I'm starting to wonder if the developers at SCS Software — makers of the incredibly popular duo of Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator — ever sleep.

Beyond a raft of upcoming DLC projects that have been confirmed to be in the pipeline, we're also now starting to see some base map reworks being teased. For American Truck Simulator, a reworked Nevada is on deck, while for Euro Truck Simulator 2 the UK is well in-progress.

Both of these games are pretty old at this point, at least so far as the base content goes. Euro Truck Simulator 2 has been with us since 2012, 14 whole years, while American Truck Simulator celebrates 10 years in 2026.

The newer content being released, be that Illinois on the American side or Nordic Horizons in Europe, are generally of better overall quality than the earliest maps. But these rework projects are designed to bring Nevada and the UK "up to the quality standards" of the newest map DLCs.

There's another reason this is great news, too. While PC players have been trucking for potentially a decade or more at this point, both games are confirmed for a console release. We don't actually know when that's supposed to be, but it would make an abundance of sense to show some love to the base game content before they drop, right?

Neither rework project is simply a lick of paint. New content is being added to the maps in the process. Here's what we know about each of them so far.

American Truck Simulator Nevada rework

Nevada's rework will see SCS return to one of the original locations in American Truck Simulator and rebuild many of its locations from the ground up.

Existing locations will be refreshed, but SCS is also going to be adding new ones and expanding the current road network. Nevada is a vast state, but it can also feel a little empty at times.

One new location confirmed is Fallon, to the east of Carson City. Its inclusion will also bring missing sections of US-95 that run through the city, where currently this area of the map is inaccessible.

Nevada's rework will also introduce a number of new depots to increase the opportunities for different delivery routes across the state. Previously, the iconic Route 66 had been reworked.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 UK rework

Similarly to Nevada, the UK's rework won't just be a splash of fresh paint. It was revealed earlier this month that with the rework, Inverness will be added as the latest new location in the very north of the map.

The UK rework was revealed in late 2025, so there has been significant effort already put into it. Other locations highlighted so far include Stonehenge, and Leeds will also be added to the map as a new city location, and the EuroTunnel will be getting a revamp, too.

SCS also says consideration will be made with regards to the planned Coaches DLC. The UK is a pretty significant part of the Euro Truck Simulator 2 map, and as a Brit myself, I hope they take as much time as they need. It's probably because I'm a Brit that I look at the current incarnation and feel it's lacking, but everything teased so far is looking really promising.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator on console... eventually

The long-awaited arrival of both of SCS Software's truck simulators to both Xbox and PlayStation was revealed at last year's Gamescom during the Future Games Show. There's still no word on when that's expected to happen, but the most recent dev talk on the topic can be seen above.

However, there's no denying that reworking large chunks of the base game content is a great thing to see with the console releases still to come. After all, these will be the first impressions new players get.

Gamescom is almost around again for 2026, and SCS has already confirmed its presence with its biggest booth yet, an exclusive partnership on something with both Thrustmaster and Volvo, and the chance for attendees to check out some upcoming content.

The console version has not been discussed yet, but if there was a place to offer an update, there would be worse places to do it.

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Windows 11 includes dozens of useful features hiding in plain sight, and Reddit users are sharing the ones that make the biggest difference every day, or as the thread's title notes, "life-changing." A lot of users learn Windows through years of habits. They know how to open apps, browse files, and install programs, but Microsoft has accumulated dozens of small improvements that rarely receive attention.

The interesting thing about Reddit discussions around Windows 11 is that the "life-changing" features are rarely the flashy ones. Users aren't talking about the features Microsoft usually puts front and center. They're talking about small workflow improvements that remove friction dozens of times a day.

A clipboard manager may save only a few seconds each time, but when you use it 20 times a day, it becomes one of the most valuable features on the system.

In this guide, I'll list 10 features that, according to Reddit users, are "cool" and many people may know about.

1. Clipboard history turns copying into a productivity tool

One of the most repeated recommendations in the Reddit thread was Clipboard history.

Redditor yanni99 explained: "WIN + V, the most underrated and unused feature in Windows 11. I use this 20+ times daily."

This feature keeps a history of copied text and images, allowing users to retrieve something they copied earlier instead of losing it shortly after something else is copied.

Why it's useful

Traditional copy and paste assumes users only need one piece of information at a time. Modern work does not work that way. People constantly copy links, passwords, snippets of text, screenshots, and data between apps.

The hidden benefit is not just recovering old clipboard items. It changes how you work because you stop worrying about overwriting something important.

Insight

I have found this especially useful when writing, troubleshooting computers, or comparing technical information. Instead of repeatedly switching between browser tabs, documents, or notes to re-copy the same information, Clipboard history acts as a temporary workspace where I can quickly access multiple pieces of copied content.

Quick tip: Pin frequently used clipboard items so they survive restarts.

2. Snipping Tool is more than screenshots

A lot of users still think Snipping Tool is only a screenshot utility.

Reddit user picardo85 pointed out: "The snipping tool allows for screen recording." Another user highlighted: "Also does OCR! and the OCR is GOD TIER."

The Snipping Tool app on Windows 11 now combines screenshot capture, screen recording, text extraction from images, basic image editing, and GIF creation from short recordings.

Why it's useful

For years, users installed third-party apps for these tasks. Microsoft quietly turned a basic utility into a lightweight alternative for many everyday situations.

The text extraction capability is particularly useful. You can capture text from screenshots, scanned documents, error messages, or images without manually typing everything.

Insight

This is one area where the company has improved the operating system significantly but failed at communication. A lot of users still download third-party screenshot tools without realizing the built-in option has caught up.

Quick tip: Use the "Windows key + Shift + S" keyboard shortcut to bring up the Snipping Tool toolbar for quick access to the features.

3. End Task from the Taskbar finally fixes frozen apps

The popular Microsoft engineer jenmsft joined the Reddit discussion to highlight this feature: "In Settings > System > Advanced, you can enable showing an End Task option directly when right clicking apps in the taskbar."

This adds an "End Task" option directly to the Taskbar context menu. Previously, closing an unresponsive app usually required opening Task Manager, finding the process, and ending the task manually. However, now, users can terminate applications faster.

Why it's useful

It's a small feature, but it addresses one of the oldest frustrations, which is a frozen application blocking your workflow.

Insight

This feature is particularly useful for power users, developers, and anyone testing applications. It's faster than the traditional Task Manager approach and avoids navigating through multiple windows.

4. Windows Sandbox is a disposable PC inside your PC

Several Reddit users mentioned Windows Sandbox. For example, Redditor mikel_me wrote: "Windows Sandbox and I no longer need to have VirtualBox, lose dozens of GB of storage to test an .exe I don't trust."

Windows Sandbox creates a temporary Windows environment that disappears when closed.

You can use it to test unknown software, open suspicious files, and try settings without affecting your main installation.

Why it's useful

Some users download utilities, Registry tweaks, and scripts from the internet. The problem is that testing unknown software on your main system carries risk.

Sandbox provides a clean environment without maintaining a full virtual machine.

Limitation

Windows Sandbox is only available on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

Also, since this is a limited Windows environment of around 100MB (not a full installation of the operating system), not every script may work correctly.

If you have to test complex scripts, the best approach is to use a virtual machine.

5. Winget command makes installing apps easier

Another feature mentioned by Reddit users that caught my attention was Windows Package Manager.

For instance, user relevant-frog explained: "I find it faster to install programs this way rather than looking for the program's website."

If you run commands like "winget install APP-NAME" and "winget upgrade --all" users can install and update applications from the command line.

Why it's useful

After reinstalling Windows 11, one of the biggest annoyances is rebuilding your software collection.

The winget command changes that. Instead of searching dozens of websites, users can restore many applications quickly.

Insight

This is one of Microsoft's most underrated changes because it brings Linux-style package management convenience to Windows.

6. Snap Layouts are better than dragging windows

Reddit user chella1cm highlighted: "Win+Z opens the Snap Layouts, even with number shortcut."

Windows 11 introduced improved window snapping, but many users still drag windows manually.

You only need to use the "Windows key + Z" to open the Snap Layouts menu, allowing you to quickly arrange apps on the desktop.

Why it's useful

Modern monitors are larger, ultrawide displays are common, and multitasking has become normal. Snap Layouts turns window management into a structured workflow.

7. Windows key + Shift + Arrow is a multi-monitor lifesaver

One commenter (AMonkeyAndALavaLamp) wrote: "win+shift+arrows to move stuff between monitors." This shortcut instantly moves the active window between monitors.

Why it's useful

Anyone with two or more displays knows the frustration of dragging windows across screens. This shortcut solves that instantly.

It's a perfect example of a feature that does not look impressive in Microsoft's marketing material but improves daily use.

8. Voice Typing works almost everywhere

A Reddit user (mrnedryerson) mentioned: "Win + H Voice Type Anywhere." This feature lets users dictate text in almost any text field.

Why it's useful

Voice input has improved significantly with newer speech models. It's useful for drafting emails, writing notes, accessibility, and quickly entering text.

A lot of users never try it because they assume speech recognition is still the same as older versions.

9. Reliability Monitor makes troubleshooting much easier

One Reddit user recommended running perfmon /rel, which opens the Reliability Monitor tool.

Unlike Event Viewer, Reliability Monitor presents crashes, failed updates, driver problems, and application errors on a simple timeline, making it much easier to identify when something started going wrong.

Why it's useful

When the system suddenly becomes unstable, many people immediately assume they need to reinstall Windows 11. Reliability Monitor often points directly to the update, driver, or app that triggered the problem, saving time and unnecessary troubleshooting.

10. Advanced Display settings: your monitor may be running slower than expected

One Reddit user shared a practical discovery: "Your screen might be more fluid than you think!"

A lot of monitors ship configured at 60Hz even when they support higher refresh rates.

Users can check Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and select a higher refresh rate.

Why it's useful

A 120Hz or 144Hz monitor running at 60Hz wastes the hardware users paid for.

This is one of the simplest performance upgrades available because it requires no hardware change.

Windows Central's Take

I've always found it interesting that some of the most useful features are also its least promoted. Reading through this Reddit discussion reinforced something I've noticed over the years, which is that people aren't asking for more big features as much as they're looking for tools that make everyday tasks faster and less frustrating. That's why Clipboard history, the Snipping Tool's OCR, Windows Sandbox, and winget kept coming up over and over again.

I also think Microsoft could do a better job of surfacing these capabilities. A lot of them have been built into the operating system for years or have quietly evolved into genuinely useful tools. Yet, they're still hidden behind keyboard shortcuts or Settings pages that most people never visit.

In my experience, discovering one of these features often has a bigger impact on your daily workflow than many of the headline additions.

If you haven't explored beyond the basics, it's worth taking a few minutes to try some of these recommendations. You might find that Windows 11 already includes a tool you've been downloading third-party software to replace.

What are your favorite underrated Windows 11 features? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

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

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

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I've been keeping an eye on global PC shipments as part of the ongoing RAM crisis for more than a year, and it seems that the component shortage has finally caught up with markets.

Global PC shipments dropped 4% year-over-year in Q2 2026 according to a new study by Counterpoint Research. That drop resulted in roughly 65 million shipments for the quarter, ending a growth run that had held since Q1 2025.

This report lines up with what IDC predicted a few weeks ago: that global PC shipments will decline by 11.3% for the full year. In the same report, IDC analysts also predict that Q4 shipments could fall by a whopping 20% year over year.

Why are PC shipments dropping?

The culprit behind the drop in PC shipments is the same as the one driving tech prices up seemingly across the board: soaring DRAM and NAND prices, driven largely by the sudden glut of AI data centers around the world.

PC manufacturers have basically had to choose between raising consumer prices and eating raised component costs, and most have chosen the former. It's no wonder that PC shipments have finally started to drop off.

Counterpoint notes that commercial PC buyers are proving to be the most resilient, helped along by ongoing Windows 11 migration from Windows 10. Without this uptick in PC sales, the overall picture would likely look a lot worse.

ASUS gained the most out of all Windows PC makers

ASUS has undeniably been producing some of the best Windows laptops around lately, and I'm not exactly surprised to see it's the only Windows PC maker that saw a rise in global shipments.

It improved by 4% year-over-year in Q2 2026, as Lenovo, Dell, HP, and other brands fell by up to 9%. It's worth noting that Apple had the best quarter, seeing its MacBook shipments climb by an impressive 13%. The popularity of its budget MacBook Neo undoubtedly has something to do with that number.

What this means for you when shopping for a new PC

Counterpoint expects component prices to remain elevated throughout the second half of 2026. That's bad news for anyone who's on the lookout for budget PCs, as there are bound to be more price increases as OEMs struggle to maintain margins.

My best advice for anyone holding out for a cheap Windows PC? Don't. Just don't. As I've explained in my previous RAM crisis coverage, relief on pricing isn't expected anytime soon ... at least not before the end of 2027.

If your current PC doesn't seem like it's going to live through another couple of years of dutiful service, it might be best to buy sooner rather than later despite the inflated costs already hitting consumers.

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JLab, one of the most popular headset manufacturers, has been known to make keyboards and mice from time to time, some of which are so good they rank up with some of the best PC accessories out there for a fraction of their competition's budget.

One such peripheral is the JLab Epic Wireless Keyboard, which is currently being promoted at Best Buy along with other JLab accessories with a 14% discount for $59.99 (was $69.99).

Why buy the JLAB Epic Wireless keyboard?

Our friends at TechRadar gave this mid-range keyboard an above score of 4/5 stars, proclaiming that, "If your ideal keyboard includes a pleasingly tactile dial for media control, the JLab Epic Wireless is a great choice."

It's not hard to see why, as the JLab Epic Wireless keyboard features a lightweight, sturdy, and clean design that's easy on your wrists despite not having a bundled wrist rest support.

It also has rapid responsiveness when it comes to input detection for typing (while being near-silent so it doesn't cause any distracting noises), an intuitive JLab Work App to help you remap its keys, a 2000 mAh rechargeable battery that will last you two years, and a pleasing Smart Media Knob dial to let you adjust the volume or playback of any media you're watching on your PC.

Add on top a reasonable MSRP of $69.99 that's regularly on sale, and you've got yourself a sweet wireless keyboard fit for any hard-working typist looking for a straightforward tool to help get typing reports or homework done in a jiffy on a budget.

FAQ

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Halo: Campaign Evolved has launched in early access, which has been met with glowing praise from critics and scorn from Xbox players who are having trouble accessing the early access period due to technical difficulties.

However, if you're planning on playing this game on PC or Steam or Xbox on PC, but are stuck with old hardware thanks to rising prices on newer PC components caused by the ongoing RAM Crisis, we have good news.

Our friends at PC Gamer have discovered through rigorous testing that Halo: Campaign Evolved can be played at low settings and still look almost as good as it does on Ultra settings on PC.

For further context, PC Gamer tested Halo: Campaign on several PCs running NVIDIA RTX 3070, NVIDIA RTX 4070, NVIDIA RTX 5080, and AMD RX 9070 GPUs, and noticed there were very few differences between Low and Ultra settings when it comes to the graphics.

The biggest differences were blood textures and weapon lighting being slightly more detailed on Ultra, whereas foliage details, lighting softness, and shadow textures were only barely more detailed.

As for the game's framerate performance, PC Gamer noted that differences are much more prominent in this regard. Running Halo: Campaign Evolved on Ultra settings cuts the performance down by at least 20% across multiple rigs, particularly if the DLSS upscaling setting is set to Ultra.

Meanwhile, keeping the game at low graphical presets keeps the game's framerates somewhat high without a dip in their consistency, without the need for DLSS upscaling.

For example, running the game on Ultra graphical presets at 1440p with Ultra DLSS settings saw Halo Campaign Evolved achieve 60fps (RTX 3070), 84fps (RTX 4070 Super) , and 127fps (RTX 5080).

Whereas running the low graphical presets at 1440p with low DSLL settings saw Halo Campaign Evolved achieve 82fps (RTX 3070), 148fps (RTX 4070 Super), and 172fps (RTX 5080), giving much higher framerates with minimal changes in graphical fidelity.

PC Gamer even tested Halo: Campaign Evolved out on the Xbox ROG Ally X and discovered that running the game on Ultra or Native upscaling tanks its performance hard. PC Gamer recommends running the game using the Xbox Rog Ally X's Very Low preset option to get the performance out of it.

PC Gamer concluded that unless you have a monster PC rig that can push hundreds of frames per second or if you don't mind playing the game at around 30fps, they recommend playing the game on Low settings for the best balance of performance and appearance.

Though they also recommend turning off the motion blur, as it makes the game look pretty terrible.

Now, while I plan on playing Halo: Campaign Evolved on Xbox Series X after hearing how awesome it is from my colleague Brendan Lowry, who gave it 4/5 stars, I'm glad PC players won't be forced to upgrade their rigs to play it at acceptable levels.

