the company released an update to Start11. That app already created the best Start menu on Windows in my opinion, but the update added some handy options, including three new Start menu styles and the option to round corners in the Taskbar.

Moving back to Fences 5, the app normally costs $9.99, but while the latest update is in Release Preview, Fences 5 costs $8.99.

Earlier this month, Galactic Civilization IV: Supernova launched. It includes missions, a new multiplayer mode, and a new combat system that make up a massive improvement in the franchise. All the additions look impressive on their own, but how Stardock, the developers of Galactic Civilization IV, added features stood out to me. The game's expansion relies heavily on artificial intelligence, including generating maps, lore, and even voiceover with AI.

I chatted with Stardock's Brad Wardell recently about Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova. During our interview, Wardell shared that eight hours of voiceover within Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova are entirely generated by AI. The last-minute addition to the update was made possible by technology that only became available this month. Stardock had just days to implement generate hours of voice recordings and get them into the game. The results are impressive and could open doors for game developers.

Making AI voices

While the other AI features are interesting, the voiceover stuck out to me. I've used AI voices for years, such as having Microsoft Edge read my articles to me for proofreading. While AI-generated voices have gotten better over the years, it's usually easy to pick out a fake voice from a real one.

Just a few years ago, computer-generated voices of any kind would sound entirely out of place in a game with human voice actors. They've been used, but they haven't sounded natural. That's now in the past, however, at least based on what I've heard from Galactic Civilization IV: Supernova Edition.

The game includes eight hours of voiceover that is completely AI-generated. The scripts were written by AI as well. Wardell went as far to say that people playing Galactic Civilization IV: Supernova Edition won't recognize that they're hearing AI-generated voices.

A variety of tech was used to make the voices in the game, but all of Stardock's AI computing is done on Azure. One of the core pieces of tech that made the AI-generated voiceovers possible came out close to the release of Galactic Civilization IV: Supernova Edition. Wardell decided to add the AI voiceovers in that short time.

"One of the nice things about being a small company is that you can do incredibly reckless things at the eleventh hour, like 'you know what, I think we're gonna add eight hours of VO to this game'" said Wardell.

The AI-generated voice was trained on Stardock's own videos. You can hear that voice actor in the clip above. That's his actual voice, not an AI-generated replication. Below, you can hear artificial intelligence's best recreation of his voice.

Improving accessibility

The ability to generate voices for a game has several benefits, including giving studios the ability to create content in several languages with AI. Localization takes a massive amount of effort. While it's important and makes games more accessible, the reality is that a lot of man-hours are needed to make it happen.

Creating voice recordings with AI makes it possible to generate content for different languages and regions in days, not months. Smaller studios could use the tech to make voiceover for the most spoken languages around the world while large studios could use the tech to reach a broader audience.

I imagine studios will have to find a balance between replacing paid actors and improving accessibility. Ideally, AI would be used to expand a game to more regions than a studio could do on its own.

Stardock has audio in nine languages for Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova, but the company only rolled out English to begin with. Stardock wants to ensure that the quality of the audio meets its standards for a gameplay experience before focusing on additional languages.

Wardell shared some of the clips with me of their voice actor Ben "speaking" Greek. I can't judge the AI-generated voice's pronunciation (I don't speak Greek,) but the words sounded like the actual Ben said them. I can't embed those audio samples yet since Stardock is only rolling out English AI-generated voices at the moment.

Everything that's new in Galactic Civilizations IV

• AlienGPT. A feature that lets players create their own civilizations. Just describe what you want your civilization to be like and it will generate the lore, provide visual options for their representation, provide in-game quests and write the dialog that other players use when interacting with them as well as when the player plays against them. 
• Missions. Story-driven mini-campaigns that give the player a curated experience to the game. 
• An interactive tutorial.  Designed to allow newcomers to the genre to learn the basics of a 4X strategy game in a fun and entertaining way.
• All new map generation options.  Set up a game that can be finished in an hour or a game that will take months. 
• New multiplayer system. Play with friends against the AI or against other players for control of the galaxy. 
• A new culture / economic system that reduces micro-management while making the gameplay more approachable.
• Several new hand-crafted alien civilizations with their own technology trees, planetary improvements, starships and more. 
• A new combat system.  Gone is the rock-paper-scissors system of previous GalCiv games and replaced with a more sophisticated yet more approachable system involving starship classes, weapons ranges and rates of fire. 
• Consequences Events. Player event choices feed the in-game AI with data that can result in other events to occur that can affect the player’s destiny. 
• Prestige Victory. Instead of having to grind out the end of a game that you’ve already won, a Prestige system now allows players to optionally emerge victorious by looking at the big picture. 
• Terror Stars. Design a massive space station that can cause stars to go Supernova.  

The AI-generated voiceover in Galactic Civilization IV: Supernova Edition was a major focus of my chat with Wardell, but it's hardly the only reason to check out the game. Stardock "revisited the entire game from top to bottom," making a lengthy and impressive list of improvements.

What you need to know

• Start11 v2 was just announced by Stardock, and it includes several new ways to customize the Start menu on Windows 11.
• The second version of Start11 includes three new Start menu styles: Apps, Professional, and Launcher.
• Several taskbar options have been added as well, such as the ability to pin a file or folder to the taskbar directly.
• Start11 v2 costs $5.99 on its own or you can purchase it as part of the Object Desktop suite.

The Windows 11 Start menu has drawn criticism and caused controversy over the years. Start11 allows you to customize your PC's Start menu and addresses several concerns raised by users. Stardock, which makes Start11, just announced Start11 v2, which brings new menu styles and several other features to the app.

While Start11 v2 is in its release preview period, you can grab it for $5.99. You can also purchase it as part of the Object Desktop suite, which has several other apps to customize your Windows experience.

Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden shared his Start11 review shortly after the app came out in 2021. Stardock has since rolled out several updates to Start11, though none as significant as the jump to version 2.

The biggest additions to Start11 are three new Start menu styles. You can now set your Start menu to Apps, Professional, or Launcher. The taskbar experience is also better after the update, including the option to pin a file or folder to the taskbar directly. It's also possible to build your own quick access menu when running the latest version of Start11.

Here are the key feature additions and changes, as shared by Stardock:

• Three new Start menu designs that seamlessly blend in with Windows 10 and 11.
• Pin files or folders directly to the taskbar for quick access.
• Pin a folder menu to the taskbar to access contents of the folder without opening File Explorer.
• Icon tinting lets you stylize app icons in your Start menu with a uniform color for pixel perfect theming.
• Add tabs to supported Start Menu layouts to group icons by type, task, or activity.
• Automatically add Steam games to a taskbar folder, Start Menu tab, or Group.
• Easily backup and restore your Start menu configurations.
• And a lot more!

Fixing what I didn't know was broken

I've used Start11 in the past, but I haven't had it on my work PC for a while. I took a closer look in preparation for this article and realized that I had forgotten how natural it looks. Start11 fixes things I didn't realize were broken or missing on Windows 11. When covering the piece of software, I often have to double-check that a feature isn't a native option on Windows 11. For example, Start11 allows you to hide the recommendations section in the Start menu.

Start11 v2 also includes some handy features, such as the option to back up and restore Start menu configurations.

What you need to know

• Stardock's Start11 app is currently on sale.
• It's designed to enhance and improve the Start experience for Windows 11 and Windows 10 users.
• Stardock has also discounted the fee charge on the Multi-device and Object desktop tiers.

Windows 11 has been available for close to two years now. And while Microsoft consistently ships new updates and features to the operating system, not everyone is happy about it. 

The Start menu on the OS, in particular, was received with mixed feelings. Our Managing Editor, Jez Corden, is also part of the Windows users who found the Start menu in Windows 11 to be a flop. And had the following to say:

"If you can't make it work for me, if you can't give me control over it, just let me bloody well turn it off, without punishing me with a passive-aggressive message and a pile of wasted Start menu space. It's straight-up bad design."

Luckily for him and many other users, there is an app that can enhance the Start menu's design and appeal. That is Stardock's Start11 app. It's designed to help improve and revamp the Start experience for Windows 11 and Windows 10 users. 

Stardock has placed the Start11 app on sale. And for a limited period, you'll get it for $2.99, down from $5.99.

