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Today β€” 11 May 2026Latest from Windows Central

My PC game library finally broke me β€” this WD_Black PCIe 5.0 SSD's huge Amazon discount was the upgrade I needed

11 May 2026 at 15:32
The WD_Black SN8100 is a mighty PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD that will improve your PC's storage space while boosting its performance. Normally, the WD_Black SN8100 2TB model costs over $1,000, but with this limited time 54% discount, it's now more affordable. Discounts for the 1TB, 4TB, and 8TB are also available.

"What an insane screw up": Xbox itself leaks 'Forza Horizon 6' PC files in full a week before launch β€” and pirates already cracked it

It's a potentially multi-million dollar error. Playground Games' uploaded fresh pre-load files to Steam, albeit without encryption. The raw files quickly made their way to the world wide web, and the rest is history.

Yesterday β€” 10 May 2026Latest from Windows Central

Winhanced just made the Xbox app feel outdated on handheld gaming PCs, and I can’t believe how much smoother it is

10 May 2026 at 18:40
Winhanced is quickly becoming one of the most interesting alternatives to the Xbox app on PC, combining Xbox, Steam, Epic, and GOG libraries into one controller-friendly experience built for handhelds and console-style gaming.

"A realm of remarkable efficiency and performance": Lenovo's new Yoga Slim 7x and its Snapdragon X2 Elite chip are a match I've had a blast using

Lenovo's new Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 11) has been my daily driver for a few weeks, and I've had an absolute blast testing out its performance and efficiency. It's not perfect, but most of the issues I encountered are remedied with an inexpensive upgrade.

Before yesterdayLatest from Windows Central

Xbox’s most underrated co‑op shooter gets a surprise sequel, and its 4‑player bug‑hunt vibe has me very excited

9 May 2026 at 17:16
Recently, a new trailer shared by IGN revealed that Aliens: Fireteam Elite, a co-op shooter based on the Alien franchise, is getting a sequel that will be coming soon to Xbox, PlayStation, and PC systems. Here's what's known about this game thus far from this announcement.

"62% won’t pay $70 anymore": Gen Z's shift toward Xbox Game Pass has me rethinking how we buy video games and subscriptions

9 May 2026 at 17:00
A new gaming report claims 62% of players no longer buy full-price games, with younger audiences increasingly favoring subscription services and rotating entertainment habits. The shift raises questions about whether Xbox Game Pass was simply ahead of its time.

"The most addictive Xbox game right now": Build your own unstoppable tank Lego-style in this moreish bullet heaven β€” right now on Xbox Game Pass

TerraTech Legion fuses survivor-like bullet‑heaven chaos with its signature Lego‑style vehicle building, dropping players into arenas where they must scrap together ever‑evolving tech to survive an AI‑controlled swarm. Available now on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.

Scared that Edge loads your passwords into memory in plaintext? A dedicated password manager keeps them inside an encrypted vault

A researcher found that Microsoft Edge is the only Chromium browser that loads all your saved passwords in plaintext in memory on startup. If that makes you nervous, a dedicated password manager is a safe and simple way to protect sensitive accounts.

The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 is "a solid device performance-wise and a step up from previous Galaxy Book Pro laptops" that deserves this discount

8 May 2026 at 01:06
We have uncovered a 25% discount for a high-end configuration of the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 2-in-1 laptop. If you're a student or desk jockey looking for a laptop with strong performance rates, a detailed screen, and long battery life for work and art, then this bargain is for you.

"Too many of us are eager to take Xbox for granted": Despite sentiment online and fears for the future β€” I've never been happier and more satisfied to be an Xbox gamer.

It's SchrΓΆdinger's Xbox. Simultaneously dead, and simultaneously feeling more alive than ever. Despite mainstream negative sentiment towards Xbox and Microsoft in general, I've never been happier to be a gamer in this ecosystem. On paper, everything is better than ever, but fears for Xbox's long term viability as an ecosystem are clouding everything.

"SteelSeries finally helped me retire my battered 2015 Astro A50": This is the multiplatform headset, perfected

Finally, after almost a decade, I've replaced my battered Astro A50 headset. The Arctis Nova Pro Omni ticks every single box for multiplatform gamers, in an option far more affordable than its Elite cousin.