We are living in a dire age of tech where it's getting harder for PC gamers to play the latest games without scouring the internet for increasingly scarce and pricey components needed to run them, so any AAA game that's optimized enough to be played on older hardware without losing too much graphical fidelity is a blessing we'll gladly take.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is available in early access and will be released to the general public on July 28, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Windows and Steam.

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Recently, I've found myself a bit irritated by my dbrand Xbox Ally Killswitch case. It's not bad, but its bulk and sandpaper-feeling finish made me wonder if there are viable alternatives out there. I found myself hitting up an old friend, JSAUX, who steered me right during my Steam Deck and ROG Ally days, to see what they had on offer.

I purchased the latest JSAUX ModCase from the company's website last week, and it arrived promptly a few days later. My dbrand case set me back $75 when I picked it up; this JSAUX option cost $38 on Amazon by comparison. Despite how much I'd paid for the dbrand case, it adheres so tightly to the chassis that removing it felt virtually impossible without scissors ... so I thought I'd go all in and risk it on JSAUX's option. Turns out that I have no regrets whatsoever.

The JSAUX ModCase for Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X is by a country mile far better value, with superior features and a far better feel in the hand than dbrand's apparently more "premium" offering. I would argue that this is, without a doubt, the best Xbox Ally accessory probably every owner should buy.

Better feel, features, and value

The JSAUX ModCase continues the firm's long-standing tradition of supporting handheld gaming PCs, with accessories for everything from the Steam Deck to the Nintendo Switch. At the time I'd purchased the dbrand option, JSAUX wasn't offering an Xbox Ally case, but since they've finally jumped on board, I thought I'd give it a try.

Immediately you'll notice the better feel here. The ModCase has smoother, less abrasive texturing on the grips. For some reason, dbrand insists on using a sandpaper-style finish on its grips, which feels very unpleasant. The JSAUX ModCase is also noticeably lighter, although that'll likely be because it uses more rubber over hard plastics. The dbrand Killswitch would probably win in a ballistics test, given that it has hard plastics at more pressure points within the shell, but I think the JSAUX option is more ergonomic.

The JSAUX option is by no means a slouch in the hardiness department, though. The back panel is hard plastic, rather than rubber, and the corners and grips adhere closely to the Xbox Ally's most vulnerable corners. It also comes with a detachable front cover shell to protect the screen in travel.

If you have an Xbox Ally or Ally X, this is the case you should pick

The Xbox Ally's weird shape likely makes it odd to develop products for; it's definitely designed with ergonomics in mind above all, and that's ideally what a PC gaming handheld should do. However, it does have some somewhat irritating design flaws. The soft plastics creak and groan under strain, and although I've been using it for a year, I'm not exactly confident to take it on the go without some form of protection.

Given how expensive these devices can be, you absolutely should consider putting a case on it if you are a frequent user and heavy traveler/commuter. The JSAUX option is something I will personally guarantee to not disappoint. It simply has a better feel than alternative options; its modular nature makes for a lot of additional functionality for enthusiasts, and it's just simply better value. I'm not sure I could ever recommend alternatives that cost over 33% more for little to no discernible gain.

JSAUX has a banger here, and every Xbox Ally / Xbox Ally X owner should take note.

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LG found itself in hot water after its monitors were spotted automatically installing adware onto PCs. Using certain LG monitors would result in a monitor app being installed silently. That app would then show pop-up ads for McAfee.

Backlash against LG was so strong that Microsoft had to step in. While it's quite common to see McAfee preinstalled on a PC or bundled with other software, LG took things further.

The situation was placed in the spotlight because of an investigation by Gamers Nexus. That outlet did an excellent job breaking down the situation. The title of their video, "DO NOT BUY: LG’s Spyware TVs, Monitors, and Wiretapping Concerns," made me curious if people will stop buying LG monitors.

I've seen outrage pointed at LG across the web, but will that lead to an actual boycott or just complaints on social media?

People may be upset by the McAfee ads LG forced onto PCs, but will the outrage be enough to shift buying habits? Take a look at this quick roundup of LG monitor reviews from our sibling sites:

• ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (T3): LG UltraGear 45GX950 review: The Rolls-Royce of gaming monitors
• ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (Tom's Guide): I just tested this 45-inch OLED gaming monitor — and it's so good it could be your next TV
• ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (Tom's Hardware): LG UltraGear 52G930B 52-inch 5K gaming monitor review: Extreme in every respect
• ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (TechRadar): LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED review: This is the 4K OLED monitor of my dreams

That's a lot of stars to overlook. I understand people's concerns about LG installing an app without notification then showing ads on PCs. I just doubt it will change people's buying habits.

I predict a chorus of "I can turn the ads off" from those who choose to stick with LG monitors. And honestly, I don't blame them. If you've had a monitor work well for years and are looking for a new one, it makes sense to stick with what you know works.

Others will claim that the problem is fixed since Microsoft stepped in and LG stopped pushing McAfee.

The flip side of all this is that as good as LG monitors are, they have to compete with the best computer monitors from other companies. Competition is fierce in the monitor segment, and it won't take much to sway some customers to look at a different brand.

LG is often one of the first companies to make monitors with certain specs. I've covered loads of UltraGear monitors that are the first in one category or another. But the reality is that many monitor companies buy components from the same sources. Heck, quite a few get their displays from LG.

After any LG monitor sits alone as a unique combination of refresh rate, size, or curvature for a while, other companies catch up.

Does LG's adware move cross a line for you, or is it a non-issue now that the pop-ups are gone? Vote in our poll and sound off in the comments below.

The gaming rumor mill has recently spun one of the biggest yarns in gaming and tabletop history, if it's to be believed, for a supposed leak has been spotted for an upcoming crossover between the popular MMORPG World of Warcraft and the historic tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons.

According to tabletop RPG news fansite ENWorld, this 'leak' comes from a post on Roll20, an online virtual tabletop website that is a partner of Dungeons & Dragons.

It reveals that Dungeons & Dragons is making a tabletop RPG version of World of Warcraft titled 'D&D World of Warcraft', which was planned to be announced at a tabletop gaming convention called Gen Con next week on July 30, 2026.

The post was quickly removed, but ENWorld managed to save a preview image and images related to the announcement via its web page, including the title post saying "Pre-order D&D World of Warcraft!".

ENWorld has reached out to Dungeons & Dragons' publisher, Wizards of the Coast, for confirmation of this supposed 'leak' of validity and will post an update when they have received word back from them.

Windows Central's take

A good chunk of World of Warcraft's lore, setting, characters, and monsters are very heavily inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, and in turn, World of Warcraft even influenced Dungeons & Dragons, particularly its 4th Edition, where a lot of its game mechanics became very gamified (speaking from experience here when I saved my group countless times as a healing-focused Cleric in D&D:4e).

Now Wizards of the Coast is no stranger to crossing its franchises over with others, as Dungeons & Dragons' sister game, Magic: The Gathering, has had crossovers with Final Fantasy, Warhammer 40,000, Stranger Things, Tomb Raider, Ghostbusters, Hatsune Miku of all things, and many more.

So the idea of a D&D World of Warcraft tabletop RPG would make total sense and would make for one heck of a crossover game, that is, if it turns out to be true. I know I would be down for roleplaying sessions where the DM would allow us to enact goofy fanfiction adventures where we could change events of Warcraft's lore in hilarious ways.

Either way, we will have to wait and see if this supposed leak turns out to be true at Gen Con next week on July 30, 2026, and remember, always take rumors and leaks with a grain of salt.

Do you think this supposed leak of a Dungeons & Dragons tabletop RPG adaptation of World of Warcraft is true, and if it is, would you be up for it?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know in the comments, on Reddit, or in the poll.

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In a new video, Microsoft Executive Vice President of Windows+Devices Pavan Davuluri, and Corporate Vice President of Surface Brett Ostrum have sat down to talk about what's next for Surface, including more details about the upcoming Surface Laptop Ultra, hints at more surprises to come this year, and even acknowledges people's want for a Surface Studio monitor and Surface Mini.

In the 20 minute video, Davuluri and Ostrum discuss the year so far for Surface PCs. They recap recent announcements around Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8 with Intel and Snapdragon SoCs, along with the surprise announcements around Surface Laptop Ultra and RTX Spark back in June.

In regards to what's next for Surface, Ostrum clarifies that Surface is going to continue doing what it has always done; validate platform advancements through hardware. Just like it validated touch, pen, and Windows Hello with Surface in the past, the company is currently focused on using Surface to validate Windows on Arm, as recently seen with the RTX Spark.

"We are there to help show what is possible from an experience perspective in terms of technology and experiences and help to lead the way for the ecosystem. These days, oftentimes it shows up in the form of helping to stand up brand new platforms like the, RTX Silicon from NVIDIA. And so I think for us that work will continue."

Ostrum also reminds viewers that Surface still has the Surface Laptop Ultra and RTX Spark to come this year, and teases that there's more announcements to come, though doesn't dive into details as to what that might entail, "We have a few more surprises coming before the end of the year, so I'm looking forward to that."

In a segment answering community submitted questions, Microsoft also touches on fans' want for more Surface peripherals, including a Surface Studio monitor. Ostrum acknowledges that the Surface Studio is the most beautiful display they've ever shipped, but doesn't confirm plans to address the want for a standalone monitor.

"My history is in mouse and keyboards, and I do believe that the Surface Studio screen is the most beautiful screen we have ever shipped," Ostrum says before the video is jarringly cut to the next question. Could Microsoft be hinting that a Surface Studio monitor is finally in the works?

Another question also asks about the infamous Surface Mini, a device that Microsoft came very close to shipping in 2014 before being canceled at the last minute. The user submitted question asks if they can have a Surface Mini, and Davuluri jokingly says "We've got a few laying around somewhere, I think." Ostrum follows up with "We typically don't comment on future looking Surface roadmaps, Pavan."

If you're a fan of Surface and Windows on Arm, this month's episode of Inside Windows is a great watch. Be sure to check it out on the official Windows YouTube channel.

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As part of Microsoft's Age of Empires revival, the third installment received a Definitive Edition treatment in 2020. Although not nearly as popular as Age of Empires 2 (which also received a glorious remake), Age of Empires 3 has a loyal following amongst real-time strategy (RTS) fans.

I have good news for those PC gamers. Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition is currently testing a new "The Baltic Powers" expansion in open beta. The test runs from July 23 until August 6, after which the expansion will officially launch on September 10, 2026.

This is the first expansion of Age 3 since 2022's Knights of the Mediterranean, which added Italian and Maltese civilizations, as well as plenty of new maps, new minor civs, new game modes, and new achievements.

The Baltic Powers was actually a previously planned DLC that got canceled. It's not clear exactly why it was canceled, but I guess the game has proved resilient enough in terms of player count to warrant new content. For reference, SteamDB lists the game as having a 24-hour player peak of 5,470. Not bad at all.

Here's what you can expect from the latest Age of Empires 3 expansion content.

Age of Empires 3: DE's new DLC adds two new civilizations

The biggest addition to the game is undoubtedly the two new civilizations: Poles and Danes.

In the former case, you'll take control of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with a focus on economic perks and cavalry armies.

For the latter, you're looking at taking control of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway to foist naval control and strong defenses on your enemies.

The DLC comes with new challenge scenarios as set pieces to test your skills, as well as Regicide and Independence game modes. Regicide, as most Age veterans know, is a race to kill the enemy's king. Independence is a new one for me, and it involves a lack of Home City support.

And finally, if you're feeling burned out on the current map selection, The Baltic Powers is adding 20 new maps to the pool.

Can I still join the open beta test on Steam?

The open beta testing period for the new Age 3 expansion runs until August 6. To get in on the advance fun, just make sure you have the game downloaded on Steam.

Right-click Age of Empires 3: DE in your Steam library, click Properties, click the Game Versions & Betas tab, then click open_beta. An update with the open beta files should begin automatically.

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The dedicated Copilot key on your PC is finally useful. Recently, Windows 11 gained the option to remap the Copilot key to act as the Context menu key or Right Ctrl key. It's also possible to disable the key entirely.

Which key do you use the least on your PC? Is it Scroll Lock? Maybe the Insert key feels like a waste of space. I don't normally pay much attention to unused keys on a keyboard, but the Copilot key is an exception because it replaced a key people actually use.

Any laptop or keyboard that ships with a dedicated Copilot key lacks a Right Ctrl key. People have complained about the Copilot key since it was introduced and Microsoft has responded.

At some point this year, Windows 11 shipped an update that allows you to remap the Copilot key to the Right Ctrl key or the Context Menu key.

We've known about this change for a while. A Microsoft support document outlines the plans of the tech giant:

"Microsoft is committed to enabling customers to select options for how the Copilot key functions. A Windows 11 update will ship later this year that will add a setting option to let you remap the Copilot key to act as the Context menu key or Right Ctrl key. When available, you can find this setting in:

Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Keyboard"

The change is finally here. X user @phantomofearth shared a screenshot of the setting on Windows 11.

Up to this point, the feature has appeared inconsistently on Windows 11. In a follow-up post, @phantomofearth noted that the option does not appear on their system until enabling a feature ID.

My PC is running the latest version of Windows 11 and I see the option to customize the Copilot key. I did not see that option earlier this year, but I honestly can't say which day the toggle was added to my system.

I'm happy that Microsoft responded to feedback about the Copilot key, but there has been a way to remap the key for years. PowerToys has had a keyboard manager utility for years that lets you remap keys. If you use that tool, you aren't limited to the options Windows 11 gives you.

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"To get straight to the point: The game itself is 100% SAFE and virus-free. This incident was strictly limited to a single admin account's Discord being compromised.

What Happened: While investigating and patching a malicious MOD map issue, a system engineer's PC was infected with malware. The hacker bypassed the engineer's Discord 2-Factor Authentication (2FA), took over server permissions, and banned all official staff members from the server.

Game File Security: The infected PC was a spare testing machine, and it is physically impossible to access or edit game source files from it (which we have re-confirmed via logs). The affected PC has already been completely wiped and reformatted.

A Warning to Players: The perpetrator who took over the Discord server will likely continue to release fake statements and announcements. Please do NOT click any links, join fake servers, or follow any instructions posted on that Discord."

The original article continues below:

It seems like everyone these days is playing the insanely popular indie game Meccha Chameleon on PC, my friends included. If you've also played, you're going to want to double-check what custom, user-created maps you've downloaded from the Steam Workshop.

Worse, if you've already downloaded some custom maps for the game, I strongly suggest you A) finish reading about the issue, and B) check your Steam library.

A security researcher who goes by Feint on Medium.com recently posted a lengthy analysis breaking down their findings. They posit that some workshop maps associated with Meccha Chameleon are quietly being rigged to drop malicious scripts (aka malware) onto players' PCs.

Feint began the investigation after friends noticed a command prompt window flashing briefly as Steam downloaded a custom workshop map for the game. These downloads are handled automatically as you load into certain game lobbies.

On the surface, the custom map's files looked totally normal, with standard Unreal Engine 5 asset containers and a lack of evident executables or scripts.

Digging deeper, however, Feint discovered the real problem: a Blueprint actor with a naming mismatch buried inside the map's metadata. It was built to look like an ambient controller, but an outdated internal name tipped off the researcher.

According to Feint, the Blueprint is built to run automatically the moment the map loads. When it does, it injects a batch file into the gamer's Documents folder on their Windows PC. Not good.

Once triggered, the batch file sneakily launches a hidden PowerShell process with bypassed execution policy before calling out to an outside server to download a second script.

Feint's testing resulted in that download failing, so it remains unclear what exactly was intended to be sent to infected PCs.

No name for the malware, but a map shouldn't act like this

Although the final goal of the odd script is debatable, a game's map should never involve writing and executing scripts outside of the game's folder. This is a clear sign of malware.

Feint also notes that there are some red flags surrounding the account that uploaded the map to Steam Workshop. The Steam account is only about a week old and has comments/ratings disabled on the listing, making it much harder for savvy victims to share their woes.

The malware-infused map has been reported to Steam, though it's unclear whether any actions have been taken yet.

What you should do if you've downloaded Meccha Chameleon Workshop maps

Until Valve confirms that the map is malicious and pulls it from the Workshop library, your best bet is to avoid any new Meccha Chameleon maps, especially if they lack reviews and/or have comments disabled.

If you've downloaded custom maps recently, it's probably worth running a PC scan with your favorite antivirus. You can also check your Documents folder for any strange .bat files hanging around.

To be clear, this isn't the fault of the developers. Rather, this is another bit of potential malware that slipped past Steam's Workshop screening process.

