The video game industry is no stranger to heartbreaking news, and the latest round of cuts at Microsoft-owned studios is yet another continuation of that. They say people begin to become numb to certain sensations, and it seems we’ve reached a point where my own emotions are beginning to gloss over from this repeated news cycle.

On June 25, 2026, gaming reporter Rebs Gaming shared the latest update on X, stating that layoffs had started at Compulsion Games, the team responsible for developing South of Midnight. We knew this was coming, and in effect, many hoped for potential buyouts of these studios so they could continue their work and livelihood under the direction of another publisher.

Compulsions Games were known for their distinctive flavor, with titles such as We Happy Few, South of Midnight, and a personal favorite of mine, Contrast. A film noir-inspired platform puzzle game, Contrast was a perfect encapsulation of the work you could expect from Compulsion Games.

These reductions form a larger shift within Microsoft’s gaming division, as Asha Sharma looks to “right the ship” of the declining Xbox brand. As both budgets and studios within the group have ballooned beyond a reasonable amount, measures are being taken to reduce the issues before an even greater collapse were to occur.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not defending this whatsoever. Quite a while back, I remember writing another article about the closure of Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks, where I mentioned that Microsoft shouldn’t be buying companies it couldn’t afford.

One can hope that these layoffs don’t lead to the total closure of Compulsion Games. One can hope their uniqueness is better directed toward games like their earlier entries, such as Contrast, rather than more extensive, less budget-friendly ventures.

Responses to the news have varied. Some fans lament the loss of potential sequels or new ideas from a studio known for taking creative risks. Others argue that such adjustments are essential for long-term viability, especially when resources need reallocating toward projects with broader appeal.

What saddens me is that, regardless of the current need to do so, it seems to me these decisions are still a reflection of the direction Xbox had previously taken. Sure, Phil Spencer is no longer at the helm, but folks like Matt Booty are still present who oversaw previous operations.

To make matters worse, more are still to come, with discussions ongoing amongst a group of studios at Xbox. Ninja Theory, Double Fine, and more are all under the strain of potential closure or layoffs within their walls. We previously heard that Ninja Theory is completely done, with Senua’s reveal being a last-ditch effort to give the studio a fighting chance to be purchased.

Regardless, here’s to hoping the future of these studios is met with a gentle hand, one that will guide them into the light rather than shuttering them forever.

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Amazon Prime Day is here, and like always, we have some of the best deals out there highlighted for you. To add a little flair to it, I am someone who very rarely posts about deals. It’s not my jam, but when I do, you can bet it’s about something I think is a real deal!

Introducing the Turtle Beach Velocity One Racing Wheel and Pedal System. One of the best setups I’ve laid my hands on and reviewed in 2024 is now on sale for an absolutely crazy price. Not only that, but its sister system is also on sale, the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race KD3.

Originally priced at $650, the VelocityOne Race Wheel & Pedal System is now just $399, an absolute steal when compared to plug-and-play systems like the Logitech G923. Then, the KD3 wheel, which starts at an even lower original price of $449, is at a crushingly low price of $237!

These deals are absolutely crazy

These are insane deals coming from my favorite new racing wheel creator, Turtle Beach. It still feels weird seeing them make something that isn’t a headset, but it's always amazing to see new entrants into the simulation space.

While I didn’t entirely recommend the VelocityOne system at the $650 price point, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that $399 would make this a ten out of ten deal. You'll get a 7.2nm base with a side control unit that delivers over a dozen different buttons and switches. Alongside a triple-pedal setup, perfect for manual/clutch racers.

Then, there's the $237 for the KD3 system, which is even more shocking. Completely undercutting the half-decade-old Logitech G923, which is also on sale, it’s $25 less than its main competitor!

With a slimmer look and a slightly reduced feedback system, the KD3 wheel and base are phenomenal for the price. With two pedals rather than three, those looking to skip the clutch and have a more realistic, but still casual racing experience will absolutely love this setup.

Whether you’re looking for a cheaper, higher-end setup or something cheaper than the old price of the Xbox Series S, look no further than the Turtle Beach Racing Wheel family. And while you’re at it, pick up Forza Horizon 6 too, you’ll thank me later!

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I found the one Prime Day deal I can recommend above all others. At $67.67, the Logitech MX Vertical is an excellent purchase.

I hate the fact that Prime Day still requires hunting for deals. You'd think an event centered around shopping would guarantee great prices, but that's not the case.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the Logitech MX Vertical discounted by 44% on Prime Day.

Are Prime Day deals worth it?

Some Prime Day deals are worth it. The shopping event is genuinely a good way to save money on some items. But that doesn't mean anything you see on sale during Prime Day is a good deal.

It's normal to see an item marked up a few weeks before Prime Day to make the Prime Day "discount" look better.

In the worst cases, an item actually becomes more expensive than usual during Prime Day. Retailers manipulate price history to make a bad price look good.

These are the types of things our team of experts looks out for when finding Prime Day deals. It's also why hand-picked Prime Day deals are better than blindly trusting a sale tag.

The Logitech MX Vertical is currently $67.67 for Prime Day. According to CamelCamelCamel, that is almost the lowest price ever for the mouse (it once hit $63.79 on Amazon). Perhaps more importantly, the price is significantly lower than what we've seen the majority of this year.

