Download Forza Horizon 5 ahead of release on console and PC.

What you need to know

• Forza Horizon 5 preloads are now live on Xbox consoles and PC via the Microsoft Store ahead of its Nov. 9, 2021 release date.
• Download sizes start at 103GB on Xbox Series X|S consoles and PC, while the Xbox One download clocks in at a larger 116GB.
• Forza Horizon 5 preloads will go live for PC preorders via Steam at a later date.

Forza Horizon 5 developer Playground Games recently announced the project had "gone gold," an industry milestone denoting the end of development. While work on the title remains underway, with Forza Horizon 5 slated to receive updates for months to come, the title appears to be locked in for its Nov. 9, 2021, release date.

Crossing the finish line has seen Forza Horizon 5 preloads follow on Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, providing an opportunity to download the title before release. Forza Horizon 5 clocks in at 103GB on the latest Xbox Series X|S consoles and Windows PCs, while the Xbox One version climbs to 116GB. Preloads will also follow for Forza Horizon 5 on Steam at a later date.

The preload is available to anyone with a Forza Horizon 5 preorder, plus those with an active Xbox Game Pass subscription, granting access from launch day. The Xbox app on iOS and Android also boasts similar functionality for Xbox console users. The game will be playable from Nov. 9, although early Nov. 5 access is available via the $100 Premium Edition.

The title is also among the first latest-generation experiences leveraging the new hardware to shrink installation sizes, thanks to considerations for new solid-state drive (SSD) storage.

"We've reduced the install footprint of Forza Horizon 5 on those systems by optimizing our assets for higher bandwidth streaming," stated Turn 10 Studios communications specialist Alan Walsh in a blog post. Forza Horizon 5 also pledges shorter load times Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, a common benefit to playing on these systems.

Forza Horizon 5 launches on Nov. 9, 2021, on Xbox consoles and PC. The title is now available to preorder starting from $60, with access also granted to all tiers of Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription service, alongside many of the other best Xbox Game Pass games.

The Festival returns

Forza Horizon 5 (Preorder)

$60 at Microsoft (Xbox & PC) $60 at Amazon (Xbox physical) $60 at Steam (PC)

An epic adventure

Forza Horizon 5 is the latest project from Playground Games and continues the epic Forza Horizon adventure with a new roster of amazing cars and a brand-new location to explore: Mexico. Forza Horizon 5 launches on Xbox and PC later this year, and it's already available to preorder.

Vrooms included

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

From $1/month at Microsoft $45 at Amazon (3-month subscription)

All your gaming needs, in one subscription

Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? It's possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. Forza Horizon 5 will be available through Xbox Game Pass day one, including on consoles, PC, and the cloud.

Add some speed to your PC with these early Black Friday SSD deals.

Building a PC can get pretty expensive, but Black Friday is usually a pretty good time to pick up the parts you need for cheap (or cheaper, at least). While Black Friday proper doesn't hit until November 26, we're already seeing a ton of deals go live at retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, and more. And some of the best early deals that have popped up so far are for SSDs.

When you're looking for the best SSD for your PC or console, performance and price can vary greatly. However, most can prove to be a serious upgrade to an aging PC, and some of the newer PCIe 4 drives offering truly blistering speeds for motherboards that can handle them. Fortunately, the high price tags that come with those speedier drives have taken a big dip for Black Friday, and some of the more affordable drives are even more affordable.

Whether you're looking to pick up some more storage for your PC, or want to try to grab a speedy PCIe 4 drive for your PlayStation 5, there's plenty to choose from already. More deals will go live as we draw closer to Black Friday. However, with price protection deals in place from retailers like Best Buy, you can snag one early with confidence that you'll pick up the best price.

Black Friday is November 26. That's right around the corner, but if you're determined to wait until the actual day you're also destined to miss out on a ton of fantastic ways to save. Much like Christmas Creep is a real thing that starts as early as October with retailers putting out Christmas lights and decorations, Black Friday Creep seems to get earlier and earlier every year.

Several retailers have already had huge weekend sales and temporary discounts on big ticket items that will rival what we see on Black Friday. Many big site-wide sales are going on as we speak with more to come as the day gets closer and closer. While we will cover the big day with gusto, we've also got everything happening beforehand covered as well. This page will be your guide to all the best deals from all the major retailers, including the crazy prices you can find right now.

We've already seen Amazon kick off its Black Friday ramp-up by renaming its regular deals page to Epic Daily Deals and offering brand new, amazing discounts every single day. We've seen a huge Bose sale and Sony had some big price drops, too. We've seen AirPods and PowerBeats, Bluetooth speakers, and more all down to great low prices through Amazon's pre-Black Friday sales.

Other retailers kicking things off early include Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and more. We've got them all listed right here with links on where to find the best discounts. We'll update as we go, listing all the best places for you to save long before Black Friday. And as more Black Friday details are released, we'll drop those as well. Bookmark this page and stay tuned because this is going to be a holiday shopping season to remember.

What deals are live right now?

The official Black Friday sales won't be live until a week or so out from the big day, but we're seeing prices even now that will rival whatever happens in late November. Even if you're a little unsure if you want to start shopping now, there are a lot of good reasons to do that. For one thing, last year saw one of the largest rises in online shopping ever since most people were at home all winter. That means you might find it harder to get exactly what you want if more and more people are vying for the same stuff. We also saw a lot of shipping delays and order issues as warehouses and retailers got backed up. You don't want to wait if your plan is to get stuff before Christmas.

Here are the retailers offering huge savings for you right now:

• Amazon: Epic Daily Deals has everything from mirror cameras to earbuds to Play-Doh
• Target: Shop the Top Deals and Target will cover any price that drops before Dec. 24
• Walmart: the Deals for Days event covers robot vacuums, smart TVs, toys, and more
• Best Buy: the early Black Friday sale includes a price guarantee if anything drops between now and the big day
• Best Buy Toy Guide: My Best Buy members can save 30% on one toy not to mention all the other discounts
• Microsoft: Holiday sales on Game Pass, Razer and Samsung accessories, the newest Microsoft Surface hardware, and more
• Newegg: Black Friday Price Protection lasts through Nov. 30
• Dell: the Cyber Sale and other deals include a Black Friday price gaurantee
• Lenovo: the early Black Friday sale includes daily doorbusters, 66% savings on computers, & more

What more can you expect from Black Friday?