Just last month, Steam's most popular PC background app, Wallpaper Engine, was discovered to be infecting users with malware. Valve, owner of Steam, took the necessary steps to remove the infected files, but added that this sort of thing could inadvertently happen again.

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A few days ago, LG was discovered to be automatically installing adware via their monitors when connected to a Windows PC, resulting in popups for apps like McAfee appearing on screen that users are forced to dismiss. Naturally, this has caused outrage online, and appears to have even caught the attention of Microsoft.

Now, Microsoft has confirmed that it has intervened and reached out to LG to see what can be done about stopping this. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri says that LG has agreed to stop McAfee from appearing within their LG monitor popups.

"We’ve connected with the team at LG and as an immediate next step, they have agreed to disable the McAfee pop-up from their app," Davuluri said in a post on X. "We appreciate LG working with us toward a shared goal of a better experience for our mutual customers."

It's good to see Microsoft stepping up to help here, as OEMs often get away with gross practices on their hardware. Many Windows PCs ship with adware and bloatware out of the box, and Microsoft has done little in the past to reduce this.

With the company reaching out to LG directly, it's clear that Microsoft thought LG's practices here were a step too far, and is eager to improve the overall health of the Windows ecosystem by ensuring OEMs are dialing back on the amount of bloatware and adware that appears on third-party hardware.

McAfee is one of the most pre-installed OEM bloatware apps you can find. Almost all major Windows OEM hardware will include a free-trial of McAfee, along with other demo or trial apps like Dropbox, Microsoft Office, and more.

Unlike actual PC hardware, LG's adware is being installed through a monitor app that is automatically downloaded onto a Windows PC when you connect an LG monitor to it. The app is designed to allow you to control functions and settings of the monitor, but it includes a popup that previously displayed ads for things like McAfee.

It's unclear if LG is planning to stop showing ads there permanently, if it it's only doing so temporarily until the outrage dies down. Hopefully, this change is a permanent one, as most users are not interested in being advertised to via a popup appearing because of the monitor they've chosen to use.

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When Diablo 2 launched in 2000, it essentially took over my gaming life. Never before had I played something so addictive. It was (and still is, to a certain degree) impossible to put down. Little did I know that I'd still be playing it 26 years later.

My love for action RPGs with isometric graphics and oodles of loot was indeed borne from my love of Diablo 2, and trust me when I say that I've tried almost every other game similar to the best there is.

Grim Dawn. Titan Quest. Nox. Torchlight. Last Epoch. Path of Exile. I could go on and on.

The thing is, none of these Diablo 2 competitors ever gripped me in the same way as Blizzard's opus. Hell, even Diablo 3 and Diablo 4 failed to get me to keep coming back in the same way that Diablo 2 continues to do today.

I've thought a lot about exactly what Diablo 2 does differently than its competition to make it so compelling, and I've never really been able to pin it down.

This mental block was recently lifted. In a video on his personal YouTube channel, Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson dropped some serious ARPG knowledge that made Diablo 2's appeal finally click.

Diablo 2's eternal appeal is all about ... breakpoints?

Chris Wilson helped create what is arguably the best non-Diablo ARPG around with the Path of Exile series. To say he knows a lot about the genre is an understatement, and the wisdom he shares in the video is proof.

Wilson argues that it's Diablo 2's breakpoints that make it particularly compelling.

In Diablo 2, rather than each piece of superior gear making a tiny change to your character's power level (as we see in most modern ARPGs), the effects are only felt once the numbers reach a certain threshold, aka a breakpoint.

Block rates, cast rates, attack rates, and hit recovery rates all depend on breakpoints. Diablo 2 was designed to run at an internal 25 frames per second no matter how many frames your PC is outputting, and each of the actions I just mentioned has to fit into that metric.

Wilson uses the Amazon's base faster cast rate number as an example. It takes 19 frames to complete, which eats up a big chunk of those 25 frames, and it only goes up by equipping new gear.

Here's the catch. The Amazon, in this case, only starts casting faster spells once those frames drop to a certain breakpoint. You need a total of 152% faster cast rate from gear in order to hit the lowest 11 frames per second casting speed, with several stops along the way.

If you aren't hitting those breakpoints, there's no actual difference in speed.

Wilson explains that modern ARPG systems "preserve a fractional time and carry it into the next action." This results in your toon acting at an average speed.

Diablo 2 does the opposite. It rounds "up to a whole number of frames and just discards that fractional time. " The result of this system is a series of meaningful power spikes that actually make your character feel so much more powerful.

Any Diablo 2 player who has slotted in a piece of Hammerdin gear that helps finally hit the final casting breakpoint knows exactly what I'm talking about.

Wilson explains the drawback to how modern ARPGs operate.

The modern approach to ARPG power is indeed smoother and requires far fewer spreadsheets with listed breakpoints, but it's also far less rewarding.

Speaking from personal experience I have with Diablo 4, this seems to be the game's biggest problem. Everything feels the same all the time, and character progression is not even slightly engaging. Oh, look, a new piece of gear that's marginally better. Guess I'd better equip it.

Diablo 2's addictive qualities were not an accident

Wilson wraps up his video by stating that David Brevik, one of the original Diablo 2 creators, confirmed that breakpoints were an intended mechanic.

Wilson adds that he doesn't think players "love inaccurate timing," but he does agree that "many players love systems where reaching a target requires planning and produces a noticeable payoff."

I've pored over breakpoint spreadsheets for so many hours it's probably better to measure in days, but for whatever reason, this mechanic never crossed my mind as what makes Diablo 2 so exciting.

For my other Diablo 2 diehards out there, do you agree with Wilson's analysis? What else do you think contributes to the game's lasting appeal? What are modern ARPGs lacking that would make them as compelling as Diablo 2? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Creative Assembly, the developers behind the upcoming strategy game Total War: Warhammer 40,000, has recently concluded its first Alpha Strike Livestream, which showed their first unedited look at its real-time strategy combat system.

The developers demonstrated this gameplay through several 1v1 skirmishes, playing as the Astra Militarum faction defending their cities from the savage Ork faction.

As seen in the PC Gamer trailer, the combat system is fast-paced and chaotic, where you will need to command massive armies to blast enemies with sheer, overwhelming firepower while taking care not to get overwhelmed by making strategic use of cover and making sure enemies don't flank your units.

You must also decide which units are best suited to take down foes, when to use limited-use Stratagem abilities to lay waste to enemies to give your army breathing room, and make liberal use of your army's special abilities.

The Astra Militarum, in particular, have unique abilities where commanding officers within a squad unit can issue special commands to move faster, fire faster, and employ other unique tactics similar to how they operate in the original Warhammer 40,000 tabletop game.

The developers demonstrate these mechanics expertly as they command their light infantry units to take cover and lay down suppressing fire to slow down the Ork infantry's advance, leaving them open for their heavy units and strategems (which in this case are tanks) to blow them to smithereens.

Windows Central's take

I thought I'd seen my fair share of large-scale carnage in Warhammer 40,000 games before, like Dawn of War or Battlesector, but they're nothing compared to Total War: Warhammer 40,000.

Taking control of over 40 units (some of which consisted of 100-man squads), charging across the battlefield, watching them rain down a hail of gunfire upon the enemy, and seeing Orks explode in a shower of blood and guts is an awesome sight to behold.

Now, whether I'll be able to pull off such glorious spectacles without getting massacred in the first seconds of deploying my units is another matter, as I'm woefully inexperienced with real-time strategy games.

But I'm willing to learn because, even this early in development, Total War: Warhammer 40,000 looks awesome, and I can't wait to play it when it comes out on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

🗨️ Over to you

So how do you feel about Total War: Warhammer 40,000? Does it make you excited as a longtime Warhammer 40,000/strategy game fan, or does it make you want to try the Total War series for the first time if you're a newcomer?

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

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Valve has recently announced a major improvement for the Steam digital storefront.

As of now, Steam has new and improved features to help PC gamers send digital gift cards and games to their friends and family with greater ease, and we've got the patch notes on how they will work.

Guest checkout

First off, the patch notes on Steam describe changes to the guest checkout system. Before, it allowed family members or friends to make gifts without needing a Steam account, but it was limited to digital gift cards and hardware.

Now, it's been updated so people can buy and gift any game on Steam. You just send a wishlist share to a friend or family member, and they buy gifts directly from the wishlist without needing to make a Steam account on their end.

If a guest user wants to send a surprise gift, they can send it to any email address instead.

Gift to email

Next up, we have the new gifting via email feature, which allows players to send digital gift cards and games directly to a recipient's email account in case they don't know their Steam account.

Additionally, if the recipient's email address is linked to their Steam account, the email they'll receive will include a link to sign into their account and accept a player's gift.

However, any gift email not accepted within 30 days of being sent will automatically be refunded, so it can't be scheduled for future delivery, plus the recipient of the gift must live in the same country as the gift purchaser.

Cross-region gifting

Next we have improvements for cross-region gifting. Previously you couldn't buy Steam games for friends and family overseas on Steam, and you had to send digital gift cards to get around that, while also doing research on how much games cost in different regions due to currency conversion.

However, this update will now allow you to gift games directly to people so long as they're on your Steam friends list, while Steam automatically calculates how much a game you're sending to a person in a different region will cost during checkout.

Direct from wishlist

Finally, Steam has implemented improvements for its wishlist share link feature.

With this, you can send digital gift cards or gift games directly from a person's wishlist without needing to be friends with them on Steam. You can also create a shared wishlist that's been filtered to specific games.

Additionally, when a friend or family member clicks on your shared wishlist link, if they decide to buy you a game, the gift recipient in the cart during checkout will be automatically filled with your information.

As a reminder, friends and family members can checkout as guest users without needing a Steam.

Windows Central's take

These new changes sound really cool, but the change I'm liking most is being able to directly buy games for my friends overseas without needing to guess how much it will cost due to regional currency conversions.

This is more than I can say for Xbox, because, as of right now, you can only gift games on the Xbox ecosystem to people who live in the same region as you. Which is really inconvenient for me as I have family overseas who I would love to send Xbox games to but can't.

So I hope that Microsoft takes notes from Steam and copies this update so I can more easily buy Xbox games for my family overseas for Christmas and birthdays without having to use circumventing tactics like sending gift cards.

What do you think? Do these improvements to sending gifts on Steam sound cool? Would you like to see Xbox copy this update?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know in the comments, on Reddit, or in the poll.

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Halo and Xbox fans are having a bad day today. Not only are people locked out of playing Halo: Campaign Evolved's early access despite paying for it, but Xbox Live's services have become inoperable as well.

This has been confirmed by Microsoft via Xbox tech support on X, which states, "We are aware that some users are encountering errors when attempting to connect to Xbox services and features. Our engineers are actively working to mitigate the issue."

As of right now, according to the Xbox Support website, Xbox Live's outage currently affects Store & subscriptions, Friends & social activity, Cloud gaming & remote play, Games & gaming, and Apps & mobile, leaving players unable to access these online features on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming-compatible handhelds.

Maybe this outage is the reason why players can't enter Halo: Campaign Evolved's early access? I know I've certainly noticed something's wrong, as I've been unable to look at any Xbox games on the Xbox app's store today.

Either way, we will keep an eye on Xbox Live's status updates and let you know when things are back up and running properly.

Have you been affected by these recent Xbox Live Outage issues? Have you been unable to access Halo: Campaign Evolved's early access period because of this?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know in the comments, on Reddit, or in the poll.

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Today should've been a joyous day for Halo fans as Halo: Campaign Evolved is now available for people who purchased the Premium Edition or Premium Edition Upgrade, and it's received many glowing reviews on Metacritic (including one from us, which gave it a high score of 4/5 Stars).

Unfortunately, people who bought the Premium Edition or Premium Edition Upgrade via the Xbox Series X|S's store or the Xbox on PC App aren't so lucky because they've been unable to access the game despite paying money for it.

This has been confirmed by Halo Studio's tech support team on X, which says they are aware of the situation and is working on fixing it. They will let players know status updates on their progress as soon as more info is available.

Fans are especially upset over this because if they couldn't get the Premium Edition through Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. You have to shell out $69.99 separately for it, and it promised players up to five days of early access to the game. This isn't the first time Xbox has failed to deliver early access for one of its products, and it's frankly getting odd at this point.

Since this is one of Xbox's flagship franchises, I have no doubt the developers are scrambling as fast as they can to fix this issue, and we'll be sure to let you know when they do, so stay tuned for further updates.

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One of the big existential crises facing Xbox and other platforms is "how do we find new users?"

The memorypocalypse has driven Xbox console hardware to record highs. While that has led to an Xbox hardware bounce in the short term as people buy hardware before price hikes, longer term it's looking like fewer consoles will be sold than we've seen in a long time.

As free-to-play platforms like Roblox and Fortnite capture audiences on the younger end, and older gamers become aged and priced out, Microsoft and other companies are trying to figure out how to find new users in a tough climate.

What's cheaper than a $699.99 Xbox Series X? Well, free Xbox gaming, of course. And that's what Xbox is beginning to test today. Say hi to the long-rumored Xbox Cloud Gaming free tier, powered by ads, featuring all of your digital content.

We revealed exclusively last year that Microsoft was building a free version of Xbox Cloud Gaming, powered by ads, and now it's confirmed.

"Today, we’re starting to test an ad-supported way to stream select games from your library for a limited time, available to XBOX Insiders," the Xbox Wire post reads. "During this test period, XBOX Insiders with an XBOX account will be able to stream games they own for free with ads. Players will have one-hour session limits across supported devices and regions."

Microsoft says that ads will only run before the session starts, and won't interrupt gameplay during the one-hour session slots. The ads won't be inserted into games, and it'll remain entirely optional, focused on Xbox Cloud Gaming. The paid tiers of Xbox Cloud Gaming (associated with Xbox Game Pass) will continue to be ad-free in perpetuity.

Microsoft's blog post is clear on its approach to ads, with an attempt to put forward a player-first approach. The idea entirely revolves around improving access to Xbox content, without having to buy a (now, very expensive) console. Xbox One users can gain access to titles that have dropped past-gen versions, and developers can potentially access an all-new audience. Indeed, any digital game you've purchased that is available on Xbox Cloud Gaming will be available to play through this free tier. There are well over 1,500 titles in the pool as of writing.

Microsoft outlined its policy approach to Xbox Cloud Gaming free-tier ads as thus:

• We start with the player. Ads should create value.
• We do not interrupt the flow of gameplay.
• We hold ads to the same quality bar as our content.
• We’re clear about what’s advertising.
• We make sure ads fit what players expect on each platform.

Indeed, Microsoft wants to emphasize that it is imposing some strict rules on the types of ads that can show up here, too. Given that increasingly YouTube and Meta feature ads that are often wildly beyond irrelevant, this is a refreshing take.

Providing Microsoft remains principled ... of course.

If it helps Xbox and devs find new users and compete with free-to-play mobile games, I'm all for it

Being completely honest, I've discovered a metric ton of hidden indie gems via Steam advertising on Reddit, Instagram, and X in recent months. If ads actually feature high-quality games or relevant products, I'm personally all for it.

Too many companies went way too hard on ads, and it led to a degraded experience overall. It's a piece of feedback I'm constantly sharing with higher-ups, even here at our parent company, about ads on the site, as we explore models that will help you guys avoid ads here while continuing to support our work.

RELATED: Best Xbox Cloud Gaming controllers

Developers in the gaming industry, particularly on Xbox, are starving for new users willing to move beyond the CODFIFAFORTNITE triptych. If allowing free access with ads helps Xbox and core game devs find new users in a world dominated by free-to-play mobile titles, I'm all for it. But we'll have to keep an eye on it as a community, to stop the ads eventually appearing in other places ... let's hope Microsoft remains principled on this one.

Now, Microsoft ... it's about time you released that direct-to-cloud Xbox controller already, huh?

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One thing that has dogged Xbox users since the beginning of time is the inconsistent speeds games often download at.

The same seems true across both Xbox PC and Xbox Series X|S (and older) consoles, where download speeds often fail to come close to what you're actually paying for via your ISP.

There are numerous factors at play when it comes to download speeds specifically. Steam generally has set the bar here, with very visible download metrics in its app that show how data is downloading in addition to the speed at which it's writing data to your storage device. Indeed, I was told before that sometimes Xbox downloads can appear "slow" because it gets backed up while unpacking data to your disk space, even it still displays as a "download" in the app. But I digress.

Xbox announced yesterday evening that it is working to boost download speeds across its network, starting with Xbox Alpha Skip-Ahead users on the Xbox Insider Program.

"Users will experience a new feature to optimize game install and update speeds by introducing a smart download client," the update reads. "Shortly after your game download begins, the client will check which content servers are available for the install or update. It will then test the connection speed to each server pool and select the fastest available connection for that install. The speed test will rerun periodically during the install or update to ensure that the client continues using the fastest available connection." The update notes also describe improvements to general stability and performance, as well as a fix for downloads sometimes hanging.