Why buy the Logitech MX Vertical

The Logitech MX Vertical is an ergonomic mouse that allows your wrist and arm to rest at a natural angle. That results in less muscle strain and reduced wrist pressure.

Because of the shape of the mouse, you don't have to move your hand as much. Tiny movements add up, and being able to keep your hand in place does a lot to reduce strain.

The Logitech MX Vertical is by far the best mouse I've used.

Over the years, its rubber grip has held up well. The mouse still lasts for ages when running on battery. It's easy to top up through USB-C when it's time to charge.

It checks all the boxes I want in a mouse.

The only downside of the Logitech MX Vertical is its retail price, but the massive discount on the mouse makes that a non-factor.

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It's official, there are no more delays, Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders have gone LIVE, and you can secure your copy now on Xbox Series X|S or PlayStation 5, ready to play the game on November 19.

The question is, will you buy the standard edition at $80 or stump up for the Ultimate Edition for $100? At the time of writing, there are no physical (code-in-a-box) versions of the Ultimate Edition, and this will require a digital upgrade.

Rumors of a physical disc release later in December 2026 are circulating, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Crucially and first off, here are all the links you need to buy your copy, and you can scroll past the links for the breakdown between Standard and Ultimate Editions.

Official pre-orders are currently rolling out. While digital storefronts like Xbox are now live, physical retailers are updating their systems throughout the night. All remaining links will activate as soon as each retailer makes them available.

GTA 6 - US stock

• Amazon - Xbox | PS5
• Walmart - Xbox | PS5
• Best Buy - Xbox | PS5
• Target - Xbox | PS5
• GameStop - Xbox | PS5
• Xbox Store - Standard | Ultimate
• PlayStation Store - Standard | Ultimate

GTA 6 - UK stock

UK price for the Standard Edition will be £69.99, and Ultimate £89.99.

• Amazon - Xbox | PS5
• Currys - Xbox | PS5
• Argos - Xbox | PS5
• EE - Xbox | PS5
• ShopTo - Xbox| PS5
• The Game Collection - Xbox | PS5
• Very - Xbox| PS5
• John Lewis - Xbox | PS5
• Smyths - Xbox | PS5
• Xbox Store - Standard | Ultimate
• PlayStation Store - Standard | Ultimate

Pre-order bonuses

Anyone who pre-orders the game before November 20 will get the Vintage Vice City pack, which contains vehicles and outfits that hark back to the ‘80s Miami Vice-coded Vice City of the original 2002 game.

Physical or Digital?

Essentially, there is really no difference here unless you really, really want the box. Rockstar have already confirmed that fans who order the physical copy of GTA 6 will receive a code in a box to download the game. That's right, you don't even get a disc.

You'll notice that some of the retailers are slating a November 12 deliver for the game, and that is because you will receive a digital code (in the box) that can be redeemed ahead of the November 19 release date.

Some people will still prefer to have the case for their collection though, so pick whichever works for you.

GTA 6 Standard vs Ultimate Edition: What's the difference?

This has already been somewhat controversial, as Rockstar has confirmed that the difference between Standard and Ultimate editions doesn't just come down to price and cosmetics. In addition to an "exclusive collection of premium vehicles, weapons, apparel, and action threaded across all aspects of Jason and Lucia’s story," there are 5 locked shops behind the Ultimate Edition at $100.

Essentially, if you want full access to everything in the game, you're going to have to pay the extra $20 for it. Here are the stores included in the Ultimate ($100) Edition of GTA6.

• RIDEOUT CUSTOMS Transform vanilla vehicles into magnificent works of art with detailed interiors, exquisite rims, and donk stylings.
• SARA'S UNISEX SALON Get signature salon styles for both Jason and Lucia, including facial hair for Jason and makeup and nails for Lucia.
• STOCK 305 Style various unique and exclusive looks for Jason and Lucia at Stockyard’s premiere destination for elevated streetwear.
• ELECTRIC FANG TATTOO Stockyard’s most iconic ink bar, with over 50 signature tattoos for both Jason and Lucia — all designed by the artist collective FAILE.
• ONE-EYED WILLIE’S This mod shop in Lake Leonida specializes in off-road modifications and hand-painted automotive artistry.

It's worth mentioning too, that you can buy the Standard Edition, whether physical or digital, and simply pay the difference for the Ultimate upgrade later.

Cheapest way to get GTA 6

Of course there are no real discounts right now, but there is a way to secure a small discount if you want to purchase directly through Xbox or PlayStation stores, and that's by taking advantage of gift card offers to top up your account.

Best place for this right now is Loaded (formerly CDKeys)

• For the Standard Edition ($80): You could grab a $50 gift card and three $10 gift cards. Because of the current discounts on Loaded, you’ll pay less than $80 in total, leaving you with a little extra cash in your pocket.
• For the Ultimate Edition ($100): (My favorite strategy) is to grab four $25 gift cards for $23.49 each. This nets you the full $100 balance for only $93.96, saving you over $6 on day one.

Upgrades for GTA 6

If you are still rocking the Xbox One X or the PS4, I've got bad news for you, you're going to have to suck it up and upgrade!

Here's the best offers on each of the current generation consoles.

