Windows Central Insider
Former colleague of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says her non-gaming background doesn't matter, here's why
Xbox As Xbox's CEO Asha Sharma wins faith from fans with beneficial changes, her former Meta colleague says her drive is "exactly what Xbox needs."
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Features
Stop running winget upgrade manually – this tool does it for you
Windows 11 Winget-AutoUpdate automates app updates on Windows 11, eliminating manual commands and giving winget users full control.
How to build your own retro gaming PC for less than $500
PC gaming The retro gaming movement is thriving in 2026, and I put together an affordable PC build for classic games and emulation.
Ranking the biggest Xbox "problems" on Asha Sharma's to-do list
Xbox Xbox CEO Asha Sharma just crossed sixty days in the job, and has tackled some big issues facing the platform already. But there's potentially much harder stuff on the horizon.
Join us as we rank the best versions of Windows LIVE!
LIVE The Windows Central Team will be LIVE at 12PM ET on April 24 for a Q&A livestream where we rank the best versions of Windows on a tier list!
Windows & Software
Stop running winget upgrade manually – this tool does it for you
Windows 11 Winget-AutoUpdate automates app updates on Windows 11, eliminating manual commands and giving winget users full control.
Windows 11 adds new controls to skip updates and avoid forced restarts
Windows 11 Windows 11 is adding new update controls, including skipping updates during setup, longer pause options, clearer restart choices, and fewer monthly reboots.
Windows Insider reboot begins with first Experimental Preview build
Windows 11 The first Experimental Preview build lands as Microsoft reorganizes the Insider Program.
PC Hardware
Why PC sales went up in Q1 2026 despite rising costs
Hardware A new study from Counterpoint Research explains why PC market growth in Q1 2026 is not indicative of how the rest of the year will go. Here's my breakdown of the situation.
In defiance of RAM-shortages, one man decided to build RAM in his garden shed
Gaming Dr. Semiconductor poses the question, "Can I make my own RAM?", as he begins cooking experimental DIY RAM sticks in his garden shed to avoid rising RAM prices
This 3D‑printed dock finally makes the Surface Pro lap‑friendly
Surface A Surface fan designed a 3D‑printed dock that improves lapability and pairs the Surface Pro with Lenovo’s TrackPoint keyboard.
ThinkPad’s flawless repairability score raises tough questions for Microsoft Surface
Laptops Lenovo’s ThinkPad T14 Gen 7 earned a perfect 10/10 repairability score from iFixit, exposing how far Microsoft’s Surface Laptop lineup still trails behind.
Deals
The Xbox Ally's 512GB SSD isn't enough for games, but with these microSDs, it will be
Deals The Sandisk Extreme microSD UHS-I card is one of the best storage units you can get for gaming handhelds, and its 512GB variant is now almost half price, along with similar discounts for other sizes
Block out the world with this excellent PC gaming headset that's now 46% off
Deals The Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed is a PC gaming headset that won our hearts for its premium-grade sound and wireless performance, and it's pricey has taken a massive 46% discount
Our top budget Xbox controller is now half the price of Microsoft's
Deals The already affordable GameSir G7 SE Wired controller for Xbox just got even more inexpensive with this 15%, giving folks a chance to enjoy its rich features and responsive controls for dirt cheap.
This pint-sized juggernaut of a mini-PC for work is now 15% off
Deals The Geekom A6 Mini-PC earned high marks from our friends at Tech Radar for its powerful performance, stylish yet practical design, plentiful features that are now 15% off
Handheld Gaming PCs
Valve just made it easy for developers to see how their games actually run on Steam Deck
PC gaming Two new sections have arrived for Steamworks data reporting, giving developers a closer look at how games run on Steam Deck.
Gaming
Inside Xbox's "exclusive" conundrum: Will Microsoft pull games like Halo from PlayStation?
Xbox The big conversation right now revolves around whether or not Xbox will return to "exclusive" games. It's a big decision, much bigger than perhaps most people realize.
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A nostalgic Windows‑95‑inspired base builder
Gaming Macrobit Interactive has recently launched its first base-building automation game, Factory 95, and its retro graphics and fast-paced gameplay are making me want to give the genre a try.
How to build your own retro gaming PC for less than $500
PC gaming The retro gaming movement is thriving in 2026, and I put together an affordable PC build for classic games and emulation.
Artificial Intelligence
Leaked OpenAI memo throws serious shade at Microsoft
AI The ChatGPT maker indicated that its new partnership with Amazon will help enhance its enterprise market share while highlighting key constraints in its Microsoft tie-up.
OpenAI’s new feature is just like Windows Recall: Chronicle watches you
AI OpenAI’s Codex gets a memory upgrade, improving developer workflows by boosting effectiveness and efficiency.
Microsoft says its faster MAI-Image-2-Efficient AI model slashes costs
AI Microsoft unveils MAI-Image-2-Efficient, a faster and cheaper AI image model designed to deliver photorealistic results at scale.
Former Microsoft Xbox VP says AI is "the big question mark" for the future of gaming
AI Microsoft's former gaming and Xbox VP Ed Fries believes AI is "the big question mark" for gaming moving forward, and says it's not going away.
Microsoft
Join us as we rank the best versions of Windows LIVE!
LIVE The Windows Central Team will be LIVE at 12PM ET on April 24 for a Q&A livestream where we rank the best versions of Windows on a tier list!
Microsoft weighed Cursor purchase before SpaceX reached a $60 billion agreement
AI Microsoft explored buying Cursor before SpaceX secured a deal that gives it the rights to acquire the AI startup for $60 billion or pursue a $10 billion partnership.
Microsoft faces £2.8B UK lawsuit over Azure licensing
Microsoft The Redmond giant argues that using Windows Server as an input for Azure while simultaneously licensing it to rivals could be good for healthy competition.
Microsoft Rewards is changing in May and earning points may get harder
Microsoft Rewards Microsoft Rewards is rolling out a new tiered system with Member, Silver, and Gold levels, alongside increased earning potential and monthly bonuses, though early user reactions remain mixed.
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Peripherals & Accessories
ASUS ROG Raikiri II: build quality, input tech, and who benefits most
Review Our review of the Asus ROG Raikiri II: precise TMR sticks, crisp micro switches, and premium extras—who benefits and when it’s worth the cost.
