By all accounts, Mattrick inherited a golden goose in the Xbox 360, only to smash it into a million pieces with the disastrous reveal of the Xbox One. That moment all but erased the goodwill Xbox had built throughout the Xbox 360 era, effectively handed the entire console generation to PlayStation, and created problems the brand is arguably still dealing with today.
Over on BlueSky, former Halo 4 developer Don Callan spoke out about a meeting that was held between 343 Industries at the time and Don Mattrick. Callan recalls it as follows:
“I have very distinct memories of having to demo Halo 4 for Don Mattrick and realizing that these people just live on different planes of reality... I was showing off my mission and when the Mantis showed up... he raised his hand and said to the group, 'Has anyone here played... Diablo 3?'... He then went on to suggest we should copy their idea of a real money auction house for campaign mech skins…”
Halo 4 x Diablo 3 (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
Callan went on to explain that while everyone around Mattrick outwardly reacted as though it was a brilliant idea, they privately thought it was beyond stupid, especially considering Halo 4 was already around 90% complete. He ultimately summed up his experience by saying, "game execs remain stupid detached money grubbing idiots."
Hopefully, Xbox's new leadership has more sense than whatever Mattrick was thinking at the time. With the company still in the middle of a major restructuring, tensions are understandably high both inside Xbox and among fans watching from the outside. But let me know your thoughts. Would Halo 4 have been even worse with a real-money auction house? Leave a comment below and be sure to take part in our poll below:
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Windows 11 includes several built-in tools to help keep storage usage under control on your computer. Features like Storage Sense, the Temporary Files settings page, and Storage Recommendation can help you reclaim storage with ease, making third-party cleanup utilities less essential than they once were.
However, those features don't clean everything. If you want more control over temporary files, browser data, app caches, and privacy-related files, BleachBit is one tool you have to try. It's free, open source, and, unlike many PC "optimizer" apps, it focuses on cleaning unnecessary files rather than promising unrealistic performance improvements.
In this how-to guide, I'll explain what BleachBit does, how to use it on Windows 11, which settings I recommend, and which features you should avoid unless you understand exactly what they do.
What is BleachBit?
BleachBit is a free and open-source cleanup utility for Windows 11 that removes temporary files, caches, logs, browsing data, and other unnecessary files created by the operating system and many third-party apps.
Unlike many commercial cleanup tools, BleachBit doesn't include advertisements, bundled tools, or premium features. Instead, it gives you complete control over what gets removed and explains every cleaning option before you run it.
Rather than replacing the built-in cleanup tools available on Windows 11, I see BleachBit as an additional utility for users who want more control over what gets cleaned.
Why use BleachBit?
Although Windows 11 already provides several storage management tools, BleachBit adds several more capabilities.
For example, cleaning the system's temporary files as well as those junk files created by third-party apps. You can also use the tool to clean temporary browser data, such as cache, history, and downloads.
In addition, BleachBit provides secure file shredding to make recovery more difficult and wipes free storage space on supported drives.
Finally, the tool offers command-line support for scripting and automation, and there's a portable version that you can use without installation.
The biggest advantage is flexibility. Instead of cleaning everything automatically, BleachBit lets you decide exactly what should (and shouldn't) be removed.
Install BleachBit on Windows 11
Installing BleachBit is straightforward. You can download either the standard installer or the portable version, then launch the application. However, the quickest way to install the app is by running the winget install --id BleachBit.BleachBit command in Command Prompt (admin).
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
For most cleanup tasks, running it in normal mode is enough. Some system cleaning options may require administrator privileges.
Once opened, you'll notice a list of apps and cleaning categories on the left, along with a brief description of each option as you select it.
Always run Preview first
One feature I recommend using every time is Preview. Instead of immediately deleting files, the "Preview" option scans your system, estimates how much storage space can be reclaimed, and shows exactly what BleachBit intends to remove.
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
Even if you've used BleachBit before, I still recommend running the Preview option first.
Recommended cleanup options
For routine maintenance, I recommend starting with categories that are generally safe to remove.
For example, from the "System" section, some good choices include:
Temporary files.
Logs.
Clipboard.
Recycle Bin.
Update uninstallers.
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
Usually, these items consume storage over time without affecting your daily workflow.
For browser cleaning, I suggest being more selective. Clearing cached files occasionally is perfectly reasonable, but deleting cookies will sign you out of websites, and removing session data will close saved browsing sessions.
Unless you're troubleshooting a browser issue or intentionally clearing your browsing activity, I usually leave those options unchecked.
The same advice applies to app caches. While they're generally safe to clear, some apps may take longer to launch the next time because they'll need to recreate those files.
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
As mentioned above, cleaning actions may require using the tool in Expert mode. If you receive the prompt, open the BleachBit main menu, select "Preferences," and choose the "Expert mode" option located in the "General" tab.
Securely delete sensitive files
BleachBit includes a built-in file shredder for permanently deleting sensitive files (and folders).
Unlike sending a file to the Recycle Bin (or even deleting it permanently with the "Shift + Delete" shortcut), secure shredding overwrites the file's contents before removing it, making recovery using standard data recovery tools much more difficult.
If you want to use this feature, open the BleachBit menu (the first icon at the top-left), choose the "Shred Files" option, then select the file to delete.
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
This feature is useful when you're deleting confidential content, financial records, or other sensitive files you don't want recovered later.
Wipe free disk space
The open-source tool can also overwrite unused space on a drive to remove traces of files that were previously deleted through the Recycle Bin.
This feature is intended primarily for drives before selling, donating, or retiring a computer, or for secondary drives.
The feature is available from the BleachBit main menu by selecting the "Wipe Empty Space" option and choosing the drive you want to clean.
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
I don't recommend running free-space wiping as part of regular maintenance because it takes time and provides little benefit for everyday use.
If you're preparing a device for resale, the Reset this PCfeature is generally the better approach.
One feature you won't find
One thing that BleachBit doesn't offer is a Registry cleaner.
I actually consider that an advantage. For years, Registry cleaners have been marketed as a way to improve performance in the operating system, but in practice, they rarely provide measurable benefits. Worse, removing the wrong Registry entries can cause apps or the system itself to behave unexpectedly.
Microsoft doesn't include a Registry cleaner on Windows 11, and I don't think most users should use one.
By focusing on cleaning unnecessary files instead of modifying the Registry, BleachBit avoids one of the biggest sources of risk associated with older computer optimization suites.
Does BleachBit make Windows 11 faster?