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Amazon Prime Day is taking place as we speak, and other online retails stores are jumping into on the fun with their own sales. HP's online store is one such place, and I've just found an incredible deal on a laptop I just reviewed last week. The HP OmniBook Ultra 14 with Snapdragon is $650 off right now, down to just $1,249 while stocks last!

This is the best HP laptop I've tested in a long while. In fact, I think it's probably the prettiest Windows laptop you can buy right now, complete with a best-in-class display, premium build quality, and much more. For this price, you're getting a great device.

Why is the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 a good laptop?

I've not long published my review of the HP OmniBook Ultra, and I came away very impressed, giving it 5 stars and calling it one of the best Snapdragon laptops this year. Under the hood is Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X2 Plus SoC, which features 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage. It's a powerful and efficient chip, easily capable of most day to day productivity tasks, data crunching, and even light video and photo editing.

It features a best-in-class 1080p OLED touchscreen, which features inky deep color contrast and makes images and text pop . It also has an incredible keyboard, and new haptic trackpad that feels great to use.

The device is also super premium. I think it might be the best looking and feeling Windows laptop on the market currently. It's just 2.83lbs in weight, and features a brushed metal finish around the edges that looks simply incredible. The device is also designed in such a way that makes it look incredibly thin when on a desk, which is awesome.

It features three USB-C ports, along with a 3.5mm audio jack. It also has a Windows Hello equipped webcam that shoots good 1080p photo and video. Lastly, the laptop is a power champ, lasting all day on a single charge with ease. For $1,249, you're not getting a better laptop in 2026 than this.

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One of this week's bigger stories in the world of Xbox was the platform's new CEO Asha Sharma stating that "gaming is unaffordable in many cases" in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly.

Though it was hardly the main focus of the interview — most of it was centered around Microsoft's current and upcoming multimedia projects like the Fallout TV show, Netflix's work-in-progress Gears of War series, and a newly announced Sea of Thieves movie — the comment does stick out at a time when the cost of gaming is rapidly becoming a hotter and hotter topic.

We were curious to hear how you, our readers, feel on the matter, and so when we reported on Sharma's statement, we included a poll about it in our article in which many of you voted to voice your opinion. It remains ongoing, and I'll embed it below, but even now, the way our community feels has been made clear by the votes we've tallied up thus far.

At the time of writing, of the 228 of you that have participated in the poll, a whopping 151 gamers — 66% — believe that the cost of gaming is getting out of control. 28% of you, a count of 63, think it's a growing problem but that affordable options still exist, while the remaining minority think gaming isn't unreasonably expensive.

It's clear that the vast majority of you feel that gaming has become partially or completely unaffordable, and honestly? I'm not surprised.

In fact, I'm right there with you; between the ongoing RAM and storage crisis brought on by the tech industry going all in on AI and rising development costs leading to higher game prices (GTA 6 is $80, by the way), the cost of both new games and the hardware to play them on is becoming untenable.

Just look at the Steam Machine and the Steam Deck; the former costs over $1,000 no matter which version of it you want, and the latter got a brutal price hike last month that's made it a significantly less attractive option for portable gaming.

Sharma made a good point that memory shortages aren't the only culprit, and that "the attention economy and competing subscriptions" in other entertainment mediums like film and TV have made it harder for many to afford games and gaming devices too.

With that said, though, it's undeniable that the AI-driven hardware crisis is largely responsible for what we're seeing, which is why Sharma considers navigating it Xbox's next big "challenge and opportunity." In your responses to Sharma's comments over on our subreddit, though, many of you have rightfully pointed out that Microsoft itself has massively contributed to this problem with its own push for AI.

"Wonder who's fault that is? 🤔," wrote one reader, reacting to Sharma's statement about the price of gaming in 2026. "Well, of course gaming is becoming unaffordable at the moment. No s***, Sherlock. The call is coming from inside the house," said another.

"'Gaming is becoming unaffordable' says CEO of a company making gaming unaffordable," added another, hammering home the point as another of you did: "Yeah. Maybe she should talk to her boss about that."

Like many of you, I too believe that Microsoft has effectively stepped on a rake as it continues to invest in AI through initiatives like its partnership with OpenAI, sabotaging the game and tech industry alongside other big-name AI developers even as its AI products fail to move the needle and AI in general still lacks a clear road to any kind of stable profitability.

Put simply, gaming has become unaffordable — and quite a bit of the blame for that frustrating truth lies on Microsoft's shoulders.

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Windows 11 brings major changes to the Start menu and Taskbar in 2026, finally giving users more control over customization.

Microsoft spent the first years of Windows 11 simplifying the Start menu and Taskbar, often at the expense of features that users had relied on for years. In 2026, the company is correcting its direction.

In recent preview builds, the operating system has revealed a growing list of improvements that bring more customization and control back to the experience. From Taskbar positioning and resizing to Start menu layouts and recommendation controls, the software giant is restoring capabilities that many users have been complaining about since the original release of Windows 11.

However, the company's approach isn't about recreating Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft is rebuilding these experiences around the design principles of Windows 11 while giving users more flexibility than they have today.

Microsoft is giving users more control over the Taskbar

The biggest change is the reversal of positioning controls. Users will once again be able to place the Taskbar to the top, left, right, or bottom edge of the screen.

