Last week, Microsoft blocked the rollout of Windows 11's latest Patch Tuesday update for a number of Dell PCs after it was reported that the update clased with Intel's IPF driver, causing a number of issues including unexpected shutdowns, overheating, and slow performance.

The company said it was working quickly to address these problems on the limited number of Dell PCs that were impacted, and has now released emergency out of band update KB5121767 that addresses the problem for Windows 11 version 24H2 and Windows 11 25H2.

"This OOB update is a cumulative update, so you do not need to apply any previous updates before installing it. Devices affected by this issue and that were temporarily prevented from receiving the July 2026 security update can now install this OOB update, which includes all improvements from previous security and non-security updates, along with this additional fix. This OOB update is only recommended for devices affected by this issue. If your device is not affected, no action is required."

Microsoft has not provided a list of devices that are impacted by the issues, but if your computer was able to install last week's Patch Tuesday update, it's unlikely you're impacted. The new emergency patch should be offered to PCs that had the previous update blocked by Microsoft.

If your PC has been impacted by the issues, Microsoft says that "a limited number of Dell devices might display a yellow exclamation point in Device Manager next to the Intel Innovation Platform Framework Processor Participant driver (Intel IPF). In some cases, affected devices might experience changes in performance, power consumption, or system behavior."

The good news is that most PCs impacted by this issue unlikely ever encountered problems, as Microsoft immediately blocked the update on impacted PCs before this month's Patch Tuesday even became available to them. The only situation where users may have encountered these problems is if they installed June's optional non-security preview update, or manually sideloaded the July Patch Tuesday update.

Microsoft is getting better at catching issues before they reach general availability, and today's emergency out of band update is an example of how much faster the company is moving to address issues in the Windows OS so that users aren't impacted by downtime or bugs.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

What's Xbox's strategy for exclusive games? Microsoft itself doesn't really seem sure.

In a new interview with our friends at GamesRadar+, two Xbox C-suite figures offered some mixed messaging on exactly what Xbox fans should expect out of their exclusive games play.

Xbox fans wholly rejected the idea of having the only gaming platform in history without any form of exclusive content. It was the first thing new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma addressed when she got the job, immediately turning around and making Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution permanent Xbox console exclusives. What's happening beyond that, though?

Here's what Xbox execs had to say on the topic, although I'm more confused now than I was previously.

Xbox will get exclusive games. Some. Randomly, apparently?

Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball emphasized strongly that there will be more exclusives for Xbox players beyond Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution. He noted that, indeed, you can't really grow a platform without exclusive stuff — which is something I feel literally anyone on Earth should've known.

"This specific decision was made very early. Asha believes that to build a platform, you must have exclusive services and software — in this case, games. And so to return our platform to consistent growth, we need a reliable pipeline of exclusive games."

"I can assure you, Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are not the only titles we're planning. To grow a platform like ours, you have to have exclusive games and services. These are not going to be the only two titles."

People are speculating about exactly what that might mean.

There has been some suggestion that Xbox might follow PlayStation's stated model, of single-player games being exclusive, while multiplayer games remain multi-platform. After this past week and Bethesda's announcements, many are wondering if that might mean Fallout and The Elder Scrolls VI.

"I wouldn't overly fixate on single-player," Booty said. I think that's a good rule of thumb, but it certainly isn't something that's carved in stone."

"We are the stewards of over 20 game franchises that have made a billion dollars in their lifetime. There are a lot of different games in our portfolio, and we have to think about how different games serve different purposes within it."

Ball then chimed in, "We have a framework for these selections, including how we evaluate them. I recognize that this approach is not obvious to all of our players, and we are committed to making this clearer."

... "Not obvious" indeed.

Exclusives are about setting expectations, if Xbox can't do that then why even bother?

Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution both look amazing, and I'm confident they will be amazing. But Gears of War has almost always been exclusive to Xbox, and Clockwork Revolution is an unknown quantity with the wider audience. I would bet money Microsoft doesn't put up the marketing budget necessary to help Clockwork Revolution cut through the noise either.

I really feel like only heavy-hitters like The Elder Scrolls, DOOM, Wolfenstein, Halo, and Fallout are going to move the needle in any direction here. The massive audiences, the TV show mainstream reach ... the decades of fandom and embedded history. These are the only types of games that could come close to delivering new users to the Xbox ecosystem. It's not about gatekeeping either — this is about whether or not Xbox actually wants to have platform "growth," as Matthew Ball says.

The problem in the near term is that there's a memory crisis going on, and that it's not a hot look on a spreadsheet to be selling consoles at all right now. Each Xbox Series X|S sold incurs a loss even after the price hike. If those users only pick up the console for a single game, or a couple of games, or maybe even three games ... you potentially don't even break even. Furthermore, it's not something the studios would likely want either. No access to PlayStation's massive install base would harm their bottom lines too.

When you can't sell consoles and break even, and your cost of user acquisition is higher than ever ... the road to better margins is selling games everywhere you can, be it Xbox, PlayStation, or beyond. But ... Xbox will keep bleeding users in that universe, maybe even irrevocably. It would end up ceding even more control to potentially hostile rival tech companies. It's self-defeating over time, and it might be impossible to fix now.

The economics are very difficult in the short term, but I feel like if Microsoft doesn't absorb the short-term pain, it'll end up with a far bigger and potentially far less workable problem. The memory crisis won't be forever, and this piecemeal approach to exclusivity doesn't set expectations particularly well for future potential customers.

To convert a non-Xbox user to a full-time Xbox user, you need more than new IP and franchises that have historically been exclusive already. You need a coherent, visible strategy that sets expectations for the platform for non-users. You need visible, known franchises that market themselves by virtue of simply existing. Otherwise, I'm not sure what the point is.

It'll be interesting to see how Xbox actually approaches this in the future, but Matthew Ball and Matt Booty's vague comments aren't helpful.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

It's been a while since I last reviewed a GameSir controller. Despite the brand being indisputably my first choice for a budget-friendly option, I often felt like I was repeating myself regarding what I liked and disliked. Great controllers, packing in the latest TMR stick technology, yet would always fall at the final hurdle: missing wireless on Xbox.

Well, recently the GameSir T7 Pro Sugar Whirl caught my eye, not just because of its gorgeous pastel cotton candy colors, but because it states wireless for Xbox on the box. In my experience, wireless GameSir controllers have typically required a cable to the console, but I was over the moon to find out this one simply needed a dongle to work wirelessly.

Could this finally be my perfect GameSir controller? Well, spoiler: nearly! But let me elaborate.

Gamesir T7 Pro Sugar Whirl: Price, availability and specs

The GameSir T7 Pro Sugar Whirl comes in at a respectable $89.99 MSRP, which isn't as cheap as many others within the brand's range, but it's also pretty damn cheap for a controller with TMR sticks. At the time of writing, it was out of stock on GameSir's official website, and for some reason, was listed at $135.00.

Now, I haven't been told of any price increases, so I can only include that as a placeholder until the controller comes back into stock. It's also available on Amazon, though it moves in and out of stock sporadically. It seems that, despite the controller having what I would say is a "love or hate it" design, it's actually very popular.

The controller comes with a charging dock, and for specs, I'll break down what you get for your ~$90:

• Tri-mode connectivity (so it works on Xbox, PC, and Android, combining Bluetooth, a 2.4 GHz dongle, and a USB-C cable if you need it
• GameSir's magnetic TMR sticks, so there's no worry of stick drift
• Hall-Effect analog triggers and dual-stage trigger stops
• Two rear remappable buttons
• Membrane ABXY and D-pad
• 4 integrated rumble motors
• 6-axis gyroscope for PC
• 1,050 mAh battery
• RGB lighting!

Gamesir T7 Pro Sugar Whirl: What's good

Whether a design is "good" or "bad" comes down to personal taste. I love some pastel colors, and this design is really eye-catching — certainly better than anything I could put together in the Xbox Design Lab for twice the cost, so I am down with the "Sugar Whirl" aesthetic. On to using the controller, it's remarkably lightweight for a wireless joypad, but not so light it feels cheap. It's a real pleasure to use, and feels ergonomically sound in the hand.

