Microsoft's Surface Pro is on sale just in time for back-to-school season. The flagship 2-in-1 runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite or Snapdragon X2 Plus processor, both of which promise a significant performance bump over the last generation.

A bunch of Surface Pro models are on sale right now across various retailers. I've listed the biggest deals below, starting with the 21% discount on the Surface Pro with Snapdragon X2 Elite, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage.

Why buy a Surface Pro

The main reason to grab a newer Surface Pro is the processor you'll get. The Snapdragon X2 Plus and Snapdragon X2 Elite offer over a 50% graphics improvement over the last gen.

That performance bump helps everything from photo editing to everyday productivity tasks feel smoother.

Microsoft refined the design of the Surface Pro over more than a decade, resulting in a premium device that defines the category. There are good reasons why Apple and other companies try to copy the Surface Pro.

While imitation is a form of flattery, the Surface Pro still stands out because of its built-in kickstand that makes it easy to prop up. That kickstand-centered design is best taken advantage of with the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard, which happens to be discounted right now.

The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard that's on sale is compatible with the new Surface Pro that launched this year. If you're worried about compatibility, you can double-check your device on Microsoft's support document about Surface Pro keyboards.

The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard can be used wirelessly or when physically attached. If you've ever tried to use a laptop or a 2-in-1 on an airplane tray table or tiny desk, you'll know the struggle of feeling cramped. The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard lets you have the keyboard on your lap or a table while the PC sits elsewhere.

Like other PCs, the Surface Pro has crept up in price over the last year or so. The high price tag of the Surface Pro was the main complaint about the PC when it was announced. The current deals on the Surface Pro alleviate that issue, at least temporarily.

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JLab, a brand we usually recognize for its headphones, still dips out of its wheelhouse from time to time to make broader PC accessories for productivity and gameplay performance on the side.

Now, its ergonomic "Epic Wireless Mouse", featuring a 2,400 DPI sensor, 4-month battery life, and remappable buttons, is available at Best Buy (currently discounted by a third-party seller to $51.77).

If you're looking for something different, there are more affordable ergonomic JLab mice and keyboards at Best Buy, flaunted as "Better for your wrist. Better for your budget" — with options available directly from Best Buy alongside third parties.

Why buy the JLab Epic Wireless Mouse?

JLab's Epic Wireless Mouse offers features for any worker navigating life's daily grind while taking breaks for some light gaming. These include an ergonomic design that fits snugly in your hand, the ability to connect to 3 devices via Bluetooth or its USB dongle, rechargeable batteries that last for around 4 months, and 9 buttons that can be customized with key bindings or shortcuts via JLab's Work app.

Elsewhere, it features silent buttons so they don't make distracting noise, a tiny OLED screen to show its status, and a 2,400 DPI sensor, making it responsive when moving the cursor while browsing or gaming.

So, if you're looking for a new mouse to help you with your assignments or games, then JLab is worth a shot. At least 114 shoppers on Best Buy have given it 5-star reviews, with some saying its performance is comparable to Logitech's MX Vertical Mouse but at a much cheaper cost (JLab's Epic Wireless Mouse has a listing price of $59.99, compared to the MX Vertical's listing price of $119.99).

FAQ

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Technology rarely stands still, and having a job like this means seeing newer, better, faster hardware on a regular basis. But through all of the upgrades I've made in the last decade, there's one piece of tech that has been with me throughout and won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

Many years ago, I bought a monitor to pair with my gaming PC of the time. You can read about it in my Dell S2417DG review, which I had to double-check the date on. I've had this monitor for 9 years now.

It's not the only PC monitor I've used in that time, of course. I've paired it with various other secondaries, and I've moved it off to use with another PC while I review other monitors.

But almost a decade after cracking open the box, it's still here. It's my primary display for work and for PC gaming, and unlike every other piece of tech I've got itchy feet over upgrading through the years, I've got no plans to get rid of the Dell S2417DG. It's still plenty good enough, even for gaming when refresh rates have gone through the roof. I absolutely adore it.

What makes the Dell S2417DG so good

When I originally bought and subsequently reviewed the Dell S2417DG, I was looking for three things in particular.

• 1440p
• High refresh rate
• NVIDIA G-Sync support

At a then-list price of $430, compared to a lot of the competition, the S2417DG represented phenomenal value. The key specs that drew me to this specific model are highlighted in the table below.

When I bought it, I'd just secured an NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti, the beast of its time, and my previous primary monitor didn't have a refresh rate or resolution high enough to allow me to stretch its legs.

Fast forward 9 years and I'm still happy gaming at 1440p and still happy at 165Hz. Could I do 4K? Sure, I'm fortunate to be running an RTX 5090 these days. Could I do more frames? Absolutely.

I've tested laptops and monitors with higher resolution and/or refresh rates far in excess of 165Hz and never once felt I needed more in my own setup. Playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 at 240Hz rather than 165Hz is not going to suddenly change the game for me. It certainly won't help a gamer in his forties be any better at it.

For day-to-day use, I've long felt 120Hz is the sweet spot. I only really use 165Hz because this monitor has a factory overclock, so why not?

But it has everything I need. The color isn't the absolute greatest, but 98% sRGB is fine for my needs since I don't do any serious color accuracy work, and games still look great.

Even with an older DisplayPort standard, I haven't yet been held back, and the 1ms response has since been beaten by newer monitors, but again, it was more than enough back then for me, and it's still the same today.

In years past, I also made use of the USB 3.0 hub built into the monitor. Nowadays my desktop PC has enough USB ports that are faster than this that I don't need to. But in the early days it was extremely useful.

Only one area this monitor has started to underperform

Over the lifespan of this monitor, I've also used it hooked up to my Xbox console. It's only here, now, that it's starting to show its age.

The HDMI 1.4 port on the Dell S2417DG is hard-capped at 60Hz, even though it will still support the 1440p native resolution. Even dropping to 1080p, that 60Hz cap applies on this monitor.

It's not a total dealbreaker, since 60Hz has been fine on console for long enough, but with an Xbox Series X I'm not able to make full use of the 120Hz capabilities in supported games using this monitor anymore.

As such, the Xbox Series X has been hooked up to a more modern 1080p monitor with a newer spec HDMI connection. I'll take frame rate over resolution any day.

I don't see the point in 'upgrading' to a newer monitor

Are there better monitors out there? Of course there are. There are plenty with 4K displays, OLED, faster refresh rates, and larger panels.

But I've long felt 1440p is the sweet spot for gaming. I don't have the space for large displays, and having tested higher refresh rate panels, I don't actually feel like I'd be getting anything beneficial.

Call of Duty is the only 'competitive' game I play, and I've got enough FPS to be comfortable in that. Looking at what's out there right now at prices I'd be comfortable paying, I feel like any new monitor would be a sidegrade, less so than an upgrade.

Would I be better off with more up-to-date ports? Most likely I would, but I've been fine for 9 years now without feeling like I'm held back. The old warhorse is still pulling along as well as it ever did.

I'm also a big believer in not adding to e-waste. I could sell this on to someone else, but it works well enough still, so what's the point in that? Times are hard, everything is more expensive than ever before, and you never know when you'll need to cash in a kidney to buy another stick of RAM or an SSD.

I truly can't think of another piece of tech I still own and have used for as long as this monitor consistently. I'm just praying that writing about it doesn't hex the whole thing and I wake up tomorrow and it decides it's had enough...

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Let's get this out of the way: Monster Hunter Wilds was one of the biggest disappointments I've had playing a game in a long time, which hurts me a lot to say as a die-hard Monster Hunter fan.

Unlike my colleague, Jez Corden, who somewhat enjoyed it when he reviewed it, Monster Hunter Wilds left me frustratingly bored at launch for its dangerless main campaign, inadequate performance, dull art style, nonexistent endgame content, and other quality-of-life features that went too far in catering to new players, which sucked out any form of challenge seen in previous Monster Hunter games.

Granted, it got better over time with some cool post-launch updates that added much-needed meat to its endgame content and fixed its performance issues on the Xbox and similar issues on PC. However, none of these updates have fixed the aforementioned issues that plague its main story campaign and other elements that make the base game a slog until players can unlock the post-launch content.

Which is why I'm hoping that, when the game's DLC expansion, Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, launches in 2027, it will take its time to address the fundamental gameplay issues with the base game, so that the journey to Master Rank quests won't be a tedious grind to sit through. So, here are the top gameplay improvements I want to see Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance bring to the base game of Monster Hunter Wilds.

1) Make enemies tougher — encourage players to upgrade gear at every step of the journey

One of the biggest problems of Monster Hunter Wilds was that the main Low Rank campaign and early High Rank story quests were too easy compared to previous games. This problem was caused by lots of new gameplay mechanics introduced in Monster Hunter Wilds, and the monsters themselves don't feel like much of a threat.

A good chunk of the monsters died in less than five minutes with little effort, and they barely did any damage to me, and I was wearing the beginner Hope Armor set and Gunlance, which I didn't upgrade for the majority of the campaign until the end purely out of fashion rather than function.

As for the new combat mechanics such as Focus Strikes and Wounds, they were constantly trivialized as they kept knocking monsters down and chopping off a good chunk of their health.

So, what I propose is that when Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance comes out, it could introduce a major balance adjustment for the monsters so that they hit much harder and have much more health in Low Rank quests and early High Rank quests.

This way, it will encourage players not to recklessly button-mash their way to victory, as that will get them killed, and actually take the time to prepare before each fight by upgrading their equipment and studying their quarry's attack patterns and openings, as previous Monster Hunter games have done.

Additionally, I'd want Wounds to appear far less often on monsters so that when they do show up and are ready to be popped by Focus Strikes for big damage and knockdowns, it feels rewarding to be aggressive while also careful to avoid getting eaten by the newly improved monsters.

Granted, we already see elements in this post-launch High Rank monster like Omega, Gogmazios, and Tempered Monsters. But having this level of toughness for the Low Rank to early High Rank campaign quest monsters will help new players become better hunters for the greater challenges ahead and provide great satisfaction upon beating these newly improved monsters.

Not to mention, the increased difficulty will also make the story more enjoyable, as now the stakes presented by monsters in cutscenes will actually feel real.

2) Nerf the Seikret

One of the contentious additions of Monster Hunter Wilds is the new Seikret mount. This thing is designed to help players traverse the large-scale maps and aid in combat by providing a faster mode of transportation while allowing players to switch weapons, use items, or sharpen weapons on the fly.