For many users, this feature never should have disappeared in the first place. The ability to place the Taskbar where it works best has been part of the operating system for decades.

At the same time, the company isn't restoring the exact Windows 10 experience. Previously, users could unlock the Taskbar and drag it directly to a different edge of the screen, or change its position through the Settings app. On Windows 11, changing the position requires using the option available through the Settings app, more specifically in the Taskbar settings under the "Taskbar behaviors" section.

Taskbar sizing is also making a comeback. However, the company is updating the "Show smaller taskbar buttons" option so that enabling it makes the buttons and Taskbar smaller, not just the buttons.

The feature improves flexibility, but it still doesn't offer the same freedom available on Windows 10, where users could manually resize the Taskbar and even create multi-row layouts.

The Start menu is finally becoming more customizable

The Start menu is being updated with some of the most significant improvements since the operating system's launch.

One of the biggest additions is support for different Start menu sizes. Instead of relying entirely on the automatic layout, users will be able to choose between different menu configurations based on their preferences.

You will find these settings on the updated "Start" page from the Settings app.

Microsoft is also introducing dedicated controls to show or hide sections such as Pinned, Recommended, and All apps. These changes address one of the most common complaints about the Start menu, which has often felt too limited compared to previous versions of the operating system.

The company is also separating recommendation settings from recent files and activity history. As a result, users will gain more granular control over what appears in the Start menu without affecting other parts of the operating system.

Privacy is also receiving attention, with a new option that lets users hide their account name and profile picture from the Start menu.

These changes reflect a broader shift in Microsoft's strategy

The Start menu and Taskbar updates are part of Microsoft's wider Windows K2 initiative, an effort focused on improving performance, reliability, and usability across Windows 11.

While much of that work happens behind the scenes, the Start menu and Taskbar provide visible evidence that Microsoft's priorities have evolved since 2021.

When this version of Windows launched, the company emphasized simplicity and consistency, even when it meant removing long-standing customization features. A lot of users felt those decisions made the operating system less flexible than Windows 10.

The changes expected to roll out in 2026 suggest Microsoft is rethinking and taking a more balanced approach. Rather than limiting customization in the name of simplicity, the company is finding ways to offer more control while preserving the modern design introduced on Windows 11.

Windows 11 is becoming a more flexible operating system

Microsoft's reinstatement of Taskbar positioning and sizing, Start menu layouts, and recommendation controls may not seem revolutionary on their own. However, these changes represent one of the most notable shifts.

The company is not abandoning its vision for Windows 11, nor is it trying to turn the operating system into Windows 10. Instead, the company is acknowledging that flexibility remains one of the operating system's greatest strengths.

For years, many of the conversations around Windows 11 focused on features that were removed. In 2026, the conversation is increasingly focused on the features Microsoft is bringing back and what that says about the operating system's future direction.

Windows Central's Take

I think the most interesting part of these Start menu and Taskbar changes isn't any individual feature. It's what they reveal about Microsoft's evolving approach to Windows 11.

When the operating system launched in 2021, the software giant removed a noticeable amount of customization in favor of simplicity. The Taskbar lost positioning and resizing controls, and the Start menu became significantly more limited compared to Windows 10. At the time, those choices felt deliberate, almost like a firm design reset.

In 2026, that direction looks less fixed. The reintroduction of Taskbar positioning and resizing options, along with more granular Start menu controls, suggests Microsoft is recalibrating how much flexibility the operating system should offer without undoing its modern design language.

What are your thoughts on the Start menu and Taskbar changes coming to Windows 11? 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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The Steam Machine is getting a fair amount of heat due to its $1,049 price, but no matter how you look at it, Valve's new device is a particularly powerful mini PC. Not everyone needs that much power or wants to pay that much, which is where the Windows mini PC market comes into play.

• Shop all Amazon Prime Day deals

Amazon Prime Day has knocked prices down considerably on a bunch of our favorite mini PCs, and while they won't match the Steam Machine's discrete graphics, they're still fully capable of running a wide range of games AND Windows 11, no extra effort necessary. Just plug in an HDMI cord, hook it up to your TV, and start gaming.

How do these discounted mini PCs compare to the Steam Machine's performance?

The Steam Machine is causing a ruckus in the tech world, namely due to its price-to-performance ratio now that reviews have gone out into the wild. It's true that you can build a full-size gaming PC or buy a pre-built gaming PC for less money and with superior power, but what about a mini PC that's a closer match to the form factor?

👉I found these pre‑built gaming PCs that beat Valve’s Steam Machine on price and performance, and it’s not even close

Well, that's where the real genius of Valve's device comes into play. It is indeed capable of delivering quite a bit of gaming performance in a super compact form factor, something that most of the mini PCs on the market for a similar or lower price simply aren't capable of doing.

The Steam Machine's discrete custom AMD Radeon GPU with 8GB of VRAM is fairly close to a desktop-class AMD Radeon RX 7600 card, which the integrated graphics in most mini PCs can't touch.

Regardless, at $1,049, the Steam Machine isn't for everyone. There are plenty of PC users who just want a compact, capable PC that runs Windows 11 without breaking a sweat, while at the same time having capabilities to handle lighter games. That's where these great mini PCs excel.