Last year was a big deal for Black Friday. Online shopping exploded with people stuck at home or not wanting to go out for one reason or the other. The funny thing is, everyone thought it was a fluke due to the special circumstances surrounding 2020. However, it might have just been a wake-up call about how good online shopping is for the regular consumer because 2021 has definitely seen efforts to push people online continue.

With that being said, our expections for Black Friday this year is that it's going to be just as big, if not bigger, than last year. More and more online retailers are making Black Friday pushes. We're especially seeing a lot more out of smaller sites and specialized brands instead of just giant landing pages from major online retailers. Plus, we're seeing a lot of it happen much earlier.

It's not even November yet and retailers are on that Black Friday train. Amazon has renamed its regular deals section to Epic Daily Deals and has been releasing some great brand-specific sales from Bose to Sony to Samsung. Many of the best prices we've seen have been exactly the sort of discounts we'd expect to see on Black Friday, and while they might get matched on the big day we're betting they won't be beat. What we're seeing from Amazon is definitely what you can expect to find dropping in price on Black Friday: Bluetooth earbuds, speakers, OLED TVs, and the like.

What other electronics will be seeing discounts on Black Friday? We don't know for sure, but we can make an educated guess based on what's popular and what sold well last year. If you're looking for something specific, expect to see great deals on home security devices like video doorbells and cameras, smart devices like multi-color smart lights and Nest thermostats, more TV deals than you can count including some of the best prices on previous generations as we've already seen from Amazon's Epic Daily Deals, and more. We know smart displays are still goiing to be big. Facebook Portal already has deals on its newest devices, and Amazon Echo tablets always sell like hotcakes. You'll find savings on robot vacuums, smartwatches like the Apple Watch, laptops, and more.

How can you make sure you're getting the best deals on Black Friday?

Well, first off, you can keep watching this page and the rest of our Black Friday coverage. Rest assured we have a team of people working through all the thousands of bad deals to find the absolute best ones. We will have roundups and guides and plenty of posts to help you sort through the noise of Black Friday and spend your money wisely, whether that means you're looking for presents for your family or just want something nice for yourself.

You can also do your own homework. When you find something you think might be a deal, compare its price to what it was going for a month ago. If you find something at a different retailer than you normally shop at, check to see if your favorite place will price match or already has. A lot of price drops come from the manufacturers and can be found in multiple locations.

You should also keep in mind that things aren't always as they seem. Be wary of retailers that boast discounts from the MSRP because most things never sell at the MSRP. Also keep in mind that a lot of products get a price bump in September or October so that the deal price on Black Friday looks even more attractive.

Also, some manufacturers make things specifically for Black Friday. TVs in particular get a lot of "Black Friday models" that are sold for much less than the normal versions. That's not always a bad thing. If you can get the exact same TV and the only real difference is a worse remote and 90 local dimming zones instead of 120, maybe it's worth the better price. But keep in mind that those models haven't been tested the way earlier releases have.

What deals are live right now?

We cover deals all year long, not just on Black Friday or Prime Day. We also follow multiple retailers to find all the best sales. With a huge team of writers and editors that review products all day, every day, it's easy for us to spot great products, too. That way when we put up a deal, you know what you're getting isn't just a great price but a great piece of tech as well.

Here are some of the deals we've covered recently that are still live:

Razer & Turtle Beach gaming accessories

If you need a new headset or a new controller, check out this sale that includes options from both Razer and Turtle Beach. You'll be talking to your friends or having them join you for some couch gaming in no time. These deals are good through the end of the month.

See at Microsoft

iOttie iTap 2 magnetic air vent car mount holder | $9 off

You get a choice of inner or outer metal plates that use adhesive tape and are easily removed. The rare earth magnets are strong enough for any phone and its case. The rotating ball joint lets you find a great angle. Twist and lock the vent clip for a secure fit.

$16.06 at Amazon $25 at Walmart

Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard | $40 off

Microsoft's sale on this keyboard is $40 better than Best Buy's current price. This is our favorite pick for comfort and wrist support, and it's one you should use if those things are important to you.

$30 at Microsoft

Lowest Price

Microsoft 365 Personal

You can actually get this one for $47.49 if you use the Target RedCard. The normal price from Microsoft is $70, and Amazon has the next best deal with a long-running price of $59. Target's deal is a physical card that will be shipped to you versus a digital code like what you'll see at Amazon.

$49.99 $70 $20 off

See at Target

Razer Homerun gaming bundle | $85 off

The bundle includes the Kraken V3 X gaming headset, the DeathAdder V2 mouse, the Ornata V2 keyboard, and the Gigantus V2 mouse pad. This price for all of that is almost stealing if Costco wasn't advertising it. The savings are nuts.

$84.96 at Costco

Logitech G Pro X wired headset | $35 off

Designed with object-based surround sound so you can hear positional audio, like when an enemy is trying to attack you from behind in a video game. Includes a pro-grade mic with noise reduction and a compressor.

$94.99 at Amazon $102 at Walmart

Razer Basilisk Ultimate with dock | $40 off

A fantastic wireless mouse with Razer tech that'll make it seem like it's not wireless at all. Plus it comes with a charging dock that ensures you'll never have to worry about the battery running low.

$99.99 at Amazon

Need 63-inch gaming and writing office desk | $50 off

Clip the on-page coupon to take $40 off. Has a huge desktop with ample space for your computer. Made with wood. Surface is water resistant and anti-scratch. Has a metal frame for support and is easily assembled. Legs are adjustable.

