Microsoft will replace its own password‑backup feature in the Authenticator app for Android with Google One starting January 2027. The change means users must enable the “Microsoft Authenticator” option in Google One’s backup settings instead of using a Microsoft Account for backup. The app, which generates one‑time codes for two‑factor authentication, already used iCloud backup on iOS. The shift reflects Microsoft’s move to leverage Google’s infrastructure for Android users.

Microsoft announced that Windows 11 has been optimized for PCs with only 8 GB of RAM, citing up to 20 % faster responsiveness and 40 % quicker multitasking in lab tests. The updates reduce background preloading, cut RAM usage in Office, Edge, and Windows apps, and consolidate web engines to free up roughly 900 MB of memory. OEMs will face “memory budgets” to prevent unnecessary bloat on low‑RAM devices. The changes aim to keep Windows 11 competitive on entry‑level hardware.

Microsoft unveiled the Xbox Nano Controller, a $50, ultra‑compact gamepad aimed at small‑handed players and portable use. The device revives Google’s Stadia Controller concept by pairing directly to Xbox Cloud Gaming over Wi‑Fi via a “Cloud connect” feature, bypassing the console’s Bluetooth link. Announced in October and shipping this week, the Nano’s Wi‑Fi link is labeled a preview and may change before final release. Microsoft says the same technology will appear in a future Xbox Elite Controller. [...]

Microsoft’s Windows 11 26H2 update, released September 29, is now recommended for all users after the company resolved four of five tracked issues on its status page. The remaining problem – a USB Audio Class 1.0 bug that can cause devices to fail or produce no sound – is listed as mitigated following an emergency September 14 patch that restores 8‑channel and 3D audio. Earlier, the September 8 KB5124008 update had broken Remote Desktop, File Explorer and File History, prompting a series [...]

Microsoft announced a November 2026 wave of 13 new titles for Xbox Game Pass, including Football Manager 27, two Vampire Survivors spin‑offs—Vampire Crawlers and Warhammer Survivors—and titles such as Pit of Goblin, Escape Academy 2, and Firefighting Simulator: Ignite. Releases span PC, Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and handheld platforms, with some titles dropping on November 3 and others on November 10. The lineup also features the addition of classic Banjo‑Kazooie titles to Game Pass Essential and the removal of 20 games, including [...]

Xbox is seeking to offload Arkane Lyon amid a broader studio “reset” that aims to cut costs and streamline its portfolio. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reports that Ubisoft and at least two other gaming companies have submitted acquisition offers, while Microsoft is also weighing a management‑buyout to spin the studio out as an independent entity. Arkane Lyon, known for Dishonored, Deathloop and the upcoming Marvel’s Blade, entered a French labor‑law consultation period after Microsoft announced plans in July to [...]

South of Midnight creative director David Sears admitted in an interview that, if he had overseen Xbox’s budget decisions, he likely would not have approved funding for the studio’s project. Sears linked this stance to similar criticisms from Double Fine, suggesting that Xbox’s policy of granting studios full creative freedom has become unsustainable. He praised Microsoft’s support but warned that the current model could lead to costly outcomes and questioned its long‑term viability. [...]