The mini PCs I've highlighted in this roundup all have an integrated AMD Radeon 780M GPU or a comparable Intel Arc integrated GPU. I can't stress enough that these GPUs will not match the Steam Machine's gaming power.

However, the Radeon 780M will still do a bang-up job of gaming, and for a lot less money in a significantly smaller package, often with more RAM and storage.

Just how powerful is the integrated GPU? It will effortlessly run esports games like League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, and DOTA 2 at 1080p, hitting somewhere between 60 and 90 FPS with medium to high settings. Games like Fortnite, Minecraft, and Roblox are in the same boat.

👉 Geekom's mini PCs enjoy massive savings during Prime Day — I handpicked the 7 top deals up to 15% off for a limited time

I'd venture to say that the Radeon 780M is an indie game superstar, and those who prefer roguelikes, platformers, deck builders, puzzle games, and simulators will have no issues.

Those hoping to play demanding AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, Baldur's Gate 3, and others will find that the Radeon 780M can get the job done at 1080p, albeit with lower frame rates and with AMD's FSR enabled. If you're going to mainly focus on AAA games, I'd recommend checking out pre-built desktop PCs with discrete graphics.

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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warned that AI must demonstrate real‑world value or risk losing public support. His comments came amid mounting community backlash over the technology’s heavy demand for electricity and cooling water to power data centers, although Microsoft and NVIDIA have seemingly found a fix.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal recently, Nadella echoed his earlier stance, stressing that leading players in the AI industry must advance the technology in ways that deliver the greatest public benefit.

There’s growing concern around AI, particularly when it comes to security, privacy, and even its impact on jobs. "You can't say, hey, all white-collar jobs are gone and this could even be a weapon, and we will use all the power to build data centers," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella noted.

Perhaps more interestingly, the executive called out key investors in the AI landscape who see the technology primarily as a tool to cut jobs and reduce operational costs. He indicated that this would be the wrong way to look at the technology.

Instead, he recommended that AI should be viewed as a tool designed to help skilled workers better leverage their capabilities. He further painted a picture where AI tools and human capital co-exist in the same space, a phenomenon he referred to as "token capital."

While the executive claimed that it'd be a recipe for how companies can leverage both AI and workers simultaneously, he admitted that: "it's a lot of change management, it's a lot of displacement, but there is a path."

Nadella indicated that leveraging AI and humans at the same time at work can create a "continuous learning system." He indicated that companies in the future could be characterized by the "tacit knowledge that they contain from both sources."

The executive acknowledged that the idea might face public resistance but emphasized that it would be up to corporations to convince people of the economic opportunities AI could unlock in the future.

Over the past few years, key investors and leaders in the AI landscape have shared several theories, highlighting how the technology could reshape work. Last year, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei claimed that AI was on the verge of slashing up to 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs, making it harder for the next generation to enter the job market.

Interestingly, Microsoft's AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman, recently cleared up the intent of his statement that AI would eliminate white‑collar jobs in less than 18 months.

The executive indicated that his statement was widely misconstrued. Rather than replacing humans entirely from work, he indicated that AI would be used to augment repetitive and mundane tasks.

At the same time, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wants AI agents to be treated like human employees. It'll be interesting to see how AI is adopted in the workplace, and whether organizations choose to view the technology as a supplement rather than a replacement for the workforce.

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Throughout the last several months, Microsoft and Xbox have made a wide range of improvements to the platform on consoles and PC, including an overhaul to the Achievements system, visual updates for its user interface, and the introduction of more customization options, among other things.

Now, in the latest Xbox update — available now for Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring of the Xbox Insider Program, and hopefully soon to all — Microsoft has further elevated the Xbox user experience with a few major feature enhancements and additions.

The first and arguably most exciting part of the update is a change for Xbox gamertags that expands their character limit from 12 to 15. Provided you create a gamertag that's both unique and doesn't contain non-Latin characters, you can take advantage of this. Non-unique gamertags will still have a 12-character limit, and will be assigned a random numerical suffix.

"This update applies to gamertags that are unique and available, giving you more room to create a gamertag that feels like you," reads Microsoft's blog post.

Xbox 360 games playable through the Xbox Backwards Compatibility feature have also been updated so that they have game hubs within their game cards in the Xbox UI. These allow you to "quickly view achievement progress, captures, and other useful information," and give these titles parity with Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S games in the Xbox Dashboard.

Another big addition for Xbox Game Pass subscribers specifically is the ability to play a game through Xbox Cloud Gaming while you're updating it. This allows you to circumvent the time you'd normally have to spend waiting for an update to finish entirely, and jump right in while one downloads in the background. Do note that this feature will only work with games that support play through streaming.

Finally, you now also have the ability to add games to your wishlist directly from game cards, making it quick and easy to bookmark a title you're interested in when you come across it on the Xbox Dashboard. This works with "both released and upcoming games," notably.

All in all, I think these are some excellent improvements to the Xbox platform, and continue the streak of speedy updates that have come after Xbox's new CEO Asha Sharma stepped into the position earlier this year.

They also come about a month and a half after Sharma vowed to deliver new Xbox updates every two weeks, admitting that "We have to sweat every single detail" and announcing that one of her core goals this year would be to "fix the fundamentals on console and PC."