The problem with the Seikret is that it's too good at its job. When you get knocked down, you can call the Seikret to help you get back while being invincible for a brief period, and there's no cooldown for this trick.

Plus, with the extra mobility and other features, the Seikret can make players literally run circles around monsters without getting hit and hit back twice as hard with dismounting attacks with no consequence.

While I would like to remove the Seikret entirely, unfortunately we can't. Otherwise, we would be unable to access areas that can't be entered on foot and would be unable to progress in the game.

I propose making the Seikret less of a "get out of jail free card" by limiting the number of times we can call it to escape attacks or switch weapons in battle. It could be done by using a cooldown system tied to the Seikret's stamina (similar to the Wirebugs in Monster Hunter Rise) or by having certain monsters exude such a terrifying aura that it causes the Seikret to flee, making it unusable while the player is near it.

That way, players will need to be more careful when using the Seikret in combat, learn to use other mechanics like playing dead, dodge rolling, and blocking with shields to avoid damage so they can experience more varied defensive options, and feel more rewarded for using the limited Seikret calls when trying to escape dire situations when all other options are exhausted.

3) Permanently setting the weather state of maps

One of the unique features of Monster Hunter Wilds is its dynamic weather system, which changes the look and feel of hunting biomes and which monsters appear. These weather states include:

• Plenty: A biome brightens up with gorgeous lighting and abundant wildlife roaming the fields.
• Fallow: A biome's ecosystem falls into a barren, decaying state devoid of life.
• Inclemency: A biome undergoes hazardous weather effects and draws out that biome's Apex monster.

While this weather system is designed to make each area feel more alive and immersive, it only makes the game's art direction and graphics look dull (and, in some worse cases, an unfinished mess).

The game's diverse biomes look absolutely beautiful during Plenty periods with their rich colors and contrasts, but during the Fallow and Inclemency periods, the game's art direction takes a nose dive as areas are covered in way too much fog, dust storms, and other weather effects, making the environments look so dull and grey (though they did an option to reduce volmetric fog in a post-launch update).

What makes this worse is that the game's best monsters like Rey Dau and Nu Udra only show up during the Inclemency periods, which causes all their sublimely well-done, detailed character designs to be muddied and lost in hazardous weather conditions and fog.

Sometimes I don't want to hunt these monsters in their natural habitats and would just fight them in the arena map so I can actually see them properly and take in their gorgeous details rendered by Capcom's RE Engine.

So, I propose giving players the option to set the weather state of a biome permanently to whatever state they want and have the Apex monsters show up in any weather state instead of just Inclemency.

That way, we can hunt enemies all the time in the lovely Plenty weather and feast on the visual eye-candy this game's detailed graphics can provide, instead of being forced to fight the most challenging enemies in the other weather states, which do nothing but degrade this game's artistic beauty.

Here's hoping Monster Hunter Wilds' DLC expansion can help it 'ascend' to new heights

I could rant on even more about potential improvements to the base game, such as improving certain weapon types by bringing back moves from previous games to make them more fun to use (please, give us recoil mods for Spread ammo on Bowguns and bring back Heavy Bowgun's shoulder tackle from Monster Hunter Rise).

However, judging by Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance's debut trailer, it looks to be already addressing that with the introduction of the Boost Bracer mechanic, which seems to give weapons access to cool new moves or modes, like holding a Light Bowgun in one hand and firing it like a machine gun or increasing the swing speed of the Greatsword.

Either way, whatever improvements Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance plans to bring, I will be there to experience them first-hand when it launches on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam, as I still love Monster Hunter at the end of the day.

If the DLC plays its cards right and if it takes my advice into account, Monster Hunter Wilds may finally become that awesome next-gen RE Engine Monster Hunter experience we were promised when it was first revealed in 2023.

But what do you think? Are there aspects of Monster Hunter Wilds' base game you would like to improve in Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, or are you happy with the state of the game as is and just want all the new content in the DLC expansion?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let me know through my poll, the comments section, or our Reddit page.

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When Asha Sharma was named Xbox CEO, some on the web screamed about the fact that she was not a gamer. But the first few months of her tenure have shown why sometimes it's best to have a person who understands business in charge of a multi-billion-dollar gaming empire.

Here are some lessons that Xbox has had to learn or relearn this year under Sharma: Exclusives matter, Xbox starts with console, and it's not realistic to expect Xbox Game Pass to have 77 million subscribers when there are only an estimated 30 million Xbox consoles around.

Back in 2024, then Xbox CEO Phil Spencer said he wanted a "Future Where Every Screen Is An Xbox." It's been over two years since that memo was sent to Microsoft employees and leaked. In that time, we've seen Microsoft ship exclusives to PlayStation, reverse course, and straddle the barrier between consoles and PCs.

Spencer's vision was flawed. Taking the box out of Xbox never made sense. While cloud gaming extends the Xbox experience, the best experience requires dedicated hardware.

Sharma emphasized that fact in her exclusive interview with us earlier this year:

"I am committed to 'returning to Xbox,' and that starts with console, that starts with hardware. You will hear more about that soon."

But worse than taking the box out of Xbox was the idea that you could take the Xbox out of Xbox. Microsoft needs its console to stand out, and making everything under the sun an Xbox goes directly against that.

Microsoft put Halo on PlayStation 5 in a move our Jez Corden called "brand suicide." In February 2027, we'll see Fable launch and then God of War: Laufey launch the next day.

In just two days, PlayStation 5 owners will gain two massive games, but Xbox owners will get just one.

Hardware needs a reason to exist

Spencer's vision was flawed in terms of practicality, but I understand why people would wish it could work. In a perfect world, we'd all be able to play all our favorite games on any device.

But the reality is that exclusive content is at the core of platforms in 2026, and that's even more true when it comes to gaming. How many people would buy a Nintendo Switch 2 if all of its best games were available on the Xbox Ally X? Why would anyone buy an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S if the PlayStation 5 had all of Xbox's games plus a bunch of Sony exclusives?

Perhaps in another timeline in some parallel universe where PlayStation is actually for the players, we'd see Xbox and PlayStation games appear on both platforms. But we don't live in that world.

Sony reportedly has plans to pull back from PC gaming and not release single-player games on Windows PCs or Steam. That move was likely made because the next Xbox console is a PC at its core.

That means that Sony would rather lose out on all PC sales for its upcoming single-player games than have those same games be playable on the next Xbox console.

With Sony making moves like that, Microsoft can't afford to put its exclusive games on PlayStation.

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Windows Insiders have a new build of Windows 11 to install, and it comes with some exciting improvements for accessibility. The biggest change is to Voice Access, which can now isolate your voice to better control your PC while in a crowded room.

Voice Access allows you to control your PC with only your voice. Once you launch the feature, a dock appears and stays along the top of your screen. That bar shows commands as you enter them, which helps confirm what you've said to your computer.

At the moment, using Voice Access in a room with background noise can be tricky. But that will change with the update to Windows 11 that's now in testing. That upgrade is just the latest in a long string of accessibility improvements from Microsoft.

Microsoft and accessibility

_{Windows 10 added eye tracking in 2017. The feature lets you type with your eyes.}

Microsoft has prioritized accessibility for a long time. It's genuinely one of the most endearing aspects of the company. Here are just a few of the Windows features and pieces of hardware we've covered over the past few years that are part of Microsoft's push to make technology more accessible.

• XBOX Adaptive Joystick
• XBOX Adaptive Controller
• Eye tracking on Windows 10
• Screen tint and improved Braille support
• Voice Access

Our Mauro Huculak has an excellent piece on 7 accessibility features in Windows 11 that make life easier for everyone.

Windows 11, and earlier versions of Windows, have a massive library of features that make computing more accessible.

Microsoft has an extensive support document about all the accessibility features in Windows.

Accessibility is about everyone. When Microsoft develops a feature or accessory with one type of user in mind, there's often a knock-on effect. For example, Read Aloud in Microsoft Edge makes PDFs more accessible, but it also improves reading comprehension and lets you multitask while hearing what's on your screen.

I use Read Aloud every day to proof read my articles. I find that listening as I read improves comprehension and helps me spot typos or other mistakes.

New and improved accessibility in Windows 11

The latest Windows Insider build includes several improvements to accessibility features. Voice Access now supports Voice Isolation, which filters out other speakers and background noise.

It's a small change that makes it possible to use Voice Access in a broader range of work environments. If you rely on Voice Access, a shared office can cause frustration.

Hybrid and in-office work often places colleagues too close to each other to use Voice Access. Voice Isolation allows someone who needs the feature to control a PC to work in the same space as their coworkers.

The same Insider build brings support for displays that use the HID (Human Interface Device) standard to Narrator. That standard enabled plug and play support for braille displays and is backed by Microsoft, Apple, and other tech giants.

Here's the change log for Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 29634.1000 that relates to accessibility.

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 29634.1000

Voice Isolation in Voice Access

• We’re introducing Voice Isolation, a new option in Voice Access that helps it focus on your voice, even when others are speaking nearby. Whether you’re in a shared office, an open floor plan, or at home with family around, Voice Isolation filters out other voices and background noise so Voice Access can better understand you. All processing happens privately on your device.
• Getting started
  Voice Access now offers three speech recognition modes under Voice Access settings > Improve speech recognition:
  • Voice Isolation — Filters out other speakers and background noise (one-time voice setup required).
  • Remove background noise only — Filters out non-speech sounds like typing or door slams. No additional setup needed.
  • No filtering — Default microphone input with no additional processing.
• To set up Voice Isolation, select it from the menu and follow the short, guided setup where you’ll read a brief paragraph aloud so Voice Access can learn your voice. It only takes a minute, and your voice data never leaves your device

Narrator

Braille displays now connect instantly with Narrator

• We’re making refreshable braille displays easier to use in Windows. Narrator now supports displays that use the HID standard — an open industry standard for braille displays. If your display supports HID, simply connect it via USB and start reading — true plug-and-play with no additional setup required. For Bluetooth, pair your HID braille display in Settings > Bluetooth & devices just like any other accessory, and you can work wirelessly without being tethered to your PC.
• Compatible HID displays include models like the Orbit Reader 20, Orbit Slate 340, Freedom Scientific Focus 40, and APH Mantis Q40.
• HID braille displays now work during the initial Windows setup experience (OOBE) over USB — meaning users who are deaf-blind can set up their PC independently, right from the first screen. You can customize braille input and output options anytime in Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Braille.