Not directly. When you delete temporary files, you can free up storage space and occasionally resolve issues caused by bad caches, but it won't make your computer faster.
If Windows 11 feels sluggish because your drive is nearly full, cleanup may help. However, performance issues are usually caused by factors such as not enough memory, older hardware, too many startup apps, malware, or software conflicts, not because your temporary files folder is too large (at least not the majority of the time).
Should you use BleachBit?
If you're comfortable with the built-in cleanup tools available on Windows 11, you may never need another maintenance utility.
However, if you want additional control over browser data, temporary files, app caches, privacy-related cleanup, secure file shredding, and other advanced maintenance tasks, you may benefit from BleachBit.
The open-source nature, easy-to-use interface, and decision to avoid questionable features like Registry cleaning make it one of the few utilities for cleaning up Windows 11 and one of the few alternatives to CCleaner.
Windows Central's Take
In the many years I've used the desktop version of Windows, I've tested and relied on countless cleanup utilities. Some of them were genuinely useful at the time, but many were eventually discontinued, acquired by other companies, or changed so much that they no longer offered the same experience.
Over time, I've become much more selective about the tools I recommend, especially when it comes to software that makes changes to the operating system.
More often than not, I recommend learning and using the built-in tools. However, BleachBit takes a different approach, and that's why I think it stands out. It focuses on cleaning files, not "fixing" the operating system, and I appreciate that it skips gimmicks like Registry cleaning that can do more harm than good.
If you decide to use it, my advice is not to treat it like a one-click optimization tool. Take advantage of the Preview feature, understand what each option does, and only clean what you actually need. If you use it that way, I think BleachBit is one of the few maintenance utilities that still deserve a spot in your toolkit.
What are your thoughts about BleachBit? Do you prefer Windows 11's built-in cleanup tools, or do you use a third-party utility? Let me know in the comments.
More resources
Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:
You can now provide feedback about the Microsoft Rewards Program through a new feedback portal. Similar to the new Xbox Player Voice forum, the Microsoft Rewards Feedback portal lets you suggest features, vote on feedback, and track the progress of changes.
The Microsoft Rewards Program has been around in some form for years, though it used to be under the Bing brand. You can earn points by using Microsoft services that you can then exchange for various rewards.
If you're deeply entrenched in the Microsoft ecosystem, you can earn a lot of points quickly. Over the years, I've used points to build up a library of movies. I value gift cards over other rewards, but you can also use your Microsoft Rewards points to enter sweepstakes and make donations.
I don't spend as much time earning points anymore because of the changes Microsoft rolled out this year.
Microsoft rolled out major changes to its rewards program in May, and some were received poorly. Those changes paired with the increase of the Xbox gift card cost have left plenty of room for feedback.
Generally speaking, points are less valuable than they used to be and there are fewer options for redemption. It's also harder to earn points in several ways.
I think there's a limit to how much we should complain about getting free things, but I think for many the effort to earn points is no longer worth it.
Most requested improvements to Microsoft Rewards
The Microsoft Rewards Feedback portal only launched yesterday, but a theme is already emerging. Several of the top pieces of feedback center around delivering more value to users.
As it is, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag is one of the greatest Assassin’s Creed games ever made. Buckling gameplay from bow to stern, Black Flag is the title that set a pirate craze in the world. To the point that Ubisoft spent well over a decade developing the cursed game Skull and Bones.
Black Flag Resynced factsheet
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
Genre: Open-world action-adventure Released: July 9, 2026 Developer: Ubisoft Available on: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 Price: $59.99 at Best Buy Xbox Play Anywhere: ❌ Xbox Game Pass: ❌
Even with the dastardly failure of the game, Ubisoft’s vision of a pirate game has crawled its way back in the form of the Black Flag remake, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. As a player who gained every single achievement in the original game, you can bet your coin that I had high expectations when it came to this remake.
I’m happy to say that a little over a dozen years after the original game, Resynced is back to claim the piracy title.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: The Story
A dashingly handsome man if I do say so myself. (Image credit: Michael Hoglund)
You’re Edward Kenway, the ever-loving and charismatic privateer with a dashing Welsh accent. Driven by dreams of wealth for his wife and glory to boot, Edward sets sail for the West Indies in search of riches beyond measure.
From the start, Edward finds himself in turmoil under a naval encounter that sees his world unraveled and shipwrecked. A shady figure by the name of Duncan Walpole crosses paths with Edward, and an entire world beyond the realm of piracy unfolds before him. One of the shadow and ancient struggles between the Templars and Assassins. The fight between true freedom and control.
Within hours, players will find themselves commanding their very own vessel, the Jackdaw. A versatile ship under the command of a man with legendary pirate friends like Edward "Blackbeard" Thatch, Anne Bonny, Charles Vane, and more. With his trusty crew and mythical friends, Edward looks to create a pirate paradise free from the control of the outside world.
Faced with the decision to play again, I will twice more! (Image credit: Michael Hoglund)
Along this path, Edward discovers the Observatory, Black Flag’s integral piece left behind by the First Civilization that both Assassins and Templars are fighting for. A device that could potentially locate any person across the globe, powers beyond Edward’s imagination begin to clash, with him caught right in the middle.
With everything at stake, Black Flag Resynced, like the game before it, does a wonderful job of depicting a struggle of self-discovery as Edward grapples with his own ambitions as they come at odds with protecting what truly matters in the world.
Unlike the original Black Flag, none of the original modern-day storyline is present. Instead, the entire game is set from beginning to end within the eyes and confines of Edward Kenway. No more will the player find themselves going through the motions of some Abstergo office.
On top of the original story, players can expect extra epilogue missions as well that add more to the world of Edward Kenway.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: Sail beyond the original
A blast from the past, but with updated manual aim mechanics similar to Assassin's Creed Rogue. (Image credit: Michael Hoglund)
Everything you loved from the original Black Flag returns in Resynced, alongside a plethora of new activities to explore. From new locations to entirely new end-game missions that expand upon the original story, Resynced is more than just a remake, all while packing itself into a single game.
Modern-day stories have been replaced by Rifts, which are optional quests within the Animus that provide players with a unique “what-if” perspective shift. I won’t spoil anything, but a single one of these missions is far better than all of the modern-day experiences found in the original game, combined.
Alongside the main story, side-quests have also been expanded upon. With entirely new missions that give a better glimpse into some of the game’s most iconic characters, as well as other contracts that begin to number beyond what I’m willing to write about. Needless to say, even players who come fresh from the original will find tons of newly packed story content in Resynced!