Even though this update is targeting Xbox consoles, it seems to have boosted my experience on Xbox PC devices as well. As someone who plays about 50% of the time on Xbox Ally these days, this boost in download consistency has been a welcome add. My internet at partner's place (in the countryside) is pretty abysmal compared to what you can get in a big city, so every wasted MB is particularly annoying when trying to download big games or updates. I was pleasantly surprised to see Halo Campaign Evolved and Beast of Reincarnation pre-downloads hitting my max 250 mb/s download capacity, which is honestly generally rare to see for me.

It's nice to see the incremental updates flooding back to the Xbox platform. For a long time it felt like Xbox was grossly under-funding its hardware platforms, but new CEO Asha Sharma seems intent on bringing back Xbox as a platform. She's pledged console exclusives again for Xbox for the first time in years, and we've already seen a variety of small and major improvements to the Xbox ecosystem. Xbox achievements are once again getting new additions, Xbox back compat program just hit Windows PC, among other smaller changes.

Although with Xbox's huge layoffs biting throughout this year, it remains to be seen just how long this new feature shipping cadence will last ...

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A full 25 years after the launch of Microsoft's first-ever Xbox console, it's arguably quite fitting that one of the firm's largest new game releases in 2026 is Halo: Campaign Evolved — a remake of the original Halo title that launched with that system, helped propel it into the video game zeitgeist, and kicked off what would grow to become one of the most recognizable science fiction franchises in all of entertainment.

Despite being a colossal Halo fan, I couldn't help but have a bit of a tepid response to Campaign Evolved when Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) announced it last year, largely because I'm more interested in Halo Infinite getting a proper follow up and also because Halo: Combat Evolved already got a remaster in 2011.

Still, I resolved to give the new remake a fair shake, as Combat Evolved Anniversary radically and controversially changed the first game's atmosphere in ways I disliked, and Campaign Evolved is notable for being the first Halo project built on Unreal Engine 5. Plus, it also features a three brand new prequel missions in which the Master Chief and the fan-favorite Sergeant Johnson go on a covert operation, introducing a new self-contained story.

Thus, I went into an opportunity to review it with an open mind, hoping for a more faithful modernization of the original experience, a successful adaptation of the series' unique gameplay feel to a new engine, and fun and fresh content to dive into. And now that I've played through the game extensively, I'm happy to report that the remake offers all of this — though I'd be lying if I said it hasn't left me wanting in some ways.

This review was conducted with the Windows PC version of Halo: Campaign Evolved, and made possible thanks to an Xbox PC review code provided by Microsoft and Xbox. The company did not see the contents of this review before publication.

Halo: Campaign Evolved review — Story

The Master Chief's adventure across Alpha Halo in which the crew of the downed UNSC Pillar of Autumn fight for humanity's survival against both the alien Covenant empire and the grotesque parasitic Flood threat remains largely unchanged in Campaign Evolved.

There are a few minor tweaks to the narrative and there's a bit of new dialogue here and there — along with rerecorded voice lines from Steve Downes (Master Chief), Jen Taylor (Cortana), and others — but overall, this story is identical to the one first told 25 years ago, with no radical changes to speak of.

What has changed, though, is how much of it is presented, as the remake features bespoke pre-rendered cinematics instead of the original game's in-engine cutscenes. I feel that all but one of these were done fairly well, though some of the transitions between them and gameplay can be rather abrupt and shots occasionally linger longer than you'd expect them to. Regardless, they generally look great, though I do ultimately prefer the original scenes.

As for Operation: METEORITE — the story that unfolds over the course of the three new prequel missions in which Chief and Sergeant Johnson infiltrate a Covenant ship to learn where the heart of the alien dominion lies — its narrative is solid, though some of its dialogue was dramatically campy to the point where I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Even so, its characters and plot are perfectly serviceable, and I'm curious to see if a loose thread it ends with will be woven into another tale in the future.

Halo: Campaign Evolved review — Gameplay

Gameplay changes are one of the key things that distinguish remakes from remasters like Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary that strictly update visuals and audio, and Campaign Evolved makes several that elevate the original experience.

For starters, many mechanics, enemy behaviors, and types introduced in Halo's sequels have been implemented in Campaign Evolved, including sprinting, vehicle hijacking and seat-swapping, overcharged Plasma Pistol shots temporarily disabling vehicles, suicide Grunts, Jackal snipers, and Flood tank forms. Also, you can hold onto powerups like the Overshield or Active Camo and use them when desired, rather than when picking them up.

Together with weapons like the Energy Sword, Fuel Rod Gun, SMG, Beam Rifle, Needle Rifle, and Sentinel Beam that weren't available in the classic title, these additions deepen the sandbox and spice up Combat Evolved's encounters without making them feel wildly different. Crucially, their inclusion is carefully balanced and remarkably thoughtful, and made for a truly great playthrough (I recommend Heroic difficulty for the best balance of challenge and satisfying gameplay flow).

Campaign Evolved also makes a variety of changes to level design, with those made in the latter half of the game — including the infamous The Library mission — far more significant compared to others. One of the biggest issues with the original Halo is that its later levels are woefully repetitive and excessively reuse locations from past missions, and that's been addressed wonderfully with a variety of creative new spaces here. I'm a fan of every single rework in the remake, and I expect many others will feel similarly.

I also very much enjoyed playing through the three new prequel missions, which have the iconic Battle Rifle and notably throw the Covenant's Brutes — ape-like berserker shock troops — into the mix. Similar to their past iterations, Brutes have their own set of weapons (Spiker, Brute Plasma Rifle) and fill a tanky melee brawler role. This time around, though, they also have a frenzy mechanic you can engage with (for spoiler reasons, I won't go into detail about how to do so).

Causing a Brute to frenzy will fully heal it and drive it into an enraged state, during which it throws its weapon away and starts sprinting after you to pummel you with lethal melee attacks. However, it will also target other Covenant units while frenzied, which can make it easier to contend with large groups of foes. Figuring out when to frenzy Brutes and avoid doing so added an engaging layer of strategy to Operation: METEORITE that I loved.

By default, Brutes are exclusively found in the new missions, though you can find a Skull — one of 42 in the remake — that makes them spawn in the main campaign as well. These Skulls allow you to shake up gameplay with a huge variety of interesting and wacky modifiers, and are at the heart of the Campaign Remix feature that lets you randomize enemy and weapon placements while also roll for which Skulls you have on or choose them manually.

All in all, I'm extremely pleased with how Campaign Evolved plays, and how replayable it is, too. What frustrates me, however, is that it's a strictly campaign-only experience, without multiplayer of any kind outside of campaign co-op (which does support four players online, up from two in the past). I can understand not having PvP multiplayer given the campaign focus, but for $50, Halo's beloved wave-based PvE mode Firefight should absolutely be here.

The remake's customization system for Master Chief and weapon skins also feels very lazy and tacked on, with no cosmetics available to unlock through actual gameplay. The only way to get them is by preordering or purchasing the $70 Premium Edition ($67.09 at Loaded); not having things players can earn through gameplay achievement is a massive missed opportunity.

Halo: Campaign Evolved review — Presentation and performance

Halo Studios announced back in 2024 that all future Halo projects would be developed with Unreal Engine 5, and Halo: Campaign Evolved is the first game to use it instead of something proprietary like Halo Infinite's Slipspace Engine. Next to developer familiarity with such a widely used tool, increased visual fidelity has long been thought of as one of the largest upsides of that decision, and it's been proven so by this remake.

Campaign Evolved modernizes the classic Xbox flagship in breathtaking detail, with some of the sharpest and most visually striking textures and lighting effects I've ever seen put to screen. Everything from the weapons in Master Chief's hands to the legions of diverse aliens he's tasked with battling through are the best they've ever looked, as are the sights of Alpha Halo's vibrant skyboxes and its dreary Flood-infested depths.

It's truly shocking how much detail the remake manages to cram into each and every level, and the best part is that nearly all of it feels authentic to the original game's visual style. I have my nitpicks — Covenant vehicles are too vibrantly purple and some reload animations lack the style of classic versions, for example — but overall, the game looks phenomenal.

Campaign Evolved's remastered soundtrack is also a treat and is similarly faithful, and notably, versions of tracks from several different Halo games feature in the trio of bonus missions. The sound design is also mostly top notch; melee strikes lack oomph and I don't love the sound of the Magnum and Sniper Rifle, but every other weapon, vehicle, and grenade sounds fantastic, and the way audio reverberates around every hallway, cavern, and battlefield is ear candy.

But while Unreal Engine 5 is at the heart of Halo: Campaign Evolved's terrific presentation, it's a tool that's notorious for its performance issues — and sadly, the remake has some of its own to speak of.

I've been playing the game on my PC that's equipped with an i5-12600K CPU, an RTX 4070 Ti SUPER GPU, and 32GB of DDR4 RAM, and have been running it with Ultra settings with DLSS Super Resolution on an ultrawide 3440x1440 monitor. Generally, I get about 60-80 FPS, which seems about where my rig should be based on the official recommended specs.

However, it's not uncommon that my framerate drops down to the 50s and even into the 40s in larger spaces and engagements, and that can be rather jarring. Turning the settings down some and using Frame Generation can help with this, but even so: expect some FPS dips.

A few of my colleagues here at Windows Central have reported running into performance problems on Xbox as well, with shadows and reflections sometimes looking fuzzy and pixelated on Performance Mode being a particularly noteworthy issue. Hopefully the day one patch for the remake irons wrinkles like these out.

Halo: Campaign Evolved review — Conclusion

I went into Halo: Campaign Evolved with one big question: was it worth making?

In the end, I feel that it was, both to give Combat Evolved a high-quality remake it deserves and to prove Halo on Unreal Engine is a viable path forward for the series (it's also a great introduction to the franchise for PlayStation players, though I doubt we'll ever see Halo on Sony's consoles again).

Halo Studios has accomplished both of those objectives in my view, even though the remake's performance issues do show it has room for improvement when it comes to optimizing the series on Unreal Engine. The absence of additional content like Firefight is also majorly disappointing, as is the underbaked player customization system.

With all that said, Campaign Evolved ultimately delivers an incredible reimagining of the original Halo, enhancing it with jaw-dropping audiovisual presentation, carefully considered gameplay and level additions, an enjoyable new three-mission story, and a suite of over three dozen collectible Skulls for tons of replay value. For $50, I wanted more ... but I've had a ton of fun with what we got.

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Halo: Campaign Evolved finally launches today, in early access at least, and if you're playing on PC and have an NVIDIA graphics card, then you might need this hotfix first.

Specifically, a stability issue has been highlighted for the RTX 50 series using the recent 610.xx version drivers, and since it launches today, a hotfix has been deployed rather than a whole new driver.

As it's a hotfix, you won't be able to just update it through the NVIDIA app on your PC; you'll need to go to the dedicated support page to grab it and install it manually.

The hotfix is also worth grabbing for Path of Exile 2 players, as it addresses a frustrating issue players have been seeing in the game when running under DX12.

"[Path of Exile 2] Fixed intermittent long pauses that could occur after extended gameplay sessions in DX12 mode"

No other games are affected by this hotfix, so if you're not planning to play either of them in the next week or two, you can hold off. NVIDIA will roll these fixes into its next regular driver release so you'll get them fairly soon.

It's also worth making sure you do a clean installation, which honestly, I'd recommend any time you install an updated driver. During the NVIDIA installation process there is a box you can check to do this, or you can use a tool like Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to remove the old ones first. I've seen some issues first-hand over time that were rectified from doing a proper clean installation, and it's no extra work really to do.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is, of course, another remake of the first game in the legendary series. Beyond looking better, it's actually coming with some fresh content, expanding the classic game, and for the first time folks on PlayStation will be able to see what all the fuss is about.

Early access begins today, July 23, with general access on all platforms and Xbox Game Pass beginning on July 28.

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If you'd asked me a couple of days ago, before Xbox's latest news, what games had me excited about PC gaming, there's no way I'd have named BLiNX: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, or Fuzion Frenzy.

Alas, here we are. These four classic Xbox games are spearheading the new Xbox backwards compatibility program on Windows PC, with more titles expected to arrive in the future.

Sure, this initiative might seem small today. These are four first-party games without many legal complications. A toe dipped in the water, if you will.

But new information about how Xbox is handling backwards compatibility has emerged since the news first broke, and it has me rethinking the entire situation.

The back-compat OG Xbox games just released on PC are already Xbox 360 games

In a lengthy thread on X, user @XCTdotLIVE explains how the back-compat program currently works.

As it turns out, the store packages are actually labeled as "Xbox360BackwardCompatibil.*," giving us our first clue at what's happening.

XCT.LIVE goes on to explain that, yes, these games are in fact already Xbox 360 games that are running on the Xbox 360 Xenon Fusion (XeFu) emulator.

As they put it, "your 2001 game runs inside the 360's OG-Xbox emulator, inside a 360 running on Windows. Two nested generations of Xbox emulation."

As X user @TheLunarixus notes, this is confirmed by "XEX2/STFS magic and strings in the kernel such as "XENON KERNEL EXITING."

The rabbit hole goes deeper. This is the same sort of wizardry that allows original Xbox games to run on the Xbox One's x86 architecture via layers of Xbox 360 architecture. It's a convoluted way to reach an end goal, but hey, if it works, it works.

This information is really what got my attention. If the foundation is already a working Xbox 360 emulator, 360 games being backwards compatible on PC is more than plausible. In fact, it's probably already almost ready for primetime.

The likelihood of Xbox 360 games on PC just got a lot better

The core statement that "Microsoft made four old Xbox games run on PC" gets a lot more exciting now that I know how everything works. The four OG Xbox games look a lot more like the tip of a much larger technical foundation that's already capable of running 360-era games.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the hardest part about console emulation is the base architecture rather than the games that run on it. So if the base is already capable of handling Xbox 360 games, the path from four OG Xbox titles to a plethora of 360-era games is a lot shorter than it seemed just a few days ago.

The Xbox 360's library is what really gets me excited. I wasn't much of an OG Xbox gamer (I was too busy with PCs), but I had a lot more experience with the 360. It's the generation that landed right when I was graduating high school, and I know I'm far from the only one who considers its library of games to be peak.

If Xbox 360 emulation is indeed on the table, Microsoft's back-compat news stops being a nostalgia play and instead becomes one of the most significant moves Microsoft could make, not just for Game Pass (on which these games are launching), but for game preservation in general.

I don't know how this all relates to Xbox's "Positron" disc-to-digital program, but I can't imagine the two initiatives won't collide at some point.

Microsoft hasn't yet made anything official, but I'm feeling hopeful

Let me be honest here. Microsoft has been pretty quiet about what's going on behind the back-compat scenes. There's no roadmap, no announced Xbox 360 support, and no timeline for any of it.

The information I received could be wrong (not likely), or Microsoft could have reasons involving licensing, resources, or other priorities that keep it from acting on the Xbox 360 capabilities, even if they do exist.

It's worth pointing out that my colleague, Jez Corden, has teased that "their plans for this longer term are pretty epic" regarding the back-compat program. He knows a lot more about Xbox than I do and generally has plenty of inside information he keeps close to his chest.

In any case, Xbox seems to be making all the right moves at a time when game preservation is a hot topic. Microsoft might have just flipped the switch on one of the biggest customer service endeavors in video game history, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

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NASCAR 25 last year ended a long wait for a good stock car racing experience on consoles especially. But that was last year, and now we're onto NASCAR 26, the new and improved release for the 2026 season.

It was recently revealed at the San Diego street race alongside its cover star, reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Kyle Larson. Now, alongside the first Dev Diary for the game, we also have a release date.

NASCAR 26 is launching on September 18, with the added bonus this year of a simultaneous release on both PC and console. NASCAR 25 came to PC players around a month later, so it's great news that everyone's playing at the same time for 2026.

This year's game is more than just a fresh coat of paint, though. First up, the Chase will be part of NASCAR 26, mimicking the change in format in the real-life series'. While it will be part of career mode and seasons, there will also be a standalone 10-race Chase mode where players can choose the 16 drivers they want to be part of it and just race the back part of the season.

AI opponents will also now be able to DNF, which sounds like a small thing but is actually pretty huge. NASCAR games of old have always had a full field finishing every race, but as fans know only too well, that almost never happens in real life. It just adds another layer to the experience.

When points are most important in the championship hunt now, even if you're struggling yourself, finishing ahead of DNF drivers makes it worth carrying on.

The biggest new change coming to the gameplay, though, at least that's been announced so far, is how tracks will change throughout the course of a race. Dynamic Track will aim to mimic how a real-life track alters through the course of a race weekend.