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One thing I've been thinking about a fair bit recently is Microsoft's original pitch for Xbox Helix.

Former CEO Phil Spencer was teasing for years before Project Helix was revealed that it would run PC games. He talked about platforms like the Epic Games Store on Xbox Helix, for example, opening up the platform to new business models and aligning more closely with traditional PC gaming — albeit designed for the living room.

In 2026, we're in a very different universe, though. The memory crisis has made consumer tech less affordable than ever. The console market has traditionally been the "affordable, simple" alternative to PC gaming. Several price increases later, it increasingly looks less like the "affordable" option and more like the "nerfed" version of PC gaming.

As an "open" PC, Xbox Helix could end up being absurdly expensive

As an open device, Xbox Helix would likely be far too expensive to justify purchase for the vast majority of traditional console gamers, and parents raising the next generation of potential console gamers as well.

Users are already stretched on affordability, and gravitating towards cheaper experiences. Free-to-play titles are eating into legacy core gaming paradigms, and parents are putting their kids on Roblox and old iPads instead of considering increasingly expensive consoles. Roblox is bigger than Steam and PlayStation combined right now ... driven in large part by Gen Alpha and younger Gen Z audiences.

By making Xbox Helix an "open" device, that traditional software sales subsidy goes out of the window. Microsoft would have to price Helix as a high-end PC, profiting on the hardware, rather than the software, if it couldn't guarantee users would remain in its ecosystem. This is one reason why the Steam Machine ended up being so expensive. If you can install Windows on it and ignore Steam, why would Valve ssell the hardware at a loss? It simply isn't viable.

So ... if Xbox Helix is to come in at a reasonable console-like price point, doesn't that mean it has to be a closed box, subsidized by software sales rather than hardware profitability? These are the questions Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and Xbox CSO Matthew Ball are likely grappling with right now.

PlayStation has pulled out of PC, eliminating one potential major advantage

Under former CEO Phil Spencer, Xbox began putting their games on rival platforms, including PlayStation. This did a huge amount of brand damage to Xbox, leading customers current and potential to think that Xbox was preparing to exit its ecosystem all together.

I've written extensively on why Xbox ditching all forms of exclusive content seemed like a terrible idea, but the crux is ultimately why would you choose an Xbox when you can choose a PlayStation which will ultimately have both Xbox and PlayStation's games?

New CEO Asha Sharma is pulling Xbox games off PlayStation in the future, though, bringing Xbox in line with other major industry players again. But where does that leave Xbox Helix?

PlayStation announced internally a short while ago that it was planning to drop Steam and PC ports for its single player titles entirely. It experimented putting some PlayStation classics like God of War and The Last of Us on PC. But Sony clearly feels (rightly, in my view) that they're simply training users to ignore PS5, and maybe consoles in general.

Obviously, in a world where Xbox wasn't going to have any form of console-exclusive content, Xbox rocking up with Steam and Epic Games Store would incidentally impose the same limitation on PlayStation.

Even if Sony wasn't going to offer Xbox users its games, at least you could open up Steam and play Sony's back catalog there instead. I doubt Sony considers Xbox Helix to be a big threat to PlayStation, but the idea of an "Xbox branded" device having carte blanche access to Sony "exclusive" games probably felt at least a little uncomfortable to them.

Now PlayStation has pretty much officially jumped ship, and Xbox is also doubling down on its own exclusives, it disrupts at least one long-term major selling point of Xbox Helix's previously planned model.

But the truth is, PlayStation games on PC have hardly moved the needle. PC has reams of Windows-exclusive titles that haven't ever come to console, and in some cases likely never will. Factor in mods, big-hit indie titles, and other PC franchises that aren't even on Steam like World of Warcraft ... well, perhaps PlayStation ditching PC isn't even a big deal in the Helix model.

... But, what about money?

The memory crisis breaks the economics: open consoles would be priced like high-end PCs

The current-gen consoles are now the most expensive video game consoles in decades thanks to the RAMpocalypse. Demand for AI infrastructure has pushed prices of memory chips to historically high levels, decimating consumer electronics across the board. PC shipments are down, smartphones are getting ever more expensive, and lower-volume systems are also getting hard hit.

Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S consoles are far more expensive than they were at launch, marking a historic first. Typically prices come down over the course of a generation, but no longer.

For Xbox Helix and the PlayStation 6, this presents a huge dilemma. Next-gen consoles are usually expected to be more powerful than their predecessors, not less powerful. Price increases have historically been expected, but nobody expected, much less wanted, a $1000+ video game console.

The Steam Machine represents a scary vision of what next-gen could look like for Xbox Helix. This is a "console" that behaves like a PC, is fully open, and thus not subsidized by closed-ecosystem software sales. Because of that, it costs over $1000 for the base model, while simultaneously being less powerful than a much cheaper PS5 or Xbox Series X.

If Xbox Helix is indeed an "open" PC, Xbox would have no choice but to price it like an "open" PC. The Xbox Ally also costs $999.99 because ASUS cannot make their money back on the software sales, given that they have no real distribution platform of their own.

Thanks to the RAMpocalypse, those wafer thin margins get even trickier. I've been told Xbox is losing around $150~ per Xbox Series X|S sold recently due to memory price increases, and will continue to lose money per device even after the planned August 2026 price hike. Now imagine 50% or more of those Xbox Series X|S users bypassed the Xbox ecosystem and went straight to Steam to buy games. The margins would be even worse, without any form of software sales subsidy. Xbox wouldn't have a business at all.

Indeed, internal Xbox documents from around last winter received and verified by Windows Central offer some insights into how Microsoft's Xbox Ally gaming PC is going on that front.

Around 75% of Xbox Ally owners also own Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass, which is an impressive figure. But the purchasing behavior of non-subscription holders offers a bleak picture for the Xbox PC store attach rate — an insight into how Xbox Helix could go if it were "open."

Of non-subscribing users: If an Xbox Ally user was also an Xbox console owner, around a quarter of those users also made purchases on the Xbox PC ecosystem. However, if the Xbox Ally owner was not an Xbox console owner, that figure dropped to a measly 2%. Suggesting that almost 100% of non-Xbox owning, new Xbox Ally owners simply went straight to Steam.

If Xbox Helix simply became a defacto "Steambox" for new users, the profitability would have to come out of the upfront hardware cost, otherwise Microsoft stands to potentially lose millions on the hardware ecosystem in general. With the RAMpocalypse and user behavior data from the Xbox Ally experiment, Microsoft might be reconsidering this aspect of the box. Otherwise, it stands to just accelerate another generation of users to free-to-play games, Steam, and mobile slop.

But ... Asha Sharma has professed that Xbox Helix WILL support PC games ...?

But ... the contracts for AMD's Xbox "Magnus" PC-console hybrid chips are already in place. The silicon is already being pressed, the whole platform has been costed up and approved.

Indeed, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reiterated fairly recently that Xbox Helix will "play your PC games." Although, Xbox CSO Matthew Ball did say that "aspects" of Xbox Helix were being re-evaluated.

In light of the constraints outlined above, how might this end up going down?

• Option 1: Some kind of paywall or subscription to open up to third-party stores?

This one seems fairly unlikely to me frankly, but I've seen some suggest that Xbox could set up some kind of paywall to trigger access to Steam and other storefronts.

If we assume that Microsoft doesn't want to make a box that is straight up unaffordable, one way it could ensure it still has a software subsidy and make the margins work on the other side is by having users pay for a "Pro" version that actually is open.

Perhaps they could do two separate versions, similar to Windows RT or "S Mode" which was locked to the Microsoft Store, and offer a premium version that is fully like a PC, but comes with PC-style price tag.

I suspect that would be difficult to market and explain, particularly given how Asha has suggested that Xbox Helix will play "your PC games," ... but they've never explicitly said Steam would be on it.

• Option 2: Semi-open, revenue sharing model with Epic Games' on PC or other strategic partners.

One thing that struck me as odd is, when Phil Spencer talked about the next-gen Xbox having other stores, he actually never did mention Steam. He mentioned things like GOG, and the Epic Game Store, but he never actually did say Steam itself would be on the box to my knowledge.

Indeed, maybe Microsoft's plan has been to work with partners directly in a more curated fashion. On the Xbox PC store for example, we see platforms with extensions plug-in to Xbox PC, such as Battle.net and Ubisoft Connect.

Perhaps it was never really about Steam, but more about giving platforms the option to work directly with Microsoft on some sort of revenue-sharing model, which would keep the hardware subsidized but give platform holders more control, and a bigger cut of the profits.

Xbox PC sales do pay out at 90% to developers, rather than the console-oriented 70%. But ... we get into hardware subsidy problems again when we talk about some of this stuff.

• Option 3: Fully open, absurd price point and all?

The third and final option ... perhaps it will simply sport a PC-style price tag. Perhaps the plan is for Xbox Series X|S to have an unnaturally long life span, and for Xbox Cloud Gaming to do some heavy lifting for those who can't afford the Unaffordable-Console-Future.

I find it hard to imagine an Xbox console with a >$1000 price tag. I'm not sure how Xbox can achieve a

If Xbox has to make a profit on the hardware, and is effectively making a Steam Machine in all but name, nobody will buy it. But Asha has promised access to PC games on Xbox Helix ... but then, surely that does mean it'll have Steam, right? Could it be a half-way house with direct partnerships with Epic Games and other platform holders? Or will it have some kind of paywall "Pro" option to remove an artificial, arbitrary block, like Windows "S Mode"?

I'm sure these discussions are happening at a high level at Xbox right now ... what do you think should happen? Hit the comments, lets discuss it.

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We're headed towards an all-digital future, and there's nothing we can do about it. We've only ourselves to blame, really. As more of us moved away from buying physical music, movies, and video games, it's given the platform holders the fuel they need to do away with it entirely.

PlayStation has already pulled the trigger, confirming that from 2028 there will be no new physical console games released. The next Xbox, Project Helix, is going to be some kind of PC/console mashup, and we're expecting it'll do the same. We already have the Xbox Series S and a digital-only version of the Xbox Series X.

I'm not an eggs-in-either-basket person. I have a large library of digital content, as well as physical games, music, and movies. I like buying a thing on a disc, and I appreciate the convenience of not having to do that, also.

