Microsoft’s Xbox division saw further turmoil after chief operating officer Helen Chiang left abruptly in late July, weeks after her appointment. Chiang, a 21‑year veteran, posted a brief LinkedIn note denying reports that she was fired for policy violations and citing “serious concerns” about Microsoft’s handling of

Microsoft is celebrating the Xbox brand’s 25th anniversary by offering a limited‑time promotion that bundles 25 downloadable Xbox games at no cost for customers who purchase a new Windows 11 PC. The deal, announced in early November, applies to eligible devices sold by participating retailers and requires activation through the Microsoft Store within 30 days of purchase. The game library spans titles from the original Xbox era to recent releases, including popular franchises such as “Halo,” “Forza,” and “Minecraft.” [...]

Microsoft confirmed that its legacy Optimize Drives utility – the built‑in defragmenter and SSD‑trimmer – is slated for a modern redesign, adding it to the company’s WinUI 3 migration list. The note came from March Rogers, a partner director of design, after a user asked on X whether the tool could be rebuilt with WinUI 3 or folded into Settings. While Microsoft did not specify a timeline or final UI choice, the acknowledgment signals continued effort to [...]

Microsoft announced that Windows 10’s extended security support will end on 12 October 2027, leaving roughly eleven months for users to transition to Windows 11. To accelerate the migration, the company is now offering the Windows 11 26H2 update—marketed as a “faster” build—to eligible Windows 10 PCs directly through Windows Update, bypassing the slower rollout of previous 25H2 and 24H2 versions. The 26H2 update, which began deployment on 29 September, is already available to all qualifying devices and promises performance gains such as lower RAM usage, quicker [...]

Microsoft’s Xbox UK account posted an image suggesting World of Warcraft: Forever would launch on Xbox in November, prompting a Reddit surge that the game might finally reach consoles. The post, which also featured Shrek 2: Remastered, was quickly removed, and Xbox UK issued an apology stating the title is limited to PC and Mac via Battle.net and that the earlier tweet was a mistake. The incident has reignited speculation about a console port, fueled by earlier hints such as [...]

Sean Endicott, a veteran News Writer at Windows Central, has built a reputation covering Windows 11, Surface hardware, Microsoft 365, AI, and related apps since 2017, authoring over a thousand pieces. His reporting spans breaking news, in‑depth analysis, feature stories, and opinion, with particular emphasis on Windows updates, Surface launches, and Microsoft’s expanding AI and services strategy. Endicott also pens “Windows Wrap,” a weekly column that curates the most significant stories of the week and contextualizes them within the broader [...]

Microsoft integrated generative AI tools into the development workflow for the Windows 11 Speed Test, a built‑in utility that measures network performance and latency. Engineers employed large‑language models to generate code snippets, automate testing scripts, and refine UI elements, accelerating the feature’s rollout by an estimated 30 percent. The AI‑assisted process also identified edge‑case bugs that traditional QA missed, leading to more robust performance metrics across diverse hardware configurations. Microsoft showcased the tool during its recent Windows 11 [...]