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Windows Central
@windowscentral.com
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THE news & reviews site for Microsoft, Windows, Xbox, AI, and PC gaming. Tips: tips@windowscentral.com | Not part of Microsoft.
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Windows Central @windowscentral.com · Nov 13
Hey everyone!

We will try to get this channel running in the coming weeks. We're currently exploring different methods to automate our news postings here, which is challenging.

For now, you can check our Windows Central staff Starter Pack as our team starts to come online: go.bsky.app/8seHmnH
windowscentral.com
Discord is rolling out global age verification, and it’s about to change how millions use the platform.

Real IDs, stricter checks, and new rules for under‑18 accounts are coming, and the rollout starts soon.

Full breakdown on what’s changing and why it matters.

buff.ly/Px2ZDa5
Time for TeamSpeak? Discord age verification is soon rolling out globally
Discord has announced that, by default, the app will now assume all users around the world are teens, forcing you to hand over sensitive information to prove otherwise.
www.windowscentral.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:00 PM
windowscentral.com
Blizzard is hiring vehicle physics engineers for an "unannounced game."

What ever could it be?!

www.windowscentral.com/gaming/blizz...
Is Blizzard hiring vehicle engineers for the StarCraft FPS?
Blizzard's mysterious StarCraft shooter project is picking up fresh rumors lately, as new career opportunities hint at possible gameplay directions.
www.windowscentral.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
windowscentral.com
We took a look at 5 areas where Linux genuinely beats Windows 11, and the results might surprise you (though probably not). From customization to control to fewer annoyances, Linux still has some real strengths that Windows users keep bringing up.
February 9, 2026 at 7:25 PM
windowscentral.com
A dead Xbox Ally X, and struggling ASUS customer service.

"High repair volumes" threaten ASUS RMA returns in the UK. 🥲

www.windowscentral.com/gaming/my-xb...
My dead Xbox ROG Ally X is going back to ASUS — already
After 5 months of use, I'm having to go through the RMA process, and the ASUS messages don't fill me with confidence.
www.windowscentral.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:04 PM
windowscentral.com
The First Descendant just surged 167 percent on Xbox and Play Anywhere might be the quiet MVP behind the momentum. Cross‑platform flexibility is doing real work here.

Full breakdown on Windows Central.
www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/...
Play Anywhere is secretly powering The First Descendant’s Xbox surge
The First Descendant has surged 167% on Xbox following its Xbox Play Anywhere support and PC app launch.
www.windowscentral.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:40 PM
windowscentral.com
Apparently, finding RAM in the landfill is the new Pokémon GO.

BRB, we're heading to the local dump to see if we can get this lucky.

STORY🔗👇
www.windowscentral.com/hardware/hob...
How bad is our e-waste problem when $500 of RAM is getting tossed?
A PC hobbyist took to Reddit to show off their latest haul from a trip to the landfill, and it shows just how wasteful we continue to be despite high prices.
www.windowscentral.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:32 PM
windowscentral.com
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite benchmarks are in, and the early numbers are strong. Big CPU gains, major efficiency improvements, and competitive performance against today’s x86 chips — all while pushing Windows on Arm further than ever.
February 9, 2026 at 2:49 PM
windowscentral.com
Cloudflare's CEO recently described how, thanks to Google's search monopoly abuse, Microsoft doesn't stand a chance in the AI race without regulatory intervention.

Here's why: www.windowscentral.com/artificial-i... 🔗
Cloudflare on how Google's search abuse beats Microsoft's AI
Microsoft and OpenAI cannot hope to replicate Google's dual-purpose crawlers, owing to the search firm's total monopoly over web traffic.
www.windowscentral.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:45 PM
windowscentral.com
Microsoft is paying big money — up to $600K — to influencers to promote Copilot, but CNBC’s reporting also shows some creators are stepping back from AI sponsorships altogether. The creator economy around AI is getting complicated fast.

Full story on Windows Central🔗👇
buff.ly/A9brqt9
Big tech throws huge money at AI influencers, but not everyone wants in
Microsoft and Google are pouring money into creator deals worth up to $600,000 to market AI tools.
www.windowscentral.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:14 PM
windowscentral.com
OVERWATCH just saw its highest player base on Steam since launch, overtaking Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty.

Is it all down to this kitty? www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-ga... 🐈😸
'Overwatch' beats Call of Duty and Battlefield 6 on Steam
All it needed was a flying kitty. Overwatch is so back, as the kids say.
www.windowscentral.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:34 PM
windowscentral.com
Xbox's Gen-10 vision is rolling into view.

Here's why Microsoft's vision for Xbox is its most ambitious (and risky) bet ever.

www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/...
EXCLUSIVE: New details on Xbox's next-gen console(s)
AMD CEO Lisa Su commented on Xbox's next-gen yesterday, and the news took Xbox staffers by surprise. Is 2027 a lock? Here's what we know.
www.windowscentral.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:40 PM
windowscentral.com
Windows 11 is finally pulling the plug on legacy printer drivers starting just a few weeks ago.