But in less than a week we've had two major Xbox outages and one from PlayStation; living proof this all-digital future we seem to be locked into is going to be pretty awful at times.

Unfortunately, I don't really know the answer. One thing is pretty clear, though; we need more robust systems in place and we need reliable ways to enjoy our content in an offline environment when these systems go down.

Offline access needs to be guaranteed

It's not just Xbox and PlayStation catching attention for the wrong reasons in recent weeks. Ubisoft had a hit on its hands when it launched Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, only to stomp all over it when folks couldn't play it offline on PC.

A Ubisoft Connect outage somehow also stopped players playing the game offline, leading us to question whether Ubisoft even knows what an offline mode really is. Ironically there were comments about saying pirated versions of the game were working just fine

We've since found out that a licensing tool not specific within Microsoft to just Xbox is what failed and ultimately brought everything crashing down around it. Folks couldn't even see their library of 'owned' games. All these systems are in place to prove 'ownership' of our content, and it turns out that they're not necessarily up to scratch.

Steam, for all its faults, at least has a pretty robust offline mode. There are still conditions that need to be met, but assuming you keep game files up to date, there's no external connection required to launch or play, and it uses Steam's own DRM for your 'ownership' check, you're usually able to play when you don't have a connection.

I've had a Steam Deck for four years now and never once have had an issue playing a game offline on it that didn't need outside connections. The rest really do need to catch up.

The future really isn't so bright after all

I've been feeling increasingly disillusioned with gaming over the past few months, for many reasons I won't go into here. The Xbox layoffs situation certainly hasn't helped.

But I think it also carries over a little from other media. Trying to explain to my children what it was like when I was their age is like speaking a foreign language.

Going to Blockbuster to find a movie to watch at the weekend. Hitting the local games store with friends to hunt for something new to play, then being able to just put a cartridge or disc into a console and get right to playing it. No updates, no accounts, just straight into the fun.

The entertainment industry as a whole is structured now to take as much money as possible from us and give us the least in return. Instead of focusing on making good games (at least at the biggest studios), the focus is on how to ensure that a game can extract revenue for as long as possible.

We're paying more than ever with less to show for it. And it's only going to get worse.

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For many years, "pre-built PC" almost felt like a slur in some gaming circles, and I'll admit that I used to consider myself above the pre-built market.

Who would buy a system built by someone else? That might not have proper airflow? That might have a ton of bloatware installed out of the box? That might use proprietary parts you can't upgrade yourself? That charges a premium price compared to building your own? To put it bluntly, pre-built gaming PCs had a poor reputation.

These things used to cross my mind before I regularly started testing pre-built PCs here at Windows Central, before I had a ton of experience with the pre-built market, and before the PC market's recent changes.

I won't pretend that I don't still prefer building my own gaming PC. Watching it power on and run my favorite games is a small joy that I love to repeat. But the time when building your own PC was cheaper and better than picking up a pre-built is coming to an end.

I've spent the past several months testing a wave of new pre-built gaming PCs here at Windows Central, and I can no longer pretend that they're inferior. Some of these machines are genuinely good. Not just "good for a prebuilt" — genuinely good and bordering on better than I could do myself.

The proof is in the pre-built PC

It was Acer's Nitro 65 pre-built gaming PC that finally spurred me to write this article. It's the most recent pre-built I reviewed — I'm also testing the HP Omen 45L right now — and I went in expecting the usual compromises often found in big-brand pre-built systems.

It turns out that, aside from a non-modular PSU tucked away out of sight, the PC is something I'd easily recommend to anyone looking for an upgrade.

I saw a similar story play out on the boutique end. I tested Maingear's MG-1 MK.II earlier this year, handing it five stars and a Windows Central Editor's Choice award.

It's an expensive PC to be sure, but not much more than putting your own system together with everything considered. These PCs are assembled by hand by people who clearly have a passion for this type of thing, and I don't think I've ever paid as much attention to cable management and RGB lighting as what's found in Maingear's flagship.

The iBuyPower Slate 8 Mesh that I reviewed last year is another relatively affordable gaming PC that balances power and price quite well, and it regularly costs less than $1,500.

This leads me to the Steam Machine's launch, when I went looking for prebuilts that could best it on price and performance. This was during Amazon's Prime Day event, but it quickly became clear that the five PCs I chose could outperform Valve's box while also costing less.

This is really where I imagine PC purists are having a hard time: pre-builts are increasingly upping build quality, maintaining convenience, and winning on value.

Not every pre-built gaming PC is a winner

As I said, I'd still recommend anyone with the time and inspiration to put together their own system. If hardware prices weren't being completely skewed by the ongoing RAM and storage crisis, I might not be writing this piece.

And although I've had some positive experiences of late, I don't want to oversell pre-built PCs. There are certainly still a lot of oddities to be found in the market.

Take the ASUS TUF Gaming T500 that I reviewed as an example. It's built around a laptop-class mobile CPU stuffed into a desktop chassis, and, in my opinion, the mash-up didn't work.

It took the worst pre-built habits, including poor upgradeability, and added new problems on top. It's ultimately proof that pre-builts still aren't guaranteed to be winners, and that the ceiling has risen without the floor following.

That's the distinction that matters. Just a few years ago, the odds of landing a quality pre-built PC that was upgradeable and assembled properly weren't great. Enough so that using a blanket "just build your own PC" response was reasonable.

Those odds have shifted. More and more companies are shipping systems that hold up against self-assembled PCs in terms of price, component quality, and thermals.

My advice to gamers shopping for a new pre-built PC

Those shopping for a pre-built gaming PC shouldn't trust the entire category. Instead, trust specific reviews. Check what PSU is inside and whether an upgrade is necessary. Check what parts the case can fit inside. Check how much bloatware you're dealing with on day one.

Just a few years ago, I would have told a friend building their first gaming PC to skip pre-builts entirely. Now, I'd tell them to read a few reviews first, because there's a real chance the better deal is already sitting on a store shelf.

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I'm going to be real honest here: I've been feeling somewhat down lately.

Even though there are so many games on the horizon, it's hard to feel excited when there's been so much negativity surrounding the industry recently, what with Sony discontinuing physical media, Xbox blocking people from their Xbox accounts through no fault of their own, and rapidly rising Xbox and PC tech prices thanks to AI.

I was stuck in a rut, which my colleague, Jez Corden, noticed and decided to fix by gifting me a game I had never heard of but knew would capture my attention: Tears of Metal.

This game is a roguelike hack-and-slash heavily inspired by Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors franchise, where you play as legendary Scottish warriors looking to take back their homeland from demonic invaders created by the mysterious Dragon Meteor.

As someone who grew up playing Dynasty Warriors games like Samurai Warriors 2, Warriors Orochi, and, my personal favorite, Hyrule Warriors, Jez thought this game would be up my alley and get me out of my funk.

Although, I didn't think I'd like it because of my depressing state and because I hadn't played a Dynasty Warriors game in decades after growing bored of how repetitive they are (and before you ask, I didn't play Dynasty Warriors Origins when it first came out because, despite the good things I heard about it, the idea of playing only ONE character in a Dynasty Warriors game sounded like heresy to me).

But I decided to give it a chance, and oh my gods, was I wrong to be pessimistic. This chaotic game was just the catharsis my brain needed, and I'm about to tell you why this game should be on any hack-and-slash lover's wishlist.

The gameplay structure has you embark on campaigns with procedurally generated maps filled with levels where you must defeat hordes of baddies to reach the final boss, each level more challenging than the last thanks to rising threat levels if you spend too much time on a map.

To survive, you will need to master your character's wide range of special attacks, command units in your army to attack priority targets, and gather items that grant powerful passive traits like firing explosions every time you dodge or cursing groups of enemies so they all share the same amount of damage they take even if you hit one of them.

However, it's unlikely you beat it on your first go because enemies in this game get tougher the further you progress, eventually to the point where you'll start doing less damage to them and kill you in one or two shots.

Thankfully, death is not the end. After each campaign concludes, whether you win, lose, or quit, you will gain permanent resources that can be used to upgrade your characters by unlocking new moves, unlocking discounts on item shops, promoting your army so that they'll get stronger while providing you with passive benefits so long as you keep them alive during a campaign, and much more.

These roguelite elements, combined with a fast-paced combat system and fun characters to play as (my favourite being Brienne Ironleg, as she's an extremely fast brawler), make this game so exciting to play through, even when I was dying a lot, as I knew I was still making progress unlocking new gear and moves after each run.

But don't take this to mean Tears of Metal's enemies are pushovers once you've found enough upgrades, because they can and will wreck you if you don't take time to analyse their attack patterns and learn when it's safe to dodge or attack.

Dying to these bosses can be pretty demoralizing, especially when you've progressed so far into a run. But coming back with new gear, moves, and knowledge to get revenge on them after they humiliated you was very satisfying and worth the backtracking.

Plus, when you feel like the game's starting to get too easy, you can always add difficulty modifiers unlocked after each successful campaign for greater challenges and rewards.

Overall, I had a blast playing Tears of Metal, and it was just what I needed after a stressful couple of weeks reporting on this dark state of gaming we currently live in.

The art style is cartoonishly grim, the available playable characters were fun to mess around with (there are only 3 in early access with more coming in the future), the music was gloriously metal, there's a healthy variety of enemies to fight, and the roguelike elements kept things from getting repetitive, unlike its main inspiration.

And the kicker was that I was having a good time solo, so I can't imagine how fun it will be when I drag my friends into playing this game's 4-player co-op mode with me.

I can't wait to see this game fully evolve as time passes with more updates and hopefully get my friends to play it when the full game releases on PC and Xbox sometime in the future.

In the meantime, I think I'll fire up Dynasty Warriors: Origins to give that game a chance now that Tears of Metal has put me in a hack-and-slash mood, as well as check out the hit 2D hack-and-slash, Absolum, now that it's on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass.

This early-access game is currently available on Xbox on PC, (via Xbox Game Preview), PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Steam, but is planned to launch on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming at a later date.

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Recently, I decided to catch up on Final Fantasy XIV's 2026 FanFest in Berlin out of morbid curiosity about what one of the new Jobs will look like for the Evercold expansion, even though I haven't actively played the game in years due to being disappointed by the Dawntrail expansion.

