Microsoft

Video Games Chronicle has learned that Microsoft will release Fable on the PS5. The debate now is whether it will ship day one on Xbox and PC, or on multiple consoles. With fewer Xbox exclusive games, a leaker suspects that a prior release date delay will allow for a cross-platform launch.

Reports are spreading that Microsoft Defender is blocking the popular community tool MAS, flagging it as a fake. In contrast, our own tests demonstrate that the script works flawlessly. Have affected users perhaps fallen victim to DNS tampering?

Xbox, now the largest third-party game publisher and not simply a console manufacturer, is showcasing at least three major upcoming releases on January 22nd.

More rumblings about the new Xbox console are providing a clearer picture of the upcoming system. A report describes how it will depend on the Windows full-screen experience for navigation. Microsoft could also debut a new controller or an OEM Xbox PC before 2026 ends.

Viewers may not see any gaming announcements made during the Fallout TV show season 2 finale. Still, an Xbox insider verified that Bethesda is revisiting Fallout 3 and plans a Fallout: New Vegas remaster. Frustrated fans had anticipated news during an October anniversary event.

Xbox’s hardware business suffered a historic downturn in 2025, with UK console sales falling 39% year-on-year and U.S. sales plunging 70% in November, marking one of the industry’s worst months since 1995. While competitors like PlayStation also saw declines, Microsoft is responding to Xbox’s steeper collapse by reorienting toward Game Pass, cloud gaming, and broader platform releases amid layoffs, cancellations, and mounting pressure to prove its long-term strategy.

HP bills its new OmniStudio AIO desktop PCs as "next-gen AI experiences." It has equipped the new desktop PCs with both AMD and Intel's latest mid-range processors as well as a 100 Hz QHD display option on the 27-inch model.

It's generally accepted that Windows has become more bloated over time. However, after this YouTuber benchmarked every version of Windows from XP to 11, the ultimate winner might surprise you.

Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard has confirmed that a new mainline Fallout, widely expected to be Fallout 5, is in early development alongside multiple unannounced Fallout projects. However, he cautions fans to remain patient as Elder Scrolls VI currently commands most of the studio’s internal resources. Buoyed by the breakout success of the Fallout TV series and sustained support for Fallout 76, Bethesda insists Fallout remains its top-priority franchise, with design leadership aiming for massively replayable experiences spanning hundreds of hours.

Microsoft and Sony are reportedly considering delaying the next Xbox and PS6 release dates. Like PC gamers, the console makers are struggling with startlingly high memory costs. Their dilemma is either raise the prices of future hardware or bet on boosted DRAM production.

Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7523 introduces a revamped File Explorer that cuts duplicate file-indexing operations to reduce RAM usage and improve search speeds. Rolled out via a Controlled Feature Rollout to Dev and Beta channel Insiders, the update is a modest but timely optimization aimed at easing performance strain on aging hardware amid rising memory costs.

Cross-platform games are becoming more commonplace on Xbox and PlayStation consoles. Even so, a former Sony executive doesn’t envision exclusive games completely disappearing. While PC releases boast mass appeal, Shawn Layden argues that titles unique to the PS5 and Switch 2 have value.

A shakeup at an Xbox Game Studio suggests that AI will play a major role in Halo games like Campaign Evolved. The new Chief of Staff stresses enhancing workflows with machine learning on her resume. Other employees could use AI tools creatively rather than to improve efficiency.

Microsoft is reshaping its Xbox strategy around cloud and cross-platform gaming while denying reports that it is enforcing a 30% profit margin target on the division. Amid steep hardware sales declines, significant project cancellations, and widespread layoffs, the company is doubling down on subscriptions and broader device access as it distances itself from Bloomberg’s claims of a 30% margin minimum in play for the division.

Dishonored co-creator and Arkane Austin studio director Harvey Smith reflects on the “shock” of Microsoft’s decision to close the studio after Redfall’s troubled launch, describing sleepless nights, guilt over the game’s failure, and concern for younger developers whose first project was abruptly cut short.