Microsoft’s shifting fully to the modern Mopria standard, which means cleaner installs, fewer vendor bloatware packages… and potentially some older printers getting left behind.
February 6, 2026 at 6:28 PM
windowscentral.com
Windows 11 recently locked me out of Notepad thanks to a server-side bug with Microsoft Account verifications — is a 'Thin Client' era about to ruin my 27 blissful years of using PCs, now that they're so reliant on the Internet?
February 6, 2026 at 3:14 PM
windowscentral.com
Neocities just blocked Bing AI after it started hallucinating “malware” on harmless sites.

Another day, another reminder that AI safety tools sometimes need safety tools of their own.

Full story on Windows Central🔗🔽
Bing blocks 1.5 million Neocities sites, founder can't get past AI support
Neocities is a throwback to a simpler internet age, and Bing search apparently doesn't like that. The Neocities founder is having a hard time fixing the issue.
buff.ly
February 6, 2026 at 3:02 PM
windowscentral.com
Windows 11 is moving toward multi‑device Bluetooth streaming… but most PCs are getting left at the door. Microsoft’s building the future of audio handoff, just not for the hardware most of us actually own.

Full breakdown on Windows Central. Link👇
www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/wi...
Windows 11 will get dual-audio streaming — but your PC may be left out
Microsoft is expanding its "Shared audio" preview to more Insiders, but the feature's strict Bluetooth LE requirements mean most PCs are still left out.
www.windowscentral.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:32 PM
windowscentral.com
Windows 11 just made a quiet but impactful change: the Storage settings page — where you manage disk space, cleanup tools, and system files — now requires full admin rights to access. It’s a security‑driven move, but one that could surprise users who suddenly hit a permissions wall.
February 5, 2026 at 6:29 PM
windowscentral.com
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has been dated for Xbox, and it's coming sooner than you might think.

www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/...
'Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth' Xbox Play Anywhere launch dated
Pre-orders are live now for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the remake trilogy's open world middle act.
www.windowscentral.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:46 PM
windowscentral.com
Microsoft Teams is kicking off January with some genuinely great upgrades — smarter multitasking tools, cleaner UI tweaks, and a sneak peek at what’s coming next. If you live in Teams all day, these are the features that actually make work feel smoother.
February 5, 2026 at 4:15 PM
windowscentral.com
Windows 11 vs. Linux debates can get loud, but when you look at what most people actually need day‑to‑day, Windows still comes out ahead. From app compatibility to hardware support and ease of use, we break down the four biggest reasons Windows 11 is the more practical choice for the average user.
February 5, 2026 at 3:36 PM
windowscentral.com
Microsoft recently shipped AI agents in OneDrive to general availability for AI-powered document search and analysis, but you'll need a 365 Copilot license to access them.

Would you want to? 🤔
AI Agents in OneDrive now generally available — here’s how to create yours
OneDrive now includes AI agents that can analyze documents and keep collaboration seamless as work evolves.
www.windowscentral.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:01 PM
windowscentral.com
There's a massive 40% discount on ASUS' long-lasting Vivobook 14 laptop, a dependable laptop for work and studies powered by Snapdragon X.

It's a no-nonsense compact pick, but this price won't last forever ⤵️
Need a reliable budget laptop for school? — Then this one has you covered
Best Buy is offering a massive 40% discount on the ASUS Vivobook 14 laptop, a dependable AI laptop for workflow tasks that won't cripple your wallet.
www.windowscentral.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:06 PM
windowscentral.com
Satya Nadella has announced that Microsoft's Security Chief, Charlie Bell, is moving on to a new role to focus on "engineering quality".

He'll be replaced by Hayete Gallot, Google Cloud’s former President for Customer Experience and a long-serving Microsoft veteran.
Microsoft admits its software needs a babysitter for "engineering quality"
Microsoft's security exec, Charlie Bell, is moving to a new role as an individual contributor to focus on engineering quality.
www.windowscentral.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:49 AM
windowscentral.com
Steam Machine gaming PC delayed by AI-driven component shortages

Valve's plan to ship new hardware in the first half of 2026 "has not changed", but the company clarifies that it currently can't confirm an exact release date, nor prices for a trio of upcoming devices.
February 5, 2026 at 10:43 AM
windowscentral.com
Epic’s store ambitions are getting bolder.

As the company puts it, “We’ve been talking to the folks at Microsoft,” and the goal is clear: bring the Epic Games Store to the next‑gen Xbox.

buff.ly/tIOYRNl
Epic is ready to bring its game store to the next-gen Xbox
We recently caught up with Epic Games Store VP and GM Steve Allison to learn about how the platform is going in a gaming world increasingly dominated by Steam.
www.windowscentral.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:24 PM
windowscentral.com
Here we go again. Recent changes to the Read Aloud function have been spotted in Edge Canary.

Rather than reading your text as expected, it now launches Copilot Vision.

But why?🤷‍♂️

www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/wi...
Copilot Vision replaces Read Aloud in Edge Canary, and I don't know why
The Read Aloud accessibility tool no longer reads your text straight away in Edge Canary. Instead, it launches Copilot Vision, adding unnecessary steps.
www.windowscentral.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:54 PM