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April 2026
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201 articles
- April 25
- April 24
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- Devs behind canceled Xbox game are hiring for an unannounced AAA open-world title — are they reviving one of my favorite action game franchises?
- Windows 11 is finally giving you real control over updates with new options to skip releases, pause longer, and stop forced restarts
- Windows Insider reboot begins: Here's what's new in the first-ever Experimental Preview build
- FFXIV announces new expansion Evercold during Fanfest 2026 keynote, and whoa, it already has a release date — here's where we're going after Dawntrail
- "I want to make the right decision": Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says Microsoft will "make some calls" on exclusive games, but won't rush to make "the fastest decision"
- This tool brings Linux to Windows 95 without using virtualization
- Xbox Free Play Days has acquired MLB The Show 26, Age of Mythology: Retold, and more for all Xbox players to enjoy — this upcoming weekend only
- Copilot Keyboard launches in Japan, but it’s the return of the dolphin “Kyle” stealing the spotlight
- "We care deeply about this game, and we play it right alongside you": World of Warcraft team apologizes for the state of the game — as patch 12.0.5 frustration boils over
- April 23
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- Everything announced for Xbox and PC at the ID@Xbox and IGN April 2026 Showcase — new indie games on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Play Anywhere, and more
- Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred will release earlier than expected in the US, and teams up with Overwatch for some of the coolest skins I've ever seen
- "Xbox will be where the world plays": Microsoft confirms Xbox is once again looking into acquisitions, huge manifesto for the future detailed
- Echo Generation 2, the long-awaited sequel to one of my favorite indie Xbox RPGs, has announced its release date with an insane new trailer
- Xbox is back as Asha Sharma scraps Microsoft Gaming in favor of the 'Return to Xbox' initiative
- Xbox has a new Game Pass tier in testing: "Starter Edition" appears in the code, includes limited cloud streaming and first party games (UPDATE)
- Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced remake finally has its release date after its full reveal, and preorders are live — oh, and there's a Collector's Edition, too
- Did Blizzard just drag Korn out of retirement for Diablo 4 Lord of Hatred?
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 03 Reloaded has a release date and a HEAP of content, as well as a dose of RoboCop
- File Explorer feels outdated again after this Files update
- Forza Horizon 5 sold 5 million copies on PS5 — proving at least for live service the move away from exclusives makes sense
- “It’s your Rewards birthday” — Microsoft rolls out a Birthday Boost with bonus points and a push to re‑engage users
- "Pearl Abyss delivers": Crimson Desert's biggest Xbox patch so far brings major gameplay changes and meaningful updates
- Microsoft explored buying Cursor before SpaceX lined up a $60 billion deal
- Microsoft partnership has "limited our ability": Leaked memo reveals OpenAI's open hostility towards one of its biggest investors
- "Over 2 billion matches restored": I'm diving back into my Bungie-era Halo stats with this incredible fan-made 'Halo Archive'
- "If it continues like this WoW will inevitably die": World of Warcraft players beg Blizzard to slow down — for all the wrong reasons
- April 22
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- Microsoft says Xbox Game Pass is getting more old Call of Duty games in 2026 after price drop, loss of day-one releases — which ones do you want to see?
- “Personally, I’d be open to a Halo extraction shooter” — Halo Studios reportedly abandons battle royale and pivots to a different style. Here’s what that means.
- "If we can have this beautiful machine ... that's what I want to see": The dev of this Xbox Game Pass hit is working on 15 projects and opening 2 new studios
- “Teaming up again” — Xbox CEO signals deeper Discord integration built around Game Pass flexibility and cross‑platform play
- “We wanted to make sure the shape mattered” — Double Fine explains how KILN’s sculpted art defines its combat and characters
- Metro author confirms Metro 2039's protagonist main character is voiced, unlike Artyom and a first for the series — and "he’s got things to say"
- Clipchamp is going backward: Microsoft will retire iOS app instead of making an Android one
- “Checkout, right in the app?” — Copilot’s shopping upgrade adds mobile checkout and merchant data from 500,000 sellers
- MAINGEAR’s MG‑1 MK II upgrades CPU, cooling, and expandability to turn a compact mini PC into a true desktop replacement
- Microsoft has been trying to fix Windows 11's annoying white flash bug in File Explorer for over 2 years: Has it finally done it?
