Windows Central

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Microsoft recently announced a replacement for Windows 11's Bing speed-test shortcut, moving it to a built-in tool in Quick Settings. Here's how you can enable it on your PC and test your own speeds ⤵️

Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra isn't the obvious RTX Spark winner that I expected. After digging into performance, graphics, displays, ports, and pricing, ASUS's ProArt P16 came out ahead in several critical areas. But I'd still think twice before paying the premium.

Razer's Wolverine V4 Pro is a fantastic option for those who want a premium Xbox/PC controller with uncompromised quality and performance. It's missing some of the bells and whistles of other devices in this price bracket, but it's still a standard-bearer for 'premium' in every way that matters.

Xbox may have just spoiled one of its own surprises. Achievements for OG Xbox games appear to be surfacing on Xbox Series X|S before Microsoft has officially announced anything. buff.ly/jw8m4nm

Microsoft is offering a voluntary exit package to about 60,000 employees across the US, Canada, the UK, and India. The move comes just months after a similar retirement program and inevitably raises questions about whether further layoffs could be on the horizon.

Windows 11 will no longer bump you to Bing when you try to test your internet speed! Now, it keeps you in Quick Settings. Much better. buff.ly/eZfqg8L

Rare win for British gamers: The Xbox Series S (512GB) is back to a reasonable price again.. for a limited time. Grab it for £299.99 at Argos UK while it lasts! Deal link 🔗 winc.shop/Xbox-Series-...

Windows 11’s October update quietly resolves six annoyances across the OS — from flaky VPN connections to apps freezing at random. Here's what you need to know: buff.ly/jDhuDBl

Windows 11 just unlocked 5 surprisingly powerful new tricks thanks to PowerToys 0.102, and we go over them in our latest quick-wrap breakdown, so you know what to look for: buff.ly/P2Z15Gy

Xbox COO Helen Chiang "terminated for policy violations," according to a new report. The storied veteran Xbox leader was the firm's first COO in history. buff.ly/6u3Swdj 😔

REVIEW: The ASUS ProArt P16 is likely the best RTX Spark laptop on the market right now. With up to a 4K OLED anti-reflective display, 128GB of unified memory, and RTX graphics, it's the lightest (3.9lbs) and also one of the most satisfying to use. buff.ly/7ievfpJ

Why I ultimately chose Xbox after decades of playing on every platform. 🔗#XBOX25 buff.ly/5CSPs01

Windows Central Podcast LIVE is starting up! This week: Xbox/Windows drama, console exclusives (?), ASUS ProArt P16 review, and AMD FSR 4.1 could shake up handhelds and Xbox. Watch live: buff.ly/EmnFVFV

Microsoft is retiring the Copilot‑powered Prioritize My Inbox feature starting October 26, with a full rollback continuing into early 2027. buff.ly/tPMGHDK

AMD has rolled out FSR 4.1 beta drivers for the Xbox Ally, Ally X, and Ally X20. buff.ly/1feRQtc

Apple's iPhone Duo reviews are landing with a sense of déjà vu that sends us back to the days of Microsoft's Surface Duo. In fact, much of the phrasing could have been copied and pasted from Surface Duo reviews. Could you tell which Duo is which in our quiz? 🤔

Modern Warfare 4 is the quintessential CoD experience. Beautiful, violent, endearing, and heartbreaking From a gut-wrenching campaign that is nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece to a thrilling DMZ mode and a well-rounded multiplayer that keeps things fresh, it might just be the best entry yet

HDR on Windows 11 is a pain. You have to turn it on by hand, then remember to turn it off, or your desktop looks washed out. This free app does both for me automatically. Why isn’t this built into Windows?

Want to remove the MW4 background? Turn off "Event themed backgrounds" in your background settings, via Settings, General, Personalization, and then "My backgrounds."

Xbox is hijacking your console's dashboard (and any custom dynamic backgrounds) to aggressively advertise Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Already bought the game? Doesn't matter. You'll still see the ads ⤵️

NEW: Trailer for "Mass Effect Universe" gets posted on Reddit by a former BioWare employee. We can confirm it's legit. buff.ly/PKfzRRB

Microsoft has issued a new warning about “trusted” AI agents, urging developers to be extremely cautious when granting elevated permissions. buff.ly/XybySDT

Capcom is advising all Capcom ID users to reset their passwords immediately. With over 11.7 million accounts affected, this breach has the potential to impact players across console, PC, and mobile platforms. buff.ly/V3NquFf

Microsoft showed off a gorgeous new wallpaper during its RTX Spark launch, but didn't release it. Instead, a regular user had to track it down. Hidden in Microsoft's 'Retail Demo Experience' files, it's finally out in the wild 👇

'Hackintosh' is still around? macOS 27 is now running on a Snapdragon X2 Elite-powered ASUS Zenbook A16, complete with GPU acceleration. The creator behind "Snapintosh" says yes, it's absolutely possible on a non-Apple ARM laptop.