At the start of the weekend it'll be 'green', that is, clean and free of rubber. As cars drive over it, rubber gets laid down, and the track will change. As the track conditions change, so too does the way it has to be driven. Different lanes will become an option. You might start out hugging the bottom, but by the end of the race, you could be up ripping the fence.

Oh, and as is seemingly the norm now, there will be a premium edition with early access to the game. The Gold Edition will be available from September 15. Pre-orders are set to start on July 29, and on the same day we'll get our first gameplay trailer.

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Few MMORPGs have lasted as long or even longer than the iconic World of Warcraft, and one such active MMO that predates it is RuneScape, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.

What started as a humble little game to play with friends online grew into a massive franchise, spawning three games (Old School RuneScape, RuneScape, RuneScape: Dragonwilds) with over 250,000 concurrent players for just the original Old School RuneScape alone.

Yet, it's always been seen as the No. 2 runner-up of top-rated MMORPGs compared to the juggernaut that is World of Warcraft. However, Jon Bellamy, the CEO of RuneScape's studio, Jagex: The RuneScape Company, has recently stated in an interview with The Game Business YouTube channel that he plans to change that.

Jon Bellamy proclaims that, and I quote, "The dream is that we’re not the number two biggest MMO brand in the world; we’re number one. There’s a big old gap between us and number one, but if we get it right, we know we can make headway."

He continues, “It’s lofty and ambitious, but if you’re going to set lofty and ambitious goals, why not swing for the top? So, that’s the number one goal.”

Jagex is already working towards Jon Bellamy's lofty ambitions by cutting out RuneScape's unpopular microtransactions like the Treasure Hunter perk, while at the same time improving its gameplay systems to remove "much of the clunkiness and pain within the game", according to Jon.

Additionally, Jagex is planning to release RuneScape's survival spin-off, RuneScape: Dragonwilds, on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, and reveal big news updates for the RuneScape franchise as a whole on October 3, 2026, at RuneFest in hopes of winning back fans who have long since quit the game while bringing in new fans at the same time.

Windows Central's take

Declaring that you want to be the No.1 MMO in the world is no easy task, as many big-name titles from Final Fantasy XIV to Star Wars: The Old Republic have tried and failed to overthrow the titan that is World of Warcraft.

In fact, the only times any MMO has managed to get a leg up on World of Warcraft is whenever the game and Blizzard Entertainment stumble over their own feet. Such as when World of Warcraft: Shadowlands came out in 2021, which was so panned by critics and fans that it (along with a controversial lawsuit laid at Blizzard at the time) caused players to embark on a mass exodus to Final Fantasy XIV before they returned for World of Warcraft: Dragonflight.

So RuneScape has a lot of work to do if it hopes to take World of Warcraft's crown. However, considering that the current World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion has been panned by fans for having one of the most rushed, glitchiest launches in the game's history, while angering fans for its absurd monetization practices, RuneScape might not have to do THAT much to win fans over, especially if plans to buck FOMO live service trends and microtransactions.

But on the other hand, Blizzard Entertainment has a chance to turn things around quickly if it takes time polishing its content releases and announces something really cool for World of Warcraft at BlizzCon 2026, thus putting a spanner in RuneScape's plans.

Either way, we will have to wait and see who will rise as king of the MMORPGs in the coming months.

But what do you think? Do you think RuneScape's plans to expand its franchise will help it overtake World of Warcraft, or will Blizzard's iconic MMORPG retain its position as the most popular and successful game in the genre?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know in the comments, on Reddit, or in the poll.

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It's been a long wait, but BlizzCon's grand return is nearly here, as we're less than two months from BlizzCon 2026 opening on September 12, 2026.

To celebrate the occasion, Blizzard Entertainment has announced several digital bundle packs containing new in-game items for World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo IV, Diablo Immortal, and Hearthstone available right now for purchase on the Battle.net shop.

These in-game items include mounts, cosmetic costumes, weapon skins, and more. Additionally, there are two free in-game items (a Heroes of the Storm Fix It Gear Head Thrall armor and StarCraft II 15-day co-op XP boost) to claim on the Battle.net shop with no extra charges.

You can buy these digital bundles individually, depending on which game you play, or together in the BlizzCon Ultimate Collection pack, which includes extra goodies not found in the other packs. What's more, if you bought a BlizzCon 2026 Pass ticket, you will get the BlizzCon Ultimate Collection by default.

Do note that these bundle packs and the two free in-game items will only be available until September 28, 2026.

BlizzCon is right around the corner

Blizzard fans are no doubt excited to see BlizzCon after it went on hiatus for the past couple of years, especially after breathing a sigh of relief hearing Blizzard seemingly avoided serious damage from Xbox's big 'reset', which laid off 3,200 people across Xbox's gaming studios.

This event will no doubt bring tons of new, exciting announcements for Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch, while also bringing the fan community together through various fun activities like cosplay content, getting hands-on playtime with video games, watching esports competitions, and more.

But what do you think? Are you excited for BlizzCon 2026's announcements? Are you planning to attend the event in person or watch the livestream of its announcements at home? Do you think rumors of StarCraft getting a new shooter are true and will be announced at BlizzCon 2026?

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

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Fans eager to know what Gears of War: E-Day's multiplayer modes will look like won't have to wait any longer. Coalition has confirmed on X that on July 30, 2026, at 6:00 am PT | 9:00 am ET, it will reveal the first gameplay footage of Gears of War: E-Day's multiplayer on Xbox's official YouTube channel.

What we know so far about Gears of War: E-Day's multiplayer is that, according to Xbox Wire, it will feature a 12-player PvE horde mode similar to Gears of War 2's horde mode, but on a much grander scale, where you and other players work to fend off invading Locust across giant city maps.

Plus, it will feature a 4v4 PvP mode where players fight in classic Gears of War-style symmetrically designed maps with new traversal mechanics thrown in.

Additionally, playing both these modes will contribute towards completing in-game challenges, events, and achievements, and these multiplayer modes will be seasonally updated via a content roadmap.

Players who pre-ordered the game or who are subscribers of Xbox Game Pass/PC Game Pass will be able to play these multiplayer modes early through an Open Beta test weekend starting on August 6, 2026.

However, this gameplay reveal on July 30, 2026 will give fans a brief early taste of what they can expect to see before then.

Windows Central's take

Gears of War's multiplayer modes are often a major highlight alongside the main campaign, featuring insanely brutal, fast-paced, and challenging firefights that always end in fun chaos.

I still have fond memories of my brother screaming in fear as he was overwhelmed by a squad of Locust before soloing them in a blind panic in Gears of War 2's Horde Mode.

So I can't wait to see how Gears of War: E-Day plans to improve upon Horde Mode because the idea of 12 players scrambling to fight Locust at once with the possibility of friendly fire getting everyone killed sounds like my brand of mayhem.

Gears of War: E-Day is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass, and PC via Windows and Steam on October 6, 2026.

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One depressing part of the Xbox story over the past few years has revolved around Xbox hardware sales, which have been in near freefall decline quarter in, quarter out.

Factoring the memory crisis, attention market saturation, bad marketing, and the general negativity over the Xbox brand — the Xbox Series X|S platform has had a pretty awful gen, despite arguably being the best console Microsoft has ever made (on paper).

RELATED: Xbox Series X|S price / stock tracker (before price hikes)

There's no reason to think that Xbox's hardware fortunes won't continue to struggle in the near term. Price hikes are pending for these consoles, and the memory shortage is expected to get even worse before it gets better. But, hey, positive momentum is positive momentum, I guess.

Xbox Series had a good June in the US. Units up 86% vs last June, avg price up as well. Highest US Xbox Series units this year. Last June, Xbox Series was seeing impact of the May price increase and the Switch 2 launch. So, big % growth on a smaller base last year. Still, good month for Xbox Series.

— @matpiscatella.bsky.social (@matpiscatella.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-07-22T18:35:49.083Z

Mat Piscatella of Circana noted Xbox's positive June upswing on BlueSky, charting that Xbox had its best month ever. He noted that the increase offsets a nasty decrease from last June, owing to the Nintendo Switch 2 launch and Xbox's initial price increase wave. Xbox also has price increases pending for August, which has likely driven additional sales in the short term as users get on board now before rates go up. Piscatella noted that Nintendo Switch 2 was down -78% year over year, and PS5 was down -43%.

There are other potential factors here too for Xbox. Xbox has had a bit of a spotlight on it recently. Forza Horizon 6 has enjoyed massive sales success, and is presently exclusive to Xbox Series X|S on console (exclusives sell systems? who knew). New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has also created some positive excitement for the brand, and hints of a more aggressive posture on exclusive content, a price cut for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and the promise of new games like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution also might be having some impact. There's also the GTA 6 bounce. The Xbox Series S is going to be the cheapest way to access GTA 6 for the foreseeable future, despite the price hikes.

Microsoft might also simply be allocating more stock to the U.S. market. Japan, for example, has seen Xbox sales dive down from thousands of units, to hundreds, to mere dozens of units in recent years. Prioritizing Microsoft's core market in the short term seems like a smart play than trying to muddle through in markets where it has traditionally struggled. Although longer term, new CEO Asha Sharma has signalled intents to grow Xbox beyond its traditional Western shores.

Xbox isn't out of the woods yet

It's also true that Xbox is growing from a very small base number of units. An 86% increase might seem like a lot, but if you're starting with a low number already, Xbox still has a ways to go to show real growth. Still, up is up, and "up" is probably the only way Xbox can go from here.

I wrote recently how only heavy-hitting exclusives will change Xbox's console fortunes. The overall base of console gamers probably won't grow until Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo figure out a way to siphon youngsters moving directly to Roblox when joining the industry. Roblox is under pressure from world governments to tighten protections for youngsters, as the dangers of the social media-adjacent gaming platform become increasingly apparent.

RELATED: Xbox brings back compat games to PC for the first time

Games like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls enjoy mass market appeal. It's particularly true of Fallout, which has enjoyed mainstream TV show success recently. Minecraft as well represents vast untapped potential as a potential system seller for Xbox. The previous Xbox administration felt content to leave Minecraft to its own devices, but new CEO Asha Sharma has brought Minecraft directly in-house at Xbox, potentially signalling intent to leverage its mainstream status to synergise marketing beats with Xbox hardware.

It remains to be seen if Xbox Series X|S can finish with positive hardware growth for the quarter overall. The RAMpocalypse is on-going, and Xbox Series X|S consoles will pick up price hikes soon, too. But many gamers on Xbox One will likely be looking to upgrade for the first time specifically for GTA 6 soon, as well as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, which is cutting off last gen for the first time.

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Microsoft's new Surface Pro pairs Snapdragon X2 processors with a 2-in-1 design that set the standard for the form factor. The new Surface Pro launched this summer, and it comes with some serious graphical improvements.

You'll see some people refer to the device as the Surface Pro 12, though it's officially known as the Surface Pro 13-inch. Pricing starts at $1,499.99 and scales up depending on the processor you want and how much RAM and storage you need.

• Shop all Best Buy Surface deals

The new Surface Pro is available in black, platinum, or dune, giving you a chance to add a bit of flair to the convertible PC.

Surface Pro

The latest Surface Pro looks a lot like its predecessor, and that's a good thing. This form factor matured through over a decade of refinements and innovation, so there's not much Microsoft could do to revamp the design.

Our Editor-in-Chief called the Surface Pro 11 a "stunning achievement" and "one of the best Windows PCs of 2024." The same design that earned a five-star review from Rubino is here in the new Surface Pro, but with a noticeable spec bump.

The Snapdragon X2 Plus and Snapdragon X2 Elite that are available in the Surface Pro promise significant graphics improvements (up to a 53% increase depending on the model you choose).

When you hear about a graphics bump in a PC, you may think about games. But in the Surface Pro it's more about productivity. Better graphics means smoother scrubbing through timelines, better video editing, and smoother performance when handling demanding tasks.

The new Surface Pro has more affordable options with LCD screens or premium-priced offerings with OLED panels. Creators should lean toward the OLED display for its pitch blacks, better HDR, and higher contrast. If you're on a budget, the LCD options are the better choice.

As is always the case, I recommend grabbing a keyboard to go with your Surface Pro. The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard provides the best experience, since it can be used wirelessly or when physically connected. It's currently on sale, which reduces sticker shock ever so slightly.

The new Surface Pro only started shipping recently, so reviews are scarce and few customers have had a chance to share their thoughts. Early buzz around the web says the Surface Pro powered by Snapdragon X2 is faster and gets better battery life than its predecessor.

If you already have a Surface Pro 11 that's holding its own and aging well, I'd suggest holding onto it. But if you want a new flagship 2-in-1 that can tackle productivity workloads all day when plugged in or unplugged, the new Surface Pro with a Snapdragon X2 chip is the way to go.

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There's a story doing the rounds about how Steam Deck sales have cratered in recent times, courtesy of the team at Boiling Steam looking at data and crunching numbers.

There's plenty of reaction out there, but honestly, what did anyone expect? I love my Steam Deck and I will defend it to the hilt, but at this point in time, nobody should be buying one anyway. And no, this isn't some thin attempt at selling the virtues of a Windows 11 handheld gaming PC instead.

Just look at where we are. The Steam Deck is nearly four and a half years old, it hasn't had any performance upgrades despite a newer version of its APU and an OLED display, and the AI-induced RAMpocalypse means it's more expensive than it ever was.

Speaking with a sensible head, the same applies to the Steam Deck as it does to the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles, each of which is also more expensive towards the end of their product cycles than when they begin. Don't buy one, definitely not at full price.

As such, it's no surprise to see Steam Deck sales are slowing. The cheapest model available is now $789/£649, a significant increase on the launch prices. Admittedly, there is now only the upgraded OLED model, and the base storage is 512GB, but it's still substantially more expensive than it once was.

I was lucky to get my 256GB Steam Deck LCD in the first few batches back in 2022 and paid £459. For a device that doesn't perform any better in games, which is ultimately what matters most, the new prices just don't make any sense.

It makes even less sense when you consider that Valve has opened up SteamOS to be installed on other handhelds. The base Xbox Ally is currently $599, with a better APU, a higher refresh rate display, and the same storage/RAM combination, while costing almost $200 less. If you were eying up a 1TB Steam Deck, you'd be better off getting the Xbox Ally X, which is far more powerful and only $50 more expensive.

I appreciate what Valve has done with the Steam Deck; after all, it really kicked off the handheld gaming PC category as we know it today. It's a phenomenal device, and I've had zero regrets. I think SteamOS is still a superior handheld experience, too, with only anticheat holding it back.

But we can't look at the situation right now and lament falling sales, because it should be happening. It's four years into its cycle, it's been usurped handily by others in the performance stakes, and it's just too expensive.

We should appreciate it for what it is and what it's done. But if you want a somewhat affordable handheld gaming PC right now, the Xbox Ally is the smart choice. Then throw SteamOS on it if you want; I know I'd be tempted to.

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Xbox fans have been wondering for a long time what might be next for its backwards compatibility and game preservation efforts. Today, we got a pretty big hint.

Shared on Xbox Wire, Xbox VP Jason Ronald revealed that the Xbox backward compatibility program is expanding to PC, with new emulation tech supporting Xbox games on Windows for the first time.

It's early days yet, but it's an encouraging step about where Xbox's efforts to preserve its gaming legacy will end up in the coming years.

"Your library is more than just a collection of games. It is your personal history of epic stories and treasured memories from the past. And as players, we don’t want to leave our gaming legacy behind even as technology continues to evolve and advance. We expect our library of games to move forward with us and to be able to play them in entirely new ways," Jason Ronald explained.

The initial wave of games will include Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Fuzion Frenzy, Crimson Skies, and Conker: Live and Reloaded. All are classic OG Xbox games fully owned by Microsoft, but it stands to reason that even more titles previously locked away on Xbox consoles could eventually appear on Windows PCs and Xbox gaming handhelds, like the Xbox Ally.

Additionally, and surprisingly, these games will also eventually support Xbox achievements "later this year," says Ronald. Considering the source code for these games is likely covered in cobwebs, I'm curious how Microsoft has managed to achieve this one.

The games will also support a variety of PC-oriented upgrades. They will support Xbox Play Anywhere with Xbox Cloud saves. They have 4X resolution scaling, V-Sync support, Full and Windowed display modes, anisotropic filtering, anti-aliasing, and other PC-expected features.

In a universe where digital ownership rights are in the spotlight, it's great to see Xbox leading the charge for backward compatibility and preservation here. It increasingly seems like disc-based games are not long for this world, but platforms like GOG are stepping up to offer DRM-free digital options, and companies like Xbox continue to invest in bringing more console-locked titles to Windows PC, complete with dual-platform license entitlements via Xbox Play Anywhere.

It's only four games for now, but could we realistically see a future where all your digital Xbox content could move between platforms even as console hardware becomes obsolete and stops being manufactured? One can hope.