- "Did Ookla just leak Windows vNext UI?": Or is this just a macOS mockup on Windows 11
- Did Asha Sharma kill another ill-fated Xbox project? The "Xbox Mobile Store" seems to be dead. [UPDATE: Xbox responds]
- Microsoft says Windows 11’s built-in 'Defender' antivirus is "usually sufficient" for most PC users: "I haven't used a 3rd party antivirus since XP"
- Microsoft sued for £2.8B in the UK — what that means for Azure customers
- "A heartfelt thank you": After 28 years, Microsoft legend, former Halo exec and Xbox Film/TV lead Kiki Wolfkill has left the company
- April 21
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- Baldur's Gate 3 director reacts to Xbox Game Pass removing Call of Duty from day one access alongside price drop — "It is a good thing creatively"
- "I think I know someone who would be perfect for that role": Is former Xbox director Larry Hryb 'Major Nelson' teasing interest in Microsoft's Xbox senior manager position?
- "Inspired by the winding Touge roads of Japan": This limited Forza Horizon 6 Xbox gear caught my eye, and I'm tempted
- Surface fans are now 3D‑printing the hardware Microsoft won’t build
- “It may feel different at first”: Microsoft Teams will stop you from leaving meetings or raising your hand accidentally
- “Coming soon”: It looks like you'll finally be able to spend Microsoft Rewards directly on your Xbox console
- "Protect and elevate the Xbox brand": Microsoft hires for major new comms role, pointing to a potential shift in PR strategy
- OpenAI’s new feature is just like Windows Recall: Chronicle makes its Codex smarter by remembering your screen — Microsoft tried that, and it blew up in controversy
- "Project Helix will be available as a 1st party Xbox console": Microsoft pushes back on swirling third-party hardware rumors
- Parents Decide Act pushes Windows 11 and others towards forced age verification, collecting "any information as is necessary"
- April 20
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- Buy the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance RPG on Steam right now, and you can help save its most iconic castle IRL — it's crazy cheap for Steam Medieval Fest
- Xbox's Starfield just topped US game sales for the first time since launch after its PS5 release — is Bethesda's RPG selling well on PlayStation after all?
- “Why can ThinkPads do this but Surface can’t?” — A perfect repair score exposes Microsoft’s hardware gap
- Microsoft and Xbox just announced a new games showcase coming this week — here's when it is, what to expect, and how to watch
- A new wave of Xbox Game Pass titles lands this week, including a Vampire Survivors spin‑off and classic Final Fantasy
- “Grim prognosis”: Former PlayStation CEO questions Game Pass as new Xbox CEO would "love to chat."
- "The vault is solid, the delivery truck is not" — strong key storage, shaky transfer: why this Windows Recall feature raises new security questions
- Microsoft is finally adding the right kind of AI support to Windows 11 as it struggles to combat AI popularity on Mac
- “This company reeks of desperation”: Microsoft is giving away $1 million and a Mercedes-Benz just to get you to use Edge
- April 19
- April 18
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- Zorin OS 18.1 adds guided migrations, stronger app compatibility and wider hardware support, making switching from Windows far more practical for millions [clone]
- “Looking into this” as Xbox’s new CEO steps in after an Insider update reportedly bricks a Series S and raises fresh concerns
- “A surprise BAFTA result lands” as South of Midnight outperforms expectations and a new winner takes the spotlight
- “Yeah… it’s not so good,” as Microsoft confirms major Rewards changes in May and what it means for anyone who relies on daily point earning
- "Is there a better introduction to PC gaming?" This incredible LEGO PC build shows how far creativity can go — I'm inspired to build my own
- April 17
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- After Xbox's big Metro 2039 reveal, it just got the best deal on 4A Games' franchise I've ever seen — get every Metro game dirt cheap while you can
- "Hold management accountable. Protect the devs": Former Halo art director implores fans to direct anger "where it belongs" after allegations of "unlawful acts"
- "It really is coming along": Xbox games head Matt Booty was asked which upcoming game from Microsoft stands out — here's what he said (and why I agree)
