DARK SECRETS: 41 | Vintage Vibes

The 13 biggest Windows 11 changes from early May — and why these updates matter for how the OS evolves through the rest of 2026

Windows 11 preview builds add Taskbar positioning, quieter Widgets, smarter Search, and major update improvements for 2026.

Windows Central · May 20

Microsoft confirms Windows 11’s May 2026 update is failing to install with error 0x800f0922 and outlines a mitigation for affected PCs

Microsoft confirms that the Windows 11 May 2026 update fails with error 0x800f0922 on some computers, but a rollback and a fix are already available.

Windows Central · May 20

Microsoft refuses to make the ultimate Surface Laptop, forcing people to choose between its best features

The Surface Laptop 8 for Business adds a privacy screen that works far better than film protectors, but choosing it means losing 5G. It continues Microsoft’s habit of spreading important Surface features across different models instead of building one complete device.

Windows Central · May 20

Forza Horizon 6 is now available on Xbox Game Pass, just as fourteen other games have been revealed for May 2026's second batch and beyond

Microsoft has unveiled the second wave of games coming to Xbox Game Pass for May 2026 and early June 2026. Alongside that main attraction, which is Forza Horizon 6, this batch includes other titles like Jurassic World Evolution 3, Remnant 2, and Echo Generation 2, to name a few.

Windows Central · May 19

Microsoft plans to end SMS two-factor authentication, potentially setting the pace for a passwordless Windows 11 future: "SMS as MFA is horribly vulnerable on multiple fronts."

Microsoft is pulling the plug on SMS-based two-factor authentication because it has become a leading source of fraud, replacing it with passkeys and verified email.

Windows Central · May 19

The Xbox Game Pass 'Stream Your Own Game' library grows again with nearly 70 new titles to play from the cloud

Xbox has added nearly 70 more titles to its Stream Your Own Game feature for Xbox Cloud Gaming, including Forza Horizon 6, Oxenfree, Katana ZERO, and more.

Windows Central · May 19

Is the new Surface Pro for Business (12th Edition) worth an upgrade over the Pro 11? Here's what you need to know before you buy.

Microsoft just launched a new Surface Pro for Business (12th Edition) featuring Intel's "Panther Lake" Core Ultra Series 3 chips. Is it an upgrade you should rush out and buy? I compare the new model to the last-gen Surface Pro 11 to find out.

Windows Central · May 19

Forza Horizon 6 pulls in over 270,000 Steam players at launch, and the number is still climbing as Playground’s racer picks up momentum

Forza Horizon 6 has surpassed 270,000 concurrent players on Steam following its full launch, massively outperforming Forza Horizon 5’s peak player count while continuing to climb.

Windows Central · May 19

Winhanced update adds PlayStation integration and emulator support, turning Windows gaming handhelds into true all‑in‑one hubs

Winhanced’s latest update adds PlayStation library integration, PS5 remote streaming through Chiaki, smoother controller navigation, support for over 108 emulators, and a new Apps Library for handheld gaming PCs.

Windows Central · May 19

"Not the mainstream PC update you're hoping for": I break down how the Surface Laptop 8 for Business compares to the Surface Laptop 7

The Surface Laptop for Business (8th Edition) has launched, but before you run out and buy one, I have some details about what exactly is new (and why you should probably wait).

Windows Central · May 19