Microsoft

Microsoft is running a new promotion, thanks to which you can get the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones worth $458 for free when you buy a new Surface Pro or Surface Laptop. The promotion is live until July 31 and only applies to certain configurations.

Microsoft now offers its compact Surface Laptop 13.8 with the updated Snapdragon X2 Elite processors. The entry-level model with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD storage costs at least $1599, while the much lighter Asus Zenbook A14 with the faster X2 Elite SoC starts at $1349.

It’s unusual for a scheduled new Xbox Game Pass game not to arrive on time. That’s why the sudden removal of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 from the July lineup caused a scare. Microsoft has now explained that licensing issues are delaying the debut of the Activision title.

Microsoft has patched a critical flaw in the Copilot apps for Android and iOS. A malicious website could push commands to the AI through Microsoft Edge without the user noticing. It is rated 9.6 out of 10, and Microsoft says it was never exploited.

Streamer Joshua Khane recently posted on X, claiming that the company deleted both his Microsoft account and the OneDrive linked to it after it was hacked.

Microsoft's July 14 Patch Tuesday update brings Point-in-Time Restore, a redesigned pause updates feature, and the final Kerberos RC4 enforcement phase for Windows 11.

Prices for upcoming Xbox and PlayStation hardware may be more affordable than anticipated. One analysis believes that RAM costs will improve in time for the Project Helix and PS6 release dates. The new gaming systems will be vital to turn around the decline in console sales.

Microsoft is responding to the criticism and is fundamentally overhauling the search feature in Windows 11. In the latest Windows Insider preview version, the search box no longer displays ads, and is designed to find local search results, such as settings, apps, and files, much more reliably, rather than falling back on a web search.

Following criticism of the AI’s eavesdropping capabilities, Microsoft is adding a toggle switch to Teams meetings. Organizers and presenters can now turn Copilot, Facilitator, and Recap on and off in the middle of a conversation. The rollout is underway, with widespread availability planned by the end of July. There’s still a catch when it comes to transcription.

One gamer took extreme measures to restore access to his compromised Xbox account. The Brazilian user filed a lawsuit against Microsoft after it refused to unfreeze his digital library. A court ruled in the plaintiff’s favor, and the decline of physical games could lead to more legal challenges.

A survey has found that 45% of PlayStation fans are seriously considering switching to PC. The shift appears to a result of Sony’s retreat from physical games, weakening exclusivity, rising game and hardware prices, and the growing accessibility and value of PC gaming.

It looks like Xbox is preparing for a major announcement for next week. While the Xbox official did not specify what it will be about, an insider has shared his opinion and seems quite confident about it.

Obsidian Entertainment is a subsidiary of Xbox and has also been affected by the major reshuffling. The studio has shifted focus from developing Avowed 2 and is now working on a new Fallout game.

A new The Elder Scrolls 6 update isn’t encouraging for fans awaiting the Bethesda game. A reputable Bloomberg insider doesn’t anticipate the open-world RPG arriving until at least 2028. With Microsoft prioritizing the franchise, Xbox layoffs shouldn’t delay its release date.

Anbernic has released a new software update for five of its handhelds. The OTA update brings a new launcher, an easy access control center, and a button remapping feature for touch-based games to the supported devices.

The Wall Street Journal revealed how Xbox Game Pass price increases impacted subscriber counts. With around 30 million users, it shed 4 million gamers since 2024. Aiming for 77 million subscribers by 2026, the service’s underperformance is a factor in recent Microsoft layoffs.

The Halo: Campaign Evolved developers already shifted their focus to improve efficiency. Yet, a leak reveals that Xbox could task Activision Blizzard with overseeing Halo Studios. Microsoft wants the shooter franchise to become more profitable by releasing games regularly.

IO Interactive is cutting staff after Xbox reportedly ended its funding and publishing deal for Project Fantasy, an online RPG the Hitman studio says it remains committed to completing. The layoffs come despite the strong launch of 007: First Light, which sold 3 million copies in two weeks and earned broadly positive reviews.

Xbox eagerly pointed out that many first-party titles are not exclusively digital games. Ahead of the July 28th Halo: Campaign Evolved release date, buyers can pre-order a physical version . Even so, like with the PS5 disc, a download is necessary before playing the Combat Evolved remake.

Microsoft may allow the conversion of Xbox game discs to digital licenses. The rumored Disc2Digital program could debut by the Project Helix release date. While the new Xbox console and PS6 likely won’t ship with optical drives, Helix would boast more versatile backward compatibility.

Microsoft launches Windows 11 update KB5095093, delivering a major speed boost to File Explorer by cleaning up the Home tab layout and fixing BITS shutdown lag.

The storage and memory shortage threaten to inflate PS6 and Project Helix prices. Developers like Del Walker also aren’t anxious for the new PlayStation and Xbox consoles to debut. The ex-Naughty Dog artist cautions that they will balloon budgets, resulting in more layoffs.

GTA 6 comes out on November 19, and pre-orders are live on PlayStation and Xbox. The latter allows players a chance to get a discount on the game or get it for free.