There are new dive locations for players to discover as well! (Image credit: Michael Hoglund)
With all the newly minted narrative pieces, Ubisoft also delivered the goods when it came to combat on foot and on the high seas. First, let’s talk about Edward’s expanded repertoire.
Edward’s melee capabilities have been expanded with perfect parries and heavy attacks. Now, when an enemy takes a parryable swing at Edward, a perfectly timed parry will open them up for a devastating finisher.
Players can also add heavy attacks to their swashbuckling swings to engage in melee beatdowns on enemies on their heels. These heavy hits are multi-enemy swings that apply to all melee weapons in the game.
I never get tired of these finishers. (Image credit: Michael Hoglund)
Another fantastic “addition” is the rope dart, a mechanic that was part of the original, but many players felt was unlocked far too late in the game to be of any use. Correcting this mistake, Ubisoft has unlocked it for use within the first few hours of gameplay, as well as expanding on its combat capabilities.
Naval combat, as I said earlier, has also been heavily expanded. Each and every weapon on the Jackdaw now has an added secondary fire mode that drastically changes how the weapon performs. For instance, let's talk about the heated shot for the broadside cannons.
Rather than a single please-don’t-miss-shot, the heated-shot is a close-quarters monster. Enabling a rapid-fire “fire” shot that barrages the enemy with flaming cannonballs. The heated-shot is an up-close face melter when it comes to naval combat, and something I could never go back to the original without.
That’s just one of the added secondary weapons as well, with the upfront chain shots, swivel gun, mortars, and fire barrels all getting some fantastic additions to their arsenals. Open-water combat that was once perfection is now peak perfection.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: Looks and runs amazingly
Harpooning is back on the menu! (Image credit: Michael Hoglund)
Very rarely do I get to see a remake that captures the magic of the original while surpassing it in every way. Generally, there’s always something that seems to throw me off, something that the new team felt was needed but doesn’t quite fit the world of the initial creation.
Having played through the entirety of the original Black Flag in 2013, I went into Resynced immediately astonished. The world I had once known has been captured and enhanced in ways my nostalgia-driven mind thinks the original always looked.
Iconic cities like Nassau have been overhauled with incredibly new, detailed textures and meshes, all while triggering memory circuits in my brain I thought had been long lost. My first time on shore activated something in my head that I assumed I had completely forgotten. The buildings all fit perfectly in their places as I had once remembered them.
I can't believe a remake looks this good! (Image credit: Michael Hoglund)
Even trees contain the same pathways I once ran through, while paths leading from ships initiate the same but greatly updated animations of the originals. The entire Resynced experience is absolutely breathtaking in terms of how closely the world has been reimagined while remaining faithful to its predecessor.
With that, you’d think a massive performance hit would come as well, but as someone playing on PC through Ubisoft Connect, it didn’t!
I’m happy to report that I achieved well over 120 frames per second on my build with a little DLSS Quality and Nvidia Frame Generation set to 2x. I know, I know, “frame generation sucks!” I’m here to tell you that as a competitive player, frame generation is perfectly fine in this case, given the native performance I was getting was well beyond 60 fps.
My current build is an RTX 5080, 9800X3D, and 64GB of DDR5 RAM. I was running the game on the Very High preset for most of my gameplay. I bumped it to Ultra settings with ray-tracing and field-of-view maxed, and Resynced still managed to maintain an average of 110+ frames per second.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: Should you buy it?
The double Edward experience. (Image credit: Michael Hoglund)
If you loved the original game, then yes, you definitely should. If you've never played it, but love that older-school Assassin's Creed formula, then yes, you should too!
For everyone else, it really comes down to what you're looking for in a game.
While Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is massive, players can adhere to most of the mainline story without too much side-tracking. So if these larger-than-life open-world games aren't your cup of tea, just know that Black Flag Resynced can be played as a sort of linear experience.
For collectathon people like myself, Resynced isn’t quite as bad as the latest Legend of Zelda entries, but you’ll definitely be busy running around each and every island, crossing off the to-do checklist you’re presented with. Especially if you want to grab every cosmetic as I do.
Then there’s an added layer of their new Animus Hub that was originally introduced with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. More points mean more unlocks, which all just feels like an expanded version of their original Ubisoft Uplay Store.
At the end of the day, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is everything I’ve ever loved about the series, now dressed to the Blackbeard nines and bursting with new features to keep gamers busy for days. Sure, I’ve been overwhelmed by the treasure trove of things to do, but not once have I played without a grin plastered across my face.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced
Black Flag Resynced is everything a remake should be, the new gold standard. Whether you played it before or not, you're going to want to check it out.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Toys for Bob, the studio behind revivals of the classic Crash Bandicoot series with a long-awaited 4th installment and doing the same with Spyro the Dragon with "Spyro: A Realm Beyond", has recently expressed interest in reviving another classic platformer series, Banjo-Kazooie.
Toy for Bob confirmed its interest during an episode of the Kinda Funny Gamescast, in which the show's hosts approached them about Banjo-Kazooie. They replied: "It's a franchise we love. As platformer fans, Banjo's top of the heap."
"We have some huge, huge fans of that franchise on our staff – I'm talking, they've got the Jiggie as their profile pic, kind of a thing. They're that level of fan. If the opportunity ever arose, that would be amazing. We love the franchise."
They continued: "If you look at the through-line of the types of games we like to make, I can imagine that's part of that staple as well. I think of [those characters] as timeless. They're iconic, and I think the types of games we want to produce are ones that speak to a timeless place in the player as well, an ageless place – we call it the "inner child". So, I think they're wonderful games; we're huge fans."
While I never played Banjo-Kazooie growing up, I am fully aware of how much impact the original game had on 3D platformers, as it, along with Super Mario 64, helped set the standard for how the genre should be made for generations to come with their timeless cartoon charm and gameplay.
Unfortunately, despite popular demand, there hasn't been a new entry in the franchise since the controversial Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts from 2008, which traded the series' iconic platforming gameplay for open-world car racing and building.
Plus, the title characters themselves, Banjo & Kazooie, haven't made an appearance in a game since they were included in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in 2019. However, if there's any studio out there that can pull a miracle in bringing the lovable duo out from Microsoft's vault, I believe it's Toys for Bob.
Toys for Bob has done a fantastic job making platformers with their awesome remasters of the classic Crash Bandicoot and Spyro trilogies, as well as Crash Bandicoot 4, and the studio clearly loves the Banjo-Kazooie franchise, judging by how enthusiastic the developers were in the interview.