Our Senior Editor reviewed the app a while back and shared the following sentiments:

"The big selling point of Start11 is that it introduces a more customizable and feature-complete version of the new Windows 11 Start menu. With a similar UI, you can now arrange apps anywhere in the grid, which is no longer limited to just three rows of six icons. You can have as many rows as required, and you can even resize the menu to make room for more."

Why you should hop on this deal

You might be wondering, what will Start11 get me? For starters, it ships with more customization options and unique features, including folder support. 

Therefore, if you're a huge fan of the classic Start menu layout on classic versions of Windows like Windows 7 and Modern, Start11 will help you replicate this experience in your Windows PC. 

Additionally, if you like Windows 10's Taskbar over Windows 11's, Start11 can help you bring this experience back, including the capability to move the Taskbar back to the top of the display. You can also use it to adjust the size of your Taskbar, though our Senior Editor, Zac Bowden, experienced some issues while the Taskbar size was set to large.

Zac stated that Stardock's Start11 app is headed in the right direction, but there's room for improvement:

"Overall, I really like what Stardock has done with Start11. This is a company that steps in to do things right when Microsoft seemingly can't. I will say the app can sometimes lack animations and "polish" from a visual perspective, but that's a rare case, and is something that can be fixed in future updates. For the most part, Start11 feels like it's part of Windows, and that's a great thing."

Likewise, it's now possible to update your old Windows versions via third-party updates via the Windows Update Restore website. Notably, the website only restores the Windows Update website, not the Automatic Updates feature.

What you need to know

• Groupy is a third-party application that allows you to organize any app you'd like within tabs.
• Stardock, the maker of the app, launched Groupy 2 this week.
• Groupy 2 adds support for a new Groupings feature, an improved experience for selecting an accent color, and a new look that makes the app fit in on Windows 11.

Groupy is a popular program that allows users to organize any app or program into tabs on Windows 11 or Windows 10. Stardock, which makes Groupy and several of the best apps to customize the look of Windows 11, released Groupy 2 this week. The bump to version 2 brings a new Groupings feature and several new customization options.

Groupy 2 includes an option to turn on the Mica effect across more of the app. Users can select a UI with squared corners if they prefer as well. Stardock also added the option to hide the left-side Groupy icon.

The update to Groupy 2 should also make the app feel more at home on Windows 11. The app has been modernized to meet the design language of Microsoft's latest operating system. The app also integrates better with the default File Explorer on Windows 11, which is important since that app already supports tabs.

Stardock is well-known for its programs that enhance the Windows experience, such as Start11. That app allows you to bring back the Windows 10 Start menu or customize the look of the Windows 11 Start menu. Start11, Groupy 2, and several other apps are included with Object Desktop, which normally costs $49.99. You can also purchase Groupy 2 separately for $9.99.

Here's what's new in Groupy 2, as listed by Stardock:

• Added option to enable the Mica-effect for focused and unfocused windows
• Added support for Cntrl+N to open a new doc/app
• New UI option to make tabs square for those who prefer that look.
• New drop down menu in the tab bar makes it easier to group applications
• Option to hide left side Groupy icon added to advanced UI settings
• And lots of other tweaks to the UI

Stardock also released Groupy 2 for Business this week. That program features deployment tools and centralized licensing management that make it easier to set up the application across an organization. Groupy 2 for Business costs $14.99.

What you need to know

• Reddit user ExoGeniVI shared screenshots of their Windows 11 desktop on the r/Windows subreddit, mimicking the default Windows 2000 theme.
• It was made possible with StarDock WindowBlinds, an app that customizes Windows 10 or 11 desktops alongside a user-made theme.
• The custom Windows 2000 theme was initially shared on WinClassic, a forum dedicated to bygone editions of Windows, created by user prozad94 in 2021.

As excited as I am for the future of Windows 12 and the possibilities for Microsoft to advance its world-leading operating system, I'm hopelessly hooked on nostalgia thanks to the heavy use of older versions during my childhood. User ExoGeniVI shared screenshots on Reddit of their Windows 11 desktop overhauled to resemble the solid-gray theming of Windows 2000, alongside installations of Internet Explorer 5.5 and Office 2000.

It made me feel warm and fuzzy but it wasn't a complete surprise. After all, I already use the same app responsible for theming Windows 10 or 11, Stardock WindowBlinds. The real icing on the cake included period-accurate software and games, with classic gems like Fallout and RealPlayer Basic gracing the desktop for a strong hit of nostalgia. Combining WindowBlinds with a theme shared on WinClassic by user prozad94 makes for a gross yet heartwarming trip down memory lane, and I'm here for it.

Despite the recent shutdown of Internet Explorer for modern platforms, the ancient 5.5 version miraculously still works, depending on your definition of the word. ExoGeniVI explained in the comments that although it can load many basic websites, it will never last as a daily driver. Still, it's a testament to Microsoft's efforts in backward compatibility, even if it mainly acts as a sort of museum antique than an actual tool.

Seeing Clippy spring back to life, albeit with busted transparency effects replaced by a garish pink square, was a delight, especially given my recent desire for the classic digital assistant to make a comeback. It's worth pointing out that although Stardock WindowBlinds offers simplistic variations on this retro theme, the sheer effort made by ExoGeniVI to customize Windows 11 to this insane degree was by no means painless, forcing them to run a complete system restore twice after some unfortunate missteps.

Windows 10 and 11 aren't explicitly designed to be personalized to this degree, hence the need for third-party software to wrangle your desktop into a desired aesthetic. However, I use a basic Windows XP-inspired theme on a secondary Windows 11 machine to remind me of happy memories made with the longest-serving desktop computer from my teenage years.

You'll need more than Stardock WindowBlinds to complete the authentic retro look, but it's currently the most straightforward method for instant theming satisfaction. I might be the odd one out on the Windows Central team, but I still adore the plain, boring, and flat-out colorless stylings of Microsoft's past. It's great to see others sharing the same love.

What you need to know

• The latest version of Stardock's WindowBlinds 11 allows you to make your PC look as if it's running Windows 95.
• The Windows Classic theme makes window frames, the Taskbar, and other elements of the OS to look like the older version of Windows.
• Pairing WindowBlinds11 with Start11 lets you fully customize your desktop to look like a classic PC.

Windows 11 is the latest operating system from Microsoft. It includes a modern interface, new features, and is still in support, but some people don't like the look of the OS. In comes Stardock's WindowBlinds 11, which now has a Windows Classic theme that makes your system look like it's running Windows 95.

Stardock released WindowBlinds 11 earlier this year with a theme that looked like Windows XP. Now, users can go further back in time with the newly added Windows Classic theme.

WindowBlinds, and the rest of Stardock's suite of applications work on both Windows 11 and Windows 10, so you can customize the look of your PC even if you haven't upgraded to the latest version of Windows.

You'll need to have Start11 as well as WindowBlinds 11 if you want the best experience, according to Stardock. When you have both programs, your Start menu, Taskbar, and window frames can all be customized to a matching theme. The Windows 95-inspired Windows Classic theme is available by default, but you can download other themes through Stardock's marketplace.

The same update that adds the Windows Classic theme includes some bug fixes that address issues with Fences UI and dark mode images.

What you need to know

• Stardock just announced WindowBlinds 11, an app that allows people to customize the look of Windows 11 and Windows 10.
• WindowBlinds 11 can alter the appearance of the Start menu, Taskbar, window frames, control buttons, and other elements of the Windows interface.
• The app is currently available in beta for $15 or as part of Stardock's Object Desktop suite.

Windows 11 introduced a new look to PCs when it shipped last year. Some people, however, do not view new as better, at least when it comes to Windows. Stardock just announced a piece of software called WindowBlinds 11, which allows people to customize the look of Windows 11.

With WindowBlinds 11, people can change the look of the Start menu, Taskbar, window frames, control buttons, and other elements of the Windows interface. To customize the Start menu, people need to have Start 11 installed. An in-app browser within WindowBlinds 11 has skins that people can download as well.

“Windows 11 introduced a new design language for the OS but we know it’s not for everyone,” said Vice President of Stardock Software Brad Sams. “With WindowBlinds 11, you can enjoy the benefits of a modern OS, but also the flexibility to customize the interface to fit your own personal theme.”

