Microsoft

Windows 12 could be another costly upgrade for supporters of Microsoft operating systems. A new report reveals that the AI-dominated OS will require AMD and Intel CPUs with a dedicated NPU. Possibly surfacing in late 2026, the follow-up to Windows 11 may also rely on subscriptions.

A former leader at Microsoft envisions Valve replacing Xbox consoles in living rooms. Downplaying concerns about the Steam Machine price, Mike Ybarra is confident it will become an alternative to the PS5 and PS6. Without Xbox exclusive games, Microsoft may fail to generate interest in its hardware.

Laura Fryer, who helped launch the first Xbox console, has recounted a disturbing encounter during the 2004 GDC. In a hotel room with another executive, she denied a request to wear a bathrobe. After pressured to leave her position, Phil Spencer invited her to join his publishing team at Microsoft.

Gaming researcher Michael Pachter isn’t hopeful about the next Xbox console. Game Pass will be a focal point of the system, but the Ultimate tier with day-one games strains budgets. Pachter expects the console to fail unless Microsoft makes drastic changes to the subscription service.

The Xbox app has run amok, plastering smartphone screens with identical messages. Like Microsoft, the platform responsible for the communication has invested heavily in AI. Even so, a developer may have unintentionally distributed the spam without the help of machine learning.

Asha Sharma’s Xbox gamertag raised some eyebrows due to some achievements and milestones that didn’t seem to match with the account. She has now clarified the same, and also shared overarching plans for the following years at Xbox.

A designer of the first Xbox console predicts that Microsoft Gaming will become reliant solely on AI. Seamus Blackley doubts that its new CEO, Asha Sharma, will return the brand to its core principles. Xbox may fade, as it becomes one of many AI-powered endeavors led by Satya Nadella.

After the unexpected leadership shake-up at Xbox, an alleged insider leak is adding to the uncertainty. While new chief Asha Sharma has promised a renewed focus on creativity and hardware following the departures of Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond, the source warns of large-scale layoffs and a bleak future for the Xbox console.

Shortly after taking on her new role as head of Microsoft’s Xbox gaming division, Asha Sharma revealed what was described as her Xbox gamertag. The account quickly came under scrutiny, with many fans questioning its authenticity.

Former Xbox President, Sarah Bond, may have championed the criticized This Is an Xbox initiative. In a report from The Verge, co-workers shared concerns about the devaluing of Xbox consoles. New Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma hinted that the company realizes the importance of first-party hardware.

Managing multiple subscriptions can be a burden for devoted gamers. A new rumor suggests that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate may cover the cost of World of Warcraft, Minecraft Realms, and Fallout 1st. The service has faced criticism over price increases and the lack of enticing day-one Xbox games.

Microsoft will likely depend on Call of Duty games to encourage future hardware purchases. A leaker reports Activision intended to ship Modern Warfare 4 with the next Xbox console. With its release date delayed to 2027, the publisher may support the system with two titles, including a zombies title.

Former Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer first considered leaving the company later in 2025. Still, he may have intended to delay retirement until after the next Xbox console shipped. A leaker who predicted the move blames the sudden shakeup on dwindling hardware and software sales.

Phil Spencer is stepping down as CEO of Microsoft Gaming, while Xbox President Sarah Bond is also leaving the company. Asha Sharma, formerly head of Microsoft’s CoreAI division, will assume leadership. Her appointment has sparked concern within the community, with many fearing a stronger push toward generative AI.

Even after a promising launch, Valve shouldn’t feel threatened by ROG Xbox Ally sales. A Circana analyst revealed that the Steam Deck still enjoys strong support. The memory shortage could affect both the Linux and Windows handheld gaming PCs, with price increases possible.

Windows 10 ESU update KB5075912 (Build 19045.6937) is rolling out for February 2026, addressing a shutdown/hibernation restart issue on some Secure Launch-capable PCs and carrying Secure Boot rollout targeting data.

Microsoft’s Windows 11 KB5077181 update (Builds 26100.7840 / 26200.7840) is reportedly triggering infinite boot loops and SENS sign-in failures. Despite officially fixing previous boot bugs, users are encountering new DHCP networking regressions and 0x800f0983 installation errors.

Diablo II: Resurrected Hotfix 1 (3.1.0.1) fixes cross-region game joining and Steam promo item delivery. Xbox listings also show the PC version included with Game Pass.

The Squanch Games CEO reveals why High on Life 2 isn't releasing as an Xbox exclusive. Despite the first shooter debuting on Microsoft’s consoles, it was most successful on PlayStation. The executive also suggests that Xbox Game Pass has lost subscribers after price increases.

Microsoft warns that 2011 Secure Boot certificates expire in June 2026. Is your PC ready? We look at the OEM roadmap and how to verify your firmware status.

Meant to protect younger players, Microsoft’s age verification measures are affecting other UK gamers. Some players can’t finish a multiplayer match without having to relog into their Xbox accounts. The company is working on a fix, but hasn’t provided an ETA for a solution.

With memory shortages and high prices pushing the tech industry into constant uncertainty, the future of affordable consoles seems bleak. A well-known industry analyst has now shared some thoughts on what the Steam Machine could cost and what the next Xbox is heading towards.

Microsoft’s February 2026 Windows 11 updates (KB5077181 and KB5075941) add security patches, bug fixes, and new Secure Boot rollout signals ahead of certificate expirations starting in June 2026.

The shelf lives for the Xbox Series X|S and PS5 may be longer than initially planned. A new report suggests that Microsoft envisions them as lower-cost alternatives to the next Xbox console and PS6. Rising storage and memory prices have inflated the predicted prices of upcoming gaming systems.