That objective is part of a wider plan to make Xbox "where the world plays," and coincides with an ongoing 100-day "reset" of the brand. Sadly, it's been reported that this reorganization will likely bring layoffs as well as a variety of studio closures and/or divestments, but one silver lining is that the Xbox user experience has been getting quite a lot better.

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I've never seen PC component prices hit such a high in all my life as they have in 2026, and it's making it really hard to upgrade or build new. As a fellow PC gamer and build enthusiast, I know how the struggle feels.

While I can't predict when the RAM and SSD crisis will end, I can offer some deals on PC components I found at Amazon Prime Day and Newegg's competing FantasTech sale.

Whether it's a new SSD, more RAM, a speedy GPU, a gaming CPU, or a bundle with extra savings, these are the best PC component deals I was able to find so far.

• All Amazon Prime Day deals
• Laptop deals at Amazon
• Save on PC components at Amazon
• Best Buy "Tech Fest" (Ends June 28)
• Newegg "FantasTech Sale" (Ends June 28)
• Walmart "Deals & More" (Ends June 28)

🔥 Hottest Prime Day PC deals 🔥

Best Prime Day PC bundle deals

Best Prime Day RAM deals

Best Prime Day SSD deals

Best Prime Day CPU deals

Best Prime Day GPU deals

Amazon Prime Day FAQ

Amazon Prime Day is typically the best time to buy new tech during the summer, and it's especially meaningful this year as PC component prices have skyrocketed.

I'm a huge fan of many "Soulslike" action RPGs that draw heavy inspiration from FromSoftware hits like Elden Ring and the Dark Souls series, though ultimately, I feel many of them lack the refinement and polish of the studio's work.

With that said, there are titles such as Lies of P and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty that compare, and notably, both of them are available on Xbox Game Pass. Another Game Pass Soulslike that quickly became a favorite of mine is the 2023 Lords of the Fallen reboot, and I've very much been looking forward to its sequel that was announced in 2024.

Lords of the Fallen 2 was originally scheduled to launch in 2026, but developer CI Games has just announced that it's delaying the dark fantasy ARPG into Q1 2027. Given how excited I am for the game, I was quite disappointed to see this at first, but after reading the studio's reasoning, I actually don't mind the extra wait at all.

"Lords of the Fallen II is now set for a Q1 2027 release window. As development progresses, we have worked closely with the Gameplay Feedback Team, a dedicated group of seasoned Souls-like veterans within our Launch Creative Team," writes CI Games CEO Marek Tyminski. "Their valuable ongoing input, combined with the team’s vision, has identified meaningful opportunities to further refine and strengthen the overall experience."

"These enhancements will benefit from additional integration, iteration, and polishing time, enabling the team to deliver the highest possible quality at launch," he added.

Tyminski then went on to note that moving the release date back also gives Lords of the Fallen some breathing room, as plenty of big games are set to come out on the tail end of 2026. One that will no doubt come to mind for pretty much everyone is GTA 6, which is expected to have a launch so massive that the entire industry is shifting release schedules around it.

"This updated release window also strategically positions Lords of the Fallen II outside of a highly competitive holiday period, ensuring the game receives the dedicated attention it deserves," he said.

He then promised fans that "The team remains fully energized by the strong response to our recent reveals and is deeply focused on delivering a standout dark fantasy action RPG and a worthy successor to the Lords of the Fallen franchise."

"We are grateful for the continued passion, feedback, and support from our community, and we look forward to sharing more updates in the coming months," Tyminski added.

So, ultimately, Lords of the Fallen 2 is being pushed back for continued gameplay refinements and to give it a better chance to perform well — both of which will hopefully result in a more enjoyable and successful experience. For that, I hardly mind waiting a few more months, though after seeing how good the game looks in trailers like the one I embedded above, I'd be lying if I said I didn't wish I could get my hands on it sooner.

What are your thoughts on how Lords of the Fallen 2 is looking? Let me know in the comments, and in our poll.

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Excited for Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders to go live? Us too! But hold on to your wallets, before you hit that pre-order button, there’s a savvy way to shave a few dollars off the final cost.

While the game itself isn't officially discounted from its $80 price tag ($100 for the Ultimate Edition) just yet, you can effectively create your own discount by topping up your Xbox or PlayStation account using discounted gift cards from Loaded. By purchasing these cards at a lower price than their face value, you lower your total cost of GTA 6.

Thanks to Loaded, we can stack and save. Don't just buy one gift card; mix and match denominations to get you as close to $80 (or $100 if you are going for the Ultimate Edition) as possible.

• For the Standard Edition ($80): You could grab a $50 gift card and three $10 gift cards. Because of the current discounts on Loaded, you’ll pay less than $80 in total, leaving you with a little extra cash in your pocket.
• For the Ultimate Edition ($100): (My favorite strategy) is to grab four $25 gift cards for $23.49 each. This nets you the full $100 balance for only $93.96, saving you over $6 on day one.

Are you seriously telling me to go through this just to save $6?

If you aren't the type of person who is willing to jump through a few hoops to save some cash, then you’ve definitely come to the wrong place. I am more than happy to inconvenience myself for the sake of a discount, especially with how expensive gaming has become.