The sticks, being TMR, are smooth as butter to use. If you don't know what TMR is, it's the very scientific-sounding "tunneling magnetoresistance", which, in short, is the most recent version of the Hall-Effect.

The longer explanation is that, instead of relying on physical contact to judge movement, they use magnetic fields and electrical resistance. Much more precise for shooting and racing games, hence the "pro" tag on this controller. Do I need TMR sticks to play PalWorld and Diablo 4? Absolutely not, but it feels good, and because of the tech, I don't need to worry about stick drift six months down the line.

While I do prefer having trigger stops with 3 settings, having 2 isn't a deal breaker, and they are pretty effective. The rear buttons, like with all GameSir controllers I've tried, also sit in the perfect position for my middle fingers, and the textured plastic on the handles keeps the controller secure in my hands.

Not that I play many sweaty shooter sessions — but I've endured heatwave after heatwave here in the United Kingdom.

The charging dock is simply lovely, and the controller snaps into place for charging when I'm not using it (though it could be more magnetic and firm like Razer if I had to nitpick; but at this price, I can't complain).

I don't have to worry about messing with play-and-charge kits or changing batteries. It also has a hidden compartment to house the USB dongle, which saves me from losing it amongst the myriad other dongles in my house.

Speaking of USB dongles, yes, this does require that to be wireless with Xbox, but I can say that it still powers on your Xbox from the controller. Besides, being able to store the dongle away when not using it, in a place that actually makes sense, means I can't be mad at it not being Microsoft's proprietary tech — which they keep under lock and key.

I'm just over the moon to finally have a GameSir controller I can both use and recommend that works wirelessly and seamlessly with my Xbox.

Gamesir T7 Pro Sugar Whirl: What's bad

Unfortunately, in true GameSir fashion, they can never give me absolutely everything I love about their controllers in ONE controller. They give wireless in one hand, but take away the micro-switch buttons I love from the Kaleid range.

So the ABXY and D-pad buttons are fine, but I know they can do SO much better because membrane just feels lacking after using the clicky loveliness of microswitch. Additionally, controllers like the GameSir G7 Pro have a rubberized finish on the grips, which just feels that bit more premium, like the Elite controllers, and this controller relies simply on a textured back.

If these two things were changed, this controller would have gone from a 4.5 to a 5 for me, but at a 4.5 it's still a bloody great controller, and I'm using it as my daily driver right now despite those two nitpicks.

Gamesir T7 Pro Sugar Whirl: The competition

At $89.99, the T7 Pro Sugar Whirl sits in a very specific, fiercely competitive sweet spot. It is no longer a bare-bones budget option, but it undercuts the heavy hitters like the Xbox Elite Series 2 by a mile. If you love the dock and the true wireless freedom but aren't entirely sold on the pastel aesthetics or the membrane buttons, here are two of its biggest rivals to consider:

The 8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Xbox Controller (Hall-Effect Edition) is priced at $69.99 and is what I would consider the most direct competitor to this on the market (for which I also have a review coming up soon).

Like the Sugar Whirl, the 8BitDo Ultimate offers true wireless Xbox play via a 2.4GHz dongle and comes bundled with its own seamless charging dock.

While it features standard Hall-Effect sticks instead of the slightly newer TMR tech, you would be hard-pressed to notice the difference in daily gameplay.

Where it beats the GameSir is the price, coming in around $20 cheaper, and its body features a slightly more traditional, textured matte finish. However, its back buttons are a bit smaller and more recessed, meaning the GameSir still wins out on rear-button ergonomics.

I've no experience with the Flydigi range, but I'd be remiss not to mention the Flydigi Vader 4 Pro, which comes up in pretty much any controller enthusiast conversation.

If you aren't really bothered about the Xbox connection, and simply want reasonably priced, and crucially, mechanical microswitch buttons, you can grab this for $79.99.

It has a mouse-click tactile response, as well as adjustable sticks that let you adjust the resistance to your taste. It doesn't come with a charging dock out of the box, but it's a solid choice around this price range.

Gamesir T7 Pro Sugar Whirl: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You've been waiting for a wireless Xbox controller from GameSir

You can finally ditch the long USB-C cable across the living room floor; the included 2.4GHz dongle gives you seamless, couch-friendly wireless play.

✅ You want a premium charging setup on a budget

The included charging dock with its hidden dongle storage is so convenient for keeping your setup tidy and ensuring you never pick up a dead controller.

✅ You are tired of stick drift

The cutting-edge TMR magnetic sticks mean you get top-tier precision for shooting or racing games without worrying about the sticks wearing down six months down the line.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You absolutely love clicky, mechanical face buttons

If you've been spoiled by the micro-switches on GameSir's Kaleid range, the traditional membrane ABXY buttons and D-pad on this model might feel a bit too mushy for your taste.

❌ The pastel aesthetic isn't your vibe

The 'Sugar Whirl' design is a "love it or hate it" look. If you prefer a stealthy, understated controller on your desk, this bright palette will stick out like a sore thumb.

Ultimately, the GameSir T7 Pro Sugar Whirl has officially stolen the crown as my new daily driver, and it’s going to take something pretty special to dethrone it.

While it still represents that classic GameSir dilemma, giving me wireless freedom in one hand while snatching away my beloved micro-switch buttons with the other, it gets closer to perfection than any budget controller has the right to.

I remain endlessly hopeful that one day the team at GameSir will finally combine all my favorite features into a single, flawless pad, but until that day comes, this is a pretty damn close second.

It’s genuinely brilliant to see them constantly showing up Microsoft by packing this much high-tier tech into a sub-$90 bundle, and long may it continue.

Microsoft is expected to roll out the 2026 Update for Windows 11 (version 26H2) later this year, marking the fifth feature update for the desktop version of the operating system. However, this release isn't a full operating system swap, but it's still important not to skip it.

In this guide, I'll walk you through 10 interesting facts about Windows 11 version 26H2 to know before upgrading once it becomes available.

Facts to know about Windows 11 version 26H2

These are some facts about the new version for Windows 11.

1. Same operating system platform

Although the company will market Windows 11 version 26H2 as a new release, it shares the same platform as version 25H2, meaning both operating systems are identical under the hood. This is exactly the same case as versions 24H2 and 25H2.

2. Same set of features and improvements

Windows 11 version 26H2 includes the same features and improvements already available in version 25H2. Microsoft isn't introducing a separate feature set for this release because both versions share the same platform.

Perhaps the most noticeable differences between Windows 11 versions 26H2 and 25H2 are their version and build numbers, along with their support lifecycle.

For example, version 26H2 uses build numbers in the 26300 series, while version 25H2 uses the 26200 series. Now, despite the different build numbers, updates for both versions typically share the same cumulative update (KB) number because they are based on the same code and include the same features and improvements.

Microsoft is expected to continue servicing both versions with the same features and improvements for the foreseeable future. As a result, version 26H2 is not expected to introduce major new capabilities at launch. Instead, it serves as another enablement package release that activates a new version number while preserving the same experience users already have on version 25H2.

3. Enablement Package-based installation

Similar to Windows 11 version 25H2, version 26H2 is expected to be rolled out as an Enablement Package (eKB). This means that if you're already running version 25H2, upgrading to 26H2 will be similar to installing a regular monthly cumulative update, without requiring a complete reinstallation of the operating system.

An Enablement Package is a small update that acts as a switch to activate features already included in the operating system but kept dormant. Once installed, it simply changes the version number from 25H2 to 26H2 while enabling the new release (if applicable).

Because version 26H2 shares the same platform and feature set as version 25H2, the installation process is expected to be quick and require only a single restart. As with previous enablement package releases, Microsoft will likely offer the update as an optional installation at first before making it available automatically to eligible devices as version 25H2 approaches the end of its support lifecycle.

4. Full reinstallation upgrade

Although Windows 11 version 26H2 is virtually identical to version 25H2, the upgrade path depends on the version currently installed on your computer.

If you're already running Windows 11 version 25H2 (or 24H2), you can upgrade through the Enablement Package without reinstalling the operating system. However, devices running an older release (such as version 23H2) will need to perform a full feature update to move to version 26H2.

5. Upgrade from Windows 10

If your computer is still running Windows 10, upgrading to Windows 11 version 26H2 requires a full feature update. Compatible devices will receive the latest supported version of Windows 11 directly through Windows Update, so you won't have to install 24H2 or 25H2 first.