There are several new options for the app with the beta release of WindowBlinds 11. Here's what's new, as outlined by Stardock:

• Automatic dark mode
• Enhanced high-DPI support for new skins
• Marketplace browser for skin library
• Autoscaling for legacy skins to improve visual fidelity
• Designed for Windows 10 and 11

“This app has been a cornerstone in our suite of desktop enhancements,” said Sams. “We are thrilled to be releasing the newest version with several highly requested updates, including a new automatic dark mode and improved high DPI support for new skins.”

What you need to know

• Stardock just released v1.3 of Start11, a tool that allows PC owners to customize the Start menu.
• The latest version of Start11 includes a rebuilt taskbar that supports ungrouping items.
• The update also improves multi-monitor support for the taskbar by letting you define window groupings on secondary monitors.

A new version of Start11 adds several new options for organizing programs on the taskbar. The program now lets you ungroup windows on the taskbar and supports keeping application icons centered while moving the Start button to the left of the screen. You can now drag a file to an open app in the taskbar to open the file.

Here's the complete changelog, as outlined by Stardock:

• All new taskbar experience that allows you to ungroup windows on the taskbar in Windows 11.
• New option to left-align the Start button but keep application icons centered while grouped or ungrouped.
• Ability to drag a file to an open app on the taskbar and have it open the file.
• Enhanced multi-monitor taskbar support to independently define window grouping on secondary monitors.
• Ability to resize the taskbar to increase its height – great for users with lots of app running.

"The new taskbar features are designed to deliver functionality from previous versions of Windows but make them look and feel native to Windows 11," said VP and GM of Stardock Brad Sams. "With our new taskbar experience, we have created a foundation for bringing additional functionality to Windows 11 to further our mission to make Windows more personal and productive."

You can download the most recent version of Start11 by logging in to your Stardock account and checking the "My Downloads" section.

What you need to know

• Windows 11's Start menu has been a point of contention for many users.
• Stardock's Start11 program is designed to fix the issues.
• Start11 is currently in beta and costs $4.99 to grab.

There are many things that have irked PC users about Windows 11 since Microsoft revealed the new operating system, but perhaps none have received quite the amount of vitriol as the Start menu. To put it simply: There are people who hate the new Start menu.

What do people dislike about it? Here are some common complaints: It wastes space, removes customization and user control options, and lacks features.

However, there's an easy solution if you can't stand Windows 11's Start menu. Well, two. First, just go back to Windows 10; it'll be supported for a long time. And as for the second solution: Stardock's Start11. It's a program that'll let you customize Windows 11's Start menu and taskbar to your heart's content.

Here's a snippet of the copy Stardock uses to advertise Start11: "For users who want to personalize their Start menu, Start11 offers robust customization options ranging from aesthetic to functional. The software enables enhanced Windows 10 and Windows 11 style Start menus, a compact Windows 7 design, optional Windows 11 style for classic menus, and many additional settings that let you configure your personalized Start menu."

You can find out more about Start11 on Stardock's site, but here's the skinny: It's a program that's actively receiving updates (next one lands October 7) and costs $4.99 to acquire in its current beta form.

What you need to know

• Start11 launched in beta this week, allowing people to customize the Start menu on Windows 11.
• The program includes options for either Windows 7-style or modern Start menus.
• The makers of Start11 are working on adding pages, tabs, and other features to the Start menu.

Stardock announced Start11 this week, a program designed to customize the Start menu of Windows 11 and Windows 10. The program is still in beta and focuses on restoring functionality to the Start menu. You can pick up the beta version of Start11 from Stardock's website for $5.

"This first beta is designed to regain some of the lost functionality in the current Windows 11 Start menu," said Brad Wardell, Stardock CEO. "We have a lot of exciting new features planned to make the Start menu not just more accessible, but also more useful to companies and power users."

The new Start menu in Windows 11 has drawn a mixed reaction from enthusiasts. In our poll regarding the Windows 10 Start menu on Windows 11, over 53% of participants said that people should have an option as to which Start menu to use. When Windows 11 briefly allowed people to switch to the Windows 10 Start menu, many were eager to return to the previous version.

Start11 doesn't exactly replicate the Windows 10 Start menu on Windows 11, at least at the moment. It does have options for different styles, including Windows 7 and Modern. The Modern style looks more like the Start menu of Windows 10, though it doesn't have Live Tiles. Stardock also plans to add new functionality, like pages, tabs, and features built for enterprise in the future.

"The new UI has been designed to support future Start menu designs," said Wardell. "Start8 and Start10 focused on restoring previous versions of the Start menu. Start11 will be extending this to support a host of new Start menu ideas such as the concept of pages, tabs, minimalism, and features for our enterprise customers."

What you need to know

• StarDock released Groupy version 1.4 today.
• The update adds support for up to 50 tabs in a window, along with Curtains style support.
• Groupy is available for $5 at both Steam and directly from StarDock.

StarDock launched a fresh update for Groupy today, making it quite a bit more convenient. The latest update brings the app to version 1.4, bringing support for opening up to 50 tabs in a single window. There's also support for adding styles from another StarDock app, Curtains, to your tabbed windows.

Other tweaks include a new "close all" button for your tabs, along with new shortcuts and functions for the middle mouse button and tab switching. Here's a full look at what's new in Groupy 1.4:

• Curtains style support
• Automatically selects suitable colors when using a Curtains style without custom Groupy parts
• Expands max tabs in a group from 25 to 50
• Tab bar remains dark in all apps for foreground state when in dark mode
• New "close all" button added on the far right of the tab (must be in tabs above mode and tab bar set to fill full width)
• Enables additional functionality for middle mouse-button in >- Explorer (open folders as new tabs like in a web browser)
• New option for using ctrl+tab for tab switching (access on advanced options page)

Groupy is a useful tool that lets you group apps together as tabs in the same window. It's a similar idea to what Microsoft experimented with when it was testing "Sets," which ultimately never launched.

Groupy is available now for $5 at both StarDock and Steam.

Stardock specializes in customizing Windows 10 PCs, so when they announced CursorFX last month, I was eager to try it out. CursorFX allows you to replace the default cursor on Windows 10. You can choose between the app's library of preinstalled cursors, grabbing additional cursors online, or making your own. The app doesn't just replace the cursor used for pointing. You can use it to replace any instance your mouse appears on the screen, including the loading animation and the hand that appears when you hover over links.

CursorFX is available as a standalone app for $5 from Stardock. You can also get it as part of Stardock's Object Destkop for $30, which also comes with a collection of other apps.

What you'll love about CursorFX

I'll save you some time if you're in a hurry. Stardock hit another one out of the park with CursorFX, it just works. It allows you to swap your cursor and any pointer on Windows 10 with a vast library of replacements. You can choose from the app's preinstalled selection, such as Fluent and Fluent Dark, or go online to WinCustomize and grab some designs. You can also elect to make your own, though this can take a bit of time since Windows 10 has so many cursors. Luckily, if you create your cursor group and just swap out a couple of options, CursorFX leaves the rest alone as Windows 10's default cursors.

Around the same time that I started using CursorFX, we tweeted out that the default Windows 10 cursor is asymmetrical. Now, there's an argument to be made that the pointer is asymmetrical on purpose and that it works better that way, but I still wanted to try a symmetrical one. I made a basic white cursor that's just an arrow at an angle and tried it out. I also played around with a cursor for when I hover over links, and I themed it on the Windows 10 emoji for pointing a finger (👆).

If you're more adventurous, you can try out a vast range of cursors, ranging from mild to wild. Personally, I don't want an animated water dropper as a cursor, but if you do, it's there.

I've used my custom cursors for the last couple of weeks and just forgot about swapping them over. CursorFX runs in the background and uses almost no CPU power or RAM. It averages around 0-0.1 percent CPU usage on my PC and only takes up 1MB of RAM. That's hardly a noticeable sacrifice.

What you'll dislike about CursorFX

There's not a lot to dislike about CursorFX. It works well, and I haven't run into any serious bugs. The only real downside I could find is that it can take a lot of time to create your own group of cursors. Windows 10 has a lot of different cursors, such as busy, resizing, and text select. If you're designing your own cursors, you'll have to take some time to replace each type of cursor. That's not really Stardock's fault, though; it's just something to be aware of if you want to replace all of your cursors.

Should you buy CursorFx?