While the $80 price tag for Grand Theft Auto 6 wasn't as painful as we all feared, the reality is that much of the content is gated behind the $100 Ultimate Edition, effectively making it the "essential" purchase if you’re as hyped for this game as I am. In that respect, the more I can justify the price, the better. An extra $6 is an extra $6. I could buy Vampire Survivors again for that price and have a dollar to spare!

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Generative AI has made a significant impact across education, computing, medicine, entertainment, and more. However, all that progress comes with a hefty price tag. The amount of electricity these systems burn through, plus the insane amounts of water needed to keep them cool, is honestly outrageous.

For context, Microsoft and Google's electricity consumption in 2024 surpassed the power usage of over 100 countries. Similarly, OpenAI's GPT-4 AI model consumes up to 3 water bottles to generate 100 words.

Earlier this month, Microsoft shared an interesting concept that may potentially address the water concerns riddling the progression and advancement of AI. CEO Satya Nadella revealed that the tech giant uses a liquid loop in its data centers, which is filled once. As a result, the company's data centers' water consumption has reduced significantly, down to "what a single restaurant would use."

And now it looks like NVIDIA is taking a page from Microsoft’s playbook. Speaking at London Climate Week on Monday, a top executive suggested that water concerns tied to data center development could be addressed through the company's next-generation AI infrastructure.

The executive further disclosed that the company's new next-gen AI infrastructure can be fully cooled with a liquid warm enough to alleviate the need for additional chilling equipment (Axios).

According to NVIDIA's Chief Sustainability Officer, Josh Parker:

"The water consumption challenge for data centers is largely solved."

How does this liquid work? It’s basically a recirculated mix of water and propylene — think automotive antifreeze. It’s worth noting that the system can operate at temperatures up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

As such, this allows it to function reliably in hotter environments compared to older systems. In practical terms, data centers equipped with NVIDIA’s next-generation AI infrastructure will require significantly less water and energy for cooling, reducing both operational costs and environmental impact.

This announcement comes at a time when concerns over water and energy use are mounting, as data centers continue to expand into community corridors. Microsoft has seemingly embraced the "Community-First" AI infrastructure, which addresses some of the issues raised by communities themselves, including reducing its water consumption and promising not to increase electricity bills.

Elsewhere, Microsoft’s plan to build a $1 billion data center in Kenya came to an abrupt halt in early May after the government declined to commit to covering the annual capacity costs Microsoft had requested to run Azure in the region. President William Ruto remarked that the facility’s power demands would be so immense that it would effectively require “switching off half the country” to keep it operational.

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Sim games are getting more mainstream, and I'm happy to see it. Euro Truck Simulator 2 is one of the most (surprisingly) addictive games I've played in recent memory, and Amazon Prime Day sales are making it easier for me to recommend, alongside its American Truck Simulator sibling. It's a PC-only title for now, but Xbox and PlayStation releases have been teased for a while.

So, if you wanted to drive a virtual truck around a representation of your home state or your favorite European country, what exactly do you need to get started? Well, you can play either game with a mouse and keyboard, but any kind of controller makes it a better experience. Here's what I recommend for a basic steering wheel setup, with optional extras and higher-end alternatives.

The absolute basics: A wheel and pedals

Optional: A realistic truck-style setup

Critical: Steam keys for either game on PC

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PowerToys just received a small but important update that brings the app to version 0.100.1. The update focuses on fixes to version 0.100.0 of the app, which included a bunch of new features.

Normally I wouldn't cover a small update to an app, but in this case the bugs prevented core features of PowerToys from working. Luckily, the bugs have been squashed.

One issue caused keys that had been remapped to non-modifier keys to be delivered as system-key events. An example of that is mapping Alt to Backspace could result in deleting whole words instead of individual characters.

Another bug prevented monitors from waking from standby after selecting On through Power Display.

The developers of PowerToys log all the changes to the app on GitHub.

PowerToys v0.100.1

Highlights

• This patch release fixes several important stability and behavior issues identified in v0.100.0 based on incoming reports. Check out the v0.100.0 notes for the full list of changes.

Color Picker

• Fixed a bug where the main Color Picker window could appear inside the zoomed-in picker view in #48762 by @daverayment

Command Palette

• Fixed Run history initialization in AOT builds in #48463
• Fixed a bug where the Performance Monitor dock item could show ??? after restart in #48682 by @giruuuuj
• Fixed the Hibernate command using the Sleep icon in #48689 by @MrBisquit
• Limited the "pin to dock" dialog to displays where the dock is enabled in #48723

Keyboard Manager

• Fixed modifier keys remapped to non-modifier keys being delivered as system-key events, which caused unexpected behavior in apps such as Alt-to-Backspace deleting whole words in #47192 by @oMatheusmol

Power Display

• Fixed a bug where selecting On in the monitor power-state control did not wake a monitor from standby in #48628
• Fixed built-in display detection and brightness control on dual-GPU laptops where the internal panel is driven by the discrete GPU in #48637

PowerToys Run

• Fixed VS Code Workspaces discovery after VS Code moved recently opened workspace data to shared storage in #47505

Quick Access

• Fixed Quick Access flyout crashes caused by unhandled XAML exceptions during launch or page navigation in #48457

Shortcut Guide

• Fixed a crash when navigating between Shortcut Guide sidebar sections in #48481
• Fixed number-key rendering in shortcut manifests and added a Postman shortcut manifest in #48461 by @brycewc
• Updated bundled shortcut manifests to use the literal number-key token so number keys render correctly across apps in #48757 by @brycewc

ZoomIt

• Fixed a race condition in audio initialization for ZoomIt video recording in #48685 by @MarioHewardt

Power Display is one of my favorite utilities in PowerToys. It allows you to manage the brightness and other settings of your external monitor through a series of flyouts. It saves me the hassle of reaching around the bottom or back of my display to adjust settings with awkward buttons.