- Xbox Game Pass price gets a massive price cut — Here's the details and the fate of Call of Duty for 2026
- Microsoft plans major Start menu upgrades for Windows 11 with better customization and performance: Users will soon be able to resize it and toggle off entire areas of Start
- "Cloud Gaming with monthly time limit": Microsoft's code hints at an Xbox Game Pass 'TRITON' codename and new 'Duet' tier
- Microsoft Edge for mobile could make me ditch Chrome for good: Free YouTube background play without interruptions
- Sniffnet is my new go-to app for network monitoring — Free, open-source, and taking on GlassWire and Wireshark
- April 16
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- Battlefield 6 is finally cooking for real with its 2026 roadmap bringing awesome maps, a real server browser, and more — but there's still one big problem
- "We can’t wait to tell you our new story": Read Metro 2039 dev 4A Games' letter to the community following Xbox's reveal of the long-awaited shooter
- “The heir to the Stealth Pro is here” as Turtle Beach unveils a new flagship headset with upgraded sound, smarter features, and preorders already live
- Xbox’s latest update rolls out with smart improvements that strengthen the platform, but the real test is sustaining momentum
- Xbox and Paramount have its Call of Duty movie release date, but it's pretty far off — here's exactly when the film is coming out
- "Darkest ever" Metro 2039 looks absolutely insane, but also painfully sobering — Xbox First Look showcase offers our first glimpse at 4A Games' next epic
- "An unmatched upgrade opportunity": Intel's new Core Series 3 mobile CPUs target "value buyers" as PC prices rise
- "There are over 5,700 combinations.": I attended Panasonic's USS Intrepid press conference and saw 10Gbps, Wi‑Fi 7 and on‑device AI in the new Toughbook 56, but should you swap out your Toughbook 55?
- "The fastest path towards reinstatement": Microsoft responds to developer backlash after account termination — but identity verification remains non-negotiable
- Microsoft's VP just reworked a Windows 11 feature to make it "comfortable" for macOS users — if they ever decide to switch
- Microsoft thinks you'll want an Xbox Controller and 1 year of Microsoft 365 and Xbox Game Pass over a MacBook Neo
- "Thank you to every Greymane": Crimson Desert shows no signs of slowing down, topping over 5 million sales within a month
- April 15
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- Xbox's Starfield gets Nintendo Switch 2 rating days after its PS5 release, keeping hopes for a port of Bethesda's RPG alive — here's what we know
- "The stuff that we're seeing is really well put together": Xbox game publishing chief says Forza Horizon 6 takes him back to the golden years of racing games
- Microsoft's Xbox games lead Matt Booty says its studios are in a "culture of cultures" and work together more than you think — Blizzard is even helping with Fable
- Rumored feature coming to Steam that will help you track prices, and Microsoft should copy it immediately for Xbox and PC
- Xbox and Best Buy want to help you build your first video game in 2026
- Microsoft prepares display upgrades and two stage launch for new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop with Intel and Snapdragon chips this year
- ID@Xbox makes a bold claim — “Games launching day one into Game Pass… do very well on other platforms as well”
- "Users can now simply ask what happened": AppControl's optional AI integration gives you in-depth PC diagnostic history in plain English — It works with popular LLMs, but I'll use offline models for added security
- Our friends at Tom's Guide are upgrading: Here's what it means, and how our sister site's overhaul affects Windows Central
- I've finally found a loophole to block a specific type of YouTube ads, and it won’t cost you a dime: Just a little teamwork
- Microsoft veteran says the Task Manager was under 80 KB because "small was fast and fast mattered" — but wishes "we had carried more of that taste, not the suffering"
- "The Lotus guys probably figured it didn't matter to be wrong": Excel thinks 1900 was a leap year because of a small shortcut taken in the '80s — I'll think of this next time I want to cut corners
- April 14
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- Starfield's sales on PlayStation 5 make me wonder why Xbox even bothered... was this worth devaluing exclusivity?