What I saw made my jaw hit the floor because Final Fantasy XIV's new job, the 'Bastion', looks so unbashingly cool. It's essentially a brawler that fights using two greatshields to block enemy attacks, slash at them with claws attached to said shields, and then transforms the shields into arm cannons that blow enemies away with laser blasts.

Now while this isn't enough for me to get into Final Fantasy XIV (I'll have to see more of its Evercold's Evolved Mode combat system in action, the second new Job, and Evercold's story to decide), this is enough to make me jealous as a World of Warcraft player (who's currently on break after having enough of WoW: Midnight's buggy patch cycle).

Now, I've never played as a Tank Class In World of Warcraft. Not because I'm afraid of the taunting responsibility of drawing the enemy's attention and protecting the entire party during raids, but because, well, none of them ever appealed to me.

All their abilities, playstyles, class fantasies, and aesthetics look too unremarkable and too generic high fantasy.

I mean, slapping enemies as a Bear-form Druid, or parrying attacks with a shield as an Arms Warrior, never seemed as cool or unique compared to Final Fantasy XIV's slick Gunbreaker Job, which slashed and blew enemies up with a gunblade before shooting magic shields at allies, or the new, brutal Bastion Job for the reasons mentioned earlier.

Also, Blizzard seems to keep nerfing Tank classes into the ground, making them less appealing and more stressful to play in Mythic+ dungeons or Raids at high difficulty levels.

So aside from giving all the Tank Classes in World of Warcraft major buffs to their toolkits, I think Blizzard needs to start adding new Tank Classes, starting with ripping off Final Fantasy XIV's new Bastion Job.

Final Fantasy XIV's new Bastion Job can easily be replicated or even approved easily in World of Warcraft by adding the long-requested Tinkerer Class (which I mentioned was one of the things I wanted out of Blizzard at the beginning of the year).

This hypothetical Class's Tank Spec could summon a giant mech robot or suit and use it to blow up enemies with missiles, rocket punches, lasers, and whatever insane weapon of mass destruction the Horde's Goblin race or Alliance's Gnome race can come up with.

If adding a new Tank Class is too much hassle to balance considering the game's stacked roster of classes, maybe Blizzard can focus on adding new Tank specializations (Specs for short) to existing classes at least.

Maybe we can have a Shaman Tank Spec conjure a suit of armor made of molten rock to withstand damage, uses wind magic to pull enemy groups, and then finishes them with explosive rocky fists.

Heck, maybe we can have an Evoker tank spec that specializes in using the Bronze Dragonflight's chronomancy powers more heavily than the Augmentation Spec?

They can use time magic to slow down an enemy's attacks to mitigate damage, augment their attacks with superspeed to maintain aggro on enemies, and reverse time on their own body to heal wounds for survivability or even revive a fallen teammate.

I know I would love a Tank Class in World of Warcraft that allowed me to use the iconic Goblin Shredder mount as a weapon to use in Dungeons and Raids all the time, customize with unique gear pieces, and shred bosses to pieces with its buzz saws.

Who knows? Maybe Blizzard is already working on a new Tank class or spec as we speak as a surprise reveal for Blizzcon 2026? At least I hope so anyway.

Either way, if we had more unique Tank jobs that took advantage of the more unique and wacky aspects of World of Warcraft's lore, I would definitely work up the courage to take up the role of a Tank class and defend my guild from the worst bosses World of Warcraft has to offer.

🗨️Over to you

But what do you think? Do you think it's about time World of Warcraft added more Tank Classes? Is Final Fantasy XIV's new Bastion Job enough to hook you into its upcoming Evercold expansion?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll above, the comments section, or our Reddit page.

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For the past few years, a Logitech MX Vertical has sat on my desk. I've grown to love the mouse so much that I even take it with me when I travel despite it not folding down or being compact in any way. So, when ProtoArc reached out to me about a newer, budget-friendly ergonomic mouse, I was skeptical that Logitech had anything to learn.

The Logitech MX Vertical fits in my hand well, lets my arm rest at a natural angle, charges through USB-C, and has aged well. The ProtoArc EM11 Pro is not exactly a direct competitor to the Logitech MX Vertical since the two mice are in different price brackets. But there are relatively few angled mice out there, at least in comparison to flat mice, so it's natural to pit the ProtoArc EM11 Pro against the Logitech MX Vertical.

Using the ProtoArc EM11 Pro made me realize a few areas the Logitech MX Vertical lags. If Logitech ever refreshed its ergonomic mouse, it should take some lessons from ProtoArc.

Grip and palm fit

The ProtoArc EM11 Pro and the Logitech MX Vertical fill my hand differently. Logitech's mouse lies flush against my palm as my hand contours around the mouse. But the flat front of that mouse leaves a small gap between my fingers and the buttons.

In contrast, the ProtoArc EM11 Pro has an elongated base with a curve that tapers down at a sharper angle than the Logitech MX Vertical. As a result, the mouse does not feel flush against my palm. But the front of the mouse is curved, making the space behind the buttons feel more comfortable.

I'd love to have a mouse that combines the best of both designs since neither mouse is perfect.

Two wheels are better than one

ProtoArc's ergonomic mouse has two scroll wheels, one set for vertical navigation and the other for scrolling horizontally. I didn't realize how much I wanted two scroll wheels until I navigated Excel and Google Sheets with a pair of wheels. I've always just held Shift on my keyboard and used the single scroll wheel when I needed to move horizontally in a spreadsheet, but having a second wheel feels much smoother. It also requires less movement, which is a key part of ergonomic setups.

Silent clicks for quiet workspaces

I work from home, so I don't have any coworkers to irritate with mouse clicking. If anything, my 10-month-old daughter enjoys the Logitech MX Vertical's clicky buttons since she often sits on my lap and plays with my mouse and keyboard.

But if you work in an open office or sit next to someone at school or work, you probably don't want to hear clicking all day. The ProtoArc EM11 Pro is almost completely silent when clicked.

Why I'm sticking with the Logitech MX Vertical

Logitech should take some lessons from the ProtoArc EM11 Pro, but ProtoArc also has some homework to do. ProtoArc's mouse has some lovely features, but I think it either needs a design tweak or an option for people with different-sized hands.

The angle of my hand doesn't feel natural when using the ProtoArc EM11 Pro. The flared bottom makes my hand want to turn over more than I'd like.

Try as I might, I can't find a way to hold the ProtoArc EM11 Pro that feels comfortable. If I place the side of my hand alongside the base, my fingers don't align properly with the buttons. If I slide my hand down so that my fingers align with the buttons, my hand awkwardly presses against the base.

The curvature of the ProtoArc EM11 Pro also makes it feel like I have to curve my hand a bit, rather than rest at a neutral angle.

Ergonomic mice have a learning curve, so I tried ProtoArc's for a while to see if I'd adjust, and it just hasn't — ahem — clicked. But that may be specific to my hand size and shape. I've known people who disliked the feel of the Logitech MX Vertical, so a lot of this comes down to specific users.

Overall, ProtoArc packed its ergonomic mouse with features other companies should envy. I just wish the mouse fit in my hand as well as the Logitech MX Vertical.

Microsoft is expected to release the Windows 11 August 2026 Security Update on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. In this eighth month of the year, the software giant is rolling out several new features, improvements for existing features, and fixes.

In this quality update, Microsoft will introduce new features, including Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) support, the ability to uninstall AI models from Copilot+ PCs, touchpad gestures, voice isolation for Voice Access, Fluid Dictation for Voice Typing, and more.

There are also improvements to File Explorer, Windows Search, Widgets, Windows Update, power and battery, sounds, and more.

Furthermore, Microsoft is updating the interface for the Account Control flyout in the Start menu, the Windows Setup experience now includes a parental controls notice, and the list continues.

In this guide, I'll highlight the most significant changes in the August 2026 Security Update for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, since both are identical.

Windows 11's new features arriving in August

As usual, the company uses Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) to roll out new improvements gradually, so it may take some time before you see them.

File Explorer changes

Although the updated version of File Explorer doesn't introduce flashy features, the development team is making some worthy improvements.

First, when using the "Details" view, the file sizes now show appropriate units (such as KB, MB, and GB), instead of displaying every value in kilobytes.

It's now possible to use the middle-click to open a folder in a new tab from the address bar and Home page.

Other improvements on the Home page include a gray flash bug on loading and scrolling, and thumbnails in the Recommended section now appear with better quality.

Windows Search tweaks

Starting with the August update, Windows Search now includes improvements to better handle typos, and you can start searches with two-character queries.

When searching for apps, Windows Search improves recognition of partial names and typos. Also, in the Settings app, the search rank has been updated to show more relevant options higher.

Windows Hello support

In this update, Microsoft is bringing Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) support for external fingerprint sensors.

In short, standard Windows Hello encrypts the sign-in data. However, enhanced security support takes it a step further by isolating the biometric process into a secure memory space, away from the operating system.

The option is available through Settings > Accounts > Sign in options.

In the past, this feature was only available for devices with built-in sensors, such as Copilot+ PCs, but now, it'll be available for external peripherals.

AI model uninstall option

Although adding the ability to uninstall something from the operating system doesn't scream new feature, Microsoft is now allowing users to uninstall the Image Generation AI model from Settings > System > AI Components.

And this is a big deal, because one of the biggest complaints about Windows 11 has been the integration of AI features. While supported devices still don't have a master switch to completely disable AI on Windows 11, this is a small step in the right direction.

Widgets improvements

In the Lock screen, the experience should now be less distracting, as now, by default, users will only see the Weather widget.

Also, notification badges in the Taskbar will now take the current accent color instead of the previous red indicator.

Touchpad new gestures

After installing the August update, on Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad, users will be able to customize the speed for scroll and zoom gestures.

In addition, there's a new option to enable accelerated scrolling, which is a feature that increases the scrolling speed as gestures are repeated.

Voice Typing and Access

In Voice Typing, Microsoft is now deactivating Fluid Dictation by default and integrating tooltips to help users understand how the feature works.

Voice Access now comes with Voice Isolation that improves speech recognition by filtering out background noise and other speakers.

In addition, the company is making available three speech recognition settings from Settings > Voice Access > Improve speech recognition.

The "Voice Isolation" option requires a one-time voice setup and filters both background noise and nearby conversations.

Users will also find the "Remove background noise only" mode suppresses sounds such as typing or doors closing without additional setup.