Plus, Toys for Bob fought tooth and nail to get the green light for a new Spyro game while winning back their independence at the same time, which shows they're willing to go to any length to make a new game for any franchise they cherish.
However, time will tell if Toys for Bob will be fortunate enough to be given the chance to take the reins of Banjo-Kazooie, but for now, I'll be looking forward to Spyro: A Realm Beyond because I can't wait to finally play a true sequel to the original classic Spyro trilogy I grew up playing on the PlayStation 1 during the 1990s.
How do you feel about the idea of Toys for Bob making a new Banjo-Kazooie game? Do you think they're fit for the job, or would you have another developer make a new game?
If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll, the comments section, or our Reddit community.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
The ongoing memory crisis has taken a heavy toll on tech, forcing PC prices to rise regardless of how much we need them in our daily lives, whether that's communicating with family or working with remote colleagues millions of miles away (or simply watching Netflix).
But we'll always find deals on a range of Windows laptops so you can enjoy fast performance, crisp displays, and sizeable storage that regularly drop below $1,000, with this recent collection being a prime example.
This roundup includes the speedy and reliable Dell 14, now 43% off at $699.99 at Dell (list price $1,229.99), or the most budget-conscious ASUS Vivobook 14, now on sale for $519.99 at Amazon (list price $639.99).
"This laptop is the perfect all-rounder for my studies and professional work, offering a seamless experience that has completely transformed my daily productivity. It is incredibly fast, handling dozens of browser tabs and demanding multitasking without a hint of lag, while its near-instant boot-up times make it reliable for jumping straight into meetings or lectures. The build quality is exceptional yet light enough for easy portability." ~ Sandile, customer review
"The Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 is a great convertible laptop option for those on a budget (like students) who want more performance and functionality than you'd find in a Chromebook, but its display is lackluster, which might be a dealbreaker for some." ~ John Loeffler, Components Editor at TechRadar
"The Asus Vivobook 14 won’t win hearts, but it will quietly help you meet deadlines with a focus on ergonomics, decent mid-range performance, solid battery life and an affordable price." ~ Jason England, Managing Editor at Tom's Hardware
"Lenovo's 16-inch Yoga 7i 2-in-1 has strong positives for travelers who refuse to compromise on screen size and would benefit from a transforming screen." ~ Ben Wilson, Senior Editor
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x is a remarkably cheap laptop, yet it delivers good performance and amazing battery life in a slim, elegant chassis with a comfy keyboard." ~ Stevie Bonifield, Writer at Tom's Guide
You generally can't add more RAM to many of these modern laptops, as the memory is usually soldered to the motherboard (LPDDR). Where applicable, models with SO-DIMM memory can be upgraded. You can, however, often add extra storage space by replacing internal M.2 SSDs with larger ones or by connecting external SSDs.
Are these laptops good for gaming?
No. The laptops in this roundup are primarily designed for productivity tasks, not for PC gaming, so they were never intended for intensive AAA titles.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
I've heard the term slop bandied around more times than I'd like recently, but today was the first time I'd heard it in the context of Amazon shopping. Meet Knockoff Shopping, the Chrome extension that de-slops your Amazon search results.
What does this mean? Well, if you've used the site at all recently to look for basic items, whether it be clothes, phone cases, or such, you'll notice that many reputable brands are now buried in a sea of items with capitalized letters. Items that appear to be coming from Temu or AliExpress.
Often, you'll be looking for something like a hairdryer, perhaps, and find an identical model listed under 3 different brand names, all trying their damnest to look like Dyson. Should I buy DRYSON, BLOWY, or the SKIBIDI RIZZ hairdryer? It's hard to decide.
Well, someone has had the gumption to create a Chrome Extension to solve this problem; it promises to filter "trademark-squat pseudo-brands (the SZHLUXes and HORUSDYs) out of your search results, so what's left are brands with a reputation to lose."
You can simply head to knockoff.shopping to get the extension and try it for yourself, but here are some more tips on getting it to work for you.
Using Knockoff
COSLUS, HYCHIKA or SEANCHEER? How can I resist? (Image credit: Jennifer Young - Windows Central)
I've had issues with these "knockoff" brands myself recently while shopping for an ultrasonic cleaner for my son's retainer. We've now ordered two seemingly identical models under different brand names, and both have given up the ghost after a week.
Third time lucky, right? Well, I'm going to use the tool to help me narrow down my search this time. As you can see in the screenshot above, when I search for the item, my results are flooded with similar-looking items from different pseudo-brands that feel the need to shout their names at me. COSLUS! HYCHIKA! SEANCHEER! BUY US!
Following my installation of the tool, I can fiddle with the options before I go on my search to add brands that I don't want to be filtered, so ANKER and UGREEN, for example, are reputable electronic brands I trust; I don't want those filtered.
(Image credit: Jennifer Young - Windows Central)
Now, upon running the search again, you can either have the tool 'dim' the dodgy results so you can still see them and make changes, or have it hide them completely. For now, I've set mine to dim results so I can start to teach it what I do and don't want to see.
(Image credit: Jennifer Young - Windows Central)
Here I have selected to block this brand permanently. On the other hand, if I see brands I trust, I can tell the tool to add them to the Allow list for me.
Creator Josh Pigford has already mentioned on his X account some brands that may be inadvertently filtered out. I don't recognize many of these, but BIODANCE and LANIEGE are at least reputable Korean skincare brands, and I would add them to my filter.
Knockoff is now live!Filter out the knockoff crap brands on Amazon.Sorry to brands like WNPETHOME, EHEYCIGA, YXYL, LU&MN, JOYIN, TOMY, GODONLIF, YOOJEE, LINGTENG, LANEIGE, VISCOO, BIODANCE, COOFANDY, BALENNZ, TOSY and LUENX.https://t.co/9mLk0EAsfG https://t.co/K07lMkepOWJuly 7, 2026
The tool has now helped me select a third, and hopefully more reliable, cleaner for my son's retainer. It also helped me see more clearly that many of the 'dimmed' brands were around the same price, so I paid a little more for something potentially longer lasting.
I've only just started using the tool myself, afterall it's only been a day! But others are already reporting great success with it and I hope to have even better results as I tweak what I do and don't want to see. The extension is currently only available on Google Chrome, but it's coming to Safari and Firefox soon. No word on Microsoft Edge (yet).
