Windows Central Insider
What is Windows K2? Here's what you need to know
Windows 11 Microsoft has restructured its Windows team to better position Windows 11 as a strong platform that people should want to use. Here's how it's going about that.
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Features
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!
Why did Xbox, Steam, and PlayStation all surrender their socials to Discord?
Software Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam have gradually stepped back from building and maintaining their own social features, leaving Discord to become the default platform for player communication.
5 more AWESOME Xbox April indies: Take a break from getting beat up in Hades 2
ID@Xbox Manage a bookshop or break out as a hit content creator in these newly released games brought to you by ID@Xbox.
Windows & Software
A new tool adds Linux apps to Windows 95
Windows WSL9X runs a modern Linux kernel inside Windows 95, 98, and ME without virtualization, letting classic Windows systems run Linux tools next to native apps.
Copilot Keyboard launches with the return of an unexpected mascot
Apps Copilot Keyboard launches in Japan with AI‑powered text suggestions, Copilot Search, and the surprise return of Kyle the dolphin from Microsoft Office 97.
Files adds customizable toolbar Microsoft should copy for File Explorer
Apps Files 4.0.39 adds a customizable toolbar that makes Windows 11’s File Explorer feel outdated. Here’s why Microsoft should copy the feature and what the update includes.
PC Hardware
How does the Surface Laptop 13" compare to the MacBook Neo?
Laptops Surface Laptop 13-inch vs. MacBook Neo: Rising prices make Microsoft's lightweight darling a tough sell
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.
I tested 5 games on the Zenbook A16: Can Windows on ARM attract any gamers?
Windows on ARM ASUS and Qualcomm created a stellar Windows laptop in the Zenbook A16, but can it handle any PC gaming? I tested a few favorites to find out.
Deals
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
Always beware the quiet ones as this powerhouse mini-PC with silent cooling is now on sale
Deals The discounted Geekom A7 MAX mini-PC offers fast performance with its Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU, an expandable 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD, and a compact form-factor that won't greedily eat up desk space
Handheld Gaming PCs
How the Steam Deck became an unlikely Windows handheld
PC Gaming Valve's Steam Deck is a great piece of hardware that runs SteamOS out of the box. What about Windows? Well, it's possible, but not without some help from a community of enthusiasts.
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Gaming
Testing this iBUYPOWER gaming PC proves pre-builds can be great, flaws and all
Review iBUYPOWER's RDY Trace X R01 is a great example of how great a pre-built PC can be, even with its flaws. There's no AAA game that it wouldn't be able to handle.
FFXIV announces new expansion Evercold during Fanfest 2026, and it has a release date
Gaming During the FFXIV Fanfest 2026 keynote in Anaheim, director Yoshi-P announced that the game's next expansion is called Evercold, and its release date, too.
All the Dark Ops challenges in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Gaming Dark Ops challenges aren't listed in Black Ops 7's Calling Cards menu, as, like previous games, they're secretive. But here's a list of every known Dark Ops so far and how to get it.
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.
