Windows Central Insider
A quartet of games are free to play on Xbox — but only this weekend
Xbox From April 23 to April 26, 2026, Xbox players can enjoy a collection of games via Xbox Free Play Days.
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Features
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!
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.
Xbox is cleaning house for next-gen, and social clubs were just in the way
Xbox Xbox has removed Social Clubs, prompting questions about the future of its social features. I'm exploring what could be next, and whether Xbox is moving away from its social roots.
This free app will let you move your Windows 11 Taskbar and make it feel like the old days
Apps Windows 11 may look sleek, but let's face it, the Taskbar doesn't have many fans. So send it back to the glory days with RetroBar.
Windows & Software
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Apps Files 4.0.39 adds a customizable toolbar that makes Windows 11’s File Explorer feel outdated.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.
Microsoft will retire Clipchamp for iOS, leaving creators without a mobile option
Apps Microsoft will retire Clipchamp for iOS on June 9, 2026, leaving the video editor without any mobile app.
Copilot adds mobile checkout with data from 500,000 merchants
Apps Copilot Checkout now works in the Copilot mobile app, and Microsoft has deepened catalog data from over half a million merchants to improve AI‑powered shopping.
PC Hardware
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.
Intel reveals new Core Series 3 mobile CPUs for "value buyers"
Hardware Intel has unveiled its new Core Series 3 "Wildcat Lake" mobile CPUs designed to be more affordable, and I'm optimistic that they'll be a decent antidote to rising PC prices.
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
The sequel to one of my favorite Xbox indie RPGs has unveiled its release date
Gaming During Microsoft's recent ID@Xbox Showcase 2026, a new trailer for Echo Generation 2 appeared, revealing more gameplay, insane bosses, and its release date.
Microsoft Gaming is scrapped for a return to Xbox
Xbox Microsoft is scrapping its corporate "Microsoft Gaming" brand to refocus on its core identity: the "Return of Xbox."
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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced remake finally has its release date, live preorders
Gaming Ubisoft has revealed the Assassin's Creed Black Flag remaster — Black Flag Resynced — in full, detailing its new features and pushing preorders live.
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.