Deep Silver has uploaded new footage for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV, providing the most coverage of its gameplay yet, with details on its campaign, game modes, multiplayer, and more.

Cyberpunk 2077 joining Xbox Play Anywhere means players can move seamlessly between console, PC, and supported handhelds without buying the game twice. buff.ly/07Cd53q

Microsoft has revealed its new "playtime passes" for Xbox Cloud Gaming, providing hourly access without a required Game Pass subscription. buff.ly/XnPa65Q

Xbox just brought the Xbox 360 Blades dashboard back to life through a browser‑based demo from Xbox Labs. But what about the actual Xbox? buff.ly/KEdwcTe

Private equity firms reportedly explored buying Xbox, with Microsoft’s gaming division valued at between $100 billion and $150 billion. buff.ly/O2v1VPB

I was ready to write off the Xbox Series S. Then AMD’s FSR 4.1 showed up. If Helix really slips to 2028, this might be the best free upgrade Xbox could give current-gen owners. Here’s why I’m relieved (and the one big catch):

Dragging files across Windows is much less annoying now, thanks (again) to PowerToys. The latest release adds new mouse tools, expands Command Palette, and improves several existing utilities ⤵️

Microsoft’s new OneDrive feature makes sharing less of a headache. "Hero Links" let you update file permissions without creating a brand-new share link every time. Sounds simple enough, but it's definitely appreciated.

Another fan project brings cross-play support to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 between Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, 17 years after its original launch. It works, but the process isn't as straightforward as the original.

Microsoft announced the second batch of games coming to Xbox Game Pass for the remainder of October, with the headliner being the long-awaited addition of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. After years of hopes and dreams, it's finally on Game Pass!

'PlayPort' is a project that's bringing Windows PC gaming to iPhone, including titles from Steam, GOG, and Epic Games that run directly on Apple's hardware. Portal 2, Hollow Knight, and The Witcher 3 are already 'working', but is it worth it?

The Xbox Ally handhelds and Xbox Series X|S consoles are about to get a big AMD-shaped performance boost, thanks to FSR 4.1. Its flagship upscaling tech is coming "soon", but what does that really mean? Well, it's actually sooner than you might think.

Microsoft and Playground Games have been banning Forza Horizon 6 users for "anime"-styled Itasha liveries. What's going on exactly? www.windowscentral.com/gaming/forza... 👇

The Ally X20 selling out across all configurations — including a $2,499 bundle — shows ASUS is leading the Windows handheld race right now. buff.ly/MZxLNKU

A stalled power supply, a delayed AI data center, and Microsoft stepping back — it’s a combination that raises serious questions about the UK’s readiness for large‑scale AI infrastructure. buff.ly/xjLKUsH

AMD and Microsoft just confirmed FSR 4.1 support for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Ally, and the performance gains are no joke. Sharper edges, smoother motion, and cleaner visuals across supported titles. buff.ly/GVp8WZs

The Xbox 25th Anniversary merch drop isn’t just big — it’s genuinely good. If you want a quick look at the best pieces across the whole celebration, our roundup has you covered. Catch up here 👇 buff.ly/sLvFDP7

ShareX's largest-ever update adds native screen recording, 120 FPS capture support, and a huge collection of redesigned tools. It has arguably outclassed Microsoft's Snipping Tool for almost 20 years, and now it's even better!

If you’ve been an Xbox fan since the OG days, this collection is going to hit you right in the nostalgia. Razer didn’t phone this in. buff.ly/kE1JP2k

Console stock is so dire that Microsoft now recommends that lapsed users trade in their secondary, dormant Xbox consoles. The industry continues to reel from the RAMpocalypse, and Xbox is certainly feeling it.

"We expect more from ourselves, too". Microsoft VP of Product Design says AI is helping the company's designers work faster, contribute code fixes, and tackle Windows 11’s long-standing problems.

"Final Fantasy Resonance left me genuinely surprised by how good it was for a mobile game adaptation." ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ Amazing HD-2D graphics, an entertaining story, and likable characters make for a great experience, despite some pacing issues.

Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra is out and available to buy, but how long will it be supported? This long 👇 buff.ly/s04W8yy

A fan of Oblivion Remastered has used Claude AI to generate a PC performance patch that reportedly boosts average FPS by around 37%. Stuttering, frame spikes, and poor optimization have been common complaints since the game launched.

"People may keep a browser open for days because they are in the middle of something important." Imagine updating Microsoft Edge without closing your tabs, losing your place, or restarting the browser. That's what Microsoft is experimenting with in a new prototype to deliver security fixes faster.