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Much like Xbox's "it's only four games" statement about going multiplatform previously, the "it's only two games" mantra applies here in reverse. Microsoft is looking at making even tentpole single player games, historically multiplatform, exclusive to Xbox hardware (at least on console.) Could this mean we eventually see the next mainline Fallout and Elder Scrolls go exclusive to console on Xbox?
Bloomberg: "While big multiplayer games will still be available on all major platforms, [Xbox] will make more of its best titles exclusive to Xbox so gamers have a reason to buy its console."https://t.co/uzaantseAn pic.twitter.com/ohiK6zUlTGJuly 7, 2026
Reaching the biggest possible audiences has been the best margin play Xbox has had in recent years. Microsoft was previously driving Xbox to chase a 30% profit margin, and an easy way to do that is sell software wherever you can. However, Asha Sharma is not operating under that mandate. Instead, Sharma is operating under an ecosystem growth mandate.
Sharma has spoken at length about how her initial focus will be on Xbox's core: the console gamer. Console gamers in the Xbox ecosystem represent 4 times higher lifetime spending than other types of users across Microsoft's vast gaming ecosystem. On PC, they compete with Steam for margins. On mobile, they compete with well-established and dominant Eastern titles, while handing away millions to Apple and Google for the privilege.
Despite Xbox's retreat from PlayStation in the recent term, there remains tens of millions of active users in the Xbox ecosystem. These users are disproportionately passionate and spendy. Indeed, I would posit that anyone left in the Xbox ecosystem after all the disappointments represent the least "casually-invested" consumers in all of gaming potentially. Sharma wants to grow that base.
Xbox could see more integrations and activations with Minecraft, which Phil Spencer's Xbox was strangely hands-off with. (Image credit: Mojang Studios)
It's more true than ever that Xbox represents discretionary spending, and console gaming in general. Next-gen (and even current-gen) consoles are going to be expensive, owing to the memory availability crisis, tariffs, and the rest of it.
Arguably, creating desire through exclusive content is more crucial than ever to maintain an ecosystem in this universe.
One way I've heard Microsoft is exploring achieving this is direct integrations between Xbox and Minecraft. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma restructured Minecraft to answer directly to her for the first time. Integrating Minecraft's features at a platform level into Xbox consoles will be one avenue of exploration her team will look into here. What that looks like remains to be seen. I don't think Microsoft will do anything to degrade the Minecraft experience on other platforms (especially PC and mobile), but there might be exclusive (albeit basic, but fun) integrations for Minecraft on Xbox consoles. I can see Microsoft leveraging Minecraft to sell Xbox Helix as well in some ways, with more aggressive co-marketing activations and bundles.
Longer term, Microsoft may explore doing this with Activision-Blizzard properties too, but there are currently regulatory restrictions preventing Xbox from leveraging things like Call of Duty in the same way.
Microsoft has been oddly reluctant to associate some of its acquisitions with Xbox. (Image credit: Bethesda Game Studios)
PlayStation recently landed a massive (multi-million dollar) marketing deal for Grand Theft Auto 6. The marketing deal is so vast, that Rockstar can't even mention the fact there's an Xbox version. PlayStation rebranded its apps to match Grand Theft Auto branding, and you can expect billboards, ads, and other campaigns to follow — excluding Xbox from the conversation.
Under previous leadership, Xbox was strangely reluctant, even seemingly embarrassed, to associate some of its acquisitions with the Xbox ecosystem. Games like DOOM, Fallout, and indeed Minecraft, barely had any co-marketing with Xbox console hardware. And it has been to the console ecosystem's detriment.
The new leadership is taking the opposite view, and it might have no choice. If consoles are to be more expensive than ever, there needs to be more reasons than ever to buy one. If I'm going to drop $1000 on a PS6 or Xbox Helix, why would I buy the box that gets less content?
Asha Sharma hopes by leveraging some of Xbox's biggest franchises in co-marketing, co-integrations, transmedia content, and exclusivity regimes, she might be able to convert more gamers into core Xbox users.
It will take years to find out if she's right — but will Microsoft corporate give her years to implement this strategy? That's arguably an even bigger question.
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Hier — 7 juillet 2026Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.
This week saw Microsoft and Xbox initiate the single biggest layoff wave in the gaming brand's history, with 3,200 Xbox and game development roles cut — 1,600 immediately, and another 1,600 throughout the next 12 months — as well as four studios divested from the Xbox Game Studios publishing division.
Given the strong success of the DOOM 2016 reboot, DOOM Eternal, and last year's DOOM: The Dark Ages — which has a new Revelations DLC coming out today, one day after the cuts — the fact that id Software has been affected so significantly by the Xbox layoffs has come as a shock to many. Cuts to the id Tech team are surprising as well, as the studio's engine has historically run well and has been used for non-DOOM projects like the Wolfenstein games and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
That shock extends to id's developers themselves, many of whom have taken to social media platforms to express their astonishment and frustrations with the layoffs. One such employee, gameplay animator Skai Chow, has reacted to them with a scathing message for both Microsoft as well as for those "celebrating and worshipping" the cuts as a "move in the right direction."
For your kind attention.We hope our pain was worth it. pic.twitter.com/nwzJmXWZ2KJuly 7, 2026
"For my friends and followers who don't work in game development celebrating and worshipping that the layoffs yesterday were 'necessary for change and a move in the right direction'...I sure hope the sixth round of layoffs is worth our pain and your pleasure," wrote Chow. "After all, things are gonna be different this time around. Right?"
The new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma contends that these latest cuts were a difficult but necessary move as part of a "reset" for the brand after it "overextended" with lots of expansion and "overly complex" internal systems.
Regardless of how true that ultimately is or isn't, I can't blame Chow or any other developer for feeling angry and bitter. Throughout the last four years, several thousand layoffs have wracked both Xbox and the wider gaming industry at large following overinvestment in gaming during the pandemic, resulting in extreme volatility and repeated devastating losses of talent.
I don't know what the right path forward is, especially with tariffs and the RAM crisis further complicating matters, but it's clear that the business as it is now isn't sustainable — and Chow is correct to highlight that layoffs haven't yet solved the problem. We can only hope for brighter times as Xbox and the industry reorganize.
Do you believe Microsoft and Xbox have gone too far with the layoffs at id Software? Share your thoughts below, and vote in our poll.
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Have you ever wondered why minimum specs continue to creep upward? Part of the problem is that developers don't need to be as efficient as they did decades ago.
A recent video by Dave Plummer highlights the bloat of modern applications by following the journey of Plummer making a notepad that's just 2,686 bytes.