- Overwatch Season 2 just dropped with new hero Sierra and a launch on Nintendo Switch 2
- "We have ideas that we want to get out there": Bethesda's Todd Howard says Xbox's Starfield and Fallout 76 were "creatively different" by design, for better or worse
- Your Xbox Storage Expansion Cards can have a life after the console; as it turns out, you can use it as PC storage
- Subnautica 2 publisher changes from Krafton to the game's devs on Xbox and Steam amid Early Access legal battle — is Unknown Worlds indie once more?
- Metro creator Dmitry Glukhovsky says Metro 2039 "will be darker than anything you've seen before" ahead of full reveal — is Artyom's story finished?
- Surface Hub is dead: Microsoft pulls the plug on its 50-inch and 85-inch collaborative touch displays
- Microsoft says its MAI-Image-2-Efficient AI model slashes costs by 41% while boosting speed by 22% (and maintaining quality)
- "Another example of Game Pass disparity": Kingdom Come Deliverance II runs natively on ARM with Steam, but not the Xbox app
- "The new best way to land QD-OLED on a budget?": Alienware just unveiled a new gaming monitor promising high-end specs at one seriously low price
- "Xbox users spend more than PS5": Grand Theft Auto V leak reveals GTA Online earnings — as consoles dominate PC
- "This is a pattern, not a coincidence": Halo Studios report highlights alleged leadership failures and staff treatment concerns
- "Zero detections across 69 engines": A fake Windows 11 24H2 update is slipping past antivirus to try and steal your passwords
- April 13
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- Ex-Microsoft Xbox lead says he thinks Phil Spencer "did a fantastic job," and believes new CEO Asha Sharma has an "edge" — "I'm very optimistic."
- Microsoft's new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says Game Pass "has become too expensive for players," suggesting a price change — "we need a better value equation"
- "It will reshape the PC landscape": A new rumor says NVIDIA is entering final negotiations to buy a large PC company — Dell and HP stocks jump in the wake, but I'm not so sure
- Forza Horizon 6 full achievements list appears online ahead of release, revealing all 57 challenges and the full 1000 Gamerscore breakdown
- Microsoft reveals major price increases for all Surface PCs as RAM crisis continues: Flagships now $500 more expensive than at launch
- Windows 11 no longer forces you to install updates when setting up your PC — ending mandatory 30 minute update process forever
- Qualcomm's next PC gaming move on Snapdragon X starts with 25 "adapted" titles from NetEase, Marvel Rivals included
- "It started as a meme, but I think I might actually leave this on my PC": Enthusiast builds a "Superdome" PC cooler out of Noctua fans, and it works way better than anyone expected
- Microsoft is shutting down Outlook Lite on Android and pushing users to the full Outlook app — a move that raises questions about Microsoft’s long‑term mobile strategy
- 'Metro 2039' confirmed for "Xbox First Look" show: New format will spotlight games throughout the year.
- "More secure, reliable, user-friendly": Microsoft explains why it quietly killed Windows 11's phone activation option
- "Digital sovereignty is not optional": France's government is ditching Windows to reduce its reliance on "American tools"
- April 11
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- Microsoft terminated accounts tied to VeraCrypt, WireGuard, and Windscribe — developers push back
- Is Valve prepping its own AI for Steam?
- “Truthfully, I still think Bethesda is just part of something that is not authentic and is not genuine” — Pete Hines reflects on Bethesda after Microsoft’s acquisition
- “As of January 2026… Drew Murray is now working on the StarCraft shooter” — this report could be the clearest sign yet that the project is moving forward
- April 10
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- “Actually lets you test its new features”: Why Microsoft’s Windows 11 Insider overhaul finally feels like something I can trust
- Snapdragon X2 laptops need a quick update to stop getting the wrong graphics drivers
- "This genuinely puts what Microsoft makes to shame": Someone built the best-looking app for Xbox Cloud Gaming — on Apple TV
- Microsoft says Windows 11's bugs are all "resolved": At least the ones it knows about — and new bugs are impossible to avoid
- How Red Bull Wololo turned Age of Empires into a headline esports event
- "Repeated choices to serve their business over their customers": Mozilla accuses Microsoft of using 'dark patterns' to force its Copilot AI on Windows 11 users
- April 9
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- The original Xbox was going to be a lot like Project Helix, says ex-Microsoft gaming exec — here's why the first plans for a console-PC hybrid didn't work out
- "We are rocking on bringing new Xbox console features!": Xbox is soliciting ideas for new features directly. Here are the best suggestions so far.