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Microsoft is making it genuinely difficult to write original headlines. The company is moving so many free features behind paywalls that I’m starting to worry readers will assume I’ve published the same article twice.

Just this week, I've covered Microsoft Whiteboard requiring a Microsoft Business account, meeting preparation in Outlook needing a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, and Microsoft getting rid of Copilot Podcasts without offering any way to download previously created content.

Now, Deep Research in Copilot is on the chopping block. And in a not-so-surprising move, the replacement for that feature requires a Microsoft 365 Premium subscription.

Deep Research is a Copilot feature that creates detailed reports and provides full citations. It will be retired on August 18, 2026. The successor to Deep Research is Researcher.

I wanted to run Deep Research to further detail the transition, but Copilot said it was already impossible to activate Deep Research mode. Apparently the August 18 cutoff is for full retirement but the feature is already being phased out.

Researcher and Deep Research overlap when it comes to features and purpose, but there are some differences. Researcher integrates with Microsoft 365 and is meant for business users.

Are we all just AI beta testers?

It feels like Microsoft has turned a corner in its AI strategy. After spending billions of dollars and trying to force-feed Copilot and other AI tools onto its users, Microsoft now has an idea of what people actually want. With all that data, Microsoft is trimming the fat and moving any tasty AI morsels behind paywalls.

The freemium model is not new, but it can be frustrating for users when pushed to the extreme. Companies often introduce features for free only to later evolve them into paid tools. This is especially common with smartphone apps, but it's a widespread strategy.

But requiring payment goes over easier when the paid products are better than what was once free. I'm fine paying for an app or service that's worth it, but simply shifting free features to paid subscriptions is poor form.

Microsoft should have the basic versions of features available through free apps, such as Copilot, then make better versions with more capabilities that are accessible to paid users. Right now, Copilot feels like a glorified demo or an interactive ad for what will eventually be paid products.

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NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang seems to be everywhere these days, and there's often an interesting tidbit of history that gets revealed during his appearances.

The latest comes from last week's GiGO Akihabara arcade gaming event, where Huang made an appearance to help celebrate the institution's historic relationship with Sega.

At the event, which was also attended by Sega's current CEO, COO, and former president, Huang expressed his gratitude toward Sega (via Automaton Media) for helping make NVIDIA the tech giant that it is today.

I certainly never knew this, but Huang pins NVIDIA's success today largely on an early investment from the Japanese gaming giant.

One of NVIDIA's earliest mistakes nearly killed the company

NVIDIA began its run in 1993 with Huang at the helm, with a focus on creating GPUs to power 3D games. Unfortunately, at the time, the only 3D games to be found were in arcades.

Daytona USA, one of Sega's smash hits, arrived in North American arcades in 1994, and Huang explains that the NVIDIA team was addicted to the "beautiful 3D graphics and incredible sound."

With a clear goal in mind, Huang's NVIDIA received a stroke of good luck when it was asked by then Sega President Shoichiro Irimajiri to help create the Dreamcast console's GPU.

This isn't what saved NVIDIA. If anything, it nearly killed the company. After about nine months of collaboration, both sides of the partnership realized NVIDIA's tech wasn't going to be a good match for the Dreamcast.

As Huang explains, NVIDIA had been working on "forward texture mapping and curved surfaces," but the Dreamcast needed "inverse texture mapping and polygons.

Huang says he explained the predicament to Irimajiri plainly, and the two companies agreed to part ways. At least on the Dreamcast project.

Here's where history could have gone two ways. Realizing his company was in dire need of funding, Huang asked Irimajiri and Sega for an investment package. It was approved, and Huang says without it, "the company likely wouldn't exist today."

Where would video games be without NVIDIA ... and Sega?

Following Huang's history lesson, he revealed the real reason for his visit to Japan. It appears that the Japanese government and NVIDIA are prepping an announcement for a major partnership involving AI and robotics.

Go figure. NVIDIA is currently the world's most valuable company, and that value is built largely on the back of GPUs designed specifically for AI workloads.

As NVIDIA continues to print money with its AI sector, its gaming division has come under fire recently for its AI-soaked DLSS 5 upscaling technique.

I've been saying for years that AI in games isn't going anywhere, but that doesn't really make it a pill that's any easier to swallow. No matter what you think about NVIDIA, the video game landscape probably wouldn't look anything like it does today without the company that created CUDA and drove the ray tracing revolution with its RTX hardware.

And for that, we can thank an investment from Sega more than 30 years ago.

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LeBron James will play for the Miami Heat in the 2026/2027 season, at least if a private video by the Miami Heat YouTube channel is to be believed. The official YouTube channel of the NBA team posted a video titled "LeBron James Introductory Press Conference" that specifically mentions July 27, 2026.

The YouTube video, which is marked as private, was quickly delisted and removed from Google search results, but Bing still shows the video (though you can't actually watch it).

With an NBA player of James' fame, people would have likely spotted the video if it appeared on Google for only a few seconds. But Bing made it much easier to see the video.

The basketball world is eagerly waiting for James to make a decision regarding where he will play next season. NBA commissioner Adam Silver even said the schedule of the league cannot be finalized until James announces his plans.

So, should Silver finish the NBA schedule and send it out now that the Miami Heat YouTube channel published a video? Probably not. While there's always a possibility that James will return to Miami, the Heat organization claimed the video was mistakenly made public by the social media department of the team.

A Heat spokesperson further clarified to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald that the team prepared the video because of the possibility of James returning to Miami.

I'll point out that Miami did not deny that James will sign with the Heat or claim the video is incorrect. The spokesperson said there is "currently no validity to the video" (Chiang's phrasing of what he was told).

That being said, it's normal for organizations to prepare for different scenarios. A more somber example is that media outlets often have obituaries written in advance for key figures.

We'll have to wait to see if James decides to return to Miami or play elsewhere next season. In the meantime, we can see if betting lines about his future signing shift based on the mistakenly shared video.

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For years, Microsoft has wrestled with modernizing the File Explorer app on Windows. Over the last few years, we've seen Microsoft slowly introduce modern UI elements across the File Explorer interface. Areas like the top of the app, Home page, and details pane have been modernized with WinUI 3, but the rest of the app has pretty much remained untouched.

This means that the File Explorer experience right now is very fragmented, being shared between decades-old interface design and modern WinUI design. Well, it looks like Microsoft is slowly moving to fix that, as evidence that the company is planning to modernize a pretty major aspect of the File Explorer has now appeared.

First spotted by Phantomofearth on Bluesky, the latest Windows 11 preview build includes a hidden modernized File Properties window that appears when you open properties on a file in the Recycle Bin. This is the only window that's been discovered so far, but it's clear that Microsoft is planning to modernize the entire File Properties dialog soon.

This move matches Microsoft's commitment to bring WinUI to more areas of the Windows Shell. The company confirmed plans to bring WinUI to the Start menu and in-box apps and experiences earlier this year, in an effort to streamline performance and design consistency across the entire Windows UI.

One of Windows 11's biggest criticisms amongst users is that the interface is very fragmented. In apps like File Explorer, it's very easy to come across a popup or window that hasn't been modernized like the rest of Windows 11, in some cases even missing support for dark mode. Moving these interfaces to WinUI should make them appear more consistent and support dark mode.

Microsoft has also confirmed plans to improve the performance of WinUI itself, which is why it's confident that moving more of the Windows Shell over to WinUI should result in a faster overall experience. These improvements are part of the company's ongoing Windows K2 effort, which is focused on fixing Windows 11's biggest issues.

The modernized File Properties on Windows 11 are yet to be announced, but now that the first signs of this work are now appearing in preview builds, it's unlikely to be much more of a wait before we hear more about Microsoft's plans for modernizing more areas of the File Explorer.

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Best Buy's Back to School is still ongoing and providing healthy discounts on our favorite laptops we've personally tested and confirmed will help you smash your exams and homework with no effort.

One such device that will be invaluable to your schoolwork is the HP Omnibook X Flip 16-inch laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD that's now on sale for $749.99 at Best Buy (cut down by 38% from its listing price of $1,199.99).

Why buy the HP OmniBook X Flip 16-inch laptop?

We've reviewed the 14-inch configuration of the HP OmniBook X Flip laptop, and aside from having a larger screen, a slightly larger battery life of 23 hours (as opposed to 22 hours), and a larger NPU with 47 TOPS (as opposed to 40 TOPS), the 16-inch version of the HP OmniBook X Flip is conceptually the same machine with the same generation processor selections.

This means that the 16-inch version we're spotlighting features all the great draws that made the 14-inch version earn 4/5 Stars from us.

These features include strong performance rates when tackling productivity tasks thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 7 (Lunar Lake) 256V 2024 CPU and 16GB of RAM, vast amounts of space to store valuable homework within a 1TB SSD, and the aforementioned NPU with 47 TOPS to run through AI programs with great speed and stability.

It also includes a practical 2-in-1 design with a sturdy build to help it withstand bumps and occasional falls off desks (it's happened to the best of us), and stylus compatibility so you can draw digital art on its touchscreen, rather than use a mouse if you prefer.

So, if you're fretting over schoolwork and need a reliable and fast-performing laptop to help you get work done, and if you don't mind if it has a plain design with no RGB lighting, then the 16-inch HP OmniBook X Flip that's now $749.99 at Best Buy will save your day.

FAQ

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There's not many active Meta Quest users out there these days, but the Facebook firm isn't going quietly into the night it seems.

The so-called "Metaverse" might've amounted to a gigantic dud, but Zuckerberg's VR outlet isn't giving up, and it's leveraging Xbox to help it out.

Microsoft and Meta partnered on the Xbox edition Meta Quest last year, offering a special Xbox-branded style headset that came with Xbox Cloud Gaming in the box, and a special pre-connected controller. Meta and Microsoft are taking the partnership a bit further today, announced via Xbox Wire.

"For years, XBOX and Meta have teamed up to make it easier to play the games you love across more devices.

Today, we’re building on that with a new benefit connected to the Meta Horizon+ subscription, giving you another way to discover and play with Game Pass, alongside the existing access to XBOX and Game Pass on Meta Quest devices."

Meta and Microsoft will now offer Xbox Game Pass Starter subscriptions for users with Horizon+, which costs $59.99 USD per year, or $7.99 USD per month. Horizon+ offers over 150 VR games to play immediately, with new games entering the service on a monthly rotating basis, similarly to Xbox Game Pass.

Xbox Game Pass' starter edition offers 50 additional games on top of that, playable for up to 10 hours a month via Xbox Cloud Gaming. The package includes games like Fallout 4, Fallout 76, Grounded, DayZ, Snowrunner, and many more. The games on Xbox Game Pass are not native, of course, and require high-speed internet and an Xbox Bluetooth controller to experience via a virtual cloud screen. At least, for now.

Meta and Microsoft say that they're working on bringing native Xbox controller support to the Quest VR touch controllers. This will map the functions of an Xbox controller natively to the Quest handsets, making it far easier to jump into a game without having to reach and pair an additional Xbox controller. Frankly, I'm wondering why this wasn't already a thing, but better late than never, ey?

You can already pair an Xbox controller via Bluetooth with Meta Quest headsets and use Xbox Cloud Gaming via a web app. It works rather well, and the Meta Quest can detect the Xbox controller functionality flawlessly. I reviewed the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition last year, and thought it was an impressive experience. Having a massive VR screen to play Xbox Cloud Gaming on is fantastic, and I completed W40K Space Marine start to finish that way. Of course, whether or not you actually want to wear a foggy computer on your head really depends on the user. My Meta Quest headset has sadly been gathering dust for many months.

As a glasses wearer, the last thing I really want to do is wear additional glasses when TVs and laptops exist, which are just far more comfortable to game on in my view. But some people love it, and all the more power to them. I think VR and AR have some kind of role to play in the future of tech, but makers will have to figure out a way to make them far more comfortable than they already are. And it seems we're probably still far away from that in my view. I could be wrong, though.

Given the fact Xbox Helix is meant to be a Windows PC of sorts, it makes me wonder if Microsoft won't eventually offer VR games directly via the Xbox PC Store, similarly to Steam. It's also true that Meta is the only big player left in the VR space, though, and it makes me wonder how much longer they'll try to tough it out.

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Xbox Game Pass dropped a healthy selection of day-one releases this past week, some of which have been getting plenty of praise. But the one folks have been playing the most, well, it's none of those.

It's PBA Pro Bowling 2026. A game that first launched eight months ago but has only just joined Game Pass.

It comes by way of TrueAchievements charting the most played games on Xbox for the week ending July 12. There are no surprises at the top, but when you drill down and specifically look at the newest Game Pass additions, only two even made the top 40, with PBA Pro Bowling 2026 by far the highest-ranked.

I'll admit, I haven't played it, and I'm not much of a bowler, but I'm installing it right now. Of the games it dropped with, Denshattack! with its mad Jet Set Radio-like styling was the one I was planning to play first. I hadn't even given PBA Pro Bowling 2026 a second thought.

As it turns out, it seems to be a pretty good game, though. It's rated well on Steam, and personally, I think it's actually the sort of game that's a great fit for Game Pass.

As much fun as playing brand-new releases may be, or the latest AAA blockbuster out of one of Microsoft's many studios, I actually think that casual games make the most sense to bulk up the Game Pass library.

There's been plenty of discussion about Game Pass as a platform recently, but I know I'd be lost without it. So would my son. Between us, we've enjoyed so many games that otherwise wouldn't have been given a second glance if they'd had to have been bought.

While I use it to play big new first-party titles like Forza Horizon 6, the rest of my time on Game Pass is spent trying out a real variety of games. Some casual, some less so. But because I don't need to make a purchase decision, it's easy. And I've found plenty of real gems.

I can't be alone there, either. I really do think that could be an element of what's been seen here with PBA Pro Bowling 2026. Unless you're a hardcore bowler, it was probably never high on your list. But it's a casual game with a recognizable theme that's easy to pick up and play without having to sweat your eyeballs off or devote the next month of your life.

Xbox Game Pass should be like Netflix. Always something new and fun to discover beyond the big hitters we hear about every day. It doesn't need to be filled with day-one releases. Games like this prove that.

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I grew up in an analog world. Smartphones were at least a decade away. Laptops were bricks of hardware with tiny, low-res screens and enormous hard drives. The first PC games I played shipped on floppy discs. I bought my first music album on cassette. I spent a lot of time outdoors, exploring the woods and building forts with friends.

You get the idea.

It pains me to say that the analog world in which I grew up has disappeared over time, giving way to a digital reality. Have you ever seen a toddler effortlessly operate a phone or tablet? Yeah, they know what's up.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there's a growing resistance to this digital takeover. The analog revival, as it's often called, is usually framed as an anti-technology story. I don't think that's fair.

Younger generations aren't quitting all tech as a rule. They're mostly quitting smartphones and the digital hypnosis they can affect with seemingly no effort at all.

Sure, knitting needles, film cameras, vinyl records, landlines, and inked journals seem to be taking over TikTok and other social media hot spots, but there's another revival underway. One that could place Microsoft and the PC landscape in a very good spot.

The children yearn for the analog hobbies

In March 2026, crafting superstore Michaels published its latest Creativity Trend Report.

The findings suggest that there's some serious digital fatigue going on, noting significant upticks in searches for journals, hands-on crafts like sewing or knitting, crafting parties, party decorations, and more.

Searches for these analog hobbies rose, in some cases, by 919% in 2026. Yarn accessory sales alone grew by 40% compared to 2025, according to Michaels.

Similarly, CNBC covered the analog revival shortly before the Michaels report was published, noting that it's an effort pushing beyond a simple digital detox.

I have to agree; the movement feels a lot like an attempt to slow down and do things by hand at a time when generative AI is taking over the thinking and doing, especially in the creative and professional spaces.

Gen Z is largely driving the analog revival, and I wouldn't say it's afraid of tech. This is the generation that grew up with a phone in hand, after all.

But it's also the generation that's experiencing the worst AI fatigue, and it's the generation that Microsoft has largely focused on courting with its Copilot+ AI PC movement.

Microsoft's AI PC collision with analog refugees

Microsoft seems to have been in a collision at the crossroads of AI PCs and the analog revival.

When Copilot+ PCs were first introduced in May 2024, it was the very beginning of an "AI everywhere" push for Microsoft's Windows 11. I won't go into the specifics here, but it was a hard time for Windows users as it seemed like AI was being injected into just about every aspect of the OS.

The backlash from users led to Microsoft's Windows president, Pavan Davuluri, stating in early 2026 that the company would be focusing on addressing pain points like performance and reliability.

Since then, Microsoft has been stripping Copilot features out of areas where they make the least sense, including Notepad, Teams, Snipping Tool, and Photos.