$101.99 at Amazon

Elgato Wave:3 USB condenser mic with digital mixer | $20 off

Uses a tight cardioid polar pattern to capture your speech. Use the Wave Link app to control the mic and up to seven other audio sources. You can even create two independent mixes. Prevents distortion with Elgato's Clipguard tech.

$138.49 at Amazon

HD60 S+ Game Capture | $20 off

With the S+ you can bump up your gameplay recording to just a bit, going from the 1080p 60fps of the S to 2160p at 30fps with the S+. You can keep playing at 4K even if you record at a lower resolution, and the capture card works with most broadcasting software to make capturing your footage easy. It has an HDMI input and a USB-C port so you can record directly to a hard drive.

$159.99 at Amazon

Crucial X8 2TB portable SSD | $50 off

With USB-C and fast read speeds up to 1,050 MB/s, you get fast speeds with this SSD for whatever you're working on. It also works on a wide array of platforms. Plus, since it's portable it's designed to be durable, too.

$189.99 at Amazon

LG 27GL850-B 27-inch Nano IPS monitor | $77 off

This is a fantastic monitor for the price you pay, and today's deal makes this version with a USB hub even less expensive than the version without one. Great specs for gaming and media watching.

$373 at Amazon $373 at Walmart

Select Acer monitors

Choose portable screens or giant 32-inch displays. Get curved or straight. Grab resolutions that vary between 1080p and 4k. Whatever you choose, you'll save money for a limited time. One great option is the Acer Predator XB271HU display on sale for $424.99. That's the second lowest price on this monitor in the last six months, and it usually sells for around $500.

Up to 14% off at Amazon

Dremel Digilab 3D20 3D printer | $33 off

Comes pre-assembled so you can start printing basically as soon as you get it. Has a ton of safety features, including a non-heated build plate, a fully enclosed design, and 3rd-party UL safety approval. This price is one of the best we've seen in over a year.

$637.77 at Amazon

Lenovo Yoga 7i laptop | $75 off

Grab this laptop with a 14-inch 1080p display, 12GB RAM, a 512GB solid state drive, and Windows 10 Home. While the deal is on eBay, it comes directly from Lenovo's eBay storefront.

$724.99 at eBay

HP Envy x360 touchscreen laptop | $170 off

You can customize this laptop and add some specs where you think they belong. You'll be saving up to $170 at the most basic level and the savings continue even as you add to it.

Starting at $950 at HP

Razer Book 13 laptop | $300 off

What you get is an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16GB RAM, and a 256GB M.2 solid state drive. It has integrated Iris Xe graphics, a 13.4-inch 1200p touchscreen display, Razer's Chroma RGB for custom lighting, and more.

$1,199.99 at Amazon

Asus ZenBook Pro 15 OLED 4K laptop | $166 off

A great laptop with a 15.6-inch screen that has 4K resolution and an OLED panel. It's also a touchscreen with 440 nits of brightness. In addition to that you get a Core i7 processor, a 1TB SSD, and 16GB RAM.

$1,499.99 at Newegg

MSI Summit E14 laptop | $200 off

This is the lowest price ever for this laptop, which was selling for around $1,700 in early August. The specs include an Intel Core i7 processor, a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q graphics card, 16GB RAM, a 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD, and more.

$1,499.99 at Amazon

Click and clack your way to some solid Black Friday gaming keyboard deals.

Black Friday season (yeah, it's a full-on season thing now) is here, which means there are plenty of early deals hitting retailers all over the place. From the Best Buys and Amazons of the world down to your local Walmart, you won't have to wait until November 26 to save some cash. And for those of us who prefer to play our games on PC, now is the perfect time to snag that gaming keyboard you've had your eye on.

We're already starting to see prices drop on some of our picks for the best gaming keyboards, often knocking a significant chunk off of their otherwise-expensive price tags. Among them are discounts on our top pick, the SteelSeries Apex Pro. If you're interested in the more budget-minded keyboards, you'll likely be able to pick up some really solid sub-$50 options as the season wears on as well.

It's still early, so we're going to see the deals keep coming. However, with retailers like Best Buy offering a price protection guarantee through Black Friday proper, it's never too early to start looking and, perhaps, pulling the trigger on any really good deals that are out there.

With Black Friday right around the corner, deals season is officially here. We're already starting to see some early Black Friday deals hit the scene, and many of us are already making lists of products we'd like to pick up for a steal. Some of the best deals you'll tend to find around this time of year are around gaming, particularly with some of the best gaming mice for your PC.

Oftentimes, what makes for a great gaming mouse will make it the best mouse for your money as well. Whether you're looking for a wired or wireless option, it's not unheard of to see discounts of $50 or more on some of the more expensive mice out there from companies like Razer and Logitech. Of course, you can also pick up some of the more budget options out there for dirt cheap as well.

Some mice to look out for while shopping around include our top pick, the Razer Viper, which usually runs $80 at full price. For anyone looking to pick up a wireless gaming mouse, you can't do much better than the Logitech G502 Lightspeed. Companies like SteelSeries and Corsair are also worth paying attention to for some excellent price cuts.

If you're into PC gaming then you know Razer. One of the most well-known brands in the space, Razer has been making outstanding hardware for gamers longer than most and has perfected the art of giving them what they need. Any chance, then, to score Razer hardware at a discount is one not to be ignored. This year, Black Friday isn't waiting for, well, Black Friday, this year, and a bunch of Razer's hottest hardware is already discounted.

Razer Blade 15 Base | $549 off at Amazon

$1,251 at Amazon

The entry model of the best gaming laptop you can buy is available at a stunning price, with an Intel Core i7, GTX 1660 Ti, 144Hz display and 16GB of RAM.

Best Black Friday Razer deals:

• Razer headset deals: From $60
• Razer mouse and keyboard deals: From $35

Today's best Razer Deals

• Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition — $66 (Was $100)
• Razer Kraken Ultimate — $60 (Was $130)

Best Black Friday Razer headset deals

You could use some cheap speakers or your monitor's built-in tweeters, but that won't do any game you plan on playing any justice. This is why we always recommend a good pair of headphones or a headset. Razer makes some of the best gaming headsets around and you'll find some of them on steep discount for Black Friday.