- Former Microsoft Xbox VP says AI is "the big question mark" for the future of gaming — he believes "There won't be a line where it's 'AI' and 'not AI' anymore"
- Windows and Xbox are now prioritizing user feedback in a huge pivot ... but why now? I can't help but be suspicious — it smells a bit like panic.
- "This is exactly the kind of thing driving me away from Windows": even Edge users don't want this new feature
- Xbox handheld owners finally get the one feature they’ve begged for, and it instantly fixes one of the platform’s most annoying problems
- "Gaming just got smoother on Snapdragon": You can finally customize your gaming gear on Windows on Arm
- Microsoft finally begins removing Copilot from Notepad on Windows 11 — but the AI still persists
- Fresh Xbox discoveries point to "Duet" codename: A possible companion to "Triton" and more Game Pass subscription tiers?
- NASA's Artemis II photos will give your Xbox dashboard a serious glow-up, and I didn't even know you could do this
- Microsoft broke Windows 11 search by trying to fix it: Here's what happened
- "Listening to how we can keep making it better for you": Windows Insider meetups are coming back after years away, connecting Windows 11 users with Microsoft
- "Reclaiming my screen's real estate": Google Chrome is finally launching vertical browser tabs to catch up with Microsoft Edge
- April 8
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- Ex-Microsoft gaming VP reveals why Xbox was greenlit despite how “unlikely” it was — “they saw it as a hedge against the threat” of Japan in tech
- Oop, Xbox's Halo: Campaign Evolved release date may have just leaked thanks to a retailer's mistake — it might have a Deluxe Edition with Early Access, too
- Xbox is finally giving Achievements a huge update with several new features — “We stood up a dedicated team to focus on fan feedback”
- ChatGPT’s refusal to admit mistakes is getting out of hand, and this exchange proves it
- If you bought an Xbox controller recently: Read this — Microsoft says you might be eligible for free batteries.
- Dell is scrubbing its failed Premium brand from existence, but who cares when you can save almost $900 on an XPS 14?
- "Raptor Lake will continue to be abundantly available": Intel exec makes a case for its older chips as RAM prices soar, but are they actually worth buying in 2026?
- Here's a closer look at the gigantic Forza Horizon 6 Japan map, easily the greatest in the series' history
- "I hope NVIDIA's legal team lets this slide": I dive into OpenNOW, an open-source GeForce Now alternative that's trending in cloud gaming — for good reason
- "An error was made": We asked ASUS why Zenbook prices are suddenly soaring, and we have bad news
- “I’m already sold”: Xbox’s new Forza Horizon 6 limited‑edition accessories are (almost) here — and they might be even cooler than I expected
- Microsoft's Azure cloud platform problems stem from AI, according to a former engineer: "Those disruptions built up."
- April 7
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- Xbox Game Pass is losing one of its best games at the worst possible time — get it now while it's cheap before it leaves Microsoft's service
- Xbox Game Pass' April lineup brings this surging Call of Duty game, and one of last year's biggest additions is coming to more tiers — plus, Hades 2, DayZ, and more
- "This was not opportunistic. It was precision." — How North Korean hackers used Microsoft Teams and Slack to compromise Windows PCs with an elaborate ploy
- "Make file recovery more predictable": A major change to OneDrive is about to roll out, and I happily welcome anything that improves sync performance
- “Copilot is in a survival scramble”: I break down Microsoft’s chaotic AI strategy shift — and why I’m still trying to figure out where this all leads next
- Microsoft dismisses a trending Bing-era disclaimer that "Copilot is for entertainment purposes only": There's no reason for you to worry about this outdated language
- April 6
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- Whoa, delisted Xbox 360 games just showed up on the Xbox Store — did Microsoft leak new Xbox Backwards Compatibility games?