If you want to customize your mouse cursors, you should grab CursorFX. It's not that expensive and just runs in the background. There are plenty of cursors to choose from within the app and online. I like that there's an option to create your own cursors, though it can take a bit of time to replace all of them.

The only real question about an app like CursorFX is if you think it's worth it. Some people consider tweaking Windows to be old hack and prefer to stick to its defaults. If you like to play around with Windows and make it look exactly how you like, CursorFX is another tool to add to your library.

What you need to know

• Stardock announced Curtains, a program that allows you to add customizable modes to Windows 10.
• You can use it to customize elements of the OS that can be changed with Windows 10's default light and dark modes.
• Curtains will be available in beta starting next week.

Stardock announced another tool to customize the look of Windows 10. It's called Curtains, and it allows you to create and use customizable styles in Windows 10. The app can edit the look of elements that are affected by Windows 10's default light and dark modes, such as the title bars of applications. Curtains will be available in beta starting next week.

Skinning older versions of Windows was more common than it is on Windows 10. With curtains, it will be easy to customize design elements using styles. The program has several styles preinstalled, but you can also create and share your own styles. Curtains works with high DPI displays and changes elements within any app that supports dark and light mode on Windows 10. While that means Curtains can affect many apps, there will be some apps that it won't work with because they don't support light and dark modes.

Curtains will change the design of the Start button, title bar buttons, and title bars. It can also tweak gradients, shadow opacity, and many other small elements on Windows 10.

The beta version of Curtains will roll out next week to people using Stardock's Object Desktop, which includes several programs that can tweak Windows 10. You can read more about Curtains on Stardock's website.

What you need to know

• Stardock announced CursorFX 4 today.
• This latest update adds support for high DPI displays and Windows 10.
• The tool is available to ObjectDesktop subscribers now, and will come to everyone for $4.99 later.

Stardock today announced the launch of CursorFX 4, the latest update to its moues cursor customization tool. Like a lot of other Stardock tools, CursorFX 4 brings a wide degree customization options, letting you switch up the look of your mouse cursor and the sound of your clicks, if that's your thing. What's new for version four is that it now supports Windows 10 and high DPI displays.

There are also new cursor packs to check out and more. Here's a look at what CursorFX 4 offers, according to Stardock's release page.

• NEW! Windows 10 support
• NEW! High DPI support
• NEW! Increased cursor drawing performance
• Several new cursor packs
• Create your own cursors
• Animated cursors and special effects
• Sound effects for your mouse clicks
• Thousands of cursors are available for download from WinCustomize.com

For now, CursorFX 4 is available in beta for anyone who subscribes to Stardocks Object Desktop suite. Stardock says that it will be available "soon" to everyone as a standalone download for $4.99.

What you need to know

• Stardock released SoundPackager 10 today.
• SoundPackager 10 brings cloud access to thousands of sounds.
• You can get SoundPackager 10 now for $5 at Stardock.

Stardock today launched SoundPackager 10, the latest update to its utility that allows you to easily customize your Windows system sounds. The update adds cloud access to thousands of sounds on tap, along with new sound packages to check out. You can also create your own custom sound packs to share with others.

Changing your system sounds is one of the more tedious aspects of customizing Windows. SoundPackager 10 aims to make it a lot easier by giving you quick access to a ton of different options that can be swapped on the fly. You can also edit any sound package you find if you want to customize things even more.

SoundPackager 10 is available now as a standalone $5 utility from Stardock. It's also available as part of Stardock's larger Object Desktop suite.

When Microsoft moved from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, the company drastically changed tablet mode. Many still long for the fluid shortcuts and touch-centric design of Windows 8.1's tablet mode. Windows 10 works with touch, but it doesn't have the smooth shortcuts and gestures of its OS ancestor. In comes TouchTasks, a piece of software from Stardock designed to bring touch shortcuts to Windows. The concept is excellent, and I think Stardock could make it into a great piece of software with some tweaks and updates, but in its current state, it falls short.

Awkward touch targets that can be hard to find, making TouchTasks challenging to use. Additionally, Windows 10 and TouchTasks often compete for the same spots on your screen, making specific tasks difficult or nearly impossible. That said, some parts of TouchTasks are worth building upon.

What you'll love about TouchTasks

TouchTasks allows you to create customizable touch shortcuts on your PC. There are five touch targets, each of which can be configured to perform specific tasks, such as opening an app, opening a navigation panel, or bringing up the touch keyboard. The idea of it reminds me of Windows 8.1 and when I used my Surface Pro 2 to jump around Windows with touch. Some of the additions seem inspired by Windows 8.1. I love the task switcher panel that allows you to jump between different apps quickly. It's reminiscent of Windows 8.1's Task view and takes up less screen than the Task view page of Windows 10.

The touch shortcuts can be customized easily within the app. You can even launch apps, though you'll have to jump through File Explorer and find the right exe file. It's a really nice idea, and I hope Stardock takes it another step further by adding options for swiping and more.

What you may dislike about the TouchTasks

While TouchTaks is a good concept, it does poorly in terms of execution. Even though you can adjust the size of touch targets, finding them still feels hit and miss. I wish there were an option to swipe in from the edge of the screen because poking away at an invisible touch target is frustrating and inefficient.

In addition to the touch targets being hard to find, they compete with aspects of Windows 10. For example, if you're using a browser and want to use one of the three touch targets towards the top of your screen to return to your desktop, you might end up switching to a different browser tab instead. Tapping on the right of your screen can interfere with a scrollbar, and if you swap your touch targets to the bottom, you'll have to make sure not to touch the wrong part of your taskbar.

Should you buy the TouchTasks?

In its current state, I wouldn't purchase TouchTasks. It's a frustrating execution of a good idea. Finding shortcuts is difficult, and Windows 10 and TouchTasks want the same parts of your screen sometimes. As a result, poking around to find a touch target comes with the risk of closing a browser tab or moving a scroll bar.

Stardock has a good track record of enhancing Windows 10, so there's a chance that TouchTasks will improve over time. I'd love to have the option to swipe in and out of shortcuts if possible. There are plenty of good ideas in TouchTasks, such as the customizable task switcher panel, but TouchTasks isn't worth it right now.

What you need to know

• Stardock released a new utility for Windows PCs called TouchTasks.
• The application assigns tappable tasks to zones on the edge of your touchscreen.
• TouchTasks is available as a standalone tool for $5, though its regular price will bump to $10 after the introductory period.

Stardock is no stranger to creating useful tools for Windows 10, and its latest, TouchTasks, continues that trend with a unique take on how to add some extra features to your touchscreen.

TouchTasks takes advantage of the fact that the screens touch area doesn't end at the edges of the display area. TouchTasks allows you to use this quirk to assign tasks to five zones around the edge of the display.

"By default, TouchTasks assigns the left middle edge of the touch screen to bring up a dock for launching apps," Stardock said in a press release. "The right middle edge is assigned to displaying active windows to switch between. The top right is assigned to bring up the brightness control and the top left brings up the on-screen keyboard."

Each of these zones can be assigned a number of different tasks besides the defaults. You can even set one up as a launcher panel, with a selection of apps appearing when you touch the zone. For tablet use, the zones will also rotate with the display, allowing them to remain in a familiar position whether you're using, say, a Surface Pro 7 in portrait or landscape.

TouchTasks is available now at a launch discount for $5 at Stardock. After the introductory period, Stardock says the tool will be available for $10.

What you need to know

• A new version of Start10 is now available.
• Version 1.75 adds a dark mode to the mix, blending in with Windows 10's dark mode.
• The theme is available across Start10's Windows 7, Modern, and Windows 10-inspired styles.

Stardock is on a bit of a dark mode kick lately. Last week, Groupy added a dark mode of its own, and this week it's Start10's turn.

The latest update, version 1.75, adds a dark mode for Start10's various start menu styles. In keeping with Stat10's purpose, the goal of the dark mode is to make it mesh with Windows 10's dark mode in a way that makes the Start menu user experience better.

If you're unfamiliar with Start10, the tool was created to give Windows 10 users a way to customize the look of their Start menus. You can choose different themes for the menu, ranging from a Windows 7 style to "Modern" and Windows 10-inspired themes. If you aren't quite happy with the way Microsoft changed the Start menu in Windows 10, then Start10 offers some alternatives.