A new report suggests that the library of Xbox Game Pass games could shrink. A Caboodle Games representative claims that Microsoft is pausing deals with third-party studios. The company recently reduced the price of the subscription service, but also removed new Call of Duty titles.

Microsoft has extended Windows 10 Extended Security Updates through October 12, 2027, giving enrolled users an additional year of security patch coverage after mainstream support ends. The move offers a reprieve for millions of users delaying Windows 11 upgrades amid rising hardware costs.

Microsoft launches Windows 11 optional preview update KB5095093 for versions 24H2 and 25H2, introducing Point-in-time restore and a Recycle Bin display patch.

Microsoft's legacy Secure Boot certificate expires today, June 24, 2026. The mandatory firmware key rotation impacts upcoming Windows updates and system security.

Play the Gears of War: E-Day campaign early at Gamescom 2026. Xbox confirms its public show floor presence and details for the upcoming anticipated shooter.

A former Microsoft executive doesn’t envision the Xbox brand dying. Instead, with Project Helix, the company will encourage more supporters to embrace Windows PCs. The success of the new Xbox console may depend on whether it proves as gamer-friendly as the Steam Machine.

Windows 11 version 26H2 enters the Experimental channel as Microsoft focuses on low-disruption enablement packages for IT deployment.

The Microsoft 365 Copilot AI chatbot is once again being forcibly installed on millions of Windows 11 computers. For now, at least, Microsoft is sparing users in the EU, likely due to competition law.

A fan spotted an unfamiliar Xbox Handheld logo on official game sites, including Gears of War: E-Day. The graphic may signal that a title runs smoothly on a Windows gaming handheld. Or it will become essential to a rumored new mobile Xbox console arriving after Project Helix.

Microsoft confirms parallel enterprise flaws in Windows 11 KB5095051, including broken OLE automation, a deployment media error, and a Recycle Bin glitch.

Learn how to check if your PC is ready for Microsoft's Secure Boot certificate update using official built-in tools like the Windows Security app.

Avowed 2 could escape the fallout from anticipated Xbox Game Studios closures and layoffs. The Obsidian Entertainment co-founder previously confirmed the game was in development. An insider has rejected a rumor about the RPG's cancellation, even with the original notching lackluster sales.

Microsoft is reportedly exploring restructuring options for Xbox, including a possible spin-off or joint venture, while approving larger budgets for major franchises such as Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Halo.

Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball has reassured fans that more Xbox exclusive games will follow. A rumor suggested that given the company’s financial struggles, Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution were isolated cases. With slow console sales, there is skepticism that exclusivity can boost profits.

Windows 11 users can now log directly into a new "Xbox mode". Xbox mode replaces Windows 11's normal UI with a controller-friendly UI that can integrate multiple game stores like Steam and Epic. Xbox mode also frees up some resources to improve gaming performance. However, the end result is rather disappointing.

With the memory shortage impacting budgets, some buyers are seeing unexpected relief. Microsoft has listed new Xbox games for less than what Europeans typically pay. The first-party Fable and Gears of War: E-Day pre-orders are available for €69.99 rather than €79.99.

Xbox strategy chief Matthew Ball clarified that his recent comments were misinterpreted and did not signal plans to introduce intrusive in-game ads, stressing that “interrupting the gameplay experience would be bad.”

Microsoft may be considering financing to make Xbox console prices more palatable. A Better xCloud datamine revealed a buy now, pay later option through PayPal or Klarna. Payments for games or the Series X, S, or upcoming Project Helix would be split into interest-free, monthly installments.

PowerA and Meridian GMT are working together on an Xbox wireless controller made for flight simulation. Called Project X-Ray, the controller has a swappable faceplate with markings for aircraft and helicopter controls.

A former PlayStation executive expects that Microsoft will dramatically rethink its hardware strategy. Already optimizing Windows for gaming, it could abandon conventional Xbox consoles. Project Helix looks like another step toward this transition, but the memory shortage may spell doom for the hybrid.

Xbox strategy chief Matthew Ball says in-game advertising could become a key tool to offset rising development costs and ease pressure on hardware, software, and microtransaction prices. Drawing comparisons to ad-supported streaming tiers, Ball argues that carefully placed ads could broaden access to major gaming franchises without eliminating premium, ad-free experiences.

Every console purchase is reportedly negatively impacting Microsoft’s bottom line. Even after Xbox price increases, the memory shortage has limited any chance for hardware profits. An insider explains how missteps with first-party games and Game Pass have also failed to offset the losses.

Xbox is preparing a major “Next 100 Days” reset, with CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty acknowledging overexpansion, weak profitability, and declining annual revenue despite heavy investment.

The Xbox Series X may be a reasonably cost-effective way to enjoy Microsoft’s Combat Evolved remake. A Halo: Campaign Evolved performance preview shows the console maintaining 60 fps with ray tracing. Meanwhile, only a high-end PC avoided frame rate drops and CPU throttling.