Microsoft

Microsoft April 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes 167 vulnerabilities, including an actively exploited SharePoint zero-day. Windows 11 KB5083769 and KB5082052 bring new builds and RDP security.

Champion of the original Xbox, Seamus Blackley, has serious concerns about Project Helix. He argues that Steam has a more consistent philosophy that values games above all else. The new Xbox console may also lack the innovative features that draws gamers to Nintendo hardware.

Gamers expected the next Fable title to ship before the end of 2026. However, a reliable insider reports that the Xbox game has suffered an internal delay. If Playground Games can’t finish development by October, Microsoft may postpone it until after the November GTA 6 release date.

An insider divulged that Microsoft is considering a shakeup of its lineup of Xbox Game Pass games. Call of Duty games, one of the perks of the Ultimate and PC tiers, may no longer arrive on day one. Both revenue from the shooter and the subscription service have diminished.

Despite Microsoft’s best efforts, many publishers prioritize Steam and the PS Store. As a result, there are fewer Xbox Play Anywhere games than anticipated. A leak reveals that to bolster support for Windows handhelds and Project Helix, devs will receive a higher percentage of revenue.

Microsoft says Copilot isn’t just for “entertainment” after users publicized its own terms, warning against relying on AI. The company says it will update its documentation around Copilot, after calling the old documentation outdated.

A driving force behind the first Xbox system sees many parallels with Project Helix. In a recent podcast, Ed Fries revealed why Microsoft decided against a Windows PC concept. The new Xbox console may benefit from larger memory capacities and more games with controller support.

Microsoft is establishing Copilot as its primary AI brand for Windows, Microsoft 365 and GitHub. However, the terms of use, warnings, and disclaimers for each Copilot differ. By doing this, the Redmond-based tech giant is undermining trust in its own AI tool.

Retro gamers are often frustrated when titles disappear from the Microsoft Store. Happenings in the xCloud backend may be a prelude to Xbox 360 games and other favorites returning. The company has promised to implement backward compatibility on PCs and existing and new Xbox consoles.

Glenn Israel, a former art director at Halo Studios, has published a detailed account of alleged harassment, HR failures, and project mismanagement during his final years at the company. These claims come a few months after his departure in late 2025.

Microsoft says unmanaged Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro PCs will receive 25H2 automatically through Windows Update, though its release health page still shows a conflicting status date.

Mojang’s Minecraft “Tiny Takeover” update, released March 24, refreshes baby mobs with fluffier designs and new vocalizations recorded from “real animal voice actors,” including a specialist “cow whisperer” brought in to capture authentic mooing. The patch also adds golden dandelions to prevent baby mobs from growing up, simplifies name tag crafting, and expands music-building options with copper-based note blocks that produce trumpet tones that vary with oxidation.

Microsoft’s March 31 out-of-band release for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 folds the pulled KB5079391 preview back into a new cumulative update that fixes error 0x80073712.

Gamers may notice an unexpected newcomer to Xbox Game Pass on April 3rd. The AAA basketball sim NBA 2K26 will expand the Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC catalogs. Microsoft gave no prior hint that the sports game praised for its realistic gameplay would join the subscription service.

Microsoft is reportedly building a more native Windows apps effort, and the company’s own Windows 11 roadmap already confirms a broader push to move more core experiences to WinUI 3.

Microsoft has locked in June 7 for Xbox Games Showcase 2026, with a dedicated Gears of War: E-Day Direct scheduled immediately after the main presentation.

On its May 19th release date, Forza Horizon 6 will refresh the open-world racer series with a new location. Some players have wondered if the diverse Japanese map would seem too barren. A leaked Forza Horizon 6 preview describes abundant traffic and detailed Tokyo and countryside scenery.

GitHub users have reported massive amounts of spam in over 11,000 projects. Microsoft Copilot has been inserting suggestions that reference the productivity tool Raycast. Developers are calling it advertising, but Microsoft has denied this, attributing it to a technical error that has since been fixed.

Microsoft has temporarily limited availability of the optional Windows 11 KB5079391 preview update for 24H2 and 25H2 after some systems began failing with error 0x80073712.

Google has started rolling out ChromeOS LTC-144 to most devices on the Long Term Support Candidate channel, while the main LTS channel remains on 138 until April 21.

Gamers are afraid that the PS6 and new Xbox console will stretch even generous budgets. The PS5 price increase has made the prospect of upgrading to the Sony and Microsoft consoles frightening. Multiple analysts expect that the PS6 and Project Helix could cost buyers $1000 or more.

Xbox and Owlcat Games have confirmed a Spring 2027 launch window for The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, with a closed beta for Xbox Series X|S set to begin on April 22.

Higher PS5 and PS5 Pro prices have rocked the industry and strained already depleted budgets. Even so, one analyst predicts the Switch 2 may not be an affordable alternative for long. Nintendo and Xbox consoles are facing a stubborn memory shortage and challenges due to the Iran conflict.

