Microsoft

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.

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.