Finally, the "No filtering" mode uses the microphone input without any processing.

Account Control redesign

The flyout that appears when clicking the profile button in the Start menu is known as the Account Control interface, and in this release, Microsoft is adding some design changes.

The changes aim to make it more modern and clearer. For instance, the new design adds a new badge to quickly understand the current plan and state. In addition, it gives users access to their plan benefits as well as other information, such as storage usage from OneDrive.

Power and battery

In this release, the company is making changes to how power settings are applied in the system.

According to Microsoft, customizations made to the display timeouts, sleep and hibernate timers, and laptop lid actions are now automatically applied to every power plan instead of only the active one.

Finally, the ability to configure the battery percentage for "Energy Saver" is coming back to the "Power & battery" settings.

Windows Update improvements

Microsoft continues improving the update system, and this time around, Windows Update will provide more accurate progress estimates during updates.

Furthermore, the company is updating the cleanup process after installing updates to improve system performance.

System sound in dark mode

After installing this Patch Tuesday update, users should also notice improvements to system sounds in dark mode.

Windows Central's Take

From my perspective, this is the kind of Windows 11 update I like to see. It's not built around a flashy headline feature, but instead focuses on polishing the experience in dozens of small ways. Improvements to File Explorer, Windows Search, Windows Update, touchpad gestures, and power management won't generate a lot of excitement, but they're the kinds of changes that make the operating system feel more refined day after day.

I also think Microsoft's decision to let users uninstall the Image Generation AI model is an important step, even if it's a modest one. People have been asking for more control over AI features, and while this isn't a universal switch to remove AI, it shows Microsoft is at least acknowledging those concerns. I'd like to see the company continue in that direction by giving users even more choice over what AI components are installed.

As with every Patch Tuesday release, I'd still recommend waiting a few days before installing the update on your primary computer unless you need the latest security fixes immediately. Monthly updates occasionally introduce unexpected issues, and giving Microsoft a little time to address early reports has rarely been a bad strategy.

What are your thoughts about the Windows 11 August 2026 update? Which new feature or improvement are you looking forward to the most? 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

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I've never really had much interest in "business" laptops, because most of the time they are boring as hell. Featuring plastic exteriors with subpar displays and creaky hinges, I've always said they actually bring down the overall reputation of the Windows laptop ecosystem.

For years and years, business laptops were boring, but ASUS' new ExpertBook Ultra is the first business-class laptop I've used that has given me second thought. It's a beautiful machine, made out of premium materials and with a thin and light design that you might find on a high-end consumer focused flagship laptop.

It's the first business laptop I've used that made me want to keep using it. I was excited to unbox and set up this machine, even though it's designed for office workers and business professionals. I can't say I've ever felt this way about Dell's or HP's business focused laptops.

I've been using the ASUS ExpertBook Ultra for the last month, and this is my full review.

Specs & Price

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is available now from ASUS for an eyewatering $3,599.99. This will net you the same spec reviewed here, with an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, 32GB RAM, and an Intel B390 GPU. That also includes the Tandem OLED 3K display. Of course, that is ludicrously expensive, so my advice is to wait for sales or try your luck at a third-party retailers like Best Buy.

It's available in both black and light-gray colorways, and in this review we spent time with the light-gray model which I think looks best.

What I love

Kicking things off, let's talk about design. In a word, I love the design of the ExpertBook. It's proof that business laptops need not be boring and corporate. The ExpertBook is anything but, featuring ultra-thin bezels and a unique finish on the chassis that ASUS calls Nano Ceramic Technology.

This Nano Ceramic feels amazing. It provides a distinct, silky matte texture to the whole device, which makes it easy to grip and does a fantastic job at hiding fingerprints and scratches. The device itself is also shockingly light and thin, coming in at just 0.99 kg and measuring a razor-thin 10.9 mm in profile. It's an almost impossibly light device, easily maneuverable with one hand and disappears when placed into any backpack, making it an excellent travel companion.

Simply put, the laptop strikes a great balance between executive minimalism and futuristic flair. That futuristic flair is best showcased when opening the laptop. Every time you open it, a lightbar that exists below the display will light up to let you know that the laptop is booting or waking up from sleep. ASUS calls this bar the "ExpertLumi" lighting system, and it provides an ambient glow whenever the device is booting or restarting.

You can turn off the ExpertLumi bar if you don't like it, but honestly, why would you. It's something unique about the device which I love, and it's not used often enough for it to be annoying. It's there when you boot up, or power off, and that's about it.

Above the ExpertLumi bar is the incredible 3K Tandem OLED 14-inch display. It's arguably the best thing about this laptop, offering great color contrast, colors that pop, and a high 120Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling and animations super smooth.

The display also features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, complete with a matte finish that's designed to remove reflections and make the screen easy to see outdoors. It works wonders, with this laptop being one of the best when it comes to viewing it outdoors on a sunny day.

With that said, the matte finish does mean text and image clarity is slightly reduced. It's not the end of the world, and the display is still plenty sharp, but if you're used to high-resolution glossy displays like myself, the matte finish on this display will make text seem a little fuzzier around the edges.

In regards to the keyboard and trackpad, I have no notes. Both are perfect and feel incredibly satisfying to use. The trackpad is a haptic one, which is tuned perfectly so that it feels natural to use. Its design is also quite unique, as the trackpad itself runs all the way to the very edge of the device.

That means the trackpad hangs over the edge of the device, which doubles as a convenient place to place your finger when prying the lid open. On that subject, the lid is openable with one-hand, for those who care about that sort of thing. The keyboard is excellent to type on, with a quiet yet tactile feel that makes typing easy.

Coming onto the ports selection, I'm happy. There's plenty of ports on this device, all of which are well spec'd. We have two Thunerbolt 4 Type-C ports, supporting up to 40Gbps of data, as well as one USB-A 3.2 Gen2 port 1x full-sized HDMI 2.1 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The only port I'd say it's missing that I wish it had is an ethernet jack, but I'm content without one.

The webcam, microphone, and speakers are also great, which you'd hope would be the case on a business-focused laptop. Image quality is crisp and clear in well lit environments, with the picture only getting a little noisy in low-light environments. Perfectly acceptable for video calls at work.

What's not good

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is mostly great, which means I have very little to talk about that I'd class as "not good" about the ExpertBook. One issue that plagued my review unit it the laptop's hinge, which was very loose out of the box, so much so that the device wouldn't stay at a usable angle when typing.

This is a pretty big issue, but ASUS was quick to assure me that this was simply a pre-production issue and would not be the case on final units, which are now shipping. I can confirm that retail units that I have tested do not have this problem, though it's worth keeping an eye out just in case. If your laptop's hinge is super loose to the point where it won't stay upright when typing, make sure you get it exchanged.

The only other "issue" which isn't really an issue is the matte finish on the display. It really does come down to personal preference here, and I just prefer glossy screens over matte finishes. The matte finish on this display takes away from the color contrast you usually get on OLED displays, colors are a little more washed out and text and images are a little less sharp around the edges.

I wish ASUS offered the ExpertBook Ultra with multiple display configurations so I could choose one without the matte finish.

I think the real big problem with this laptop is its price. It's $3,599, which is an absurd price which, even when a laptop is this good, isn't worth it. The ongoing component shortage is the reason why pricing is this high, but as a result this is a super hard recommend to anyone that isn't buying these in bulk for a fleet of executives and managers.

Performance & Battery

Powering things under the hood, we have an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H paired with 32GB RAM and an Intel Arc B390 GPU. This is a very well equipped PC with plenty of power under the hood for day to day productivity tasks, multitasking, and even video and photo editing and rendering.

In fact the Intel B390 GPU in here is more than just your typical integrated graphics. It balances efficiency with power, resulting in an integrated graphics chip that is surprisingly capable at gaming when settings are lowered to 1080p medium. With that in mind, this is not a gaming laptop and should not be judged as one.

Although the device is super thin, the ExpertBook is still plenty capable. It keeps that Intel Core Ultra cool, allowing the CPU to boost up to 50W TDP in Turbo Mode without thermal throttling issues. In day-to-day productivity tasks involving handling dozens of browser tabs, streaming 4K video, compiling code, and running local AI tasks via its 50 TOPS NPU, the machine stays remarkably quiet (under 28 dB in Balanced mode) and snappy.

In regards to battery life, this laptop will last you all day on a single charge with no sweat for your usual day to day productivity task workflows. Obviously, that number will be less if you're doing high-intensity tasks, but for the most part you should be able to leave your charger at home for an office-based productivity workday.

Conclusion

You should buy this PC if...

✅ You want a lightweight flagship Windows laptop

✅ You need a PC with an anti-reflective screen and Tandem OLED

✅ You need lots of ports on your laptop

You should not buy this PC if...

❌ You prefer glossy displays

❌ You don't want to spend over $3,000 on a laptop

❌ You're a hardcore gamer who wants to game

Ultimately, the ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is an incredible laptop, but at $3,599, it's not something I can recommend most people go out and buy. It's just too expensive for what it is, even if it is an almost perfect thin and light laptop.

If we ignore that stupidly high price tag, I have very little to complain about here. The Nano Ceramic material that coats the chassis is unique and looks and feels amazing. Its lightweighted-ness is also otherworldly, and the Tandem OLED display is to die for, even with its matte finish which I'm not a huge fan of.

If you can find the ExpertBook Ultra on sale for less than $2,500, this gets a recommendation from me. Anything more than that, and I think you should probably look elsewhere as there are many other laptops that cost lest that do a great job at matching the ExpertBook Ultra in design and performance.

I thought I was locked into ultrawide monitors for good. It had been 10 years of an expanded 21:9 aspect ratio and 3440x1440 resolution on my desk, after all.

But that all changed a couple of months ago when I got my hands on a "regular" widescreen 16:9 gaming monitor from Alienware.

The screen in question, the AW2726DM, came my way temporarily as a review unit, and it reintroduced me to several display perks I'd forgotten I was missing.

I saw an improvement to my first-person shooter skills with a 16:9 monitor

OK, yeah, I totally forgot that playing first-person shooter (FPS) games on a 16:9 monitor is way different than playing on an ultrawide. I've always said there's a reason that pros don't go for extra pixels on the sides, but I guess I forgot why I was saying it.

Switching back to a regular monitor while playing games like Battlefield 6, Escape From Tarkov, Hell Let Loose, and a few others made a noticeable difference to my scoreboard.