Microsoft apparently isn’t finished revamping Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. The Verge believes the company could combine PC Game Pass with Premium, denying some gamers day-one releases. Ultimate or other tiers may see Xbox add more games through third-party services.

Rockstar Games looks set to monopolize November sales if the GTA 6 release date doesn’t shift again. As a result, Microsoft is waiting as long as possible to confirm exact dates for Xbox games. Fable and Gears of War: E-Day may arrive sooner or later than expected, to steer clear of the crime saga.

There are more signs that Microsoft will unveil multiple new Xbox controllers in 2026. The Verge believes that the rumored Sebile may finally surface with cloud gaming connectivity. Also, the Elite Series 3 controller could ship as a follow-up to the existing pro-grade peripheral.

Microsoft has expanded a confirmed Windows restart-on-shutdown bug to include some Windows 10 systems with Virtual Secure Mode enabled. Here’s what’s affected and what’s fixed so far.

The Epic Games Store looks set to have a major presence on the next Xbox console. Its VP and GM explained how the launcher could compete with Steam on the Microsoft gaming system. An answer for Valve’s Big Picture Mode that includes controller support is under consideration.

A reliable leaker anticipates that the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 release date will include all ports. Square Enix temporarily confined the first two games to the PS5, before the PC, Xbox, and Switch 2 saw ports. The publisher could make a cross-platform announcement as early as Summer 2026.

According to the Obsidian Entertainment CEO, Xbox Studios must generate unusually high profits. Microsoft CFO Amy Hood previously denied a Bloomberg report quoting a 30% profit margin goal. A scrutinized move to release cross-platform PS5 games could help overcome recent financial difficulties.

Microsoft may not be second-guessing plans for an Xbox console release date in 2027. AMD CEO Lisa Su said the custom chipset that powers the device should be ready on time. Valve’s Steam Machine could also surface in early 2026, even with concerns over record-high memory prices.

Microsoft has officially confirmed a critical regression in the January 13, 2026, security update (KB5073455) that prevents affected Windows 11 and Windows 10 systems from shutting down or entering hibernation.

Xbox and Nintendo fans will need to wait six months or more to experience Nioh 3. Despite Koei Tecmo publishing the action RPG, it will launch exclusively on the PS5 and Steam. Developer Team Ninja has produced popular titles like Ninja Gaiden for Xbox consoles and the Switch.

Even with Microsoft pivoting toward PC gaming, players still can’t add Minecraft to their Steam libraries. Still, it may be among the next first-party Xbox games to debut on the marketplace. The publisher has struggled to lure gamers away from Steam to its Xbox PC app.

Microsoft says Windows 11’s January 2026 KB5074109 update is triggering boot failures mainly on a limited set of physical (mostly commercial) PCs that were left in an “improper state.”

Windows 11’s January 2026 KB5074105 preview update for 24H2 and 25H2 adds new features like Android cross-device Resume and MIDI upgrades while fixing Start menu, black screen, and graphics issues from earlier patches.

Windows 11 KB5074109 removes four legacy modem drivers, disabling dial-up and telephony modems that rely on them as a security hardening move.

A survey sponsored by the Game Developers Conference shows declining support for Xbox consoles. While implementing a multi-platform strategy, Microsoft may have boosted PC gaming’s popularity. In the GDC report, devs also prefer creating PS5 and Switch 2 games by a growing margin.

Windows 11’s KB5074109 January 2026 update is causing FPS drops and instability on some Nvidia GeForce gaming PCs, forcing players to choose between performance and security.

Console owners could see the selection of new Xbox games start to dwindle. 1348 Ex Voto and Nickelodeon Splat Pack will not have Xbox Series X|S versions as expected. Declining sales, price increases, and fewer exclusives are incentives for publishers to focus on the PS5 and Switch handhelds.

Microsoft’s troubled Windows 11 KB5074109 January 2026 update is now under investigation for causing UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME boot failures on some systems. Affected PCs refuse to start and must be recovered via WinRE, adding a serious new symptom to an already messy Patch Tuesday.

Microsoft releases emergency Windows 11 update KB5078127 to fix major bugs from January patch KB5074109 that caused crashes, Outlook hangs, and more.

Windows 11 KB5074109 uninstall is failing with error 0x800f0905, leaving users stuck between rollback issues and ongoing black screens, app errors, and Outlook hangs.

Some first-party Xbox games like Forza Horizon 6 still have periods of exclusivity before coming to the PS5. In a new interview, the Xbox head discusses when and if that will change. Microsoft may decide day-one availability on a case-by-case basis, with the size of studios playing a role.

While Apple and Google stress that they cannot unlock customer devices, the situation is different with Windows encryption: Microsoft routinely hands over BitLocker keys from the cloud to law enforcement agencies.

The Windows 11 KB5074109 update is causing crashes, black screens, and app failures, prompting Microsoft to advise affected users to uninstall it.

Microsoft has officially released the Xbox app for ARM-based Windows 11 PCs. This gives devices powered by Snapdragon X processors native access to the Xbox PC ecosystem, including the ability to locally install games from the Game Pass catalogue. According to Microsoft, more than 85% of Game Pass titles are compatible with Windows on ARM at the app’s launch, and additional Xbox-related enhancements are on their way.

Fable fans may not need to wait until the next Xbox showcase to revisit Albion. Concept art from a former developer includes new locations and familiar towns from multiple entries in the series. Microsoft could pinpoint a Fable reboot release date at the January 22nd event.

Stop Windows 11 battery drain with the new KB5074109 update. Patch 114 security vulnerabilities and fix NPU power issues on your laptop.