The recently fixed bug took away core functionality of Power Display, so I'm happy to see it addressed.

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The price of entry to Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) has finally been revealed, and it's not as much as everyone was expecting, but there are a few caveats.

Rockstar has confirmed the standard release of GTA 6 will be $79.99, and the Ultimate Edition will be $99.99. Not as outrageous as any of us were expecting, but if you dig a little deeper, the Standard Edition is locking some content behind that price. Bluntly, if you want to play the full game, it's going to cost $100.

The Ultimate price tag gates some in-game content

For that extra $20, Rockstar is locking more than just cosmetic items behind the paywall. Details so far confirm that the Ultimate Edition includes exclusive access to five specific in-game stores for the single-player experience. These locations, ranging from specialized mod shops like "Rideout Customs" and "One-Eyed Willie’s" to unique clothing stores, hair salons, and tattoo parlors, are restricted solely to Ultimate Edition owners.

Whether locking single-player customization options behind a higher-tier edition will sit well with the fanbase remains to be seen, especially as there is currently no mention of these stores being available in GTA Online.

The industry has been abuzz for quite some time on what the price of GTA 6 was going to be, with some predicting it was going to be a base price of $100 and while the reality is $20 cheaper, I'd argue that in locking areas behind the Ultimate price tag, they might as well have stuck to predictions. Will anyone really excited for the game want to pay for less access?

The physical edition is just a code in a box

Perhaps even more contentious than the outrageous gatekeeping pricing, is the reality for physical media collectors. Despite the title having a boxed release, Rockstar confirmed that the physical version will contain only a download code in the box.

There is no disc included, continuing the industry's trend of moving away from physical media, even for a release as huge as GTA 6.

"Grand Theft Auto VI plays best on PS5"

Sony is using the opportunity to go hard on its marketing, claiming in a blog post that PS5 will be the best place to play GTA 6.

They report that they've worked with Rockstar to take advantage of PS5's more immersive features, such as the DualSense controller, which responds to your gameplay and adds another dimension to key in-game moments. I wonder if Xbox will have anything to say about that?

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With GTA 6 pre-orders going live at midnight tonight, the pressure is on to ensure your hardware is up to the task, especially since the title is exclusive to current-gen consoles. If you haven't upgraded yet, Amazon Prime week Day is the perfect time to secure an Xbox Series X.

I'm not going to pretend that the current deal sets the gaming world alight, but it does bring us closer to an actually reasonable price for Xbox's flagship console. This is currently the only active deal for the Series X. You can pick it up for $573 at Walmart (not AMAZON), saving you $76.99 just in time for the GTA 6 launch.

The Xbox Series X 1TB will be the best place to play GTA 6

The Xbox Series X remains the gold standard for Xbox gaming, and will be the best place to experience GTA 6 (if you don't want to fork out PS5 Pro prices, that is). With a custom 8-core Zen 2 CPU and 12 teraflops of RDNA 2 GPU power, it is built to handle the heavy lifting that Rockstar’s latest beast of a game will demand.

Plus, unlike Valve’s catastrophically expensive new Steam Machine, which doesn’t even include a controller, the Series X arrives ready to play right out of the box.

This deal is mostly for those who have been waiting for the right moment to retire an aging Xbox One X or Series S. This console generation has been a rocky one, with prices being hiked upward rather than dropping as the hardware ages, so we always knew steep discounts were off the table. However, if you are looking to upgrade without heading to the second-hand market, this is the most sensible way to do it.

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Whether it's summer classes or early prep for a fresh college start in the fall, Amazon Prime Day (and all the other competing sales) is a perfect time to set your student up for success on the cheap.

• Shop all Amazon Prime Day deals

I've combed through the best deals from Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and more to come up with this varied list of laptops, monitors, and accessories.

I found quite a list of thin and light PCs starting at just $479 that are perfect for students, and be sure to scroll through to the accessories that complement them!

Quick links

• All Amazon Prime Day deals
• Laptop deals at Amazon
• Save on PC components at Amazon
• Best Buy "Tech Fest" (Ends June 28)
• Newegg "FantasTech Sale" (Ends June 28)
• Walmart "Deals & More" (Ends June 28)

Best thin and light laptop deals for students 💻

Best Prime Day accessory deals for students

Prime Day 2026: FAQ

Amazon's Prime Day is an annual event that sees a ton of sales on great tech, but it's certainly not the only event on the go. Competing retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Newegg, and many more often have better deals on similar products, and I'm always checking the big names for the best prices.

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