If your computer doesn't receive the upgrade through Windows Update, you can also perform an in-place upgrade using Microsoft's installation media.

6. Direct upgrade from older versions

You can upgrade directly to Windows 11 version 26H2 from version 23H2, 22H2, or an earlier release, as well as from Windows 10, using the ISO file or other Microsoft installation media.

These methods perform a standard in-place feature update, allowing you to keep your files, apps, and settings while installing the latest version of the operating system.

7. Upgrade tools trigger a full feature update

Although upgrading from Windows 11 versions 24H2 or 25H2 to version 26H2 through Windows Update only requires installing a small Enablement Package, using the official ISO file or other installation media will perform a full in-place upgrade instead.

The installation still preserves your files, apps, and settings, but it reinstalls the operating system rather than simply activating the new version with the Enablement Package. This results in an unnecessarily longer installation process compared to upgrading through Windows Update.

8. Reasons to upgrade to version 26H2

Since the last three releases of the operating system are virtually identical, the primary reason to upgrade is to extend your device's support lifecycle rather than gain access to new features.

Windows 11 version 25H2 remains supported through October 2027, but upgrading to version 26H2 extends support for another year. As with previous releases, Microsoft is expected to provide 24 months of support for the Home and Pro editions and 36 months for Enterprise and Education editions.

This also means there won't be any urgency to upgrade as soon as version 26H2 becomes available. Because these releases offer the same features and improvements, you can continue using version 25H2 until you're ready to switch. However, you should plan to install version 26H2 before version 25H2 reaches the end of its support lifecycle to continue receiving security updates and bug fixes.

It's worth pointing out that version 24H2 is set to retire on October 13, 2026, and it's recommended to upgrade as soon as possible to the next supported version.

9. Same hardware requirements

Windows 11 version 26H2 does not introduce new hardware requirements compared to version 25H2. The same requirements for supported processors, TPM 2.0, and other system components remain in place.

These are the minimum requirements to install or upgrade to Windows 11:

• CPU: 1GHz or faster processor, or System on a Chip (SoC) with at least two cores.
• RAM: 4GB or more.
• Storage: 64GB or larger storage device.
• Firmware: UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability.
• TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
• Graphics: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with a WDDM 2.0 driver.
• Display: High-definition (720p) display larger than 9 inches diagonally, with 8 bits per color channel.

This means that if your device can already run Windows 11 version 25H2, it will also be compatible with version 26H2 without requiring any hardware changes.

10. Rollout strategy will be gradual

Although the Enablement Package that upgrades Windows 11 from version 25H2 to 26H2 is a small update, Microsoft will likely follow the same gradual rollout strategy used in previous releases.

The company typically uses the Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) system to monitor the update experience, check for potential compatibility issues, and expand availability over time. As a result, not every device will receive the Windows 11 2026 Update immediately through the Windows Update settings page.

Availability will gradually expand over several weeks or months as the company confirms that the update is ready for a wider range of hardware configurations. If your device doesn't see the update right away, it doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem. It simply means the rollout has not reached your hardware configuration yet.

Windows Central's Take

I think the Windows 11 2026 Update is a good example of how the software giant is changing how it delivers upgrades. A new version number no longer automatically means a major redesign or a long installation process. Instead, the company is leaning more toward smaller transitions that keep computers current with less disruption.

From my experience covering the operating system, I think this approach makes a lot of sense. Full feature updates have historically been among the most complicated parts of maintaining the operating system, often leading to compatibility issues, driver problems, and upgrade failures. By using an Enablement Package model, Microsoft can accelerate the transition, reduce the risk of errors, and make it easier for more users to move to the latest supported version.

This strategy also benefits the company because a simpler upgrade experience could encourage more people to stay on newer versions instead of delaying updates for months or years. When an upgrade takes only a few minutes instead of requiring a complete operating system installation, users are more likely to accept it.

That said, I don't see 26H2 as an update users need to install immediately. If you're already running 25H2, the main reason to move will be support rather than new features. However, I think this is a better direction for the operating system. Making upgrades faster and more reliable could help reduce the problems that have caused many users to delay installing new versions.

What are your thoughts about Windows 11 version 26H2 following the same path as 25H2? Do you prefer smaller, smoother updates, or do you want major new features with every release? 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:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Today, Bethesda offered a big update on how the studio is mapping its future.

Xbox's massive cuts have left many of its subsidiaries reeling, with fans worried that Microsoft may have cut the legs off many of the industry's most beloved franchises. id Software sought to reassure fans on the topic this week, and now Bethesda is also doing its bit on top.

Bethesda just confirmed in a big note that Elder Scrolls VI is coming along nicely and hitting milestones, Starfield will continue to get new content, and finally, Fallout is getting a ton of new projects. Fallout 5 is in pre-production, Obsidian is returning with its own Fallout spin-off, and Fallout 3 and New Vegas are getting remakes, confirming our previous reporting.

One piece of news that might go under the radar here a bit is on Creation Engine 3, which Bethesda is developing specifically for Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5. I recently caught up with Todd Howard to learn a bit more about how the studio is positioning Creation Engine 3, Creation Club, and how it's becoming an increasingly critical part of Bethesda's future.

"I can't say enough about our tech team. It's just incredible."

Creation Engine has been a bit controversial in some corners, with some gamers feeling it lacks the fidelity of engines like Unreal or the cinematic qualities of in-house engines like RE Engine.

Creation Engine has always been more of a sandbox play in my view, designed for extensibility first and foremost and rapid iteration on huge-scale worlds. It's also designed for modding at its core, with Creation Club members earning over $10 million in revenue since the platform's inception.

I caught up with Todd Howard recently to talk about a variety of topics, including how Creation Engine 3 is being leveraged in Fallout 5 and Elder Scrolls VI, and how he's thinking about the platform given the rise of Roblox and Minecraft's own platform-extensible features.

"When we build these worlds, it starts with the tech. A lot of people think engine, they think rendering, but there's so much more that goes into it from a tool side and a system side," Todd explains.

"For the kind of worlds that we want to build and also knowing that we were going to be doing Fallout 5, and just how do we do those simultaneously in a way where it's not start and stop. And we're really happy. I can't say enough about our tech team. It's just incredible. Our designers ask for so much crazy stuff, and our tech team finds a way to do it. And I think that's really defined our games where you feel like anything is possible."

I mentioned the stat Bethesda brought up: $10 million has been paid out to creators in the Creation Club program across games like Fallout 4 and Starfield. Given the rise of Roblox as a user-generated content juggernaut, I asked if these industry shifts have informed how Creation Engine 3 will show up.

"If you go back, something we've been super passionate about since we sort of started this run with Morrowind, I was adamant that I wanted the Elder Scrolls Construction Set to come with the game, like as a separate disc. And we've been doing it for decades. We have a creator group that have been doing it for decades, it's what's kept games like Skyrim alive after fifteen years.

It harkens back to when you played D&D and you can make your own adventures. That spirit of creation. It takes a lot of different flavors, so it's really about supporting all those different flavors. I think we're in an awesome spot with Creations, with verified creators, and they're getting that revenue. It has risen all boats, free modding too, with those things being more popular. You see people who maybe they were a hobbyist on the side now becoming a professional. The the content in there blows us away. They just do an incredible job. And for some, now this is their career, and that makes us ecstatic."

Could Creation Club and Creation Engine be another answer to Xbox's Roblox problem?

On the Xbox layoffs, Todd Howard lamented for friends who will no longer remain at the studio with visible hurt, but noted that the game industry more broadly is undergoing a massive shift. He called back to 2016, just before the Xbox acquisition, on Bethesda's sprint towards mobile and multiplayer as gamers seemed to be shifting away from single-player titles en masse.

That similar change now revolves around user-generated content in a lot of ways. Roblox is now bigger than Steam and PlayStation combined, as creators build out entire games and worlds and build entire businesses inside Roblox itself. Bethesda's Creation Club was a pioneer in that space to some degree, alongside Minecraft, giving the modding community ways to turn their hobbies and passions into careers that pay the bills.