Best Black Friday Razer mouse and keyboard deals

A mouse and keyboard are argued by many PC gamers to be the best way to enjoy most titles on the platform. There are plenty on sale right now from Razer's camp.

Razer joined the PC build server.

What you need to know

• Razer announces new range of PC components consisting of power supplies, AIO coolers, fans, and a controller hub.
• The new products are designed for use with Razer's Chroma system. Even the power supplies come rocking RGB lights.
• Availability commences this month (fans and controller only) for the U.S. with the rest of the world following later in 2021.

Razer isn't a brand you'd normally associate with internal PC hardware, but that's all about to change with today's announcement. The company tested the waters with the Tomahawk PC case and now Razer is ready to get into making components to fit inside the chassis.

Today's lunch includes the Razer Kunai, Razer Hanbo, Razer Katana, and Razer PWM Fan Controller. This new portfolio consists of all-in-one water coolers, power supplies, hydraulic fans, and a controller for hooking up all your blowers. As is the case with all other Razer hardware, there's plenty of RGB lighting through Chroma.

This marks a substantial milestone for Razer. Starting with the Hanbo AIOs, which comes with a CPU block and pump combo unit that can be rotated and has addressable RGB lighting. The pump is by Asetek as is the case with such kits from other brands and should be rated for use with Intel Core i9 and AMD Ryzen 9 processors.

For now, the Hanbo will be available as a 240mm and 360mm AIO, though both come with the new RGB-touting Razer Kunai hydraulic fans, available separately in 120mm or 140mm. The Kunai fans start from $44.99. They will also be able to be connected to the Razer PWM PC Fan Controller, which costs $49.99. No word on Razer Hanbo pricing just yet.

The Razer Katana are 80 Plus Platinum rated for efficiency, which puts them above some of the more popular power supplies out there. Wattage capacity will range between 750W and 1,200W, making even the most affordable option ideal for a gaming rig with the latest GPU. If you do require a little more juice, Razer will offer a separate 1,600W unit that's 80 Plus Titanium rated. The PSUs are capable of running in zero fan mode and come with RGB lighting to provide underglow to most ATX cases.

There's no set pricing for the Razer Katana either. Razer expects to start shipping the newly announced components (Kunai and fan controller) in October for the U.S. with the rest of the world following later in 2021. The Razer Hanbo and Katana will launch later in 2021 and the beginning of 2022, respectively. Not only will you now be able to choose the best PC case from Razer, but also an AIO and PSU.

What you need to know

• Eric Barone, known as ConcernedApe, announced his new project on Thursday, called Haunted Chocolatier.
• The title looks similar to Stardew Valley in the gameplay footage, but it takes place at least partially in a haunted castle with ghosts and chocolate making.
• The game is in development, and you can check out some early gameplay below.

Indie developer Eric Barone, also known as ConcernedApe, became a breakout star in 2016 thanks to the life and farming simulator hit Stardew Valley, and now we finally have information on the follow-up.

Haunted Chocolatier is a game where you make chocolate, go out into the world to gather ingredients, and it takes place in a haunted castle with ghosts and monsters. While Barone hasn't devled into too many details (he notes the game is evolving as he develops it), he mentions it won't necessarily be a horror game.

"Don't think for a moment that, because this game features ghosts in a haunted castle, it is an evil or negative game," he wrote in a post on Haunted Chocolatier's website. "On the contrary, I intend for this game to be positive, uplifting and life-affirming. However, if Stardew Valley mostly channeled the energy of the sun, Haunted Chocolatier channels the energy of the moon. Both are vital.

Barone teased an announcement on Twitter, with a link to a YouTube video with only question marks in the title. That announcement ended up being the Haunted Chocolatier. Along with the announcement itself, he shared early gameplay and a blog with some basic information.

Barone had reviously teased on Twitter that he's working on two games in the Stardew Valley universe. One takes place within the same world, while the other will "tie into Stardew Valley in some way." While he didn't confirm if Haunted Chocolatier is one of these two games, the similarities are striking. Not only is the UI nearly identical, but some creatures like slimes also appear. Granted, this could change as development continues.

Haunted Chocolatier is still in the early stages of development (and there's currently no release window), and, as he notes, fans should consider that the details might change. "I don't want to get too deep into at this early stage, partly because I don't want to be tied down to any particular concept of what the game is," he wrote.

Stardew Valley is arguably one of the biggest indie successes of the past decade. It follows the story of an unnamed person (customized by the player) that moves to a tiny town to reinvigorate their grandfather's farm and become a part of a community. It started life on Steam, but is now available on just about every platform, including mobile. As of 2020, ConcernedApe stated the game has sold around 10 million copies.

Players on Xbox Series X will get a big boost over the prior dashboard quality.

What you need to know

• Microsoft detailed everything the Xbox October 2021 update is bringing for users to enjoy.
• One of the biggest features being added is a 4K dashboard for Xbox Series X users.
• Another huge addition is the Night Mode feature, which is placed under the accessibility options.

Microsoft shared everything coming in the Xbox October 2021 update on Thursday. Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One users will be getting a wide variety of new features to play around with. While perhaps not quite as big as the prior update, there's still a fair bit to go through.

Here's the three big features being added this month:

• 4K dashboard on Xbox Series X. Xbox Series X players will be getting a 4K dashboard, a huge leap up from the current 1080p user interface the console uses. This means cleaner icons, less jagged edges on text and just a better image all around, especially for anyone currently using one of the best 4K TVs available.
• Xbox Night Mode. All platforms will be enjoying a big new accessibility feature in the form of Xbox Night Mode. This isn't just an on-off switch but a whole collection of settings that can be individually tweaked, from the brightness of the screen to the light on your Xbox controller.
• Quick Settings for accessibility. As part of Microsoft's committment to improving accessibility on Xbox, the previously announced Quick Settings feature is on the way. This allows players to change out or tweak accessibility options from the menu, rather than having to hunt through settings and abandon whatever game is currently being played.