Microsoft says Windows 11 KB5079391 resolves the WUSA shared-folder install bug that could trigger ERROR_BAD_PATHNAME on enterprise-managed systems.

Omnissa says Windows devices in its enterprise telemetry dataset saw 3.1 times more forced shutdowns than macOS in 2025, alongside higher crash and app-hang rates.

Microsoft may already be thinking about a successor to Project Helix. A popular insider insists that another new Xbox console will follow the hybrid system. An Xbox handheld could appear on or after the Helix release date, but the company faces stiff competition from Valve and Sony.

A reliable source has outlined Microsoft's plans for the future of its Surface PC division. Reportedly, Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 and Intel Panther Lake versions of the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop will launch before the summer.

With Game Pass Ultimate straining budgets, Microsoft may add more lower-cost alternatives. An article from The Information builds on rumors that hinted at a free ad-supported plan. A Netflix bundle could also reduce the burden caused by the October 2025 Xbox Game Pass price increase.

After focusing on too much OS-level AI integration and the small reality check delivered by Apple's MacBook Neo with its 8 GB of RAM, Microsoft now promises to scale back on the AI features and actually bring much needed improvements for Windows 11, including lower RAM footprint, WebUI3 user interface, a more responsive File Explorer and drivers for the latest hardware tech.

Microsoft has started testing new Xbox Insider console features, including up to 10 Home groups, custom user colors, per-game Quick Resume controls, and profile badges in the Guide.

After multiple Xbox Series X price increases, some buyers are finally seeing discounts on the consoles. A new promotion entices Xbox One owners to purchase the current-gen system. Responding to criticism, Microsoft hinted it would again prioritize its gaming hardware business.

Microsoft’s new out-of-band Windows 11 update KB5085516 fixes the Microsoft account sign-in bug introduced after KB5079473 on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 PCs.

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Dev build 26300.8085 with Pointer Indicator, Magnifier changes, Wi-Fi fixes, and a redesigned Feedback Hub for Insiders.

Microsoft has acknowledged a new known issue in Windows 11 update KB5079473 that can block Microsoft account sign-ins in apps, including Teams Free, OneDrive, Edge, Word, and Excel.

SecurityWeek and Hudson Rock point to infostealer-exposed credentials as a possible entry point, but Stryker’s investigation is still ongoing and the company has not confirmed the intrusion path.

The Xbox app is taking another step toward becoming an all-in-one gaming hub. Insiders can now add shortcuts to games and apps previously incompatible with the launcher. Microsoft continues to optimize Windows for gaming, with the Project Helix Xbox console on the horizon.

Microsoft has confirmed a Windows 11 known issue that can make the C: drive inaccessible on some Samsung PCs, although it says the root cause is the Galaxy Connect app.

Windows 11 users are reporting crashes, freezes, BSODs, and failed installs after KB5079473, but Microsoft still lists no known issues for the March 2026 update.

Even as a hybrid system, Project Helix may have more console characteristics than expected. GDC developers told insider Moore’s Law Is Dead that Xbox exclusive games aren’t ruled out. Microsoft could also exclude Steam from a storefront tailored to the new Xbox console.

The indie game development lead at Xbox believes Microsoft can lure creators away from Steam. In a GDC interview, Guy Richards says that supporting Project Helix means wider exposure and more sales. Most PC indie games launch on Steam, but the new Xbox console will offer cross-platform perks.

The creator of Overwatch, Jeff Kaplan, revealed in a recent podcast with Lex Fridman some of the reasons for his departure from Blizzard half a decade ago.

We may get official Xbox and Xbox 360 backward compatibility for Windows 11 later this year if a new leak is to be believed. The news follows Xbox's announcement that some iconic Xbox games will be landing on Windows 11 to celebrate the brand's 25th anniversary.

GDC 2026 attendees learned that studios will receive Project Helix dev kits in 2027. That may not be soon enough to see the next Xbox console in stock before the year ends. Still, if the Magnus-based system resembles a Windows gaming PC, it ensures compatibility with existing titles.

Microsoft is fully engaged in bringing Project Helix to life, as per the GDC keynote. Game developers will be able to get their hands on the alpha versions of the console starting early next year.

Microsoft’s March 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes 79 flaws, including two publicly disclosed zero-days. Windows 11 gets KB5079473 and KB5078883, while Windows 10 receives KB5078885.

Project Helix has been Microsoft's scheme to merge consoles and Windows PCs since 2016. Even before the Magnus-based hybrid began development, the company set these plans into motion. A 2016 Kotaku report hinted that the new Xbox console would be more upgradeable and support cross-platform games.

Project Helix may have more in common with the Steam Machine than the PS6. A popular industry consultant argues that to top Valve’s system, the new Xbox console must target more than PC gamers. Xbox exclusive games would provide platform-specific alternatives to the massive Steam library.

Newly appointed Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has kept her promise of providing updates on the next generation Xbox by sharing the internal codename. The company has had codenames for all previous Xbox consoles so this isn’t really that exciting.

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.