It'll be interesting to see how Creation Engine 3 shows up in Fallout 5 and The Elder Scrolls VI, but we're probably going to be waiting a while to see how it all shakes out.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Marvel's Wolverine has recently unleashed a new cinematic trailer, featuring an epic montage of the superhero Wolverine being awesome, killing bad guys while briefly getting into a tussle with his longtime nemesis, Sabretooth.

However, fans are hardly paying much positive attention to the game itself, as the comments section of the trailer on YouTube is overflowing with negative comments condemning Sony for killing off physical game discs for future PlayStation games.

Most of the comments are your typical outrage posts demanding that Sony reverse its decision to cancel game discs. However, a grand majority of them mock Sony for its actions using jokes like "Wolverine was really getting PHYSICAL in this trailer; he has such a DISCtinct presence".

The most hilarious of these comments is "Wolverine's treasured photograph shows the significance of physical media". This is a reference to a scene from the trailer showing a photo of Wolverine and someone they're close to burning to ashes.

This causes our hero to go nuts at the bad guys for destroying it, and fans took it as an unintentional piece of commentary on the dire state of physical media in the gaming industry and used it to clown on Sony relentlessly.

Xbox could and should figure out a way to offer an alternative

In recent days, it seems like Sony has gone mad with wanting to destroy physical media, what with closing down the PlayStation 3 and PSVita digital stores, delisting over 500 movies from UK customers with no refunds, and, most recently, making it harder and more expensive to purchase physical anime and manga via Crunchyroll.

I mean, if companies like KFC and Domino's Pizza are mocking Sony for killing off physical media, you know something's gone very wrong.

Now granted, it's very likely Xbox Helix will drop physical discs as well. However, Microsoft is working on a special disc-to-digital program called 'Positron' and there's a chance it might figure out a way to preserve disc-based games without forcing consumers to resort to piracy.

What's more, this turbulent backlash Sony is facing may give Xbox the first opportunity in probably decades to give PlayStation a one-up, providing gamers with a consumer-friendly alternative to Sony's dark future for digital media on PlayStation, if it plays its cards right.

Only time will tell what the future holds for Microsoft and Sony. Still, in the meantime, I'll be praying for Marvel's Wolverine to land on PC and perhaps Xbox someday (even though the odds of both are very unlikely) because it looks too awesome to be contained on a single platform.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Can you hear that? It's the sound of capitalism crumbling. After years of pushback against ads, Microsoft has finally given in and decided to make a cleaner Search experience in Windows 11.

Sarcastic quips aside, Search is genuinely going to improve. Microsoft unveiled a massive upgrade to Search this week that will improve the accuracy of results, shift away from relying on the web, and yes, remove ads and promotional material.

The improved search will prioritize local results over grabbing information from the web. You'll even be able to customize whether web and Microsoft Store suggestions appear alongside local results at all. Search should also be more forgiving of typos, which should reduce frustration.

The upcoming improvements to Search were the biggest Windows 11 story of the week, but several other topics trended as well.

Biggest News of the Week

I'd argue that Windows 11 never should have placed ads within Search in the first place. Certainly, Windows 11 Pro should have been ad-free. I'm glad to see Microsoft listen to feedback and get rid of some ads. I just think it's wild that the tech giant needs to be pushed in that direction.

I'm happy to see Microsoft did more than remove ads and call it a day. The new Search experience is better across the board. Our Zac Bowden was impressed after going hands-on with the feature.

As always with updates like this, you can focus on the fact that Microsoft should have launched Windows 11 in this state rather than be strong-armed into making search usable. Alternatively, you can choose to be happy that Windows 11 is finally getting fixed. I choose the latter.

Shopping with Sean

Laptop deals have cooled off a bit, but you can still save hundreds of dollars on the Samsung Galaxy Book6 or the HP OmniBook Ultra 14. Both are excellent laptops with gorgeous displays and snappy performance.

If you're a gamer, make sure to check out the Xbox Ultimate Game Sale that's now live. Hundreds of games are discounted in what might be one of Microsoft's best-ever sale events.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

It's a little conspicuous that, in among all the strategy changes at Xbox thus far, new CEO Asha Sharma hasn't mentioned Xbox Game Pass all that much.

Inspired by the Netflix and Spotify era, Xbox built Game Pass, as an all-you-can-eat subscription service serving everything from AAA blockbusters to hidden indie gems. During its heyday, it was hailed as "the best value in gaming," and often times seemed too good to be true. Increasingly, it looks like it might be the case.

Xbox's huge cuts this past month have been driven in large part due to a decline in Game Pass revenue and a decline in Call of Duty, so I'm told. Last year's Black Ops 7 didn't resonate as dominantly as the franchise previously has, as strong competition from Battlefield 6 and Arc Raiders ate into its traditional user base. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 still went on to sell monstrous amounts, but the operation is so vast and expensive, even small disruptions can have big consequences.

Indeed, the fact Call of Duty showed up in Xbox Game Pass disrupted the business model at both ends. Fewer people purchased Call of Duty outright, and the Game Pass price hike to pay for it led to an exodus of users over time, disrupting both business models quite heavily. There are various other factors, but that's the core of what went down, ultimately. As user behavior evolves, is Xbox Game Pass now having a net negative impact on Xbox's overall operation?

Bloomberg's Jason Schreier discussed sentiments I've also heard about Xbox Game Pass' impact on Microsoft's gaming studios, in no uncertain terms.

"There are a lot of people out there in studio leadership within Xbox who absolutely detest Game Pass," Schreier said on his Triple Click Podcast, "[They] think it has destroyed the value of their games, think it has taken away the value from all games in general and has been a detriment to the games industry in those people's view, because of how it devalues games."

I was curious what my own sources felt on the topic. Speaking to a former Xbox studio lead, they were pretty upfront about echoing what Schreier reported: "Giving games away for 'free' in Game Pass from day 1 sends a message to consumers that the games don't have inherent market value. It almost creates an assumption that these titles could not sell on their own," one said. "It felt like a race to zero."

I asked another former Xbox lead with intimate knowledge of the Game Pass strategy previously, who explained that the idea around the whole platform was to offer core games a stable revenue stream as many core users increasingly opt for free-to-play titles, or wait for deep cuts and sales, such as those often found on Steam.

They explained that Xbox has an engagement formula it uses to allocate profits from Xbox Game Pass back to studios. Although some studio figures I've spoken to feel that these accounting mechanisms aren't transparent, nor are they motivating for studios — whose bonuses have traditionally been tied to direct sales rather than oft-vague "engagement" metrics.

Circana Player Engagement Tracker US MAU charts for June 2026:- Meccha Chameleon debuted on top of the Steam US monthly active user chart- Destiny 2 jumped to 5th from 32nd in May on Steam- Where Winds Meet launched in top 10 on Xbox with Game Pass release

— @matpiscatella.bsky.social (@matpiscatella.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-07-19T13:46:40.715Z

Despite Xbox Game Pass, it is true that the top 10 most-played charts are generally dominated by the same handful of free-to-play titles, or service titles, that monetize primarily via bite-sized microtransactions. Xbox Game Pass was designed to encourage users who are perhaps less inclined to spent $70 on a full priced title to try something outside of their typical free-to-play habits.

There was a time early in Xbox Game Pass' life where the instant-audience Game Pass would grant helped games achieve free-to-play-like virality, actually boosting retail sales. As Xbox Game Pass habits become embedded and expectations become set, it seems the positive impacts of Xbox Game Pass become increasingly difficult to quantify.

It's true that Xbox Game Pass by itself is driving billions in revenue for Microsoft, and consumers obviously love it. Many independent developers have remarked on funds from Xbox Game Pass as being a financial lifeline, too. But, Xbox is not exactly transparent about how the profits are allocated to first-party studios, even internally it seems from those I've spoken to on the topic.

If Game Pass is subsidizing studios over retail sales, the harm of any potential decline seems to be distributed across the board, even across studios and teams that might've otherwise had good years in a traditionalist retail model. That is speculative, though, given how opaque the Xbox Game Pass business model is. We don't have a crystal ball to deduce how well a game might've performed outside of Game Pass, as well.

Jason Schreier speculates that Microsoft might move away from its day one Xbox Game Pass model. Microsoft hasn't signalled intent to do that (yet), but the fact that it will no longer include the latest Call of Duty titles in the service could be a hint.