- STALKER 2 is getting a free new content update this month — I break it down and reveal why it sets the stage for what comes after
- "If it's this easy, why don't more Windows apps use a PC's NPU?" — Microsoft MVP demonstrates how he added meaningful AI to an app in just 10 minutes
- "Gameplay so good I nearly missed Age of Empires 4's new DLC announcement" — Red Bull's $250,000 Wololo Londinium tournament wraps up today, and you don't want to miss the finale
- "What's going on?!!": World of Warcraft just created a truly insane, epic moment in gaming history — I had no idea Blizzard was still capable.
- April 5
- April 4
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- “We’re finally ready to show more”: The more I explore this State of Decay 3 info, the more I’m left wondering how far Undead Labs is willing to go.
- A new Halo leak claims the campaign is content‑complete — but the customization details raise bigger questions
- “Threatened retaliation on first contact”: As I dig into a former Halo art director’s claims, I’m left questioning what else Microsoft didn’t want anyone to see.
- April 3
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- This fan-made Xbox website brings back the golden era of Xbox 360 voice chat messages — its distortion makes your mic sound just as bad as it did 20 years ago
- Ex-Bethesda dev on Fallout and Skyrim says Todd Howard has too many yes men around him — "A lot of people were afraid to say no to Todd, and I think that hurt him"
- You can finally play this long-awaited Xbox game soon — its studio is hosting alpha playtests next month, and you can sign up for them now
- Upcoming indie game Boxroom emulates physical game collections with your Steam library: "Economic depression simulator"
- CD Projekt CEO weighs in on the impact of Xbox Game Pass and Asha Sharma's new role: "She’s a super smart person."
- April 2
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- Microsoft Outlook frustrates Artemis II astronauts live from space — Microsoft's reputation for shoddy software now stretches to the moon
- Xbox and Blizzard are hiring for "an upcoming AAA open-world shooter" that uses the Unreal Engine — is this the new StarCraft FPS we've been waiting for?
- 'World of Warcraft: Midnight' Season 1 story end suggests to me that Blizzard really needs to rethink its story design processes — This could be much better, and far more satisfying with only a few tweaks.
- Call of Duty studio head at Xbox dev is retiring after over 36 years — he shipped 42 games, 18 CoD titles, and this criminally underrated shooter I love
- Microsoft's buggy apps reach deep space — "I have two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one of those is working," says Artemis II commander
- “This pricing changes the conversation”: HP’s first Snapdragon X2 Elite laptop arrives for hundreds less — and I’m wondering if Intel should be worried
- Microsoft now has an AI that can turn hours of audio into text instantly — and businesses will love it
- Xbox FanFest goes global: Microsoft confirms FanFest events in Germany, UK, Mexico, Japan, and more
- “I didn’t expect these swings”: Steam’s March survey reveals PC hardware trends that caught me off guard
- Microsoft wants Edge to automatically open by default every time you turn on your Windows 11 PC
- US PC sales grew in 2025 as companies scrambled to ditch Windows 10, but 2026 could be a disaster in waiting
- April 1
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- Minecraft players just got a preview packed with sulfur caves, bouncy springs, and chaotic features that feel straight out of an April Fools update. Plus, some actual April Fools update.
- I’m skeptical of AI writing tools — but Speechify for Windows won me over. Here's why this new voice‑writing app is fast, simple, and weirdly addictive.
- Windows 11 Task Manager is finally getting deeper insights into NPU usage in AI PCs — No more trying to guess which apps are using the specialized hardware
- Nintendo's crusade against Palworld just got a reality check from the US Government as "summon and fight" patent rejected
- The RAM pricing crisis continues to attack affordable computing with more (and significant) hikes on Raspberry Pi but there are "there are some brighter spots in the picture"
- Xbox just made PC game development way easier — and it could speed up how fast games ship
- Microsoft Teams finally fixes the Enter key (yes, really) and adds more long‑awaited tweaks — Here is everything else new in March 2026
- Fallout’s second season just rewrote Prime Video’s expectations — here’s what Amazon revealed
- Microsoft’s growing AI influence is under scrutiny in the UK — here’s what’s happening
- Microsoft 365 will soon have helpers that take actions for you — here’s what that means
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