With fewer pixels to watch, especially outside of my main area of focus, I found that I was able to do a lot more shooting and a lot less dying. It largely has to do with a tighter HUD and a smaller window of focus — in any case, when I'm on a first-person shooter jag where I care at all about my performance, I'll be using a 16:9 display.

Indie games and singleplayer gems usually fit better on a 16:9 monitor

When I'm not enjoying first-person shooters, I spend a lot of time with indie and single-player games, many from decades ago before ultrawide screens were even an option.

While some of them offer ultrawide support, there are plenty that fill the space with black bars instead. It's not the worst look, but it's certainly not as clean as gaming on a 16:9 monitor where the graphics fill the screen from bezel to bezel. Worse, some games struggle with a 21:9 aspect ratio in terms of UI functionality.

Even some high-profile games lack native ultrawide support. Elden Ring is a good (bad?) example, requiring me to download a mod or a third-party tool to get rid of black bars on an ultrawide monitor.

My PC doesn't work as hard ... and that's especially important in the summer

PC gaming in the summer usually finds me with a Steam Deck in hand near the air conditioning. But, as we all know, a gaming handheld just isn't the way to play a lot of demanding titles.

It's a coincidence, but my switch to a 16:9 monitor lines up nicely with hot summer weather. Because my GPU isn't having to produce extra pixels for a 3440x1440 ultrawide monitor (compared to 2560x1440), it's not running as hot, and I'm seeing similar (or better) frame rates.

Forgetting ambient temperatures for a moment, giving my RTX 5070 Ti some extra headroom for advanced stuff like ray tracing is always nice. A 16:9 monitor doesn't have to be any less crisp than an ultrawide, and it doesn't take long to stop noticing the lack of extra space on either side of the picture.

My desk isn't being dominated by one screen anymore

I have a dual-monitor mounting arm attached to my desk, and I found that with an ultrawide connected to one fork, there was always one screen taking over my setup.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. My secondary monitor is an old 16:9 screen I use for running Discord and other secondary apps while I game, so it can easily be pushed to the side to make space for the ultrawide.

With two 16:9 monitors back in play, the setup feels a lot more balanced. There's just more space to work with, and I don't feel like I'm turning my head nearly as much when I'm looking at the secondary screen.

I want to be honest about the 16:9 monitor trade-offs

I truly thought I was an ultrawide lover for life, and I spent a considerable amount of time trying to nail down the best high-performance QD-OLED option for gaming.

But my time with a 16:9 monitor has convinced me that a regular aspect ratio is more than enough for my needs. That should also help soften the blow to my wallet when I finally upgrade once and for all.

Regardless, there are a few things I know that I'll miss without a 21:9 screen. The biggest impact is felt when I'm working. Sure, it's easy to drop a couple of windows side-by-side on a 16:9 display, but on an ultrawide, I had a lot more room to play with. Enough that I could fit three windows if I really needed to.

RPGs and racing games don't feel the same

I'm certainly not a gamer who only plays first-person shooters. I enjoy plenty of roleplaying games (RPGs) and racing titles, too, and I won't pretend that they don't look better on an ultrawide display. The extra pixels add a lot of immersion.

In an ideal world, I'd have an ultrawide to swap to when enjoying these genres. Alas, that's a lot of dough to drop on screens, and I'm convinced I'd be better off with 16:9.

The switch back to a 16:9 display went way different than I expected

If you've been mulling over your next gaming monitor's aspect ratio, I'm here to tell you, as a long-term 21:9 enjoyer, that the ultrawide prophets might not always be right.

My experiment with a regular 16:9 gaming monitor certainly didn't feel like a downgrade (especially thanks to a QD-OLED panel and a high refresh rate), and I'm extra happy that I won't have to spend as much on new hardware.

Are you gaming on an ultrawide monitor, or are you sticking with 16:9? Any plans to make a change in the near future? Do you agree with my opinions? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Capcom's Dragon's Dogma series has always fascinated me as a fan of fantasy RPGs, but for some reason or another, I could never get fully into it. On the one hand, the games feature gigantic, sprawling immersive worlds that don't hold the player's hand while encouraging and rewarding them for uncovering their secrets.

Not to mention, the Dragon's Dogma games feature fun, exciting, advanced combat systems akin to Capcom's other action games like Monster Hunter and Devil May Cry, where you and your AI-driven companions (Pawns) work together to bring down giant bosses.

On the other hand, the Dragon's Dogma games have had exceedingly annoying drawbacks that have kept me from fully enjoying them.

These problems ranged from making essential quality-of-life features for open-world games like fast-travel a pain to find to absurd balancing and performance issues at launch that we'd have to wait for their Dark Arisen expansions to fix.

But my biggest pet peeve of all with the Dragon's Dogma series is one simple question: "Why don't these games have co-op?"

Think about it: a core aspect of Dragon's Dogma is working together in a party to fight monsters, yet we're always saddled with AI party members whose intelligence in combat ranges from adequate to downright incompetent.

Imagine the idea of playing Dragon's Dogma with a group of real people that you can coordinate online with so you can pull off the game's unique team attacks more consistently, and laugh as you all hang on for dear life while grappling a flying griffin or dragon?

It is such a huge missed opportunity on Capcom's part that it didn't capitalize on this, as I feel Dragon's Dogma was made for online co-op, and it would've made the series more popular with fans.

But then again, considering Capcom has a history of making multiplayer games feature needlessly convoluted matchmaking systems like Monster Hunter Wilds or having an identity crisis between sticking with PvE or PvP content like Exoprimal, Capcom probably would've messed up the potential co-op mode for Dragon's Dogma too.

Now it seems that YouTuber 'ButFrog' agrees with me that Dragon's Dogma lacking co-op is such a huge missed opportunity, so they've decided to take matters into their own hands and create an awesome-looking mod for the PC version of Dragon's Dogma 2, suitably named "DD2gether - Dragon's Dogma 2 Coop Mod".

This work-in-progress mod is designed to allow players to connect to a host player's world (up to 4-player parties) as either their player-created Arisen or primary Pawn (complete with their gear) by using Steam lobbies for peer-to-peer connections online in a similar vein to Elden Ring's popular Seamless Co-op mod.

The mod is currently in its pre-alpha stage, and ButFrog is working to ensure it works with Dragon's Dogma 2's base game and its upcoming Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen DLC expansion.

So far, this mod is looking promising even in its pre-alpha stages. It's so cool seeing actual real players fight together, and hilarious seeing them get knocked back miles at the same time by a minotaur's axe or a lich's ice spell.

Not to mention, this will allow players to synergize the abilities of Dragon's Dogma 2's many Vocation classes more easily than hoping and waiting for Pawns deciding to use them when you could've used their healing talents five minutes ago before being eaten by a drake (I'm still bitter).

Still, there's plenty of work to be done like making sure online connections are more stable, enabling quest progression for all players (as currently quests can only be completed independently per player), and allowing all treasure chest items to be obtainable for the whole party (as currently only a few certain treasure chest items can be obtained by the host player, but the rest of the game's gathering node items can accessed by the whole party just fine).

Plus, the Trickster Vocation class is currently unusable while this mod is active, as the Trickster's main gimmick of supporting Pawns and distracting enemies for Pawns to beat up doesn't work while there are no Pawns on the field (though this could change in the future).

There's currently no release date planned for this mod, so it's likely we'll see it months or over a year after the DLC expansion launches on October 9, 2026.

However, that doesn't mean I won't be playing Dragon's Dogma 2 before the mod comes out, because it's been looking more enticing to play in the coming months.

In addition to the DLC expansion, which will add a new zone, monsters, loot, and endgame content, Dragon's Dogma 2 is removing its egregious microtransactions while adding long-overdue performance patches and balance adjustments in the coming months.

If it all comes together, I have a feeling Capcom will have another hit on its hands and that Dragon's Dogma will finally get the worldwide recognition it craves, made even better by the DD2gether mod if the finished product ends up working as promised (it's a shame that the Xbox version won't get access to this mod like PC users will).

Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, the large-scale DLC expansion for Dragon's Dogma 2, is set to release on October 9, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Steam.

If you want to follow DD2Gether's development or even gain early access to the mod, check ButFrog's Reddit or Discord channels.

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A year ago, I spent $30 on the XBOX Adaptive Joystick for my fiancée (who has since become my wife) to help her enjoy PC exclusives that are otherwise too uncomfortable with a traditional keyboard or lacking precision with only a controller. A connective tissue disorder causes hypermobility and pain in her joints, which means 'WASD' controls quickly feel awkward and difficult.

It started with a desire to join her friends in Blizzard's gigantic World of Warcraft MMORPG, and led to frustration with the limitations of its native controller support. Yes, with a standard XBOX controller (or any equivalent), you can run around the digital world of Azeroth and interact with the majority of its functions, but you'll eventually discover its limits.

The primary downside of joypads relates to losing precision mouse aiming, which is hard to replicate with any gamepad. Even PC-centric options with built-in trackpads, like Valve's modern Steam Controller, can't perfectly replicate the ease of rapid targeting with a mouse. So, it was the somewhat unrecognized efforts of XBOX's accessible hardware that felt like the best fit — but will it last?

It's difficult to discuss XBOX and broader gaming efforts without addressing the elephant in the room: Microsoft's "significant restructure" cuts. Thousands of roles were removed across the business, drastically affecting software teams and internal game development studios, while it seemed like the hardware side of XBOX would be "safe" from the sweeping layoffs.

Among those affected came a sad confirmation on LinkedIn from Kaitlyn Jones, who had served as Microsoft's Gaming Accessibility Lead and oversaw programs that included the XBOX Adaptive Joystick itself. Elsewhere, Aftermath's Grant Stoner reported that the layoffs had apparently gutted Microsoft's Gaming Accessibility Testing Services (MGATS), "and eliminated accessibility testers for games and compliance experts for Xbox sites".

Right now, I don't know exactly how (if at all) this affects Microsoft's plans for more accessible gaming hardware in the future, and those who rely on it are essentially in a "wait and see" period. As it stands, the XBOX Accessible Joystick is still listed for sale for $29.99 in the United States and £24.99 in the United Kingdom. Whether that changes is a mystery, and a nervous one at that, as The Verge previously reported how the range came close to cancellation in the past.