Without Battlefield or Call of Duty, the Switch 2 isn’t yet an essential purchase for some gamers. However, a new leak suggests that Activision may launch its shooter franchise on the handheld in 2026. It’s unclear whether Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is on the way or if a mobile port is more likely.

Voice actor Alix Wilton-Regan has revealed that Microsoft’s canceled Perfect Dark reboot had reached advanced development, with whole motion-capture chapters and key milestones completed before funding was abruptly pulled. Her account underscores how deeply the project was underway and how sudden Xbox’s wider wave of studio closures and layoffs felt to those working on the game.

Physical disc owners have more reason to avoid the digital gaming age. Complaints continue about hackers compromising Microsoft accounts filled with Xbox games. Even if gamers can prove their identities, they may need to start from scratch and repurchase every title.

Fewer third-party studios are committing to Xbox consoles while turning down the PS5. Aniimo is bucking that trend after announcing that it’s an Xbox exclusive game. Putting a different spin on Pokémon and Palworld, the title has unique elements that have piqued curiosity ahead of its release date.

John Romero has revealed that his cancelled, big-budget Microsoft-backed FPS has been reborn as a smaller-scale indie shooter that repurposes about $50 million worth of prior work into a radically redesigned single-player project. Now free of AAA constraints, Romero claims the game’s experimental mechanics aim to deliver a fresh experience he likens, in terms of innovation rather than genre, to the transformative impact of Elden Ring.

Even as console and Game Pass prices rise, new first-party Xbox games remain at $70 or less. In a Variety interview, a Microsoft executive explains why the company has avoided higher software prices. Xbox is exploring other ways to profit from game sales after purchases.

Backward compatibility is a major advantage of owning Microsoft’s gaming systems. Unfortunately, the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds and other new Xbox consoles may struggle with Windows limitations. A respected leaker claims that Microsoft is exploring ways to ensure more Xbox 360 games are playable.

After a release date price hike, the ROG Xbox Ally wasn't tempting enough for some buyers. However, with a discount of over $100, it’s a better match for the Steam Deck OLED or Legion Go S. For much less than the ROG Xbox Ally X, the gaming handheld runs a vast collection of Windows titles.

Recently, when Microsoft contacts gamers, it’s often about products and services becoming more expensive. In this case, lucky individuals are being sent free Xbox gift card codes. The company has made a series of scrutinized decisions to raise the price of Xbox consoles and Game Pass.

Microsoft's ugly sweater is back and now available in an Xbox edition that should pair nicely with the Xbox Crocs. The sweater also comes in Zune and Artifact editions.

An insider believes The Game Awards will showcase a new Diablo 4 expansion. Still, with some gamers more excited over a potential Half-Life 3 reveal, Blizzard may have other news to share. The company hasn't released a Switch 2 game, but the demonic action RPG may soon land on Nintendo’s console.

Windows 11 users are reporting a curious bug: the password sign-in icon may vanish from the lock screen after recent updates — even though the button is still there, just invisible. Microsoft says a fix is on the way, but for now you’ll have to click on empty space to log in.

A newly discovered variant of the ClickFix malware masquerades as a critical Windows Update, using a fake full-screen update prompt to trick users into pasting a malicious command that grants attackers administrative access. Huntress researchers found that the malware leverages hidden code in PNG pixel data to deploy powerful infostealers like Rhadamanthys and LummaC2, targeting credentials, financial data, and crypto wallets primarily via booby-trapped adult websites.

Despite a 10-year agreement in place, Activision hasn't released a Call of Duty Switch or Switch 2 game. A job listing could finally signal the return of the shooter franchise to a Nintendo console. Sledgehammer Games is hunting for a Senior Technical Artist with experience on handheld platforms.

An October Windows update crippled performance in titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows. A Digital Foundry benchmark demonstrates how a patch for the 24H2 and 25H2 versions sent frame rates plummeting. An Nvidia driver update corrected the problem, but frustration about gaming issues in Windows 11 persists.

Microsoft brings the Xbox Full Screen Experience to Windows 11 PCs, giving laptops and desktops a console-style interface designed for controller use.