Razer's mechanical gaming keyboard offered "endless customization" β€” and now it comes with a discounted price tag

7 May 2026 at 18:25
The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro is a highly decorated keyboard with vast customization options, sublime responsiveness for gaming and a little bit of productivity, and a design that's built to withstand wear and tear. If you desire its exceptional qualities without paying full price, it's now on sale for a 32% discount for a limited time.

A new Halo Studios report claims the Xbox studio is actively developing β€œHalo Next” β€” with fresh details on the Endless, the Flood, and Joseph Staten’s original plans.

7 May 2026 at 14:34
A new report claims Halo Studios is actively developing β€œHalo Next,” the next mainline Halo campaign. The report also details Joseph Staten’s reported plans for Halo Infinite’s sequel, the role of the Endless, and the possible return of the Flood.

Xbox continues its brand refresh with a slick new boot-up animation that leans into nostalgia and the return of "Team Green"

6 May 2026 at 22:00
Xbox is introducing a brand new boot-up animation for Xbox consoles as part of the company’s ongoing brand refresh under CEO Asha Sharma. The new startup sequence embraces nostalgia and continues Xbox’s return to a more distinct visual identity.

Microsoft Teams will add new protections as attackers target external calls with brand impersonation tactics

Microsoft Teams is adding Brand Impersonation Protection for external VoIP calls. The feature warns users when a first‑contact caller appears to be posing as a trusted organization. It arrives as attackers increasingly target external Teams calls.

Windows 11's new Run box is what happens when Microsoft actually cares: Replaces legacy Windows 95-era dialog with something new and better

The new Windows Run box has been officially unveiled, and it's a genuine improvement over the legacy interface with faster launch times and more features. This is what happens when the people working on Windows actually care.

We spent a week with Xbox Mode β€” here is what actually works, what breaks, and what the community is saying about it

6 May 2026 at 17:31
Xbox Mode has officially started rolling out on Windows 11, but early feedback from users has been mixed. From rollout confusion and missing features to glitchy UI behavior and disappointing performance gains, fans are already questioning whether the new gaming-focused mode is ready for prime time.

Microsoft Edge is removing its Sidebar to cut clutter while leaving the ever-controversial Copilot untouched

Microsoft Edge will soon remove the ability to pin apps and websites to the Sidebar. Microsoft says the change is part of simplifying Edge, but the move leaves Copilot in place and removes a feature many people rely on.

The Microsoft/OpenAI breakup: What does it actually mean for Copilot and other AI apps on your Windows 11 PC?

Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI just became non-exclusive, meaning rival companies like Google can access OpenAI's models, making Copilot AI in Windows 11 less exclusive, consequently costing it its bargaining chip and competitive edge.

Teams erratically flips user status from 'Available' to 'Away' after just minutes of inactivity: "It’s not a status indicator, it’s a surveillance tool with trust issues."

Multiple users have raised concerns about Teams' status indicator, noting that it marks them as unavailable after only a few minutes of inactivity. They argue this feature feels intrusive surveillance and micromanagement rather than a helpful productivity tool.

β€œThere is simply nothing else like it” becomes even more true now that this premium multi‑system headset is 25 percent cheaper

6 May 2026 at 00:30
The Logitech Astro A50 X is an extremely expensive item that can connect to multiple platforms and provide immensely satisfying sound quality, and now people have a better chance at owning one with this 25% discount.

Forza Horizon 6 is driving into Xbox Game Pass this month, along with heavy hitters like Doom: The Dark Ages and Subnautica 2, and more

5 May 2026 at 22:58
Microsoft reveals Xbox Game Pass's first batch of new games coming in the first half of May 2026, and it's stacked with highly anticipated titles like Forza Horizon 6 and Subnautica 2, and critically-acclaimed hits like Doom: The Dark Ages.

N‑Studio brings a full screen recorder and editor to the Microsoft Store with a generous free tier

N‑Studio is now available on the Microsoft Store, offering a free Starter version with screen recording, audio capture and export tools. A $36 Professional upgrade adds timelapse support, extra adjustments and a full multi‑layer editor.

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