Along with the general layout selections, Start10 includes options to filter searches in the Start menu, quick links for core system functions, an granular folders, and textures for the background and taskbar.

Start10 is available as a 30-day trial for free, and you can pick it up for $5 at the end of the trial. It's also available as part of Stardock's full Object Desktop suite, which includes several other tools for customizing Windows.

Portable (and affordable) power accessories we love

Each and every one of these charging gadgets will keep your favorite gear and gadgets going for longer, and none of them costs more than $30.

VisionTek 8,000 mAh micro-USB power bank ($13 at Dell)

This compact dual-output powerbank can speedily recharge any and all your devices, thanks to a two-amp "fast charge feature," using its micro-USB out port. Its simple design includes an LED indicator, and it costs about as much as a single ticket to the movies.

Panasonic eneloop AA batteries (From $13 at Dell)

Panasonic's rechargeable batteries are among the best available, and just a couple of them will keep your favorite remote, mice or other peripherals powered up when you need them. They're also eco. And the company's affordable charger fits and charges both AA and AAA batteries at the same time.

Belkin Qi Wireless Charging Pad ($30 at Dell)

This unobtrusive Qi wireless charging pad looks good (and kind of like a UFO …) and easily charges all your Qi-compatible device up to 5W. Its LED indicator lights up when you're charging. And it costs just $30.

What you need to know

• Stardock's latest update to Groupy brings support for Windows 10's dark mode.
• Groupy is a utility that lets you combine separate programs in one Windows with tabs.
• Groupy is available to download from Stardock.

A fresh update is now available for Stardock's Groupy utility, and it brings one big feature to the table: dark mode. The new dark mode, which can be seen in the screenshot above, blacks out the tab interface, allowing it to blend in more when you're using Windows 10's dark mode.

Groupy is an app that aims to make multitasking easier across Windows 10. Working much like Microsoft's abandoned Sets feature, Groupy allows you to group apps together in one window, using tabs to flip between them. You can drag and drop separate apps into the same window, preview tabs with mouseovers, and even save groups of apps together for future usage.

Groupy is available a a standalone app for $10 (on sale now for $5), or as part of Stardock's larger Object Desktop utility suite for $50 (currently on sale for $30).

Portable (and affordable) power accessories we love

Each and every one of these charging gadgets will keep your favorite gear and gadgets going for longer, and none of them costs more than $30.

VisionTek 8,000 mAh micro-USB power bank ($13 at Dell)

This compact dual-output powerbank can speedily recharge any and all your devices, thanks to a two-amp "fast charge feature," using its micro-USB out port. Its simple design includes an LED indicator, and it costs about as much as a single ticket to the movies.

Panasonic eneloop AA batteries (From $13 at Dell)

Panasonic's rechargeable batteries are among the best available, and just a couple of them will keep your favorite remote, mice or other peripherals powered up when you need them. They're also eco. And the company's affordable charger fits and charges both AA and AAA batteries at the same time.

Belkin Qi Wireless Charging Pad ($30 at Dell)

This unobtrusive Qi wireless charging pad looks good (and kind of like a UFO …) and easily charges all your Qi-compatible device up to 5W. Its LED indicator lights up when you're charging. And it costs just $30.

The Star Control: Origins universe is set to get a whole lot busier with the release of Earth Rising, a four-part season pass worth of content. The first part, called Aftermath, will be released on December 11, containing dozens of new missions, new alien races, and — more importantly — new ships.

Your role in the universe is the represent humanity, collect materials, develop new technologies and help expand the reach of Earth in our first interstellar starship. Not everyone wants humanity to be successful and new unknown empires are lurking in the shadows just waiting for the opportune moment to undermine our ambitions.

The new season pass will add more content for both end-game players and those just starting out. Star Control: origins Earth Rising is $19.99 with the first part of four being rolled out on December 11. The full game can be purchased for $39.99, which you'll need to enjoy the new content.

$39.99 at Steam

Are you one who gives out friendly hugs to people or are you more a battle-hardened veteran hell-bent on destroying everything? Regardless, Star Control: Origins has a little bit of everything for everyone. It's a game that will not only please fans of the Star Control universe, but also welcome newcomers.

• See at GOG
• See at Steam

Star Control is back

Star Control III was released in 1996. That's how long fans have been waiting patiently for a new game in the series. Developed by Stardock after acquiring the IP, Star Control: Origins is a story-driven game, but it won't bore you or make you wish you were playing something else. You could even go as far as to compare it with RPGs.

I'm a noob when it comes to Star Control. I've not played the previous games, but I happen to be a massive space, strategy and RPG fan, which makes this game right up my street. Once you're ready to get cracking, it's a big place out there so it's best not to delay, especially with the looming threat of extinction. If you've yet to play Star Control: Origins, fear not as you'll not find any spoilers in this review.

Explore the unknown to make friends

You can think of Star Control: Origins as a game made up of different elements. You have the storytelling, combat, resource gathering, planet exploration, questing, fleet management, and ship upgrades, as well as trading and diplomacy. Starting off in the Sol system, which strangely enough is where humanity resides, you're tasked with taking the fastest ship and exploring everything beyond.

The first thing you should do is fire up the galactic map, which shows just how huge this game is. There are thousands of planets to visit, and you can land on each and every one. You may not make it back safely, though, since landing on the more dangerous spheres may prove challenging. To get down to ground level, you need to take one of the landers and you don't have an infinite amount of them.

Planets may contain different weather effects, enemies to take down, artifacts to discover, and resources to collect. These resources are valuable and can result in you acquiring wealth to purchase upgrades to your ship and replace other ships lost in battle. Both space exploration and battles are handled in a top-down view, while planet excavation is done in third-person.

Resources and fancy kitted-out ships aren't going to be all we need to save humanity, which is where alien races come in. Throughout your travels, you'll encounter new races that can either become close allies in the wars to come or refuse to see reason and attack you on sight. That, or you can choose to become an exterminator.

That's the base of the game. You will rinse and repeat the space exploration, resource gathering, fleet engagement, and ship management to reach a point where you can further the story and get to the endgame. Is it an unendurable grind fest? Not at all, though I could see how someone could view it that way and simply not enjoy what's on offer. I believe Stardock has worked out a solid balance, aside from the planet lander section.

Out of this world performance

One aspect I absolutely love about Star Control: Origins is how the game refuses to hold your hand. Sometimes you may see a helpful pointer to where you need to go but largely you'll be running around trying to figure out what to do for quests. This makes it feel much more natural, requiring you to pay attention to dialog, utilize your Captain's log and objective panels interchangeably, and explore.

An interesting feature of Star Control: Origins is how the AI continues to go about its business while you're off doing something else. Each ship has a task it needs to do, which makes the universe feel alive as you pass by friendly and not-so-friendly vessels in outer space. And venturing into enemy territory will quickly turn from a pleasant journey to a dash to safety.

The graphical style of Star Control: Origins is cartoon-like. It works well in the space setting and overall theme, especially when compared to older Star Control titles. The dialog is voiced and the music is excellent. Stardock has refined its UI-creating capabilities over recent years and the interface in Star Control: Origins is very easy to get along with.

Performance is rock solid. I used an early pre-release version of the game for the majority of this review, which had some bugs here and there, but I have since checked to see if these have been addressed in the most recent pre-launch patch, and everything checks out. No performance hits were experienced and the added benefit of controller support allows for a more relaxed couch experience.

I would have liked to have seen a mechanic included that allowed for territories to expand and contract depending on universe events, as well as player input. The map clearly shows boundaries, and I immediately assumed this to be what it represents, but the game simply shows you areas where you're likely going to have a bad time with enemy encounters. It's a missed opportunity that wouldn't add too much complexity to the overall experience.

Well worth the wait

Star Control: Origins offers a vast amount of hours of entertainment. It's a game that doesn't take itself too seriously but offers enough to keep you hooked.

Pros:

• Massive universe to explore.
• Solid gameplay, in and out of combat.
• Great dialog with unique races.
• Fun battles with additional game modes.
• Mod support will lead to replay-ability.

Cons:

• Some may find it a little repetitive.
• Ground content.