Either way, it's a disappointing development to see cuts applied to accessible gaming, as it's an often-forgotten aspect of the hobby in general. Many are lucky enough never to need adapted hardware, but for those of us who do, I'd normally recommend XBOX's generously priced efforts in a heartbeat. They're easy to use, widely compatible, and frankly, unappreciated — even if there are a few parts that I'd change.

The XBOX Adaptive Joystick isn't wireless, so it depends on its included USB cable — though, to its credit, that cable is 9 feet long and braided in a heavy-duty casing. So, yes, it could be wireless to fit alongside the official joypads, but it's a downside that I'll happily accept if it means keeping the price below $30. Its trigger isn't pressure-sensitive either, so there aren't any options for analog inputs outside of the stick.

Then again, a digital-only trigger isn't generally an issue outside of racing games, and some clever bindings in the XBOX Accessories App (or Steam Input) have repurposed the stick in games where we could assign steering inputs elsewhere. With some patience and experimentation, it works in practically anything. Sure enough, the "Adaptive" part of its name is legitimately authentic, and this unassuming little controller has become quite important in our home.

For now, it feels important to highlight the hardware that's making gaming easier for people who need it. Whether it's connected to our XBOX Series X or my wife's desktop PC, the Adaptive Joystick deserves praise for its low price and fantastic versatility. These controllers don't need to be expensive or complicated, but they do need employees who are willing to fight for them, and I hope those voices are still heard at Microsoft.

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If you got in from work or school today hoping for a chill evening playing Xbox, you might've been greeted with an array of annoying errors.

Indeed, the Xbox network (don't call it Xbox Live) was down for 15~ hours for many today, with services still intermittent for some even now. For the most part, it seems to have recovered as of writing.

It's not a great look, considering how much of a spotlight PlayStation has thrown onto digital ownership rights in the past few weeks. Sony's decision to announce that it is sunsetting delivering games on physical discs has gamers questioning what they stand to lose, and today's major Xbox outage is a big hint.

The Xbox network (not Xbox Live) has a generally good uptime. It suffered an outage last week during Halo Campaign Evolved's launch window, but before then I can scarcely remember the last time it had a major outage. Still, that's of little comfort for those actively paying for a service they aren't receiving, particularly given how strapped for free time many of us are.

Xbox's shiny new CTO Scott Van Vilet agrees, and posted a lengthy article on X (Twitter) to explain what went wrong, and what Xbox plans to do better.

"This is an unacceptable situation, and we must do better to support you. Over the coming weeks, you'll hear more from me about our services, our platform, and the work we're doing to make XBOX better. And that starts with some transparency about this incident."

Van Vilet explained that Microsoft's licensing library system began failing yesterday, which had a cascading affect on dependencies outside of the the core Microsoft Store. Microsoft engineers prioritized Xbox traffic to other parts of Microsoft's cloud array while repairing the faulty license entitlement systems.

Van Vilet explained that Xbox plans to launch a "full post-incident review" with the goal of preventing this from happening again.

"We're running a full post-incident review. I care less about the one-line root cause and more about the real questions: why a failure in one service was able to take down this much, why recovery took as long as it did, and what we change so a single point of failure can't ruin your night again."

Van Vilet closed by thanking Xbox fans for their patience, and promising to "do better."

The downsides of digital are very much in the spotlight right now

Microsoft hasn't responded to PlayStation's decision to kill disc-based games, but there's little reason to think Xbox won't follow suit. I heard that the previous Xbox leadership also made the decision that Xbox Helix would not have a disc drive some time ago, although the absolutely massive backlash to Sony's announcement may have them reconsidering.

Microsoft is expected to be announcing a disc-to-digital entitlement program codenamed Positron, which will allow users to convert their disc-based games to permanent digital licenses on their Xbox account.

It's a great idea, if it works as rumored, and will give physical gamers an opportunity to enjoy digital entitlement benefits like Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Play Anywhere, and protect their licenses on the net.

The downsides are obvious, though. With digital games set to be phased out, digital rights over content are becoming increasingly questioned. There's presently no legal mechanism in most markets to bequeath digital goods to loved ones upon death, for example. There's no mechanism for reselling digital games on a second-hand market. Sharing digital games is also impossible on most platforms, although Steam and Nintendo have provided some innovations in this area — Xbox and PlayStation have yet to follow suit. Many Xbox and PlayStation games won't function offline even if you have the disc, given that many modern games don't actually run from the disc these days anyway, or have weird forced (and oft-unnecessary) always-online systems.

The outage, while relatively brief and annoying, once again shines a spotlight on some of these digital entitlement problems. It'll be interesting to see how Xbox addresses the situation when it reveals Positron.

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The Razer Seiren V3 Chroma 32‑Bit DSP is the newest version of Razer’s RGB‑forward USB microphone, and it arrives as a clear replacement for the regular Seiren V3 Chroma. The big change is the move to 32‑bit digital signal processing, which gives the mic more headroom, cleaner handling of loud moments, and a more controlled sound overall.

This is the same processing approach used in my recently reviewed Seiren V3 Pro ($249.99), only now it is available in a much more affordable and more colorful package.

At $119.99 at Razer.com or $119.99 at Best Buy, the Seiren V3 Chroma 32‑Bit DSP sits in a comfortable middle ground. It is priced well below the V3 Pro and still offers a strong mix of sound quality, software features, and visual flair. For streamers and creators who want a simple USB setup that still feels premium, this is an appealing option.

I've also used it on the latest Windows Central podcast for a live listen, if you want to hear it in action.

Razer had no input, nor did it see the contents of this review, prior to publication.

Design and Build

The design is familiar. Razer kept the same cylindrical body, perforated grille, and large RGB ring that made the previous Chroma model stand out. The lighting is bright and smooth, and it can be customized through Synapse or Chroma Studio. You can turn it off, set a single color, or go full rainbow if you want your mic to look like it is hosting a small nightclub. It is definitely aimed at gamers and streamers, but the lighting can be subtle if you prefer a calmer desk.

The build quality feels solid. The tap‑to‑mute sensor on top is responsive, and the USB‑C port is a welcome modern touch. The mic comes in three colors, including Quartz and White, which gives you more flexibility if you want your setup to look coordinated.

Setup and Synapse Integration

Setup is simple. Plug it in, open Synapse, and the mic is ready. The standout feature is the new Synapse tuning wizard. It takes about thirty seconds to run and asks a few basic questions about your environment and how far the mic is from your mouth. It then adjusts gain, noise reduction, EQ, and other settings automatically. This is genuinely useful because you can rerun it whenever your room changes. If you stream at different times of day or move between spaces, this quick calibration keeps your sound consistent.

The EQ tools are also impressive. You can use presets or dive into a full parametric EQ with multiple bands, filters, and vocal enhancements. The interface is clear and responsive, and the changes are easy to hear. The mic reacts quickly, and the live preview makes fine‑tuning straightforward.

Audio Quality

The Seiren V3 Chroma 32‑Bit DSP sounds very good for a USB condenser. The 32‑bit processing gives it more dynamic range and helps prevent clipping when you get loud or move around. The onboard DSP handles compression, limiting, and noise reduction without relying on your PC. This keeps the sound smooth and controlled, even in rooms that are not acoustically treated.

Compared to the regular Seiren V3 Chroma, the difference is noticeable. The older model could sound thin or harsh if pushed too hard. The new DSP version feels more stable and more forgiving. You can raise the gain without worrying about distortion, and the noise floor stays low.

You can listen to the Seiren V3 Chroma 32bit DSP in action in the above video from Windows Central Podcast #399.

Compared to the Seiren V3 Pro, the Chroma 32‑Bit DSP is closer than expected. The Pro still has the advantage of a larger dynamic capsule and the option for XLR, which gives it more depth and flexibility. However, for everyday streaming, podcasting, and voice chat, the Chroma 32‑Bit DSP holds its own. I may stick with it personally because I like the lighting and the overall look, and the sound quality is perfectly fine for my needs.

Features and Performance

The mic includes a supercardioid condenser capsule that focuses on your voice and reduces background noise. The tap‑to‑mute sensor works well and gives clear visual feedback. The AI noise suppression and automatic EQ features help clean up fan noise, keyboard clicks, and room reflections. These tools are similar to what you get on the V3 Pro, only now they are available at a lower price.

The RGB lighting can react to game events, chat interactions, or audio levels. You can also map double‑tap and triple‑tap gestures to lighting changes or audio settings. This is fun and practical because you can adjust things quickly without opening software.

RGB Customization

The RGB lighting is a big part of the identity of this mic. It looks great on camera and adds personality to your setup. Some people will roll their eyes at the idea of RGB on a microphone, but it is hard to deny that it looks cool. You can keep it subtle or go full streamer mode. The lighting is smooth, colorful, and easy to control.

Price and Value

At $119.99, the Seiren V3 Chroma 32‑Bit DSP is priced competitively. It costs less than the Seiren V3 Pro and still offers many of the same processing features. It also competes well with other USB mics in this range, including the HyperX QuadCast S and Elgato Wave:3. The RGB lighting gives it a unique advantage if you want your setup to stand out.

The Quartz and White versions cost slightly more, but the color options are nice to have. The mic feels like a good value for streamers who want strong sound quality and a bit of visual flair.

Should you buy Razer Seiren V3 Chroma 32-bit DSP?

You should buy it if ...

✅ You don't need XLR.

✅ You use Razer Synapse/Chroma and want full integration.

✅ You need onboard DSP (32‑bit float, AI noise removal) to cut post‑work.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ RGB is just not a thing for you.

❌ You want to expand to XLR setups later.

❌You need full feature parity on macOS without Windows Synapse.

The Razer Seiren V3 Chroma 32‑Bit DSP is a smart upgrade to the original Chroma model. The move to 32‑bit DSP gives it a more polished sound, and the Synapse tuning wizard makes setup simple.

The RGB lighting is fun and customizable, and the overall package feels well balanced for the price. And if you hate RGB, or don't want it for certain occasions, just turn it off; it's no big deal.

This is a great choice for streamers and creators who want strong audio quality without dealing with complex gear like XLR. It looks good, sounds good, and is easy to use.

If you want a mic that brings personality to your desk and still performs at a high level, this one is easy to recommend.

Will I stick to it over the Razer Serien V3 Chroma Pro? Yeah, I think I will. The RGB is fun to use, matches my Razer Soma Chroma gaming chair, and the sound quality works for my needs.