I suspect what we might get instead is some sort of "build your own" Xbox Game Pass, where users can pay a premium for titles like Call of Duty, Forza Horizon, or even things like World of Warcraft's or Minecraft's subscriptions on an à la carte basis. Microsoft's Xbox margins are being crushed by a variety of crises, whether it's tariffs, supply chain problems, geopolitical issues, or the on-going memory crisis. Microsoft has also seen interest in its Xbox hardware reach unprecedented declines, owing to the fact it pivoted away from any form of exclusive content.

Xbox Game Pass has remained a bright spot in Microsoft's overall gaming offering with consumers. Even as exclusive games failed to materialize, games got cancelled, and price hikes bit, Xbox fans and customers could usually point to Xbox Game Pass as a reason to stick with the platform. That changed when Microsoft hiked its price to $30 last year to offset Call of Duty potential losses. Without a strong line-up of exclusive titles, Microsoft is likely cautious to do harm to one of the only unique selling points Xbox Series X|S consoles have left.

RELATED: Xbox's Todd Howard on the future of Fallout, Starfield, and The Elder Scrolls

Right now I would imagine Microsoft is looking at every lever it can pull to boost up Xbox's margins. It has angled for devastating and potentially self-defeating layoffs in the short term. We've seen price hikes on hardware. I suspect addressing ways to tighten up the Xbox Game Pass model might be next.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Microsoft's July 2026 Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 is one of the largest security releases we've ever seen, fixing 570 vulnerabilities across Microsoft's products, according to Action1's analysis.

For users, the update arrives as KB5101650, bringing version 25H2 to build 26200.8875 and version 24H2 to build 26100.8875.

The number is certainly eye-catching. Microsoft fixed more than four times the number of security issues compared with July 2025, when the company addressed 137 vulnerabilities.

However, the bigger story is not simply that the company patched hundreds of security flaws. The July 2026 security update is an early example of a major shift Microsoft has already warned about. AI is changing vulnerability discovery, and Windows 11 updates are expected to become larger as a result.

The software giant says that as AI helps security researchers find more issues across more code, customers will see a higher volume of security fixes included in future security releases.

In other words, larger Patch Tuesday updates are not necessarily a sign that Windows is becoming less secure. They are also a sign that Microsoft is finding and addressing more problems before attackers can use them.

Why Windows 11's July 2026 update is so large

The July 2026 update addresses vulnerabilities across many core areas of Windows, including the Windows Kernel, Win32k, NTFS, Remote Desktop, Secure Boot, BitLocker, File Explorer, and more.

Several of these fixes address vulnerabilities that could allow remote code execution, where an attacker could potentially run malicious code on a system remotely.

The scale of the release follows a sharp increase in security fixes throughout 2026.

Here's a comparison based on vulnerability counts reported by Windows Latest and security-tracking data, showing how the number of fixes has increased since 2025.

However, Microsoft says the growing number of fixes should not be interpreted as the operating system becoming less secure. Instead, the company says AI is helping identify vulnerabilities earlier and at a larger scale.

Microsoft is using AI to find Windows vulnerabilities faster

The company has been investing in AI-powered security tools to reduce the time between discovering a vulnerability and protecting customers.

One of those tools is MDASH, Microsoft's multi-model agentic security scanning harness.

MDASH uses multiple AI models and more than 100 specialized AI agents to analyze code, identify potential vulnerabilities, debate findings, and validate whether issues are real.

Unlike a traditional scanner that simply reports possible problems, Microsoft's system is designed to reduce false positives by using multiple stages of analysis and validation.

The company notes that MDASH helped security researchers discover 16 vulnerabilities in networking and authentication components, including critical remote code execution flaws affecting areas such as the TCP/IP stack and IKEv2 service on Windows 11.

Those findings demonstrate how AI can help uncover complex security issues that may be difficult to identify through traditional approaches.

Microsoft has not said that MDASH discovered all 570 vulnerabilities included in the July 2026 update. Instead, the technology represents part of a larger effort to expand the company's vulnerability research capabilities.

Microsoft expects Windows 11 security updates to get bigger

The biggest takeaway from the new approach is that larger security updates are becoming expected. In a recent explanation of its vulnerability management strategy, Microsoft said: "As AI helps defenders discover more issues, customers will see a higher volume of security updates included in each security release."

The company says AI is being integrated into the entire security process, from finding vulnerabilities to helping engineers understand issues, develop fixes, and identify possible regressions.

Microsoft is also using additional validation systems to make sure faster security fixes do not come at the cost of update quality.

The goal is to shorten the time between vulnerability discovery and customer protection while maintaining reliability.

Why users should install updates faster on PCs

As security updates grow larger, Microsoft is also pushing users and organizations to reduce delays before installing them, because attackers are also benefiting from AI.

Microsoft says attackers can now exploit newly discovered vulnerabilities much faster than before, leaving users and organizations with less time to install security updates.

For users, that means monthly updates are becoming more important. While temporarily pausing updates can still make sense if a release causes compatibility problems, leaving security fixes uninstalled for long periods creates unnecessary risk.

The July 2026 update also includes non-security improvements, including Point-in-time restore, Screen Tint, improved Bluetooth reliability, File Explorer improvements, and much more. However, the security changes are the main reason users should prioritize installing it.

Windows Central's Take

When I first saw that Microsoft had patched 570 vulnerabilities in a single Patch Tuesday release, I didn't immediately think Windows 11 had become less secure. Instead, my first thought was that this was exactly the kind of update the company had been preparing users for when it said AI would dramatically increase the number of vulnerabilities it could discover.

I actually think this changes how we should judge Patch Tuesday updates. For years, I've looked at the size of a security release as a rough indication of how much could potentially go wrong after installing it. In the future, that assumption may no longer hold true. A bigger update could only mean that the software giant is finding and fixing more issues before attackers have the chance to exploit them.

That said, Microsoft still has something to prove. Discovering more vulnerabilities is only half the equation. Users will judge this new approach by whether these larger updates remain reliable and don't introduce new issues of their own. If the company can consistently deliver both better security and stable updates, I think that's a tradeoff most users will gladly accept.

Do you think larger Patch Tuesday updates are a good sign for Windows 11 security, or do they make you more cautious about installing updates? 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:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

It’s hard to really put into words how I feel about Bungie right now. As a lifelong Halo fan, the studio will always have a special place in my heart, but the way it has operated since leaving Xbox has been less than ideal and, honestly, devastating to watch as a fan.

For those out of the loop, Bungie recently shifted its focus away from Destiny in favor of Marathon. Unfortunately, that decision doesn’t appear to be paying off. Marathon recently peaked at around 6,000 concurrent players on Steam, while Destiny 2 reached almost 60,000 during the same period, around 10 times more than Marathon.

It's also worth mentioning that Marathon isn't even within the top 100 most played games on Xbox, behind titles like Gears of War 2 and Fable 3, both of which are Xbox 360 games.

Don’t worry, though, Destiny fans; Bungie has a solution. It’s adding a limited-time PvE mode to Marathon for just two weeks. I’m sure that’ll go over well. In all seriousness, though, I don’t want to make fun of Bungie too much. What’s happened to the studio, especially after the recent layoffs, which are genuinely sad to see.

I really do hope Bungie lands on its feet, whatever that future looks like. Still, the studio’s direction feels increasingly uncertain, and it’s hard not to wonder what happens next for one of gaming’s most iconic developers. It’s not difficult to imagine a future where Bungie ends up as more of a support studio, especially as its valuation continues to decline from the $3.6 billion Sony paid to acquire it.

For context, Sony not too long ago recorded an impairment loss of roughly $766 million against Bungie. In simple terms, that’s an acknowledgment that the studio is now considered less valuable than when Sony acquired it for $3.6 billion. Whether that figure grows in future earnings remains to be seen, but given Bungie’s recent struggles, I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.

Mind you, this is all without mentioning that Marathon's game director, Joseph Ziegler, has just left Bungie. Although the torch has been passed on, his departure is yet another worrying sign for Marathon's future.