If you enjoy space games, exploring the unknown, establishing communications with potential allies and enemies, as well as shooting stuff out of space, you'll enjoy Star Control: Origins. If you're a fan of the previous games in the series, you need to check it out. It's a very polished, well-rounded title.

It's also priced well at about $40 on both GOG and Steam.

• See at GOG
• See at Steam

This review was conducted on a PC with an overclocked AMD Ryzen 5 2600 CPU, NVIDIA GTX 1070 GPU, 16GB of RAM, running Windows 10 with a copy provided by the publisher.

The latest video trailer from Stardock for its upcoming space RPG Star Control: Origins was prepped for Gamescom and offers a look at some of the gameplay mechanics players will be able to experience at launch. Titled "By any means necessary," it shows the dire situation humanity finds itself in, being hunted by a mysterious alien race that seeks our extinction.

It's an interesting move by the company to switch up the tone of Star Control: Origins in this latest teaser. We've grown accustomed to the humorous alien races we'll be meeting but this trailer depicts a different side to the game. One where you could wreak havoc across the universe in a bid to save our species.

How you will go about saving humanity is up to you. Will you be a force to be reckoned with or a new friend to those who could use a little help? Star Control: Origins will be released on September 20 for PC.

Related: Our thoughts on the Star Control: Origins preview

• See at GOG
• See at Steam

Adam Baldwin, better known as Jayne Cobb in the hit series Firefly and movie Serenity, is going to be starring in Stardock's upcoming space RPG Star Control: Origins. The game is scheduled to be released on September 20 for PC, offering fans of the original series to explore a new universe and (hopefully) save humanity from extinction. I checked out the preview to see how the game handles in the Sol system and came away wanting more.

To make the experience even better, Stardock has brought onboard someone with vast amounts of acting experience. Baldwin will not be portraying a role on your ship, nor will he be part of the Scryve. He will, instead, will be playing a rogue mercenary commander of the Menkmack, pursuing the player on behalf of an unknown client. "Great stories matter, and I'm looking forward to being part of the story the Stardock team is telling with Star Control: Origins," Baldwin commented on the announcement.

As aforementioned, Star Control: Origins will be released on September 20 for PC. Stardock currently has a discount running for those who wish to get ahead and preorder for $34.99.

• See at GOG
• See at Steam

I'm going to be frank, I've yet to play the original Star Control games. Not that they don't appeal to me — I am a big space game fan — I've just never got round to them. When I heard that Stardock was developing a sequel, I wanted to hold out toying around with the older titles and see what the developer had planned for the series in 2018. After spending around three hours playing through the small preview twice, I came away impressed. Here's why.

• See at GOG
• See at Steam

Blast from the past

The essence of Star Control is the same. Sporting a combination of space battles, hyperspace travel, resource gathering, diplomacy, ship management and upgrades, and planetary exploration, Star Control: Origins takes place in our universe in the year 2088, when you're the captain of humanity's first true starship. Things quickly go south and you're tasked with leading the charge in forming alliances, dealing with enemies, and everything else in between.

A hostile alien race known as the Scryve has carved out a nice slice of the universe and deems humanity as existing without authorization. The punishment is extermination, which quickly turns this exploration mission into one of desperation and survival. Luckily, we're not alone out there, and other races aren't too fond of the Scryve. It's our job to explore the universe, uncover artifacts and secrets, upgrade and recruit ships, and halt the Scryve plans.

How you go about that is up to you. Think of Star Control: Origins much like a blank sheet of paper, and you play as Bob Ross. It's time to paint a wonderful picture, hopefully depicting the human race flourishing.

Graduating space school

After spending a few hours in the Fleet Battles beta, which opened the section of the game dedicated to ship combat that is set to be managed with a ranked system and more, I fired up the main game preview with no prior Star Control experience. From the get-go, it's clear that this is a Stardock game. The familiar user interface and humor are present, allowing you to lose yourself in the massive universe while having a blast.

You're introduced to some excellent music and the ability to name your character and ship. All dialog is voiced, and in true RPG style, there are various options available in conversations that can lead to uncovering more information and taking on quests. The presentation is solid with animated hand-crafted backgrounds. Ships look brilliant, as you'd expect from Stardock and its long history with Galactic Civilizations.

After being given your ship (the first starship humanity has created), you're tasked with finding out what happened to the Lexites. This mission is halted dead in its tracks when you discover a crashed alien ship. I'll not spoil too much here since the venture into unknown space is part of the Star Control: Origins experience, but you quickly discover the Scryve. During all this, you need to somehow not kill off all your landers as you hit planets for resources and any unknown POIs.

Landing on a planet is a challenge (and a mini-game of sorts), requiring you to keep within the safe trajectory. Venturing out will damage or destroy a lander. How everything works together results in some rather addictive gameplay, especially if you're fond of resource gathering, exploration and getting the most out of locations. And you're going to be doing a lot of this in Star Control: Origins.

The map is huge. Each system is populated by planets that can be scanned and potentially explored on the surface. It's of paramount importance you keep your kit up to par with upgrades and whatnot to handle more challenging environments. Some planets will outright kill your crew if you go unprepared.

The two quests you're handed in this preview show just how blind you really are in the universe. In some instances, the game will point you in the right direction, while in other instances a character will provide some hints as to where you should look. The Tywom you aid in the Sol system, for instance, said that some parts he needs to repair his ship landed on planets nearer to the Sun. It narrows down the search, but still leaves you to figure it out.

And that about sums up all I could do in the preview. One positive of this preview was that it left me wanting much more, after getting into the groove.

Launching from the preview

Ahead of the release, I expect the development team to continue ironing out bugs and other issues with the game. There were a few that I encountered in the two playthroughs, including some lip-sync glitches, and long load times. There wasn't much unlocked to play around with, being restricted to just the Sol system, but it did allow for testing of major mechanics, including exploration and combat.

If you've been waiting for this game, it's going to be well worth it. Star Controls: Origin is set to be released on September 20 for $39.99 (price is $34.99 during pre-order) on PC. Stardock plans to roll out a console version of the game in 2019.

• See at GOG
• See at Steam

Star Control: Origins is still in active development and is expected to be released in September. Stardock continues to slowly roll out beta updates for the already available Fleet Battles game mode to provide those who have already preordered the game an insight into supplied content. The latest update, beta 3, includes a number of new ships, maps, as well as an ability to scavenge wreckage to obtain power-ups.

Here's the Fleet Battles beta 3 changelog:

• New Ships
  • Kzanti Intimidator: Nimble ship equipped with deadly proximity mines and a Repulsor that can knock back enemy ships to a safer distance.
  • Arillou Observer: Familiar-looking grey-skinned aliens equipped with cloaking technology.
• New Weapons
  • Cloak: Makes your ship invisible for a short amount of time.
  • Octimator: Short range blaster that fires in eight directions all at once.
  • Repulsor: Knocks back and damages nearby enemy ships; great for weak ships that want to keep their distance.
  • Salvage: An ability that automatically picks up nearby wreckage instead of having to fly over it.
  • Proximity Mines: Stationary traps that can be placed and automatically detonate if an enemy ship enters range.
• Power-ups:
  • Yellow: Acceleration.
  • Green: Crew (Health).
  • Red: Energy Regeneration.
  • Blue: Speed.
• New maps
  • Callum's Deep: A mysterious dark star with negative mass serves as a focal point for this map.
  • Maelstrom: Large map littered with a lot of planets and massive asteroids.
  • Athara: A distant star system filled with exotic worlds.
• Performance Improvements
  • Camera system update.
  • Improved multiplayer performance.
  • Updated fonts and UI polish.
  • AI vs. AI mode.
  • Press "TAB" to highlight ship.

But that's not all, the team has also released the first batch of alien content packs, which include the Arilou, Chenjesu, and Mowlings. Each content pack contains concept art, lore, and new music that can be downloaded from the Stardock store and Steam by anyone who pre-purchased Star Control: Origins.

Star Control: Origins will be released on September 20.

• See at GOG
• See at Steam

Stardock has been around for ages in both the software market as well as being a producer of top quality PC games. The company is also about offering some pretty good value for gamers, which brings us to the latest game bundle, called Colonize the Universe. This PC game bundle contains four quality titles, including RimWorld, Planetbase, Galactic Civilizations III, and Offworld Trading Company. All for $39.