More features are currently in testing and are likely to show up in future monthly updates. One big feature being tested right now is a tagging system for accessibility, which allows users to sort through games using verified tags, checking for particular features on a game or app.

A catalog of games

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

From $1/month at Microsoft $45 at Amazon (3-month subscription) $15 at Amazon (1-month subscription)

All your gaming needs, in one subscription.

Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? It's possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. That means access to hundreds of games, with more added all the time, for a single monthly subscription cost.

AMD fixed a bug that causes performance drops on AMD chips running Windows 11.

What you need to know

• AMD addressed a performance issue affecting systems running Windows 11 on AMD chips.
• The fix comes with AMD Ryzen Chipset Driver release 3.10.08.506.
• Microsoft fixed a separate issue affecting AMD chips running Windows 11 earlier this week.

AMD released a chipset driver to address performance issues affecting PCs with AMD chips running Windows 11. The update fixes an issue that affects AMD's preferred core technology, which shifts threads to the fastest core on a processor. Affected PCs saw performance drops, causing frustration among gamers. Microsoft also fixed a separate issue that affects AMD processors running Windows 11.

AMD outlines the fix for the issue related to its preferred core technology as well as Microsoft's earlier fix for the L3 caching issue:

Known Performance Changes	Impact	Resolution
Issue 1: Measured and functional L3 cache latency may increase for some applications.	◦ Applications sensitive to memory subsystem access time may be impacted. ◦ Estimated performance impact of [less than] 3-5% in affected applications, with possible outliers in some games.	◦ A Windows 11 software update is now available to address this issue under Microsoft Knowledgebase ID 5006746. ◦ More information on downloading and installing this update can be obtained under Microsoft article KB5006746. ◦ Systems with this update applied will enumerate KB5006746 in the Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Installed Updates interface.
Issue 2: UEFI CPPC2 ("preferred core") may not preferentially schedule threads on a processor's fastest core.	◦ Applications sensitive to the performance of one or a few CPU threads may exhibit reduced performance. ◦ Performance impact may be more detectable in >8-core processors above 65W TDP.	◦ An AMD Chipset Driver package is now available to address this issue under version 3.10.08.506. ◦ Systems with this update applied will report AMD Chipset Software 3.10.08.506 (or newer) within the Apps & Features interface of Windows 11. ◦ In addition: ◦ For AMD processors with the "Zen 3" architecture: Systems configured with AMD Chipset Driver 3.10.08.506 (or newer) should report version 7.0.3.5 (or newer) for the AMD.Power.Processor.Settings entry in the Windows 11 Provisioning Packages interface. ◦ For AMD processors with the "Zen+" or "Zen 2" architectures: Systems configured with AMD Chipset Driver 3.10.08.506 (or newer) should have the AMD Ryzen™ Balanced power plan selected and active in the Control Panel > Power Options interface.

With both of these fixes, AMD-powered systems should deliver expected performance when running Windows 11.

Razer's Zephyr is a wearable air purifier built to allow people to express themselves. It's now available to order.

What you need to know

• Razer announced it's shipping the Zephyr smart facemask today.
• The mask features N95 filters with two-way protection and a pair of 2-speed fans for circulation and cooling.
• It also filters RGB lighting and a transparent front that allows people to see facial expressions and read lips.
• The Razer Zephyr is available starting today for $99.99.

Update 1AM ET Oct 22: The first wave of Zephyr masks have sold out.

Earlier this year, Razer showed off Project Hazel, a smart N95 medical-grade mask with Chroma RGB lighting. Two months ago, it was rebranded as Zephyr. After a beta test, that mask is now available to purchase as announced today RazerCon.

There are some design changes in the Zephyr compared to the first images of Project Hazel, but the general concept is the same. It's a wearable air purifier infused with tech to help with communication.

The Razer Zephyr is FDA-registered and lab-tested for 99% Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE). It features N95 grade filters with two-way protection. Razer claims that the filters last three times longer than single-use disposable masks. Of course, disposable masks also lack RGB, a silicone seal for a snug fit, and a transparent front that allows people to see facial expressions and read lips, all of which are on the Razer Zephyr.

Razer Zephyr filters the air that is inhaled and exhaled, not only protecting you but those around you. It has two air exchange chambers that let air flow in and out. And to improve circulation, there are two 2-speed fans, which also assist in cooling.

The facemask features a soft silicone face seal on the front and a dual strap design around the back. This setup should help the mask fit snuggly while still being comfortable.

While the driving focus for Zephyr is the 2020 COVID pandemic, recent outbreaks of the Delta variant (and Lambda) have brought the issue of mask-wearing back to the forefront of public health.

Masks have become popular to combat the respiratory effects of airborne pollution and even allergies for many. Moreover, in many Asian countries, wearing masks has become relatively routine following earlier outbreaks like SARS, the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, and the prevalence of Asian Dust. That makes Zephyr potentially more lucrative for those markets vs. Western ones with greater resistance to wearing masks (even one as cool looking as Zephyr).

Like many Razer products, the Zephyr supports Razer Chroma RGB. You can control the interior lights (including disabling) and fans with the Razer Zephyr app available on both iOS and Android.

More interestingly, the big news is that $99.99 price tag. Speculation since its announcement back in January was that it could cost hundreds of dollars. This price seems more doable.

The demand for the Razer Zephyr has been overwhelming and our first wave is sold out within minutes. Stay tuned and appreciate your patience as we work hard to restock them as fast as we can. Sign up to be notified when the next batch arrives: https://t.co/GYZgUXnsdK pic.twitter.com/YSNBuYuRaW

— R Λ Z Ξ R (@Razer) October 22, 2021

Of course, Razer took a few steps to lower the cost of the Zephyr. Most notably, it does not have microphones and speakers for voice amplification, as shown in the original Project Hazel design. Nor is there a fancy enclosure with UV lighting for disinfecting that would also charge it back up. However, if there is demand for such features, Razer said it could add those in a more premium version later.