Let me know how you feel about Bungie, the current state of Marathon, and where you think the studio goes from here in the comments below. Also, be sure to take part in our poll!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Today, Bethesda moved to reassure fans that its upcoming games, Fallout 5 and Elder Scrolls VI, are still trucking along.

Microsoft's absolutely massive cuts to its Xbox division have left fans wondering if the developers left are enough to even reproduce the kind of quality we've come to expect at the AAA level. DOOM studio id Software sent a note to fans yesterday on the topic, and now Bethesda has followed up with its own.

Bethesda said that it's still working on Fallout 5 and The Elder Scrolls VI, alongside new content for Starfield. The firm also revealed that Obsidian's Fallout project has been greenlit and that fans of Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls Online can also expect new content in the coming months.

I got a chance to speak to studio director Todd Howard about how Bethesda is navigating this unprecedented time in the games industry, and how the studio hopes to show up in the future.

"Very difficult, very difficult for our teams."

I asked Todd Howard how the studio is doing, given Xbox's cuts. Many Bethesda, Obsidian, id Software, and other veterans from across the Xboxosphere were let go in the past couple of weeks, alarming fans and industry insiders alike.

"I've been doing this a long time, whenever you've worked with people for, in some cases, many decades, and they're no longer here, that's really personally very difficult, and very difficult for our teams."

Howard called back to other difficult periods in Bethesda's tenure, noting its struggle to land a big hit in the 90s before Morrowind. And also before the Xbox acquisition, where Bethesda came under pressure to produce mobile games and multiplayer service titles as tastes changed.

"If I think back, and people hear me say this internally, Bethesda is turning 40 this year. There have been difficult periods, I look at like Bethesda 1.0 from kind of 86 to 99. I was there for that. We had to change who we were and how we did some things then. And then we kind of became ZeniMax and did a bunch of things, and then we had to change again in 2016. Moving to different studios ... how do we support these franchises?

"I think we're at another change moment for how we support each other, and what we do with these games and for our fans."

Finding optimism in an uncertain games industry

I asked Todd Howard how he stays optimistic given the way the game industry is shifting. More and more younger users are choosing Roblox over traditional gaming options, for example, and big companies have come under increasing pressure to find megahits to stay afloat in the face of inflation, tariffs, the memory crisis, and other issues.

"The wider industry, this is not an Xbox comment, really. You know, you see it going on across the gaming industry," Todd explained. "So it's a wider industry thing — level setting, figuring out how some things are going to work in the future."

"If I zoom out from the video game industry, I look at who was nominated for Game of the Year last year. As someone in the industry, I was so proud of that list, and what it says about what's being created, and the creativity. There were periods of times where a lot of the games were kind of getting samey. You worry things like, 'will adventure games ever have a home in the future, or this, or that, will this type of game finds success?' And so on. And so from kind of a creative standpoint, as far as the content that's being made out there. As a player, it's been really good."

Todd Howard said that he generally doesn't use social media, but does say he reads commentary on Reddit to get the lay of the land. He said that seeing the quality of the work his teams are putting together drives his optimism, as Bethesda looks ahead to Fallout 5, The Elder Scrolls VI, and beyond.

"I think I have the benefit of being able to work [in the games industry], I see the work we're doing. So, I get to be there with the team and see the passion, see us channelling how we do better every week. Crafting games that we absolutely love. It's easy for me to be optimistic when I when I look at the work."

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

A new clipboard manager for Windows 11 is here, and it's better than Microsoft's in a few key ways. "Edge Drop" is still in its early stages of development, but the current preview build is very promising.

Edge Drop is a clipboard manager that can also be used for some light file management. It stays tucked away on the left side of your screen until you swipe your mouse over it or use a keyboard shortcut (Alt + C).

The app supports text, images, and several file types. Any item you copy on Windows 11 is added to Edge Drop by default. You can also drag items into Edge Drop.

Drag and drop functionality makes it easy to grab a few files, place them in Edge Drop, and then paste them somewhere else.

Edge Drop supports stacking content together, which I find useful for organizing projects. I'd love to see stacks work with different content types, such as text and images.

The developer of Edge Drop, AdiArtist, shared the app on Reddit. You can download Edge Drop through the app's website and read more about it on GitHub.

As a quick note, I wouldn't get used to the name of the app. Microsoft already has a feature named "Edge Drop." Even though that browser feature is being retired, I suspect Microsoft will want to protect the name.

Windows 11 Clipboard vs Edge Drop

Windows 11 already has a robust, built-in clipboard history that you can summon with Win + V. It supports pinning items, syncing across devices, and has been an integral part of my workflow for years. Even with Edge Drop installed, I'm not abandoning it.

Where Windows 11's clipboard is heavily keyboard-driven, Edge Drop is more built for the mouse. If you're working on a creative project, dragging and dropping items into organized stacks feels completely natural.

It reminds me of when I reviewed the HyperSpace TrackPad Pro (which, sadly, was canceled). Using that trackpad shifted my workflow; editing video with it felt entirely different than navigating a webpage. It didn't replace my mouse, but it became a perfect companion tool.

I feel the same way about Edge Drop. It’s a convenient, mouse-oriented clipboard manager that’s always just a gesture away, and it has earned a permanent spot right alongside Windows 11's default clipboard.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Zenless Zone Zero, the once-PlayStation-exclusive action game by the creators of Genshin Impact, has announced it will be making its way onto Xbox on PC with cross-platform Xbox Play Anywhere support between the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming on July 29, 2026.

In addition, the game will be receiving a massive Version 3.1 content update titled "The Long Goodbye" on the same day it launches on Xbox on PC.

This update will include new questlines for its storyline and a new playable character called Remielle Dan, an S-Rank Anomaly Agent who is the very first Lumiflux attribute agent who can adapt her damage output depending on her team composition.

In addition, the S-Rank Ice Attack Agent Sigrid will also become playable in this update.

As part of Zenless Zone Zero's 2nd anniversary celebrations, the game will allow players to select and obtain one of five S-Rank agents (Jane, Soldier 0/Anby, Hugo, Trigger, or Lucia) and receive their corresponding exclusive W-Engine weapons.

On top of that, this update will introduce a new game mode called Enigma of the Labyrinth: Operation Bagel, 1,600 Polychrome login rewards, and up to 20 signal searches to find across the full game.

With Zenless Zone Zero now available on Xbox on PC, Xbox players will now have even more ways to enjoy the rich story, beloved characters, and addictive combat of this popular gacha action game on any compatible Xbox device, no matter where they are.

Zenless Zone Zero is also available on iOS and Android mobile devices, PlayStation 5, and PC via Epic Games Store and the Hoyoverse, with full cross-play support between each system and the Xbox platforms.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Sim Update 6 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is on its way, and following the recent first beta release, there's now a newer one to try out with more new features.

In the Sim Update 6 1.8.8.0 beta there are two pieces of new content to take a look at, including the much-anticipated return of Bush Trips from Flight Simulator 2020.

It's not all of them at this point, but it sounds like a good chunk are available to try out before the public release, per the patch notes.

"As announced during FlightSimExpo 2026, bush trips are coming to MSFS 2024 and are now accessible in the Sim Update 6 Beta from the Activities menu. We have added a large amount of the bush trips from MSFS 2020 already and more will be added in the coming days."

The other fresh content concerns lighting, one of the already promised big upgrades for Sim Update 6. Generic airport lighting upgrades were made in the previous beta, while this latest one adds MastLights to those same generic airports, improving the illumination at parking spots.

This is on top of the features that came in the first Sim Update 6 beta, including DLSS 4.5, FSR 4, and the ability to skip walkarounds in Free Flight mode.

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.

There's no release date yet set for the public version of Sim Update 6, but the latest roadmap shows a July or August timeframe. So it's not too far away.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Microsoft's Surface Laptop 8 launched this summer, sporting new Snapdragon X2 chips. The flagship laptops promise a premium experience, better battery life than the previous generation, and improved graphics performance.

The bump in performance is expected considering the Surface Laptop 8 has a brand-new chip inside, so a different improvement is more noteworthy. The Surface Laptop 8 is one of the only devices to support Windows 11's new advanced haptics feature. It's the only laptop to support the feature.