The total retail value of the bundle is around $109, which offers a huge $70 discount. And these aren't some stocking fillers either. RimWorld is an incredibly well-rated, developed and popular colony management and strategy game, while Offworld Trading Company offers a more relaxed, yet sinister enterprise approach to heated competitive play. Planetbase allows you to settle down on harsh planets and battle climates that seek to destroy you, and finally, Gal Civ III is Stardock's flagship galactic empire behemoth.

The promotion bundle is available until August 21. Check out the games on offer by hitting the link below. (Just be sure that your PC meets the recommended requirements to get the most out of your purchase.)

See at Stardock

Star Control: Origins is an upcoming title in development by Stardock. The Scryve — an alien race — wishes to destroy humanity and it's down to you and your not-so-great spaceship to navigate the universe and form some alliances. You'll be meeting the Tywom, Mu'kay, and Menkmack, among others and the latest preview trailer shows off some gameplay and new characters.

In the footage, we can see some game mechanics that include exploring planets on the surface, communicating with alien species, speeding around and attempting to build up some form of resistance against the impending doom. There's a lot of humor to Star Control: Origins, with the leader of the Tywom commenting on how many nukes humanity has, and if anyone on the vessel wants a massage.

The game was updated at the start of May with some new features and content in the accessible public beta (for those who have pre-ordered), and the game is expected to be released later in 2018.

See at GOG

Offworld Trading Company is a game about business and aggressive expansion on planets other than Earth. Starting on a level playing field with the competition, it's down to you to manage resources, expand to cover valuable areas and buy out competitors. While the game requires a financial contribution from your personal stash to get started, Stardock is removing this requirement this weekend on Steam.

Not only will you be able to play the full game against the capable AI, multiplayer access is also granted, which allows you to play with up to eight other people in a competitive match. And if that wasn't enough, Stardock has also slashed the price of Offworld Trading Company to celebrate the free to play promotion, and can now be bought for $19.99. The free weekend (and discount) ends at 1 p.m. on May 6, so be sure to get cracking now.

See at Steam

I'll keep this short and sweet since you should glance at these improvements and get into the game to really enjoy what has been added. Stardock has rolled out Star Control: Origins beta 2, which brings with it new ships, weapons, custom match options, as well as other substantial improvements. If you're not familiar with the game, it's a sci-fi strategy experience that tasks you with piloting, upgrading and dominating with your very own ship.

Here are the highlights:

• New ships, including the Mu'Kay Grasper, Greegrox Swarm, and Lexite Interceptor
• New weapon components, including the ink blob, shield, death ray, and more
• Custom match options including private lobbies, arena size, map selection, and more
• Custom-created ships are now available in multiplayer mode
• Improved graphics and custom pilot animations

Want to check out Star Control: Origins and see what Stardock has been up to? You'll need to pre-order the game on GOG or through the company's official website. Further details on the beta can be found on the Star Control forum.

See at GOG

• Star Control: Origins beta preview

Following its launch in December, Stardock is rolling out the first big update for its latest Windows utility, Groupy. Among the new features in Groupy version 1.1 is the ability to save groups of tabs, along with better integration with Microsoft Office apps.

Groupy can already be used to bring a tabbed browsing experience, akin to that of your browser, to any app. However, if you have a set of apps that you open up every day, whether for work or play, the new saved groups feature will come in handy. Now you can save any existing group of tabs that you'd like to come back to later. Once the group is saved, you can open it back up at any time via a drop-down menu accessed by ellipses on an active group.

Complementing the new saved groups feature, Groupy now sports deeper integration with Microsoft Office applications. Now, you can save groups of Office applications with their associated active files.

Microsoft may be working on its own tabbed "Sets" feature, but Groupy currently fills that niche. If you want to give it a shot, Groupy is available at Stardock for $9.99. The app is also included as part of Stardock's Object Desktop suite for $29.99.

See at Stardock

Humanity is a species evolved around intrigue. We're always wondering about different things, particularly with the universe and space. What's really out there? Will we ever see a Death Star be created within the Milky Way? This human quality is also something Stardock has used to craft the latest expansion to its hit game Galactic Civilizations III, aptly named "Intrigue."

Set to roll out sometime this spring, Stardock CEO Brad Wardell delved into some detail about how galactic governments will work and what could be in the cards for humanity when we enter the space-faring age.

Is anybody out there?

In a blog post, Wardell mentioned the time it took the Curiosity rover to send a signal back to Earth from Mars: 12 minutes and 48 seconds. Mars isn't too far from Earth considering the seemingly endless size of the universe. It took nearly thirteen minutes for us to beam data between two planets in our own solar system. Problems arise when one needs to know immediately about something, be it an issue with a spacecraft or other time-sensitive data.

Asking for an update from someone who may be located on Mars could take up to half an hour for a response to come through — taking into account the time it takes for signals to hit the red dwarf and then to return to Earth. As Wardell notes in his post, this "leaves a lot of time for uncertainty, for doubt, for fear ... for intrigue." Should a space station in orbit experience difficulties, personnel on Earth would have to wait to find out the current situation and if there was any loss of life.

That's but one issue with humanity's expansion into space. "Let's presume humans get to Mars in the 2030s. Let's also presume that at some point soon, we actually plant a colony on Mars. Are those colonists citizens of Mars? Or are they citizens of their respective, Earthbound, nation-states?" Wardell wrote. The notion of a nation-state comes into question when talking about different planets, and how the species is going to approach such issues is going to take much thought and discussion.

Would the colony wish for independence from Earth? Would the political climate on Earth affect extraterrestrial territory?

For the Commonwealth

Stardock is wanting to emulate some of these problems to make the initial early game feel more like an expansion of a species, rather than simply copying and pasting people to different planets. In Intrigue, after a third planet has been colonized, citizens begin to demand a new type of government. "Much of our time has been spent trying to think through how these government types might evolve. These governments would be different based on civilization," Wardell wrote.

Wardell makes an interesting point, "In the early stages, we would likely operate as some sort of colonial government. That is, Earth would call the shots and each world would have its own governor that would be elected by the people. But the people wouldn't have much to say regarding events back on Earth." Each planet would play the part as a voting bloc until population numbers rise enough for it to challenge for independence or at least a different form of intergalactic government that caters to all citizens.

In Intrigue, Galactic Civilizations III will allow the player to select from various forms of government. It will even be possible to form a sort of commonwealth, allowing the AI to take control of planets and take on some of the micro-management burdens to free up more time for defense and expansion planning. How each civilization approaches various issues and strains that occur as part of taking to the stars will dictate how unified the populous will be under a single banner.

It's easy to forget that Galactic Civilizations as a series has been more than about shooting down huge fleets of ships. It's also about managing a successful and stable empire, keeping the population not only in order but happy with how things are progressing. Intrigue is set to add more tools to the player to tackle a more realistic approach to expanding and building a galactic empire.

The year 2018 should be an exciting time for space strategy game fans. Galactic Civilizations III and Stellaris are two popular titles in the genre that are implementing new features that reflect how humanity is set to advance on our current trajectory. New projects are underway with the goal of taking humans outside our own solar system, and it's interactive entertainment with immersive experiences that make us all hope that one day we'll be able to see Earth from afar.

Until then, we have the upcoming Intrigue expansion for Galactic Civilizations III to enjoy, which is slated for release sometime this spring.

See at Steam

Stardock has rolled out a new update for Galactic Civilizations III, introducing some major AI improvements — something gamers always appreciate. Version 2.8 also makes a bunch of balance adjustments, as well as adding some minor new features. Those who enjoy forming new civilizations in the massive space strategy game will be able to enjoy a more challenging experience.

The studio has taken full advantage of 64-bit computing and multi-core support since more gaming machines are sporting more than four cores. The team developed a "semi-genetic algorithm based AI" that allows the computer to play a little bit more human-like. This is major for AI play since it's easy to combat the system after learning patterns and techniques employed by the scripts.

The new "supreme commander" AI will observe and send priorities for computer-controlled civilizations, which offers some unfamiliarity that comes with playing multiplayer against live opponents. As well as this rather sizeable improvement, the developer also looked at making it easier for players to manage tall and wide empires, allowing them to better compete as smaller, well-run empires.