App development is complex, and there are genuinely good reasons that games and programs require such high specs in 2026. But generally speaking, programming doesn't have the constraints of yesteryear, so developers don't need to trim code.
A single app not being optimized is not that much of an issue, but when every program on your PC is bloated, problems pop up. The same productivity workflow today requires more RAM than it did in 2015.
For context, Windows 10 launched with a minimum requirement of just 1GB (for 32-bit) and 2GB of RAM (for 64-bit). Windows 11 requires at least 4GB just to boot the operating system, but most users want much more memory. It was controversial when Microsoft and other companies started offering new PCs with 8GB of RAM this year.
Plummer is best known for creating the Windows Task Manager. He also discusses programming and Windows history on his YouTube channel.
In a recent video, Plummer shared how he made a small notepad application that's smaller in size than a YouTube thumbnail.
Tiny Retro Pad has the core functionality of the original Notepad app built by Microsoft. Notably, it lacks the modern features seen in Notepad, such as Copilot. Considering Notepad's addition of Copilot was mocked by many, Tiny Retro Pad is an improvement in some ways.
Making a notepad app that's under 4,096 bytes is more about working within constraints than the specific size of the final app. In the early days of Windows, there were several limits placed on developers, such as hardware caps. Having to work within those constraints forced developers to be more efficient.
Plummer was able to keep Tiny Retro Pad small by utilizing what's already in Windows.
"A tiny native Windows program does not bring along its own entire civilization. It arrives with a lunchbox and a map of the city," said Plummer.
Later in the video, he added, "The program is small because it is not carrying what the platform already has. And that is a lesson that modern software could stand to remember. Not every app needs to bundle the universe. Not every utility needs to ship with a browser engine."
Nowadays, PCs, tablets, and phones have absurd specs. Even modest devices have several gigabytes of memory and tons of storage. Those specs make modern workflows possible, but they also leave room for lazy development.
"Somehow it seems modern software manages to go the other way. You just want a text box and somehow you've imported a runtime, a layout engine, a renderer, a dependency tree, a telemetry client, an auto updater, and a small portion of Chromium," said Plummer.
No one needs a notepad application that's less than 4,000 bytes, but if more app developers focused on efficient code, Windows 11 would feel smoother across the board.
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Two major highlights from this batch include Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, a remake two-pack of the first games in the classic skateboarding franchise, and Gears of War: Reloaded, an enhanced remaster of the original game that kickstarted the Gears of War series.
Here is the full list of Xbox Game Pass titles from this batch as stated on Xbox Wire:
Game
Date Available
Available on (Game Pass versions)
Winds of Arcana: Ruination
July 6, 2026
Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC (Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass)
Gears of War: Reloaded
July 9, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC (Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Tamashika
July 9, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC (Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Ascend to Zero
July 13, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
PBA Pro Bowling 2026
July 14, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC (Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check
July 15, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Mavrix by Matt Jones
July 16, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC (Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
FixForce
July 17, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Fogpiercer
July 17, 2026
PC (Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
The Planet Crafter
July 21, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
July 21, 2026
Cloud, Console, and PC (Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Games leaving Xbox Game Pass (July 15)
JDungeons of Hinterberg (Cloud, Console, and PC)
EA Sports Football Club 24 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Stellaris (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Golf With Your Friends (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Minami Lane (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Powerwash Simulator (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Splitgate: Arena Reloaded (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Super Fantasy Kingdom (Game Preview) (PC)
Techtonica (Game Preview) (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Windows Central's take
Of course, the biggest highlight of this batch is Gears of War: Reloaded.
This game takes the iconic 2006 third-person shooter and gives it a shiny coat of 4K resolution with 120 fps for improved graphical fidelity and all of the original game's post-launch content, such as a bonus single-player campaign act, multiplayer maps, cosmetics, and more, in one definitive package.
So, if you're looking to kill time while waiting for Gears of War: E-Day to drop on October 6, 2026, then Gears of War: Reloaded is a great way to do it, as it proves the original game has held up significantly well and is, literally, a bloody-good way to catch new fans up to speed before the prequel arrives, especially in co-op.
What do you think of Xbox Game Pass' first batch of games for July 2026? Which titles are you looking forward to playing the most?
If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know in the comments, on Reddit, or in the poll.
Relive the classic shooter that birthed the iconic and brutal Gears of War franchise, remastered with next-gen graphics, along with online cross-play and cross-progression in Gears of War: Reloaded.
One such staffer is Kevin LaChapelle, Microsoft's vice president of Xbox Platform In a LinkedIn post on Tuesday morning, LaChapelle shared that "I will add my name to the list of people who were laid off today at Xbox," bringing an end to his lengthy 37-year tenure at the company.
LaChapelle has overseen development of Xbox platform software "across cloud, console, and PC" since 2023. Before that, he led the creation and advancement of Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming service (previously known as xCloud), and before that he led the team of engineers that built the fan-favorite Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program.
Ever since it was unveiled at E3 2015 during what I'd say is indisputably one of the best moments in Xbox history, Xbox Backwards Compatibility — a feature that lets you play hundreds of Xbox 360 games and even some original Xbox titles on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S through an emulation layer — has been a colossal hit with fans.
At the time of its release, it also gave the fairly unpopular Xbox One a notable edge over Sony's PlayStation 4 at a time when it sorely needed one. Longtime Xbox gamers were still able to enjoy a rich library of titles from past systems on the latest console natively, whereas the PS4 was incompatible with games made for older PlayStation consoles.
Thanks to the efforts of the Xbox Backwards Compatibility team, 695 Xbox 360 and original Xbox games can be played on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles — either digitally or with physical discs. (Image credit: Microsoft)
I can't stress enough that the impact LaChapelle has had on Xbox has been huge — and that makes the news he's been laid off all the more upsetting to hear, especially since the Backwards Compatibility Program he ledhas been revived this year, with many speculating the feature will be overhauled to work with Microsoft's upcoming PC-console hybrid system Project Helix.
"I will add my name to the list of people who were laid off today at Xbox. This ends my 37 years at Microsoft. I have worked in many different parts of the company, and I will say my fondest memories are of leading the team of very talented engineers who built the Xbox Backward Compatibility program," he wrote in his post. "Sitting in the auditorium when [Phil Spencer, former Xbox CEO] announced the program at E3 2015 was incredible. The audience's reaction was unbelievable."