The already high Xbox Series X price may inflate even further. Moore’s Law Is Dead reveals that Microsoft is warning partners that RAM shortages will force another increase. Sony is less likely to change the PS5 price, as it has amassed an emergency supply of GDDR6 SDRAM.

Microsoft used its Xbox Full Screen Experience to convince console fans to purchase the ROG Xbox Ally. Sooner than anticipated, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 and other handheld gaming PCs are receiving the update. The gaming-focused UI reduces background bloat, but doesn’t always behave as advertised.

Microsoft has removed NDAs, streamlined ID@Xbox, its Insider Program, and updated its revenue model for indie developers in one fell swoop expected to lower the complexity and cost of doing business for publishers large and small on its platform.

Xbox’s Retro Classics has grown to 95 titles with the addition of seven 1990s Activision Blizzard games, including Blackthorne (Genesis and SNES ports), The Lost Vikings and The Lost Vikings 2 (SNES and PlayStation versions), RPM Racing and Rock n’ Roll Racing — now available to all Game Pass tiers, including Essential.

There are more indications that a new Xbox Partner Showcase will surface very soon. After a report that the show would happen in November, a popular leaker anticipates an announcement. The event may focus on third-party Xbox games with Play Anywhere support, like the Silent Hill 2 remake.

Microsoft expands Flight Simulator 2024 with a fictional part of the world. The new add-on costs $20 and adds the Jurassic World to the well-known flight simulation.

While Age of Empires IV: Dynasties of the East has mixed reviews on display, many of them indicate that players are fascinated by what they feel is a fresh take that boosts replayability for the title considerably, even as some decry bugs that continue to plague it post-release.

Microsoft has updated the Xbox GDK and added several features that suggest the next-gen Xbox will be a hybrid console. There are updates to existing features and net new features that will help developers create a more seamless experience for players.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's director Daniel Vavra, took to X to provide what many might find to be a scathing review of Obsidian's The Outer Worlds 2, ranking it 7 out 10 as part of his feedback.

Even with a growing library of titles, Microsoft appears envious of some PS5 exclusive games. An Xbox Insider Hub survey asks gamers for their opinions of Ghost of Yotei. Future Xbox consoles could support PS5 PC ports, further blurring the lines between the platforms.

A World of Warcraft console release looks less likely after an interview with its senior game director. He explains that attempts to simplify the MMO don’t signal wider platform support. Gamers speculated that The World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion has changes aimed at the next Xbox console.

Fans are digesting the first hands-on impressions of the improved Xbox Cloud Gaming. Videos show demanding open-world titles like The Witcher 3 streaming smoothly at 1440p. Available in the pricier Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the performance is comparable to some GeForce Now plans.

The Outer Worlds 2 developers have responded to complaints over problematic PSSR upscaling. Many PS5 Pro Enhanced games display noisy images as a result of the technology. A new patch swaps PSSR with the TSR used by the Xbox Series X version, which doesn’t suffer from the same technical glitches.

Microsoft has rolled out its full-screen handheld mode to the MSI Claw through the latest Windows 11 Insider build, signalling a stronger push toward console-like experiences on Windows handhelds.

Microsoft may reintroduce older Xbox 360 games earlier than expected. Gamers spotted delisted titles with "coming soon" banners appearing on the Microsoft Store. There have been rumors about an Xbox 360 emulator benefiting Windows handhelds and a new Xbox console.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 developers expect to profit from Xbox Game Pass price increases. A leaker reports that as more gamers purchase the shooter, the studio will enjoy additional revenue. Subscribers now pay $29.99 for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which may lead to higher game sales.

An Azure-related outage knocked out Xbox Live sign-ins, matchmaking, and the Microsoft Store earlier this week, Microsoft says fixes have been rolled out, and services should be back to their ‘pre-incident state’.

The ultra-light Windows 7 build is an impressive technical feat, though it offers little in the way of practical functionality as it can not even run most applications on its own.

An optional October 2025 update for Windows 11 seems to have introduced a new bug that causes the Task Manager to create duplicate processes every time you close it. Microsoft has not acknowledged the bug yet, and it may cause issues with system performance.