• Shop all Best Buy Surface deals

Advanced haptics sends a subtle bump through a touchpad, mouse, or stylus to let you feel Windows 11. For example, rearranging windows on your screen through Snap Layouts gives a clear indication of when you've hovered over a different layout.

Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden said "Windows 11's new 'Haptic Signals' feature is a quality of life upgrade [he] didn't realize the OS needed until [he] tried it." Now, you can experience the same thing since the Surface Laptop 8 is available for purchase.

Why should I care about advanced haptics?

As a quick point of clarity, the Surface Laptop 8 with Snapdragon X2 is what recently became available. Microsoft launched the Surface Laptop 8 for Business earlier this year. The business model runs on an Intel processor and comes with features you likely do not need as a general user.

Both the consumer and business versions of the Surface Laptop 8 support advanced haptics, but I recommend the consumer model to most people.

Advanced haptics is one of those small touches that makes Windows 11 feel polished. I appreciate UI changes and other Windows 11 improvements, but I'm more interested in features like advanced haptics because it changes the hands-on experience with a PC — quite literally.

"The new advanced haptic touchpad is a joy to use. It provides subtle tactile cues that confirm your actions," said our Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino in our Surface Laptop 8 review.

Our friends at Tom's Guide came away similarly impressed when reviewing the Surface Laptop 8:

"I’m also fond of the touchpad, which delivers satisfying haptic feedback when pressed. With some apps, you will even feel haptics when hovering over the X button on a window, which is quite fun and intuitive."

Right now, Windows 11 is the main way that you'll experience advanced haptics. But there's an API for the feature, so third-party developers can leverage it. Filmora, Affinity, and other third-party apps either already support the feature or will soon.

The only other way to use Windows 11's advanced haptics feature is to have a Logitech MX Master 4 or a supported stylus like the Surface Slim Pen 2. Over time, more devices should support the feature, but the Surface Laptop 8 beat everything else to the punch.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Today, Bethesda offered an update on its studio, following Xbox's brutal cuts across its games business.

Microsoft is laying off thousands of gaming staffers and contractors in its gaming operation, as bets on Xbox Game Pass, Call of Duty, and multi-platform games didn't pan out. To that end, many fans have been worrying that the future is bleak for games like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, as ZeniMax seemed disproportionately targeted by management.

In a note shared by Bethesda today, the firm not only confirmed that The Elder Scrolls VI is coming along nicely, but also that Starfield and Fallout will continue to be built upon. Not only that, but Fallout 5 is now in pre-production, and Fallout 3 and New Vegas will get Oblivion-style remakes, confirming my previous reporting.

Fans will also be excited to learn that Obsidian's long-rumored Fallout project has now been fully greenlit, and is being developed in collaboration with Bethesda.

"The wasteland continues to expand as we team up once again with our longtime friends at Obsidian Entertainment," Bethesda remarked. "We're happy to confirm they're working with us on a new Fallout project. We'll have more to share in the future."

Details on the Obsidian Fallout project have been rumored for a while. In my own research, I learned that Obsidian had been building a prototype on the side for as long as two years, pending collaboration with Bethesda.

Update (July 17, 2026): To clarify, sources felt that this project (which was not officially Fallout by name) was very Fallout-y in nature, to the point where there were debates at the upper levels of Xbox Games Studios about whether or not it should be made in Unreal or Creation Engine. I was told that Obsidian's previous project wasn't officially Fallout, at least in part because Todd Howard wanted to be involved in any potential formal Obsidian-Bethesda collaboration on the IP. It purportedly wasn't possible at the time due to the various on-going commitments to the Fallout TV show, Elder Scrolls 6, and Starfield. It does sound like the extent to which the previous incubated apocalypse-style franchise was potentially "Fallout-adjacent" amounts to a matter of perspective to onlookers, but Obsidian is obviously very cognizant of fans' long-time hopes for them to return to the genre.

With Xbox's CEO Asha Sharma signalling intent to speed up production on Fallout titles, it seemed increasingly inevitable that more spin-off projects like New Vegas and 76 would emerge.

I caught up with Todd Howard in an exclusive interview yesterday to learn more about the plans, and talk about the "mythology" fans often curate surrounding some kind of rivalry between Obsidian and Bethesda.

"I appreciate some of the fan chatter, but behind the scenes, there's a huge amount of like mutual respect [between us]. We're always wondering if we could find a way to work together in the right way. And when those things come up, I think I definitely look at the franchise all up, as you see in the note, everything that's kind of happening with Fallout."

"You sort of say, is there a way or a window or a pocket where we could do something together that really, really made sense? And so we're super excited about the opportunity, working together."

I asked about the possibility of other spin-offs, given that under Xbox, you now have Fallout legends like Tim Cain and Brian Fargo of InXile all under one roof. Could we see a return to an isometric-style tactical CRPG Fallout, given the success of Baldur's Gate 3 more recently? Todd Howard's response, 'never say never.'

"Sometimes you find your way there and sometimes you don't, or you do it later. It takes time. You mentioned the Fallout show. And that was a 10-year journey. As a caretaker of these things, the number one job is to make sure we serve the franchise as best we can."

Todd Howard couldn't give us more details on what Obsidian's Fallout might look like, as it's still early on. I've been investigating rumors that it would be built in Unreal Engine, although given Bethesda's focus on growing Creation Club, perhaps that could change. I asked whether or not it would be multiplatform or Xbox exclusive on console, but Todd Howard said again, they'll announce those things "when the time is right."

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Good news often comes in threes, and that could be true for fans of Starfield, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout today.

Just now, Xbox studio Bethesda offered a massive update on its plans for its big three properties, and we caught up with studio director, Todd Howard, to learn more context about what fans can expect.

"We love making these worlds as much as you love playing in them," the note reads. "Today, we want to share what's next for Bethesda Game Studios and what you can expect from us in the years ahead."

For forty years, we've built games that have entertained almost half a billion players. More than just games, these are worlds. Worlds for you to explore, shape, and make your own. Worlds we return to together. That's what's driving us forward."

Bethesda said that it's making the investments to bring its core teams "closer together" with a view of building titles faster, provide them support for longer, for "decades to come."

Here's an overview of what was announced.

• On Fallout: Bethesda confirmed that it is working towards Fallout 5, which is now in pre-production.
• Bethesda confirmed my previous reporting that Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas will get full remakes in the future, but didn't announce dates.
• Bethesda also confirmed that Obsidian is returning to Fallout with its very own spin-off game, and said more info would come in the future.
• Fallout 76 will get a "huge" new DLC called Raven Rock, which will serve as a prequel to Fallout 3.
• Starfield is slated for more content, with a Starborn DLC on the horizon, and more tools and features to boost Creation Club content. Bethesda says Starfield remains "an important part of our future."
• Elder Scrolls 6 is progressing nicely, and Todd says that the studio is "where they want to be" on the game's development timeline — but don't expect it any time soon.
• Elder Scrolls Online will continue to get new seasons, and Zenimax Online Studios will be more directly integrated into Bethesda proper to improve collaboration.
• Elder Scrolls VI is Bethesda's current primary focus, "we're where we planned to be, loving how it looks, and playing every day."
• A big part of the wait revolves around Creation Engine 3, which Bethesda has been developing specifically to boost simultaneous franchise development and improve Creation Club tooling.

Todd Howard spoke to us about the Xbox cuts, huge respect for Obsidian, and video game industry challenges

When I got the call that I'd be speaking to Todd Howard, I admit I was a bit floored. I've been doing this for over a decade at this point, and never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would lead to an on-the-record chat with one of gaming's most prominent.

Todd Howard has been stewarding Bethesda franchises since 1994, but solidified his place in gaming legend with the release of Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, back in 2000. The game industry looks wildly different now than it did back then, but Bethesda has always managed to adapt to changing times.

Top of mind for me, and I suspect most of the Xbox faithful right now is Microsoft's huge cuts to the gaming operation, which seem to have disproportionately fell into ZeniMax's lap. I asked Howard how he and the team was doing, given what's going on.

"Great question," Howard says, looking visibly sorrowful. "I've been doing this a long time, whenever you've worked with people for, in some cases, many decades, and they're no longer here, that's really personally very difficult, and difficult for our teams."