"I followed that with leading the team who created our Cloud Gaming product. I am a firm believer that all entertainment will eventually become streamed to you wherever you are," LaChapelle added. "I look forward to watching how Xbox evolves going forward and I wish the team nothing but success."
Ultimately, I'm very sad to see LaChapelle cut from Microsoft and Xbox, and I hope that he's able to land a new position somewhere soon. I extend that sentiment out to everyone impacted by these mass layoffs that have added to an already-devastating total that's been growing since 2022.
How important is the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program that LaChapelle led the development of to you? What about Xbox Cloud Gaming? Let me know in the comments, and vote in our poll as well.
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Xbox's restructuring is still well underway, and before the announcement of more than 1,600 layoffs, which are expected to grow to around 3,200 through FY2027, IO Interactive was working on a title funded and set to be published by Xbox. However, amid the changes at Xbox, that funding was pulled, leaving the future of Project Fantasy uncertain, at least until now. The latest update brings both good and bad news.
"Following the end of our external finance partnership on Project Fantasy... IOI has regained full ownership of the project and our IP... We will continue to develop and fund it independently amongst our other projects..."
Unfortunately, the announcement also came with some difficult news. IO Interactive confirmed the closure of its Istanbul studio, stating:
"We had to find a new balance for the long-term future of the studio... focused on the success of our main internal core titles... This has meant... the closure of our Istanbul studio... and starting a process to part ways with colleagues... These are hard, but necessary decisions... to retain the long-term future of IO Interactive... and to give Project Fantasy the best possible foundation to succeed under our own passion and direction."
The closure of the Istanbul Studio will sadly involve the loss of 40 jobs.
Xbox and IO Interactive (Image credit: @Klobrille on Twitter)
It's great to see IO Interactive retain ownership of the IP and continue developing Project Fantasy independently, but it's equally sad to see the impact on those affected by the closure of the Istanbul studio. As for Xbox, whether ending its funding for the project proves to be the right decision won't be known until the game is released.
One thing is clear, though. Xbox's shift in how and where it invests its money is already having a noticeable impact. Hopefully, those changes ultimately put the company on a stronger path, but let me know your thoughts in the comments and be sure to take part in our poll below:
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I'm still of the opinion that Xbox needed to change and that restructuring was necessary. That doesn't make any of this easy, though, and I imagine experiencing these layoffs is far more painful than simply watching them unfold. I genuinely hope those affected are able to land on their feet.
Looking at id Software, and particularly id Tech, I can't help but feel there's been an enormous amount of wasted potential. Based on the reported layoffs, the new Xbox leadership seemingly saw little value in much of the studio, cutting roughly 50% of its staff, including members of its technology team.
Among those affected was senior programmer Michael Maynard, who spent 21 years at id Software. He took to LinkedIn, saying:
“We created arguably THE BEST first person engine technology in the industry… Yet today, Microsoft/XBOX decided half the team was deemed USELESS and needed to be let go; despite all the amazing work and effort from every designer, programmer, artist, audio specialist, level designer, fx, tech design, and on and on and on… Yes, I was part of the team (roughly 50% of the company) that was let go today. (I was there for OVER 20 years! RAGE through DOOM: Dark Ages) Sad but, I've been doing this (video games) for over 40 years so, not a huge surprise to me. Just really sad that this is how Id Software, the PIONEER/INNOVATOR of FPS action games is relegated to just another "reorganization" of assets.”
Taking to X, is also Skai Chow, Doom: The Dark Ages animator, who simply said:
"We hope our pain was worth it."
Doom: The Dark Ages (Image credit: Bethesda/ID Software)
It's genuinely surprising to see id Software gutted like this. I've long believed the studio was underutilized, and I'd hoped to see it take a crack at something like Halo one day. Now, I don't even know how it's supposed to continue making DOOM, let alone take on other franchises.
In fact, I'd even have liked to see id Tech positioned to compete with the likes of Unreal Engine. It's a fantastic engine that's massively underused within Xbox, so making it publicly available, with Xbox taking a 5% royalty on game revenue similar to Unreal Engine, feels like it could have been a great opportunity.
Maybe Xbox has a plan that isn't immediately obvious, but from the outside looking in, it's hard to understand how cutting so much of a studio responsible for one of the industry's best FPS franchises sets it up for long-term success, especially since DOOM: The Dark Ages has a new expansion releasing today.
If you think this sucks, or maybe you think this is fine, let me know in the comments and be sure to take part in our poll above.
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Microsoft finds itself on the receiving end of a lawsuit about "unreasonable and excessive noise" allegedly emitting from the tech giant's Fairwater datacenter in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. The suit seeks compensation for damages, though the amount asked for is unspecified.
The Fairwater datacenter was unveiled in September 2025. At the time, it was the largest and most advanced datacenter. The site launched with NVIDIA’s GB200 GPUs. Each rack can process 865,000 tokens per second.
Running those GPUs makes a lot of noise. Microsoft states that the noise levels meet levels required by local ordinances, but the company has taken additional steps to reduce noise.
"Our engineering team and consultants on-site investigated the source of the sound, conducted tests, and put noise mitigations in place. Several neighbors confirmed what our independent monitoring showed: that these mitigations fully resolved the issue. We continue to work on short-term mitigation, and over the next several months, we will also install additional sound reduction components and continue to monitor sound at the site."
Despite the measures taken by Microsoft, the lawsuit about the noise from the datacenter was filed on July 1, 2026.
The lawsuit claims that Microsoft has not taken the proper steps to reduce noise in the surrounding area:
"Defendant has failed to follow proper industrial practices to prevent the offsite emission of noise, and has failed to absorb, capture, mitigate, and/or prevent noise from escaping its Data Center, thereby invading the homes and properties of Plaintiffs and the Class."
The plaintiffs of the suit claim that a "low hum" of infrasound emits from the datacenter and that the sound cannot be measured easily on the decibel scale. Our colleagues at PC Gamer highlighted that one plaintiff claimed "the constant noise [affected] his sleep." The filing states that the noise is "not only excessive, but consistent and pervasive."
Since the lawsuit was just filed within the last week, it will likely be a while before we see it reach a conclusion.
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Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 continues to be on a roll with a packed roadmap of new content taking us to the end of the year. Just recently we had City Update 15 and World Update 22, and the next big one heading our way is Sim Update 6.
Due to drop sometime in July or August, Sim Update 6 was detailed at FSExpo last month. There's a whole bunch of new stuff headed our way that we already heard about, and now that the first beta has dropped, we get to try some of it early for ourselves.