Finally, work has been done to make the game more approachable for newcomers without sacrificing depth to more experienced veterans. There's a full changelog over on the community forum and if you don't already own the game, Galactic Civilizations III can be purchased on PC for around $30.

• See at GOG
• See at GMG (Steam)

The universe can be a dangerous place at the best of times, especially in Galactic Civilizations III. Stardock announced a new expansion pack that's set to release in Spring 2018 titled Intrigue. This latest piece of DLC will focus on politics and the formation of governments, alliances, and commonwealths.

You won't just be able to form governments with the upcoming DLC installed. Stardock is also throwing in a Galactic Market for buying and selling resources, as well as new technologies, planetary improvements, weapons, and more. There's also the excellent Galactic News Network (GNN) that keeps you up-to-date with happenings across the universe.

Intrigue for Galactic Civilizations III will land in Spring 2018. More details on the upcoming DLC can be found on Steam.

See at GMG

Experienced CEOs already know how challenging Offworld Trading Company can be but Stardock believes it can increase the difficulty further for those with a number of wins under their belt. Limited Supply adds unique challenges to the formula, offering scenarios with different rule-sets that affect resource management. Players will have to pay closer attention to buying or selling food, water, and oxygen.

No longer can you simply buy all the resources you require if you have the available cash — you will need to re-evaluate strategies and adjust to the new rules to overcome challenges. More than a dozen new missions are included, as well as a series of puzzles without a stock market or competitors that require some thinking outside the box.

Lead designer Soren Johnson commented on the announcement, noting that this DLC "breaks the core rule of the base game. Buy what you want, when you want - as long as you've got the cash - doesn't apply here anymore. We've got changing environments, evolving tech, and some serious restrictions on what sorts of resources the player can buy and sell. Sure, you don't have to worry about another company buying you out, but there's bigger concerns in these scenarios - trust me."

If you're playing Offworld Trading Company and have hit a wall, Limited Supply is likely what is needed to get you back into the swing of things with a new way to play. Limited Supply is available for $4.99.

See at Steam

Stardock has announced Object Desktop 2018, the latest version of its suite of Windows customization tools, is now available. Releasing just on the heels of the launch of Stardock's latest tool, Groupy, Object Desktop 2018 includes it among a collection of more than a dozen apps that allow you to tweak your desktop in a number of ways.

Object Desktop comes with tools as simple as Shadow FX, which lets you add drop shadows to windows, or as complex as SpaceMonger, which helps you to free up storage space on PCs and in the cloud. Here are some of the highlights of what's included:

• Groupy: Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs as easy as a browser.
• Fences: Automatically organize your desktop shortcuts, icons, and tasks.
• Start10 / Start8: Return a familiar Start menu to Windows 8.x and 10.
• Multiplicity: Control two PCs with only one keyboard and mouse.
• DeskScapes: Personalize your desktop wallpaper with animation, pictures, and video.

Other apps include WindowsBlinds, Launch, IconPackager, WindowsFX, and Tiles.

The tools in Object Desktop aren't going to appeal to everyone. But if you like to tweak and customize every little aspect of your desktop, they can come in handy.

You can pick up Object Desktop 2018 now via Stardock. The suite normally fetches $49.99, but Stardock is currently running a promotion that drops the price to $24.99 alongside the launch of Object Desktop 2018.

See at Stardock

Microsoft may be working on its own tabbed app solution, but if you want to add tabs to any app on your PC now, Stardock's latest app, Groupy, is worth a look. While already available to Stardock's Object Desktop users in beta since November, Groupy is now available for everyone.

Groupy essentially lets you take the tabbed experience from your browser and apply it to any app on your PC. Not only can you use Groupy to consolidate different instances of the same app in one window, but you can bring other apps together in a single window as well.

Using Groupy looks to be pretty simple as well. It operates by simply dragging and dropping apps onto each other to create tabs within a window. This lets you group up programs for specific tasks you may be working on, or simply consolidate all of your open apps into a single window as you see fit. Managing the tabs works just as you've grown used to with a browser, with Groupy allowing you to switch between them with a click. Mouseover previews are also supported so you can preview the contents of a tab before clicking over.

We recently spent some time with Groupy and came away pretty impressed. Microsoft's upcoming Sets feature in Windows 10 may offer a similar set of features, but it's not available just yet.

If you're interested, Groupy is available now for $9.99 on its own. Stardock's Object Desktop users will also be able to use Groupy as part of the suite, which is currently on sale for $29.99.

See at Stardock

The upcoming title, Star Control: Origins (available on GOG and Steam), now has an early access beta ready for testing, to celebrate 25 years since the launch Star Control II. It's a limited experience, only including the ship creator, fleet battles, and online play, but it's an early look at what's to come. And this beta is only unlocked by preordering the game for $24.99.

• See at GOG
• See at Steam

What Star Control: Origins is all about

The game itself will take you to various parts of the galaxy, engaging in battles, taking on quests, collecting resources, and kitting out your ship with awesome upgrades. There's also the multiplayer element called Super-Melee (available in this beta). For those of you who may be familiar with the series of games before Stardock bought the rights from Atari, this isn't a sequel of sorts, it's more like a game set in a different universe. It'll be interesting to see if Stardock gets the balance just right to please new and old fans. I, myself, never really got into the original series.

The fleet battles allow you to assemble a number of ships in a fleet and engage either the AI or humans in multiplayer. You can design and build your own ships using the crafting system, which is in a rather basic state (this is beta after all). It reminds me much of the system used in Galactic Civilization and should feel familiar to anyone with experience with the strategic series of games. As an added bonus, Stardock even allows ships to be shared and downloaded so you can add ships from other players if you're not much of a shipbuilder.

Everything looks good, namely the ships and visual effects. As for the combat, it's OK. I had some fun taking down ships with different designs but found the controls to be slightly difficult to get my head around (WASD and mouse). Weaponry is restricted to primary and secondary mounts, handled by the two mouse buttons, but it took some time for me to grow accustomed to how the various weapons worked. The AI messed me up multiple times. Luckily, Star Control: Origins is set to be released next summer, so I'm sure I'll be able to get some more practice in before then.

It was fun and I enjoyed creating some whacky-looking ships that wouldn't really work in reality. It's difficult to get a feel for how the game will play out in this early beta since it's fairly limited, but I'm liking what I see thus far.

While I'm mostly against preordering games in general, especially when it comes to early access and other exclusive content, the beta is rather fun and allows you to get your hands on the game in its current state. If you wish to preorder a copy, it's available on Steam and GOG right now for $24.99.

• See at GOG
• See at Steam

Stardock, the company behind a number of handy tool for Windows, has announced Groupy, a new utility that lets you use tabs in any app. Available now in beta, Groupy not only lets you consolidate different instances of the same app into one window, but you can also merge different apps into tabs in the same window.

Groupy works by allowing you to drag and drop apps onto each other to create tabs in a single window. For example, you could drag Spotify on top of file explorer to create a single window that contains both apps in their own tabs. Further apps can be added to the tabbed interface by dragging and dropping them onto the window. Managing tabs works just as you're used to with browser tabs, allowing you to click between them, or even mouse over tabs to preview their contents. It's certainly an interesting idea that could come in handy if you're constantly juggling a large number of windows.

Groupy will be available as a standalone product for Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 users in December for $9.99. Owners of Stardock's Object Desktop, [available for $29.99), can check it out now in beta.

See at Stardock

Galactic Civilizations 3, the latest installment in the popular 4X space series, is currently on sale as part of Stardock's mid-week Steam sale. With 55 percent (70 percent for the Gold Edition) subtracted from the asking price, it's possible to pick up the strategy gem for just $13.49 — and if you're upgrading from either Galactic Civilizations 1 or 2, it'll be just $6.74. Finally, Galactic Civilizations 3: Crusade is on sale for $14.99.

The Steam sale is combined with the release of a new Mech DLC for shipbuilders. Priced at $2.99, this new DLC includes new frames, beams, hooks, heads, and thrusters in the new robotic theme. There are even two new color styles to boot.

Here are the store links you need:

• Galactic Civilizations 3 — $13.49.
• Galactic Civilizations 3: Gold Edition — $26.96.
• Galactic Civilizations 3: Crusade — $14.99.

This promotion will come to an end on October 27.

Updated October 24, 2017: A correction was made. The Gold Edition is actually 72 percent off, not 60.