Howard referred to previously difficult times in Bethesda history. During the 90s, Bethesda struggled to make it into the big time, and just before the firm was acquired by Microsoft, it had struggled out a variety of multiplayer-adjacent and mobile titles in attempts to join the "service game" gold rush, to mixed success.

"We had to change who we were and how we did some things then. And then we kind of became ZeniMax and did a bunch of things, and then we had to change again in 2016. Moving to different studios ... how do we support these franchises? And I think we're at another change moment for how we support each other, and what we do with these games and for our fans."

Speaking of fans, I couldn't help but mention Obsidian's return to Fallout. Obsidian made Fallout New Vegas, which is among the most beloved entries in the storied Fallout canon. Fans love it for its reactive world and true choice and consequence, something many feel Fallout 4 pulled back on. I asked Todd Howard how the collaboration with Obsidian came about, and what he thinks of the online mythology surrounding a purported rivalry.

"I appreciate some of the fan chatter, but behind the scenes, there's a huge amount of like mutual respect [between Bethesda and Obsidian]. We're always kind of wondering if we could find a way to work together in the right way. And when those things come up, I think I definitely look at the franchise all up, as you see in the note, everything that's kind of happening with Fallout."

"You sort of say, is there a way or a window or a pocket where we could do something together that really, really made sense? And so we're super excited about the opportunity, working together."

Todd remarked about how Obsidian's work flow mirrors Bethesda's, with a core team that have been together for decades. I noted how there's so much legendary Fallout alumni at Xbox now, with Tim Cain at Obsidian, and Brian Fargo at InXile. I asked if we could see even more projects emerge in the future, like an isometric Fallout 1 remake from InXile, for example. Howard remarked that Xbox teams are "pretty in sync," and they've seen and heard every idea for Fallout spin-offs.

"Sometimes you find your way there and sometimes you don't, or you do it later. It takes time. You mentioned the Fallout show. And that was a 10-year journey. As a caretaker of these things, the number one job is to make sure we serve the franchise as best we can."

The future hold for Starfield, Fallout, and Elder Scrolls fans

I didn't have a ton of time with Todd Howard (albeit hugely appreciated), and many of my questions were simply too far afield for answers.

I asked Todd Howard if The Elder Scrolls VI or Fallout 5 would be going exclusive to Xbox, given Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's mandate to grow the Xbox hardware ecosystem. He said it was too early to comment. I asked if we could get a timeline for Elder Scrolls VI launch window, but again, it sounded like the game is still too far away to put a landing strip on paper. I asked what engine Obsidian's Fallout game would be using (Unreal or Creation Engine?), but he said more would be revealed at a later date.

I think ultimately, today, Bethesda really wanted to reassure its fans that Xbox's cuts haven't decimated the studio. We've seen other Xbox studios like id Software put out statements on the topic, for example, as rumors run rife, and long-tenured staff with decades of experience and millions of dollars in sales to their names get ousted.

With the memory crisis ongoing, the AI build-out harming Microsoft's financials, and the saturation of the attention economy, it's a tough time for gaming. There's more content than ever, but also more competition than ever. It sounds as though Bethesda is pouring everything it can into making The Elder Scrolls VI another landmark hit for the studio, but we might still be waiting more than a hot minute to get our hands on it.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Id Software has been through the wringer this month, as it was one of the many casualties of Xbox's big "reset" that laid off 3,200 game devs, which caused it to lose 136 of its workforce.

id Software quickly responded by saying that despite its loss of staff, it still has the essential crew needed to make more DOOM games and that its team is roughly the same size as it was when it made DOOM (2016).

Plenty of fans weren't entirely convinced by this statement, so id Software's Studio Head, Hugo Martin, decided to reassure the fanbase directly during a YouTube livestream playthrough of DOOM: The Dark Ages | Livestream hosted by id Software's Senior Community Lead, Joshua Boyle.

During this livestream, Hugo Martin stated that “There have been reports that we've been nerfed into the ground and gutted, and we are not; we have 50 people, and that's not true. We're the size we were when we made Doom 2016, and IDTech is very much alive and well."

Hugo continues, "You have to understand, we have idTech engineers both in Frankfurt and, you know, at Machine Games; we collaborate quite a bit. So, you know, the IDTech is there, the Doom team is here, and we're excited to work on; to share with you guys more of what we're working on in the future when it is appropriate and approved.”

Windows Central's take

Reactions to id Software's layoffs have been universally reviled by the gaming community. Fans have sent harsh criticisms to Microsoft via its Player Voice Feedback platform (while being spurned by Bethesda's Union), and one former id Software developer even left a scathing message, saying, "I sure hope the sixth round of layoffs is worth our pain and your pleasure."

One of the few neutral reactions to this situation was from John Carmack, one of the founders of id Software, who said, "I’m saddened, but I can’t muster anger or outrage over it, he continued, "To continue being produced long term, games need to succeed, not just be beloved. Games are competing with every other option for spending your leisure time and money, and the competition is brutal."

Personally speaking, I'll believe id Software's statement that it is "not gutted and nerfed" when I see what their next game is and if the quality of it suffers from the downsized manpower it suffered thanks to Microsoft.

The only good news from this mess is that at least DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelation's quality hasn't suffered from these layoffs because this DLC expansion is enjoying rave reviews from critics and fans for refreshing it with DOOM: Eternal's faster-paced gunplay while adding new weapons, enemies, and more features.

But will id Software's future projects maintain high standards of quality now that its team has been downsized? Will Microsoft incur even more layoffs to the point where id Software will be forced to close its doors? Only time will tell, and we'll be there to find out and report it.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Content creator Sean Dubs TV, who regularly covers Halo, recently took a closer look at a Microsoft trademark filed back in 2021 for Halo: The Endless.

At the time, many assumed it was connected to Halo Infinite, possibly as the title of a campaign expansion, but that never materialized. What's particularly interesting is that Microsoft continued fighting to secure the trademark until April 2026, suggesting it may have been intended for something else entirely.

For those unfamiliar with Halo lore, the Endless are a mysterious species introduced in Halo Infinite. While very little is known about them, some fans have speculated they're connected to the Precursors, the ancient race said to have created all life in the Halo universe.

The timing is what makes this particularly interesting. Microsoft formally abandoned the trademark just weeks before reports emerged that Halo Studios had canceled their multiplayer project, Project Ekur.

That doesn't prove the events are related, but it certainly raises questions about whether Halo: The Endless was once part of an earlier vision for the franchise that has since been left behind.

Sean Dubs TV also uncovered a little-known interview with Halo Studios head Pierre Hintze, in which he reflects on lessons learned from previous Halo games. Speaking about Halo 5, Hintze said:

“We chose to go a different direction when it comes to the narrative where Master Chief was not the main protagonist and the backlash was imminent, and for us there are certain things which we have to deliver in terms of the expectation of our players.”

Personally, I think Halo Studios may be taking away the wrong lesson from Halo 5. It wasn't simply that players wanted more Master Chief, but that the game was marketed around him only to shift focus to Spartan Locke.

Bungie also proved with Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach, while Ensemble Studios did the same with Halo Wars, that Halo stories can succeed without Master Chief when expectations are set appropriately.

Hintze also spoke about the kinds of experiences he believes will become more important in gaming over the coming years, saying:

“I think we're going to see deeper experiences where the line between playing with and against humans becomes more blurred... Yes, it is incredibly rewarding if you go into a first person shooter and play one v one and win. But it is also incredibly rewarding if you are completing an objective or completing a raid in an MMO and you see the solidarity and the help and support we can lend each other.”

It's worth stressing that Hintze was answering a broader question about the future of gaming, not Halo specifically, and he never suggests Halo is becoming an MMO.

Even so, the comments have attracted attention online, and when combined with Microsoft's decision to abandon the Halo: The Endless trademark, they've left fans, myself included, wondering exactly what direction Halo Studios is now taking.

Halo: Campaign Evolved releases soon, but I'm even more eager to find out what Halo Studios has planned for the future of the franchise. I've always felt Halo is massively underutilized, and with Xbox now looking to invest more heavily in its biggest franchises, I'm hoping we finally see the series branch out into more genres. Who knows, maybe even the canceled Mega Bloks game could make a return one day.

Let me know what you'd like to see from Halo in the comments, and as always, be sure to take part in our poll!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.