A couple of the new features arriving with Sim Update 6 that weren't talked about during its initial reveal are ready to test right away: Upgrades to both DLSS and FSR upscaling.
With Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Sim Update 6, DLSS is upgraded to version 4.5, while on the AMD front, we're getting a bump to FSR 4.
DLSS 4.5 becomes the new default since it's supported on all generations of NVIDIA RTX GPUs. It comes with Dynamic Frame Generation with in-game VSync.
For AMD users, you only have an option to choose FSR. The version you use will be decided by your driver, since, unlike DLSS 4.5, FSR 4 is not supported on older generation GPUs.
Not all of the newness coming with Sim Update 6 is available to test just yet, but the promised lighting improvements are a part of this initial build. Generic airports have lights added, with the full improvements still to come.
Improved night lighting is one of the features arriving with Sim Update 6. (Image credit: Microsoft)
Also in this beta is the ability to start a flight without a walkaround in the Free Flight mode. This has been added based on community feedback, where lots of folks wanted a quicker way to just jump in and do some flying.
There is an extensive list of patch notes for Sim Update 6 beta 1.8.5.0 available to read on the Microsoft Flight Simulator forums. There are a ton of fixes and improvements, both general and specific to different aircraft and systems.
If you want to try the new beta for yourself, how you get in depends on where you're playing. Sign up to be a Flight Simulator Insider first, and then flights are managed through the XBOX Insider Hub app on console or PC. Steam betas are managed through the game's Properties menu, and PS5 players can download the beta via the PlayStation Store.
I haven't taken a look at it yet myself, and as a still fairly new Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 pilot, I might hold off on betas for a little bit. If you want to see some of what's new without installing it yourself, though, check out the YouTube video below from Huddison who walks through this first build.
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Taking to X, Discord described what occurred, stating:
“Our systems flag content by matching it against known harmful material... similarity matching can produce false positives... a member of our Trust & Safety team always reviews flagged content before any action is taken”
It's hard to imagine someone reviewing the content and deciding that Minecraft inventories were worthy of a ban, but I digress.
The company also said "the intended behavior is to temporarily pause uploads during that review, not ban the account," but admitted, "We had a bug" that instead issued bans. It also said, "the same bug prevented the ban from being lifted automatically."
According to Discord, "Around 8,200 accounts were affected from May 2026 through last week, plus the 200 more this past weekend," adding, "We've unbanned everyone affected by this bug."
The company acknowledged the impact, saying, "We should have caught this sooner... We're working on better safeguards... and making sure our safety systems don't penalize people who did nothing wrong."
It is also worth mentioning that in spite of claims that Discord has reinstated everyone's account, the current post on X detailing the issue has a community note that states otherwise.
It is a strange bug, I have to admit, but at least Discord has addressed it and says everyone affected has now been unbanned. I use Discord daily myself, and thankfully, I haven't uploaded any images with checkered patterns, so I've managed to avoid any potential issues.
Still, it's easy to see why incidents like this shake users' confidence in automated moderation, even if they only affect a relatively small number of accounts.
Let me know if you've been impacted by this bug in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll above.
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The good news is that Valve has now released official Windows drivers for the Steam Machine, reinforcing that it's still a PC at heart. If you want to install Windows instead of SteamOS, you can, giving you the freedom to do pretty much whatever you want with the Gabecube that you own.
As Valve puts it: "Steam Deck and Steam Machine are PCs, and other applications and OSes can be installed" — there is a catch, however, as Steam hardware still doesn't officially support dual-booting, which may or may not be a deal-breaker for some.
I don't even own a Steam Machine, but I would have liked that flexible OS option if I did. Still, despite this, it's great to see how open Valve is. Providing official Windows drivers is a nice touch, and it's something the company already does for the Steam Deck.
Personally, I wanted Steam Machine to enter the market and provide serious competition for the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Unfortunately, that seems to have been wishful thinking on my part, and again, that's through no fault of Valve's. Current market conditions have pushed memory prices to the point where companies are even facing lawsuits over allegations of price-fixing and intentionally restricting supply to keep prices high.
Don't worry, though. I'm sure things can't get much worse — except they can, as I'm sure we're all aware; the memory crisis isn't going anywhere, and we, the consumers, are having to pay the price. But let me know your thoughts on running Windows on Steam Machine by leaving a comment and taking part in our poll below:
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Steam's more-than-generous refund policy is under scrutiny from the developer behind Paddle Paddle Paddle, a game heavily inspired by the "Foddian" genre. These games are designed specifically to frustrate players and are often popular with content creators because of the reactions they generate. I actually own Paddle Paddle Paddle myself and have played it with a friend. It's a co-op game where you paddle a boat through increasingly frustrating obstacles as you make your way downstream.
After spotting a review that read, "GREAT GAME, finished within 1:40 hrs (refunded)," the developer took to X to criticize Steam's refund policy, writing:
"This should not be possible@Steam Would be cool if you could finally do something about your refund policy... Got dozens of reviews like that and 21% refund rate even though the Reviews are 90% very positive... Thats over 55,000 Refunds btw..."
Many reviews, including some that recommend the game, openly admit they completed it and then refunded it because they finished within the two-hour window. That does feel a little disingenuous, especially if they genuinely enjoyed the experience. Since the developer spoke out, however, some users have also started leaving negative reviews that appear to focus just as much on his comments as the game itself.
One user wrote:
"Not fun, Short, Sloppy. Beat it under 2 hours and would refund if I could but waited too long to play it, you should if you can"
Another added:
"The Dev keeps crying about his game getting refunded on X despite making "millions" out of a sloppy effort"
Having actually played the game myself and genuinely enjoying it, I decided to keep it, and I do think the developer should look at releasing the game on consoles like Xbox or Nintendo Switch. I will say, though, overall, I think Steam's refund policy is a good one, even if this situation highlights one of its weaknesses.
Personally, I don't think players should be able to complete an entire game and then immediately refund it. That said, I'm not entirely sure how Valve could solve that problem without creating new ones. One idea could be tying refunds to achievements, but that would simply encourage some developers to avoid adding achievements that mark the end of a game.
Perhaps Valve could instead adjust the refund window based on a game's typical completion time or even its price. For example, lower-priced games that can reasonably be completed in a short sitting could have a one-hour refund window instead of two. Even that isn't a perfect solution, though, and it's easy to see how developers could try to design around whatever rules Valve introduces.
Those are just my thoughts, though. I'd love to hear what you think, so let me know in the comments and be sure to take part in our poll above.
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Connexion