At Build 2026, the Copilot+ PC brand was barely mentioned. The strict NPU requirement to run Copilot+ tools? It might not be around long, as Microsoft is reportedly testing the features to run on GPUs as well.

The company that created an entirely new hardware category around AI handling tasks on your PC is backing away from its original pitch. The fact that it's happening at the same time that there's a major analog movement is probably just a coincidence.

I certainly don't think Microsoft alone is driving the digital desertion trend, but it's definitely not fighting it, either.

Where do PCs fit into an analog lifestyle?

I don't believe the analog movement is anti-computer. It's anti-friction, anti-ambient, and anti-notification. Phones are designed to interrupt you at every possible chance. One more short video. One more text. One more post. A phone is like a slot machine in your pocket, delivering dopamine on demand.

A PC, on the other hand, is more like a workbench. You don't pull out your laptop to kill a few minutes of idle time. You sit down at a PC because you decided to write something. Edit something. Build something. Play something.

Microsoft spent a couple of years trying to make Windows behave more like a phone while adding AI everywhere it could, and the resulting backlash shows just how flat that bet fell. No, I don't think the analog crowd is rejecting the PC. It's rejecting the parts of a PC that most behave like a phone.

The avenue of intentional computing is what I think Windows is best positioned to own, whether it intends to or not. The PC's real advantage over the phone isn't more AI. It's that it's still, fundamentally, a tool you purposefully use and turn off when you're done.

Will Microsoft lean into the analog revival?

Microsoft has a genuine opportunity here to gain users simply by doing less with Windows 11. Rather than positioning the OS as the de facto AI platform, why not position it as an escape hatch from the AI/attention economy that casts its shadow over so many of our lives?

I'm talking about improving focus modes. Removing ambient monitoring and notifications. Removing more AI features where they don't make sense. Make the PC feel more like a workbench again.

Davuluri's own message about pulling back on AI, listening to users, and fixing what's broken is already halfway there. It just hasn't been articulated expressly as a perk.

The PC doesn't need more AI to remain relevant to younger generations that are rabidly returning to analog hobbies. If anything, it's the opposite.

Will Microsoft make the most of the analog revival? Do you think I'm way off course with this intersection of tech and anti-digital crowds? Is it just a generational phase? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Microsoft Surface will appear prominently in front of football fans, and I don't mean "American football." Manchester United and Qualcomm have expanded their partnership, which will continue to promote Surface hardware.

Surface PCs are now available with Snapdragon X2 processors and are among the flagship devices that showcase the new generation of chips. The partnership between Qualcomm and Manchester United raises awareness of Snapdragon by attaching it to the well-known Surface family of devices.

“Seeing Microsoft Surface join the shirt is a natural next step in the collaboration we’ve built together—bringing Snapdragon-powered innovation to one of the world’s most iconic sports platforms and creating new ways for fans to engage with the club," said Qualcomm EVP and Chief Marketing Officer Don McGuire.

Throughout the 2026/27 season, Microsoft Surface will appear on the back of Manchester United kit. Specifically, the logo will appear on the shirts of the men's first team during the preseason and domestic cup games. Surface will also be featured in all Manchester United women's matches outside of European competition.

While Surface fans may be excited to see the brand appear on Manchester United kit, I imagine they're more interested in the limited-edition Surface PCs that are part of the partnership. Microsoft and Manchester United worked together to create special Surface PCs that feature Manchester United branding.

A fan program will be launched to make sure the devices end up in the hands of supporters rather than scalpers.

Unfortunately, photos of the limited-edition Surface PCs were not shared by Qualcomm or Manchester United. I think it's safe to assume the Surface PCs will feature Manchester United's shade of red alongside white and black accents.

If the special Surface PCs need to be repaired for any reason, I hope Microsoft does not lose them. When a 50th Anniversary Surface Laptop was sent in for repairs, Microsoft lost the device and initially could not return the PC to its owner.

Eventually, Microsoft higher-ups intervened and sorted things out. The 50th Anniversary Surface Laptop was repaired and returned.

That saga happened because there was a gap in Microsoft's handling of Surface devices. The special edition laptop was created for the US market, so it was not flagged in the service workflow outside the US.

Assuming Microsoft has learned from the past, its service department will have flagged the Manchester United Surface PCs in other markets in case a user outside the UK gets one.

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Here's something that I've been investigating for years at this point: Xbox's support services.

One of my personal nightmares as a heavy Microsoft ecosystem user is the prospect of somehow losing my account. I have decades of memories stored in OneDrive, important and crucial documents from everything relating to taxes to medical services. I have thousands of dollars invested in Xbox digital games, movies, and TV shows, and an archive of projects and art work I've built up since I was literally a child — all stored for a hefty annual Microsoft 365 fee.

The problem is, as we're increasingly being reminded, if it's in Microsoft's cloud, you quite literally don't own it. Microsoft can for any reason strip you of access to your account, per their terms of services. What's worse is, Microsoft's own policies seem to suggest that it won't help you either, if you're hacked through no fault of your own. Regulators and national laws have nowhere near caught up on this stuff, and it's becoming a huge problem.

This past week it came to a head somewhat, as a major content creator fell afoul of Microsoft's abysmal support services. He was only able to regain access to his account after luckily going viral. Many hundreds (thousands?) of others aren't so lucky.

You shouldn't need to go viral to save your Microsoft account

Over the past year or more I've been collecting experiences from affected users, banned for dubious reasons, or hacked and then denied support. I've learned all about the Kafka-esque rabbit holes Microsoft's AI-powered support systems send users on, taking them through mazes of dead links and abandoned phone lines. It's simply not good enough, and absolutely needs to change.

One user @ijpex on X told me "it was honestly horrifying" when he began seeing his Microsoft and Xbox account access slip away.

"I remember I tried logging into Minecraft and when I opened the launcher I noticed it had a different email saved. I thought it was weird and tried logging in with my correct email. It said my account didn't exist. Which led to another problem because Microsoft forced Minecraft accounts to be merged. My Microsoft account was shared with my family and we used OneDrive for storage. It also had sensitive information like bank details, passwords, etc. That was when panic really set in to be honest."

@ijpex explained that getting in touch with Microsoft represented a "huge convoluted pain," saving several chats with various support agents, filling in various forms to prove ownership — with questions that required some form of insane eidetic memory for accounts that are particularly old. For some reason, Microsoft didn't seek proof via billing.

He fell afoul of what many many users have fallen afoul of. Microsoft acknowledged that a hack had taken place, but said they couldn't (or wouldn't) do anything about it. Instead, they advised ijpex to start a new account.

As of writing, I've received dozens of accounts similar to the above. I spoke to content creator Joshua Khane who really ended up giving Microsoft a strong kick up the backside about these issues. It was only after going viral that Microsoft seems to have begun giving this a serious look.

Similar to @ijpex above, Khane seems to have been impacted by malware being spread via Minecraft PC mods, via services like CurseForge which are often unverified by Microsoft.

"At that moment, I realized I had lost access to nearly 20 years of digital purchases, achievements, save files, and my OneDrive. That was probably the hardest part. My OneDrive contains irreplaceable family photos of my children, old music projects from the beginning of my career, and videos from performances and studio sessions that simply can’t be replaced."

As you might've expected, Microsoft support basically told him "sorry lol" after admitting that a hack had taken place. They advised Khane to make a new account and buy Minecraft again, taking no responsibility for the decades of lost pictures and documents.

It was only after going viral did Khane get the support he needs.

So, what's Microsoft doing about this?

Microsoft has been grossly underfunding its support services for years now. Speaking to what few people remain at Microsoft's customer services, I've discovered that Microsoft under CEO Satya Nadella joined a variety of other major tech firms outsourcing real support to under-trained and under-funded agencies in developing nations, where language and translation issues prevent real help from materializing.

Microsoft has unsurprisingly also been (poorly) leveraging AI and automated responses, leading users in circles. We've seen this across the entire stack at Microsoft, whether it's Microsoft 365, Activision Blizzard games, Xbox itself, Surface, Windows, and beyond. Microsoft is by no means alone here, of course, a major PlayStation content creator Colin Moriarty recently had a similar issue, and was only able to regain access to his account due to his public status. Sony has cast a big spotlight on digital ownership recently, after pledging to ditch physical discs by 2028.

I spoke to a variety of users who have also been banned from all of Microsoft's services for vague "terms of service violations" despite not providing affected users any additional context. Users suggested to me that Microsoft's AI might be flagging legally-stored digital versions of movies and music as piracy, or even innocent childhood family OneDrive pictures as abuse material for example, which is horrifying to think about. And of course, there's no mechanism in place to force Microsoft to put human eyeballs on cases that are potentially more complex.

I feel as though users affected in this way wouldn't have come forward to me for help had they knowingly violated laws. I also feel that if Microsoft itself knew that laws had genuinely been violated, those affected users would be (and potentially should be) getting visits from law enforcement. None of those I spoke to had received visits from law enforcement.

As more and more of our data goes up to cloud services like this, it becomes increasingly critical that regulators and legal bodies re-examine what rights we have to our digital content in my view. AI is also boosting the cadence by which hostile actors can potentially gain unauthorized access to accounts. You'd have to hope Microsoft is cognizant of this, as a one of the companies pushing this tech on society. I've written to EU regulators and the UK CMA to learn what, if anything, they plan to do about it. I'll update if they respond.

Microsoft says it is working with people via X DM messages to resolve account issues, but that isn't exactly a big help for people not on X.

Xbox sources tell me that Microsoft is reviewing how it handles its support flow for situations like the above, although it could be some time before new systems materialize. "If you invested your time and money in a library with us, we want to honor that trust and keep you connected to what you built," I was told by sources familiar with Xbox's plans here.

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Microsoft has a lot of work to bring good cheer back to gamers after its massive restructuring of Xbox laid off 3,200 people, and one of the ways it's doing that is by announcing more games for Xbox Game Pass.

The first half of July 2026's new additions brought Gears of War: Reloaded, so Microsoft decided to follow up by showing that Xbox's other iconic flagship franchise, Halo, will lead the second batch of Xbox Game Pass games with the much-anticipated Halo: Campaign Evolved.

Other notable titles in this line-up include Beast of Reincarnation, an upcoming action-RPG by Game Freak of Pokémon fame, Heretic + Hexen, a classic first-person shooter bundle created by id Software, and Shift at Midnight, a viral indie PC horror game that's coming to Xbox consoles soon.

Here is the full list of Xbox Game Pass titles from July's second batch as stated on Xbox Wire:

Games leaving Xbox Game Pass (July 31)

• Back to the Dawn (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Celeste (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Crusader Kings 3 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• My Friendly Neighborhood (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Rain World (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Sniper Elite Resistance (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Whiskerwood (PC)

Windows Central's take

The star of the show here is Halo: Campaign Evolved, an upcoming remake of the original Halo's iconic campaign mode that's set to release on July 28, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

It will feature updated next-gen graphics, a new mission for the campaign, new levels, new gameplay mechanics and weapons to bring it more in line with newer Halo games, while remaking the original game's cinematics and audio and bringing the original game's voice cast to re-record dialogue.

While Halo: Campaign Evolved will not feature the original Halo's PVP multiplayer modes, it will support four-player online co-op and two-player split-screen local co-op (which is my preferred way to play Halo) with cross-platform play for all platforms and cross-progression for the campaign for all platforms during online co-op.

Halo: Campaign Evolved has been shaping up to be a long-awaited return to form for the series as it goes back to basics while also wowing new players with its exciting combat and next-gen visuals,

At the same time, Halo: Campaign Evolved has also been earning goodwill from players incensed by Sony's crusade to kill physical media by announcing that it will launch on discs and provide a Machinima mode for players to create screenshots or fan movies similar to the classic Red Vs. Blue series.

Will Halo: Campaign Evolved be the ultimate comeback for the Halo franchise? Only time will tell when the game drops on July 28, 2026.

What do you think of Xbox Game Pass' second batch of games for July 2026? Which titles are you most looking forward to from this list?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know in the comments, on Reddit, or in the poll.

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Microsoft Whiteboard will still be available after August 22, 2026, but you may not be able to use it. After that date, the app will require a Microsoft Business account. Users with personal accounts will still be able to view and export previously created content for a short time, but they will not be able to create or edit whiteboards. After September 5, 2026, personal users will have their content deleted.

The change is happening because Microsoft is moving storage for Microsoft Whiteboard to OneDrive for Business. That transition will also bring new features and other changes. A side effect is that people without a business account will be left out of the Whiteboard experience.

If you are signed into Microsoft Whiteboard with a personal account, you'll be met with the following message when you open the app:

"Microsoft Whiteboard for Microsoft account is being retired

Starting from August 22, 2026, you will no longer be able to create or edit whiteboards. However, you can continue to view and export them until September 5, 2026, after which they will be permanently deleted. Please export any whiteboards you'd like to keep."

Reddit user "DownhillHasASign" asked about the warning message and others were quick to clarify the situation.

Best Microsoft Whiteboard alternative on Windows 11

Earlier this year I took a closer look at Markerpad as an alternative to Microsoft Whiteboard. Markerpad is a lightweight app that's incredibly snappy.

Markerpad is a native application that feels more responsive than Microsoft's offering, but it comes with tradeoffs. The biggest one is that Markerpad is for local use. It does not support syncing to the web or online collaboration.

If you just want a whiteboard app for quick sketches or content you plan to share through another app, Markerpad is an excellent choice.

I need to test alternatives for Microsoft Whiteboard that support online collaboration. One of the most popular choices is Miro, though that app requires a monthly subscription to use more than three boards. I would appreciate suggestions for which apps to try, so please share in the comments.

Of course, if you're a business user you can continue to use Microsoft Whiteboard. It's a solid choice for those already in the Microsoft ecosystem and that have a Microsoft Business account.

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If you spend your entire day managing complex multi-monitor setups, editing video, or plowing through spreadsheets, you know that standard mice aren't always the best fit for long-term comfort. While ergonomic vertical mice get plenty of spotlight, trackballs have retained a dedicated, almost legendary following for a reason: pure, effortless efficiency.

And when it comes to trackballs, Kensington is royalty. Celebrating 40 years of innovation in the space, the company is preparing to launch its most ambitious peripheral yet: the Kensington Expert Mouse Pro TB900 EQ Trackball.

I’ve been spending some quality hands-on time with an early review sample—specifically the eye-catching red ball variant (it also comes in silver)—to see if it lives up to four decades of heritage.

Here are my early impressions of what might be the ultimate desk upgrade for power users.

Kensington had no input, nor did it see the contents of this hands-on preview prior to publication.

Design: Classic presence, modern polish

The TB900 EQ keeps the commanding footprint and symmetrical silhouette that made the original Expert Mouse series famous. The ambidextrous chassis ensures lefties and righties get the exact same ergonomic comfort.

At the center sits that signature, massive 55mm ball. The red sphere on my unit gives the trackball a vibrant, premium look against the dark chassis. One notable departure from legacy models: there is no wrist rest included in the box. While classic Expert users might miss the snap-on rubber pad, the naturally sloped angle of the body still feels surprisingly natural during extended typing-and-navigating sessions.

Also, buttons. LOTS of buttons and dials everywhere.

Controls: Macro heaven with software smarts

Kensington didn't just update the chassis; they overhauled how you interface with your PC. The hardware features a wealth of physical input options, including:

• The classic Expert scroll ring, now enhanced with software-adjustable responsiveness.
• Two side scroll wheels for effortless horizontal navigation.
• An array of physical buttons configured to support up to 16 sets of programmable controls via software layering and button combinations in KensingtonWorks.

Without physical mechanical tension dials on the bottom—where you’ll only find connection toggles labeled A, B, and C along with the power switch—the scroll behavior and button mapping are handled digitally. That gives power users deep flexibility to map complex workflow macros, application-specific commands, or multi-display shortcuts without relying on physical switches.

That Expert scroll ring is also like butter on this device. Super satisfying to use.

Performance: 1kHz polling rate meets dual optical tracking

Historically, trackballs have lagged behind high-end desktop mice in polling rates, making cursor movement feel a bit sluggish on fast, high-refresh-rate displays. The TB900 EQ completely eliminates that bottleneck.

It boasts a 1kHz polling rate, bringing gaming-mouse responsiveness to productivity workflows. Paired with Kensington’s DIAMONDEYE Optical Tracking with Dual Sensors, the tracking is razor-sharp. Flicking the 55mm red ball sends the cursor smoothly gliding across high-res ultrawide monitors without a hint of jitter or smoothing.

