Microsoft

Despite its struggles, publishing Xbox games on the PS5 has benefited Microsoft. However, multiplayer and live-service ports generated the most revenue, according to new sales data. If the company pivots back to Xbox exclusive games, it could become more strategic with its ports.

Microsoft wants to make things clearer for developers and keep them in the loop for updates to Project Helix. It has announced a new show that will detail the current state and progress on the next-generation Xbox console.

CISA has ordered federal agencies to patch CVE-2026-32202, a zero-click Windows Shell flaw left open by an incomplete February fix now confirmed as exploited.

Valve’s latest accessory may not be the all-in-one solution buyers had anticipated. Despite a high price, PC users won’t see Xbox Game Pass games supported on the Steam Controller release date. Lacking XInput compatibility, players will need Steam software for full functionality.

Microsoft is force-upgrading unmanaged Windows 11 24H2 PCs to 25H2 ahead of October 13 end of support, but KB5083769 is still sending some machines into unrecoverable boot loops.

Statements from Microsoft leadership have some gamers concerned about the new Xbox console. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma cautioned that Steam and Epic Games Store support isn’t guaranteed. Despite a high Project Helix price anticipated, buyers may have a limited selection of games.

Threat group UNC6692 is using Microsoft Teams IT impersonation and mass email bombing to deploy the SNOW malware toolkit and steal credentials from enterprise networks.

Microsoft’s Windows 11 KB5083769 April 2026 update causes critical boot failures, pixelated BSODs, and BitLocker recovery loops on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 PCs.

Gamers could see Microsoft add yet another tier to its monthly subscription service. At a likely tempting price, the Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition would combine a catalog of games with cloud streaming. A Discord Nitro leak hints that the plan will also bundle third-party subscriptions.

Xbox branding is returning to prominence, now replacing Microsoft Gaming. The Verge reported on an internal meeting hosted by CEO Asha Sharma that confirmed the change. She has also emphasized the value of first-party hardware as marketing ramps up for Project Helix.

Microsoft could introduce highly customizable Xbox Game Pass tiers. An insider explains that players could see first-party games, cloud gaming, and bundled subscriptions become add-ons. With the Game Pass Ultimate price already lower, more affordable, tailored plans are possible.

Microsoft has made the Limited Edition Forza Horizon 6 Xbox Controller and Wireless Headset official. The controller boasts a transparent shell, while the headset introduces custom sound effects. With the designs drawing mixed reactions, some gamers find the artwork too outlandish.

Microsoft has released emergency out-of-band updates KB5091157 and KB5091575 to fix LSASS crashes and domain controller reboot loops caused by the April 2026 KB5082063 update.

Despite pleas from fans, Bethesda may not be able to create a Fallout: New Vegas remaster. A former Obsidian Entertainment developer thinks the company lacks the essential source code. Without a capable engineer on staff, the rumored Fallout 3 remaster is more likely.

Forza Horizon 6 has surpassed 500,000 pre-sales on Steam roughly a month before launch, translating to an estimated $30 million in gross revenue when factoring in different editions and regional pricing, according to Alinea Analytics. The figures point to exceptional momentum, potentially exceeding 2 million Steam sales in the first 24 hours, while additional demand from the Microsoft Store and Xbox Game Pass is not included.

A datamine suggests that Microsoft could debut new Game Pass plans with Xbox Cloud Gaming. Tiers called Triton and Duet have leaked, with the latter part of a rumored Netflix bundle. Both options would only allow a fixed number of hours per month for cloud streaming.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma may have plans to turn around the fortunes of Game Pass. Even so, former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden doesn’t see much hope for the service. A social media post explains why the Xbox Game Pass price increase is not the source of its struggles.

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.