The lower price tag should make the mask more accessible to those who need to wear a mask all day with some style. A set of 10 Razer N95 filters costs $30 with each filter lasting for three days of usage. A starter pack with the Zephyr and three N95 filter packs is also available for $150.

Razer Zephyr

$100 at Razer

The Razer Zephyr facemask features N95 filters, a transparent front, and customizable RGB lighting.

Razer now offers one of the best Ultrabooks on the market in its popular Quartz pink.

What you need to know

• The Razer Book is now available in Quartz, a popular pink seen on many Razer PCs and accessories.
• Windows 11 now comes preloaded on the Razer Book.
• The Quartz Razer Book is available now starting at $1,000.

The Razer Book is now available in Quartz, a version of pink seen on many of the company's PCs and accessories. The Razer Book is the first non-gaming laptop from the company, and it earned a perfect 5/5 in our review earlier this year. In addition to having a new color option, the Razer Book now comes preloaded with Windows 11. The Quartz Razer Book is available now starting at $1,000.

Our executive editor called the Razer Book "a banger and easily one of the best Windows Ultrabooks yet." He also said that "the Book 13 is an outstanding accomplishment that rivals the Dell XPS 13 (and, in some areas, surpasses it)."

The Razer Book has a starting weight of 2.95 lbs (1.34 kg) and is 0.6 inches thick when closed. On the inside, it features up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor and Intel Iris Xe graphics. Our Razer Book review includes benchmarks for concrete figures, but the long in short is that the laptop competes with the best Ultrabooks, including the Dell XPS 13 and HP Spectre x360 14.

Two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A 3.2 port, an HDMI 2.0 port, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack help the Razer Book connect to various accessories and monitors. The laptop also includes top-firing THX speakers and RGB lighting for its keyboard.

The Razer Book has a 13.4-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Its display is available in either FHD+ or UHD+ resolutions with options for either touch or non-touch. Sharp's IGZO display is used in the Razer Book, resulting in 100% sRGB color accuracy. The display is also anti-reflective.

The Quartz Razer Book is one of many announcements made at RazerCon 2021. The company also unveiled the Razer Enki family of gaming chairs and the Razer Zephyr Wearable Air Purifier.

Razer Book

From $1,000 at Razer

The Razer Book earned is one of the best Ultrabooks on the market. Now, it's available in Quartz pink and with Windows 11.

Razer's latest gaming chair puts the focus on your butt, and with a more affordable $299 starting price, it's well worth the investment.

Last year, I reviewed Razer's $500 gaming chair dubbed the Iskur. While definitely on the high-end for gaming chairs, it brought something completely new: an adjustable lumbar arch for those long gaming seshes.

Now, Razer is back with the Razer Enki and Enki X. These are technically gaming chairs built for all-day use, making them better choices for those who want less of a gaming chair and more really comfortable office chairs. Think of a V6 sedan instead of a V8 sports car.

While they both lack the mechanical lumbar arch found on Iskur, they make up for that with a much lower starting price of $299. I'll also argue that the Enki's primary feature, the extra padded seat cushion, makes it a fantastic option for the rest of us more casual gamers.

I've been using Enki X for the last few weeks, and here's what I think.

Razer Enki X

Bottom line: The Razer Enki and Enki X deliver all-day comfort thanks to its outstanding bottom cushion that's wider and flatter than regular gaming chairs. The lower starting price, design, and ease of assembly make it an easy recommendation.

The Good

• Very comfortable for hours of sitting
• Cool environmentally friendly design
• Easy to assemble
• Reasonable price

The Bad

• Can be squeaky if overtightened
• Wheels could be better
• Armrests could use more padding

$299 at Razer

Razer Enki X: Price and availability

Razer Enki and Enki X are now available through the Razer store. Pricing starts at $299 for Enki X and $399 for Enki.

Both chairs have the same seat, backrest, and overall design, which is the crucial part. But the $399 Enki has 4D armrests (instead of 2D), a "reactive seat tilt" with a 152-degree recline (versus only the 152-recline found in Enki X), and a memory foam headrest pillow (which you buy for Enki X separately). Everything else is the same between the two chairs.

Razer Enki X: What's good

Enki X and Enki are built for people who sit behind a PC all day and who happen to like to game. Or maybe you don't even game; you sit at a desk all day and want a comfortable office chair that looks cooler than something you'd get at Staples.

Razer deserves credit for ease of assembly. Opening the big box and you're greeted with some humorous imagery, a pair of gloves, and a gigantic welcome letter that doubles as instructions. Compared to Iskur, Enki X is even easier to put together, thanks to some of the screws being pre-threaded. Total assembly time, including unpacking, was 25 minutes.

To design Enki, Razer sought help from an "aviation design specialist … who previously designed cockpits and flight chairs to allow pilots to remain focused and comfortable when sitting for extended periods of time." It paid off. With a broader seat base than Iskur at 21 inches, Enki lets you cross your legs and move around more comfortably, unlike typical gaming chairs, which are more like jetfighter cockpits — tight and confining.

Category	Razer Enki
Recommended weight	Less than 300 pounds Less than 136kg
Recommended height	5'5" to 6'8" 166cm to 204cm
Chair cover color	Green, black, quartz
Chair cover material	EPU synthetic leather
Base	Aluminium base
Frame	Steel frame
Armrests	4D metal-reinforced armrests
Casters	60mm PU coated casters
Gas lift class	Class 4
Foam rype	High-density PU molded foam
Total recline angle	152 degrees
Adjustable headrest	Memory foam headrest pillow
Warranty length	36 months

Razer made a big deal about "pressure mapping" people's derrieres, comparing Enki to other chairs noting that Enki has fewer pressure points because of how weight is distributed. And it's all true. I can sit in Enki all day and the boney part of my butt (the ischium for your anatomy nerds) and not feel any discomfort or pressure points. I'm blown away by this as all chairs eventually cause some fatigue from sitting, but this is the first time for me that hasn't happened. I wish airlines used these seats, and not just for pilots.