Connectivity and battery life

Flip the device over, and the underside reveals clean, minimal physical toggles (A, B, C) for device switching and power. The TB900 EQ supports robust multi-device flexibility across four channels:

• 2.4GHz wireless via USB receiver
• Two distinct Bluetooth channels
• USB-C direct wired connection

Whether bouncing between a primary Windows desktop, a secondary laptop, or a tablet, switching inputs is quick and intuitive. Better yet, the built-in rechargeable battery promises up to four months of productivity on a single USB-C charge, meaning battery anxiety is virtually non-existent.

Pricing, availability, and early verdict

While originally slated for an earlier release, the launch of the Kensington Expert Mouse Pro TB900 EQ has been pushed back slightly into late Q3. Official pricing details put the Expert Mouse Pro TB900 EQ at $129.99 USD, and given the specs—1kHz polling, dual optical sensors, quad-connectivity, and deep software customization—it is clearly positioning itself at the top tier of ergonomic desktop gear.

So far, the TB900 EQ feels like the definitive modern trackball. It honors Kensington’s 40-year legacy while delivering the high-refresh accuracy and macro density modern workflows demand.

Total disclosure: Trackballs aren't my cup of tea, so there is definitely a learning curve when switching from my current favorite mouse, the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, but I'm trying my best. I guess that segues into who this trackball is for, and it's definitely not your average office worker, but for those who love 'em, the Expert Mouse Pro TB900 EQ looks to be the pinnacle of this form factor. It'll very likely make our best PC mice for 2026 list.

You can find more information about the Expert Mouse Pro TB900 EQ directly from Kensington's website.

Stay tuned for our full, in-depth review on Windows Central as we get closer to launch!

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Fans of the legendary action-RPG, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, won't have to wonder when they can expect to see gameplay footage of its upcoming Songs of the Past expansion anymore, as CD Projekt Red has confirmed that it will show off the DLC for the first time during Gamescom 2026's Opening Night Live ceremony.

This ceremony will take place on August 25, 2026, 11:00 am PT / 2:00 pm ET / 8:00 pm CEST.

Very little is known about this DLC expansion other than that the developers confirmed that the scale of its content will be similar to the 'Blood and Wine' expansion, and that it will be dropping support for Windows 10 and Xbox One, as the hardware spec requirements it brings are beyond last-gen hardware to handle.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Songs of the Past DLC is expected to release sometime in 2027, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Windows Central's take

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is widely regarded as one of the best games released in the last generation of consoles, which people still play to this day, as it reached a milestone of selling over 60 million copies last year.

We even gave it a glowing review back in 2018 for providing hundreds of hours' worth of exciting storytelling, character writing, and rewarding open-world exploration and combat...and that was just for the base game alone.

Each DLC expansion that followed added tons more content and gripping stories on top of what was already a solid game to begin with. In fact, the Blood and Wine expansion was so well-done and packed with so much content that it won the award for Best RPG at the 2016 Game Awards, beating out fully priced standalone games like Dark Souls 3 and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.

So I can't imagine how CD Projekt Red plans to top Blood and Wine's success with the upcoming Songs of the Past expansion.

Either way, I can't wait to replay this classic again soon when the next DLC drops and see what The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Songs of the Past has in store for players (and if its story will set the events for the upcoming Witcher 4) when it makes its debut at Gamescom 2026 on August 25, 2026.

But what do you think? Are you excited to see The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Songs of the Past DLC? Do you still play The Witcher 3 even over a decade since it first released in 2015?

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

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Microsoft released a slew of Windows Insider Builds last night, continuing a trend of non-Friday releases. The tech giant says that it is "working on getting all flights back on track." But in the meantime, we have several updates and improvements to look at.

In total, five different updates were sent to Windows Insiders.

Because of how the revamped Windows Insider Program is structured, many of the changes seen in the most recent builds have already entered testing to certain users. But with so many build paths to keep track of, it's easy to miss a few features or only focus on what's shipped to your PC specifically.

The biggest changes will roll out to Beta Channel Insiders in the form of Build 26220.8925. That update brings touchpad improvements, an upgraded Start menu, and welcome tweaks to File Explorer.

The update also improves accessibility and includes a refreshed Windows 11 Account Control Flyout.

Build 26220.8925: Changes and improvements

Touchpad

• We're adding new gesturing-related functionality to precision touchpads in Settings. These features should be widely available across applications. WinUI3-based UI requires new WinAppSDK versions for complete functionality, and we're in the process of bringing the necessary changes to versions 1.8 and 2.0.
• Scroll and zoom speed: control the baseline speed for these gestures.
• Accelerated scrolling: repeatedly scrolling increases speed, allowing quick traversal of long documents.

Start menu

• This update brings a number of improvements for the Start menu as first outlined in the Making Taskbar and Start more personal Insider blog.
• Renamed Recommended to Recent in Start and the Settings page.
• Added section-level toggles to independently show or hide Pinned, Recent, and All.
• Added the option to choose between a small and large Start menu, in addition to the Automatic (default) option that is already available.
• Added the option to hide your name and profile picture in Start.
• Redesigned the Start menu settings page.

File Explorer

• File sizes in the Details view now display appropriate units (KB, MB, and GB) instead of KB-only, making them easier to understand at a glance.
• Middle-click to open a folder in a new tab is now supported in the address bar and Home page for a more consistent and efficient tabbed navigation experience across File Explorer.
• Improved screen reader announcements when resolving file conflicts during move and copy operations.

Narrator

• Braille displays now connect instantly with Narrator.
• We're making refreshable braille displays easier to use in Windows. Narrator now supports displays that use the HID standard. If your display supports HID, connect it with USB and start reading with no additional setup required.
• For Bluetooth, pair your HID braille display in Settings > Bluetooth & devices like any other accessory, and then use it wirelessly.
• Compatible HID displays include Orbit Reader 20, Orbit Slate 340, Freedom Scientific Focus 40, and APH Mantis Q40.
• HID braille displays now work during the initial Windows setup experience (OOBE) over USB, which means users who are deaf-blind can set up their PC independently from the first screen.
• You can customize braille input and output options in Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Braille.

Account Control

• The Windows 11 Account Control flyout has a refreshed, modern design and a clear subscription badge to make account status instantly visible. This helps users identify their plan, discover benefits, and explore upgrades.

Windows Update

• Fixed an issue that could result in recent Insider flights failing to install with error 0xc0000409.

Input

• Improved persistence of mouse cursor size.

I'm most excited about the touchpad improvements. The updates will give you greater control over scroll and zoom speed and make it easier to scroll through long documents.

Unlike some Windows 11 features, the touchpad updates should be available across a wide range of applications. Rather than having to wait for developers to make major rewrites or adopt a feature, you'll have the improvements at your fingertips quickly.

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Cliff Bleszinski is a legendary name among Xbox fans, as this man was the lead designer behind the original Gears of War trilogy that helped put the Xbox 360 become a dominant force during the mid-to-late 2000s.

Yet, you don't hear from him these days, as he left the video games industry after his game studio, Boss Key Productions, closed down in 2018 due to the company's games Lawbreakers and Radical Heights failing to make enough profit.

However, in a recent interview with 80.Lv, Cliff Bleszinski has said that he wants to work on video games in a full-time capacity.

It's a lengthy interview that provided interesting insights into Cliff Bleszinski's life.

These include his early days shipping shareware games as a teenager before spending the next two decades working at Epic Games, reflecting on Boss Key Productions' rise and fall, and his long-standing alcoholism that spiraled out of control after Boss Key Productions shut down.

In fact, the issue got so bad it caused Cliff Bleszinski to suffer a seizure and land him in the hospital this year in March. After such a traumatic event, Cliff Bleszinski hasn't drunk alcohol since, and during this now four-month sobriety recovery journey, he eventually rediscovered his love for video games.

Cliff Bleszinski has already slowly gotten back into the video game industry in a part-time capacity, working as a consultant for an upcoming asymmetric horror game called Soul Walker, but he wishes to get into the business full-time eventually and "not get pushed into the pool", as he puts it.

Now, Cliff didn't mention what kind of game he's planning to make, but he makes it clear it won't be a PVP game again, as he states, “I'm more of a fan of PvE these days. Horde mode saved Gears 2, and I believe that space is evergreen because players just want to hop online with friends and shoot some stuff, no frills, no questions asked."

He ends the talk with "I’m nowhere near sharing anything specific (about a new game), beyond that, I can’t walk into a Home Depot without seeing a full arsenal at every turn. There’s so much more than just chainsaws.”

Windows Central's take

In some ways, I owe some of my happiest Xbox memories to Cliff Bleszinski, as I still remember gleefully charging into battle against the locust horde with my friends and family in the original Gears of War trilogy that he and his team created.

An experience which, by the way, I hope will be recaptured in the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day, as Gears 4 and 5 didn't hit it for me. Although I admit I was blinded by jaded nostalgia for the older games and characters when Gears 4 and 5 came out, so I didn't give them a proper chance (which I'll need to fix at some point).

While I wouldn't mind if Cliff came back to spearhead a spiritual successor to the original Gears of War trilogy, it's ultimately up to him what he wants to make at the end of the day, particularly for the betterment of his own health.

Speaking of which, I'm happy to hear he beat his addiction, as, regardless of your opinions of the man, alcoholism is a slippery slope that can be nearly impossible to come back from if gone too far, and no one should suffer from it.

So I hope that the rest of his sobriety recovery journey goes well and wish him luck on his comeback to video game development.

But what do you think? Do you think Cliff Bleszinski will actually make a full-time comeback into game development? If he does, what do you think his game will be?

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

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We're inching ever closer to the official release date for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and that means it's almost time for fans of the first-person shooter franchise to get their hands on the multiplayer beta for themselves. If you're wondering when and how you can play multiplayer from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, we've got you covered.

Modern Warfare 4's multiplayer beta will span across two separate weekends. Early Access for players who have preordered drops on August 21, immediately following the live broadcast of this year's Call of Duty: NEXT. Early access ends August 25. The Open Beta, which is free and available to all players across all platforms, kicks off the following weekend, on August 28, and lasts until September 1.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Beta

The Early Access beta period for Modern Warfare 4, lasting from August 21 to August 25, is only available to users who preorder any edition of the game. However, some early access beta codes have been awarded to players for tuning in to Call of Duty live stream events like the recent Fanatics Fest showcase.

A strict start time for the beta has not yet been revealed, though the official Call of Duty blog does confirm it will be immediately following this year's Call of Duty: NEXT broadcast for the first time ever.

The early access weekend event is only for preorders on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC editions of the game on Steam, Battle.Net, and Xbox on PC.

Open betas for previous Call of Duty titles, including Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7, were included in the official Call of Duty HQ launcher as updates. The beta for Modern Warfare 4 will most likely be accessed in a similar fashion.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta

If you're hesitant to preorder Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and you aren't able to get your hands on an early access beta code, the open beta is for you. Everybody on all platforms — including the Nintendo Switch 2 for the very first time — will be able to squad up and experience Modern Warfare 4's multiplayer beta starting August 28 until September 1.

No preorders or special codes are required; simply install Call of Duty HQ for access during the open beta window.

Multiplayer Beta access expectations

Call of Duty beta access windows typically provide us with the first public hands-on for multiplayer maps, modes, and weapons. It's a chance for players to experience the game's gunplay and movement mechanics before the full launch while also providing valuable feedback to the dev team for pre-launch fine-tuning. Treyarch famously reconsidered door placement for Black Ops 6 following feedback from the beta.

However, we shouldn't expect every Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer map and mode that will be available at launch to be playable during the early access or open beta periods. It is normal for these access periods to offer pared-down playlists, limited only to core modes. Those of us who like the hardcore playlists will have to wait until launch for some sweet one-shot action, but it is still worth checking out the beta to get a handle on gunplay and a feel for Modern Warfare 4's changes to movement.

I previously went hands-on with Modern Warfare 4 in its alpha state, and I found the gameplay to be a bit slower than what we've seen during Black Ops 6 and 7's tandem eras while still keeping encounters exciting. Significant changes to weapon sights have alleviated many of the past Modern Warfare titles' gunplay frustrations, and the new Kill Block map is an exciting innovation on small map mayhem.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision, launches on October 23 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam, Battle.Net, and Xbox on PC.

Preorders for the standard edition or the Vault edition unlock early access to the beta from August 21-25 on all platforms except the Nintendo Switch 2. Preordering also unlocks early access to the Modern Warfare 4 campaign starting October 16. The open beta goes live August 28-September 1 for all platforms.

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I was away from my desk dealing with disastrous flooding for the past two weeks, and during that time, a lot happened in the world of AMD processors.

The Ryzen 7 7700X3D desktop gaming CPU that the company announced at Computex 2026 finally went live on July 16 with an introductory $329 price. Just a couple of days later, the price dropped to $279.99 with a promo code at exclusive retailer Newegg.

Reviews for the Ryzen 7 7700X3D are positive enough that it makes the new chip a reasonable alternative to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which I'm seeing for as low as $361.99 at Newegg.

That's essentially $100 less for a clocked-down 7800X3D with the same 96MB of 3D V-Cache, the same eight Zen 4 cores, and the same 120W TDP. Not bad at all if you're only looking at the CPU.

Unfortunately, the numbers that matter most aren't on the CPU's page, and it goes to show that no matter how good a deal a new CPU is, memory prices continue to crush PC builds.

What did DDR5 RAM prices look like when the 7800X3D launched?

AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D launched in April 2023 with an MSRP of $449. As a gaming CPU, it was best paired with at least 16GB of RAM, better yet if you could get hold of 32GB or 64GB.

In 2023, DDR5 RAM was experiencing a supply glut, forcing prices down as manufacturers attempted to offload stock. Believe it or not, you could find DDR5-6000 kits with two 16GB sticks for anywhere between $80 and $130. I know; it's hard to believe, and it feels like the ongoing RAM crisis has been underway for a lot longer than that.

Using the top $130 end of that memory range and adding $200 for a motherboard, the cost just a couple years ago for the trio came out to about $780.

Take the $279.99 Ryzen 7 7700X3D CPU, add a conservative $400 for 32GB of DDR5-6000 RAM, and toss in a $200 motherboard, and you're looking at about $900. With memory prices so volatile these days, that number could easily climb to $1,000 or more, especially once Newegg's promotion expires.

What everyone is getting wrong about the Ryzen 7 7700X3D

The Ryzen 7 7700X3D, as a drop-in upgrade to an existing AM5 system with something like a Ryzen 5 7600, remains a great deal. That's assuming you already have a compatible motherboard with compatible DDR5 RAM.

But the part I think a lot of people are missing is that the Ryzen 7 7700X3D as the foundation of an entirely new build is still a terrible value. The number that should influence your next build has to do with memory, no matter what sort of discount is being offered on a CPU.

I appreciate AMD's expanding X3D selection considering they're the chips that almost every PC gamer wants in their build, but AMD could launch five other alternatives and still arrive at the same result: a situation where CPU sales suffer because supporting components are way too expensive.

This is simply a reminder that there's a lot more going on behind the scenes than just sticker prices, no matter how attractive they appear. You might be swayed to grab the newest CPU because it's admittedly a great price, but don't forget to pay attention to the variables that really matter when building PCs in 2026.

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Not so long ago I wrote about my next step in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 being the acquisition of a Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One. The thought process was that it's a decent but affordable step up from a regular controller that would also have the finer control I was looking for.

It also has a feature that I've not really considered for myself at this stage: A connector for external rudder pedals. Xbox and PC pilots are fairly well covered with hardware to take their virtual flying further. But it seems folks on PS5 aren't so lucky.

I wasn't actually aware of this – after all, we're not really in the weeds of the PS5 ecosystem here, are we? – but PlayStation pilots really don't have much to choose from. They certainly don't seem to have external rudder pedals.

A review of the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024-branded Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas 5 for PS5 from the folks at Simulation Daily highlighted this fact. In the process, they also highlighted that this affordable piece of hardware is potentially more important on PS5 than it is on Xbox and PC.

• The best flight sticks for Microsoft Flight Simulator

We're not reviewing the T.Flight Hotas 5 ourselves. Partly because it's essentially the exact same hardware as the T.Flight Hotas One, and partly because we don't have a PS5 handy right now. But the Xbox version has the same connector for rudder pedals.

It just looks like an old phone jack, something you'll be familiar with if you've ever used a racing wheel and pedals on a console. On Xbox we have a little more choice; for example, Turtle Beach has a dedicated set of console-compatible pedals.

But I hadn't considered the lack of choice out there for PS5 players. On one hand, they have PlayStation VR2 support, something impossible on Xbox Series X|S, but on the other, not much hardware to choose from if they want to take it a little further.

The predecessor to the Hotas 5 on the PS4/PS5 apparently has the same connector for rudder pedals, but it's ancient at this point, and the newer one is far better.

But it's also a great example that you don't always have to spend big to get the most. Sure the choice might be limited, but at least there is a way to go a little further on PS5 until the market catches up. It's not a bad flight stick, either!

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