While Enki doesn't have the excellent articulating lumbar arch of Iskur, it does have a smaller fixed one that feels supportive when leaning back.

Razer is using premium "dual-textured eco-sustainable synthetic leather" (the same found in some luxury car brands) and remarks that it is made with "reduced energy consumption and carbon-emission processes, with no environmentally harmful solvents used in its production." The effect and appearance are excellent.

And Unlike some leather (or faux leather) gaming chairs where you may slide, the Enki keeps you in place the whole time, thanks to the patterned fabric in the middle. Plus, it looks sharp.

Razer Enki X: What's not good

There are some very minor complaints with Razer Enki. After assembling the chair, I noticed some squeaking emanating from where the seat base and back meet. It was the EPU synthetic leather and some of the plastic rubbing. Perhaps I overtightened the screws because loosening them up did dramatically reduce the effect, although it is still there if I force it.

The wheels are also just OK. They pick up dirt and dust very quickly and don't quite roll as smoothly as I'd hope. They get you around, but I could also see upgrading these to something better for a more premium experience.

The reclining mechanism can be a bit loud and rough, too, although it's not dramatically different from other chairs.

Likewise, the 2D armrests (4D on Enki) are not as smooth or high quality as Razer Iskur (but that's what you get for $200 less).

Speaking of, adding some softer padding to those armrests wouldn't be a bad thing either. While they do a decent job supporting your arms during extended typing sessions, my elbows get sore after a few hours from resting on them. So, Razer, that's my tip: Take the same material used in the seat cushion, add them to the armrests. I expect a check in the mail.

Razer Enki X: Competition

There aren't many chairs that straddle the line between gaming and office chair quite like Razer Enki and Enki X, as most are clearly in one camp or the other.

The most apparent competitor to Razer in the premium chair space is Secretlab. It just launched its new TITAN Evo series, which is gaining a lot of positive reviews and praise. Secretlab's specialty is mass production combined with customization, letting you pick sizes, styles, and colors. But as good as the TITAN Evo is, the starting price is $499, which is more analogous to Razer's premium Iskur. Still, it's worth the look if you're shopping.

Heading below $300 and you have E-WIN, which is another big brand in gaming chairs. It doesn't focus on all-day comfort as the Enki, but it is just $269. The E-WIN Calling series also lets you pick some different colors, using cold-cure foam and PU leather.

You can get more ideas from our best gaming chairs roundup.

Razer Enki X: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

• You want a comfortable all-day computer chair
• You're OK with a gamer (Razer) aesthetic
• You find "cockpit" chairs too tight

You shouldn't buy this if ...

• You work in an actual office
• You want the best lumbar support

Razer is still relatively new to the gaming chair industry, which is a highly competitive one. I usually avoid reviewing too many of these seats because they're so similar and, quite frankly, boring. But twice Razer has disrupted this business, first with Iskur's articulating lumbar arch and now with Enki's exceptionally comfortable seat base: This is excellent stuff.

I think anyone who likes the look of Enki would be pleased with this chair. It's super comfortable, the quality is excellent, it's easy to assemble, and it has a three-year warranty.

The price is also good starting at $300, which seems fair and is easier to swing than Iskur's $500 cost. Compared to Iskur, I think this is a better option for those who plan on spending eight hours a day sitting versus a "battle chair" idealized for long gaming sessions. Both are great, but for different reasons.

Honestly, I'd love to see Razer combine the two concepts. Add Iskur's articulating lumbar arch to a pricier Enki "Pro," add some cushier padding to the armrests, and call it a day.

Overall, Razer Enki X (and Enki) is easy to recommend to anyone who wants one of the best all-day computer chairs on the market. The all-black look and gamer aesthetic may not appeal to some, but I wouldn't be surprised if Razer offers more variations like the fabric gray Iskur. I'll be using it from now on as Iskur will replace our secondary generic office chair.

Razer Enki X

Bottom line: The Razer Enki and Enki X deliver all-day comfort thanks to its outstanding bottom cushion that's wider and flatter than regular gaming chairs. The lower starting price, design, and ease of assembly make it an easy recommendation.

$299 at Razer

Razer has unleashed the Kraken.

Krakens are multi-tentacled beasts of yore, armed to the teeth (or, well, beak) with an arsenal of ship-destroying tentacles and other deadly features, depending on where you look. The Kraken moniker feels more appropriate than ever with Razer's refreshed headset lineup, which enters its third iteration for 2021 and beyond.

The new Razer Kraken, Razer Kraken X, and Razer Kraken Pro bring the popular lineup into the modern era with Razer's latest neodymium drivers, and an array of unique features that get increasingly impressive as you move further up the price points.

The two most expensive Kraken's headline features are full-blown stereoscopic haptics. Razer's headsets have unique motors that feed haptic vibrations into the soundscape, which you can adjust with new on-ear controls. Unlike console games which create vibrations on a scripted basis, the haptics in the Kraken headsets utilizes sound, reacting within 5ms to bass frequencies in the sound stage.

Beyond that, the Kraken lineup impresses with competitive price points, and improved designs. It wouldn't be Razer without RGB, of course, and that's on board too for good measure.

For a full breakdown of the features and specs, take a look at the table below. The headsets will start arriving on Oct. 21, 2021, starting at $99, running all the way up to $199. Will they make the best PC gaming headsets list on Windows Central? Only time will tell (and by that, I mean our reviews, of course).

Category	Kraken V3	Kraken V3 HyperSense	Kraken V3 Pro
Price	$99.99	$129.99	$199.99
Speakers	TriForce Titanium 50mm with THX	TriForce Titanium 50mm with THX	TriForce Titanium 50mm with THX
Compatibility	PC via USB-A	PC via USB-A	PC via USB-A Wireless, 3.5mm option
Haptics	No	Yes	Yes
Microphone	Detachable Cardioid	Detachable Cardioid	Detachable Supercardioid

As if the game wasn't challenging enough.

What you need to know

• This is the first look at Doom Eternal's upcoming horde mode.
• Will release on Dec. 26, 2021 for all platforms and PC.
• The mode will offer a whole new level challenge for players looking to truly master the game.

Doom Eternal is the sequel for the crtitically acclaimed Doom reboot released in 2016, and it got a lot of DLC that helped make the game one of the most memorable entries in the series for a long time.

On Thursday, we got our first look at yet another edition — horde mode — and it shows us a true taste of hell. The game itself was already a challenge on the harder difficulties, and The Ancient Gods DLC offered players a lot of closure with regards to the legendary Doom slayer's story line.

Horde mode is set to be a true test of a player's grit and skill in the game. The mode was announced earlier this year, while id Software announced it was shifting focus from Invasion mode to horde mode instead.

Players will have to take on swarms of enemies while successfully chaining multiple kills together simultaneously to keep the streak going. The more you kill in rapid succession, the more you score, but keep in mind that the enemies hit harder and are harder to kill as well.

The 2016 reboot of Doom offered a faux horde mode where players can make spawn wave maps in SnapMap,and play it cooperatively with friends, but an official horde mode is something that fans of the series saw as a good fit for the game. It also goes without saying that it'll have a very competitve leaderboard once it does release.

The feature is set for release with patch 6.66 and is slated for a Dec. 26, 2021 release date across the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Windows 10 version 21H2 has a name!

What you need to know

• Windows 10 version 21H2 is dubbed the November 2021 Update.
• It'll begin rolling out next month.
• It includes minor enterprise-grade features.

Microsoft has today announced that the next Windows 10 feature update, officially known as the November 2021 Update, will begin rolling out next month and that the final build is available now for testing in the Windows Insider Release Preview channel and via ISOs.

Even though Windows 11 is now out, Microsoft isn't abandoning Windows 10. The November 2021 Update is based on the same "Vibranium" platform release that the May 2020, October 2020, and May 2021 updates were based on. This means the update will only take a few minutes to install, and will be no more than a few hundred megabytes in size.

Here's what's new with the Windows 10 November 2021 Update:

• Adding WPA3 H2E standards support for enhanced Wi-Fi security
• Windows Hello for Business supports simplified passwordless deployment models for achieving a deploy-to-run state within a few minutes
• GPU compute support in the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and Azure IoT Edge for Linux on Windows (EFLOW) deployments for machine learning and other compute intensive workflows

Microsoft does say that a feature originally intended for the November 2021 Update will be coming later:

The new Windows Hello for Business deployment method known as 'cloud trust' is still under development and will be delivered in a future monthly update to the November 2021 Update. We will provide more information in the future as this feature becomes available.

Windows 10 version 21H2 will be supported for 18 months for Windows 10 Home and Pro users, and 30 months for Enterprise and Education customers. Windows 10 itself will be supported for four more years, with an end-of-life date scheduled for October 2025.

The update will begin rolling out next month, and will likely take a measured and phased approach to availability just like previous feature updates have. This means that even though the update has shipped, it won't be made available to everyone right away to ensure that there's nothing wrong with the rollout.

The graphics card (GPU) is an integral part of a gaming PC, but all the fancy tech generally comes at a high price. There's also extreme stock shortages and scalping to contend with, which makes for a generally painful buying experience. Black Friday GPU deals might be a great opportunity to get started on your next build or to upgrade your current machine, if you can find something for sale. We're hoping to see some of the best graphics cards become available, which we will keep tabs on right here.

Why you can't find any graphics cards on sale right now

Sorry to disappoint; there aren't any graphics cards on sale right now. This is where we'd usually have a long list of buying options and deals, but the current GPU market is so skewed that the best deals seem to be between 5% and 10% off of prices way above where they should be. As one example, Newegg, is showing 5% off a Gigabyte Vision OC RTX 3060. Unfortunately, that's 5% off $900, which is way above the list price.

Why is this happening? Roughly 25% of GPUs went to crypto miners in Q1 2021, and that's on top of the global semiconductor shortage that is causing issues throughout the tech world.

People have been resorting to extreme measures to land a new GPU at full price, never mind at a discount. If you're hoping, like us, to land a powerful new GPU on Black Friday, it's best to temper expectations.

What you can do to land a GPU

On sale or not, your best bet is to keep an eye on major retailers as they restock at regular prices. Our guides on where to buy NVIDIA RTX 30-series GPUs and where to buy AMD Radeon RX 6000 GPUs can help you nail down which card is best for you and where it's being sold.

While it did seem like shortages were lessening and high prices were on their way back down, it's still incredibly difficult to buy a standalone GPU. There are, however, plenty of pre-built gaming PCs with the latest GPUs inside. The rub here is that you're paying for an entire PC rather than just a GPU, with pre-builts often shipping with proprietary parts and custom hardware. Our collection of the best gaming desktop PCs have a bunch of options to choose from.

If you're looking for something that closely caters to your needs, something like the Maingear Vybe might be the right choice. You can check out the CLX Ra as well. There's also Newegg's lineup of ABS pre-built gaming PCs which have a good reputation for using genuine parts and high-performance hardware.

How to get the best Black Friday graphics card deal for you

Things may change between now and Black Friday, but don't get your hopes up. If there does happen to be a ton of great GPUs on sale, we will list them here for easier shopping. As for some general shopping suggestions, we can pretend like there's a glut of cards to choose from.

When shopping for a GPU, you want to be sure you're not buying too much or too little. An overpowered card — like something from NVIDIA's RTX 30-series lineup — might cause your processor to bottleneck if it's getting up there in years. On the other hand, an underpowered card, like the NVIDIA GTX 1050, might not cut it for intensive modern games. It's important to understand where the best graphics card options rank before making a final decision.

If you find something that works for your PC, always check on previous prices before making a final decision. A tool like CamelCamelCamel works wonders for products at Amazon. And also be sure to check and compare prices with other retailers. You never know where you might find a better deal.