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REVEALED: Windows central | Vintage Vibes

Windows just had an amazing week: Between silicon, devices, and OS improvements, I am excited to be a Windows user again

Great, affordable Windows laptops, powerful high-end silicon, platform improvements, and more came together this week to send a message: Windows is back.

Windows Central

Acer Swift Air 14 is the first Acer in years that I actually might want to use: Another $699 Windows laptop trades blows with MacBook Neo

Acer’s new affordable clamshell laptop is beautiful and high-quality in most of the areas that count, all for $699.

Windows Central

Xbox's CEO just defined her mission: "My mandate is not 30% accountability margins, it’s to be the number one."

It seems the historically high profit margins no longer apply to the new CEO.

Windows Central

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Lost 50th Anniversary Surface repaired and returned to owner — what went wrong and how Microsoft fixed it

A rare 50th Anniversary Surface Laptop went missing during repair, exposing a gap in Microsoft’s service workflow. After the story gained traction, Microsoft tracked down the original unit, fixed it, and updated its process.

Windows Central

"We want this to be their first XPS": I found out more about Dell's XPS 13 strategy — and why it's the perfect starter PC

Dell's new XPS 13, announced at Computex 2026, is getting a lot of attention for its $599 student pricing. But there's a whole lot more going on behind the scenes, which I found out in a Dell and Intel roundtable discussion.

Windows Central

Xbox Games Showcase 2026: Predictions, hopes, dreams — and what I think you should expect

The Xbox Games Showcase is pulling into view. Every year, people talk about how important these shows are for Microsoft, but with Xbox's 25th anniversary and a new direction ... there's a lot riding on this one.

Windows Central

ASUS finally gives us the mini PC we've been begging for, packed with a Snapdragon X2 Elite

In a joint announcement at Microsoft Build and Computex, ASUS has revealed its first mini PC powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite and answered our prayers in the process.

Windows Central

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Microsoft says Windows 11’s Defender is enough for most users but admits some third‑party tools still offer extras

Microsoft says Windows 11’s built‑in Defender offers solid protection for most users, though third‑party antivirus tools provide extra features.

Windows Central

I tried Microsoft's incredible Surface Laptop Ultra: This might be the best laptop ever made, and RTX Spark is seriously impressive

I went hands-on with Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Ultra ahead of launch later this year, and I've been blown away by its design and, more importantly, performance.

Windows Central

'Flydigi Vader 5S' wired Xbox controller review — It's a bit ugly, but it has some fantastic features I wish more Xbox controllers had by default

"Don't judge a book by its cover" is especially true for the Flydigi Vader 5S, whose gaudy and incongruous design betrays some pretty awesome features that I wish more controllers had.

Windows Central

Haptics make racing games feel so real that I can't believe I was actually indoors using a PC and not on a racetrack

I tried a haptic seat targeted at sim racing, and the experience is unlike anything I've ever had before. This is the next big step in immersion in video games.

Windows Central

Xbox Game Pass Just Added 3 Great Games Including 'Escape the Backrooms' and More

Xbox Game Pass has added "Escape the Backrooms," "The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition," and "Echo Generation 2." Here's what players can expect from these new releases.

Player One

HP’s Windows 10 holdouts show just how hard Microsoft’s Windows 11 upgrade push really is

Despite Microsoft’s push for Windows 11, millions of HP users are sticking with Windows 10

Windows Central

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma warns tough decisions are ahead, raising questions about Helix, Xbox Game Studios, and exclusives

Xbox's new CEO revealed that Xbox is in a tough spot in a new memo shared by The Verge. What could the "tough decisions" be on the horizon for Asha Sharma?

Windows Central

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Windows Central

"I think we're in a good place": Infinity Ward's multiplayer team talks with us about the development of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

Jack Hoppus and Jacky Reynolds from Infinity Ward sit down with Windows Central for an exclusive interview to discuss the importance of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's unique identity, development process, and changes to weapon loadouts.

Windows Central

Almost none of us will ever buy this Fanatec racing wheel, but its crossover between gaming and the real world is impressive on an unmatched scale

Sim racing with a PC or Xbox has got more and more realistic over the years, but this wheel from Fanatec takes it to a whole other level.

Windows Central

Google’s AI Search is pushing users away, and Bing has a rare opening it has not seen in years. What happens next is up to Microsoft.

As competitor search engines surge on Google's AI obsession, Microsoft has a very, very rare opportunity to exploit the situation. But it'll go against everything they've been doing up until now. Does Microsoft have the guts to do it?

PC Gamer

007 First Light review roundup: 'The best James Bond game since GoldenEye'

The initial reaction to IO Interactive's take on the famed British assassin is very positive.

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Windows Central

Steam has more than 100,000 games it wants to sell you, but some of the platform's most popular listings aren't games at all. Here are five that I don't regret adding to my collection.

Windows Central

'007: First Light' review — Not content with being one of the best stealth-action games in years, it also comes with a huge warning to the world

Hitman legends IO Interactive have another absolute banger on their hands with 007: First Light, which effortlessly weaves authentic classic Bond stealth-action with poignant plot points that should worry anyone paying attention.

Windows Central

"Leave it to Surface to do it best": Privacy screens are changing, and I dug into how Microsoft's approach differs from HP, Lenovo, and Dell

Microsoft upgraded its Surface Laptop for Business (8th Edition) with an integrated privacy screen unlike the others. I went back into our archives to figure out which laptop brand did it first, who followed up, and why Surface has the new best implementation.

Windows Central

I tried GameSir's revolutionary new game controller and it's the most mind-blowing thing I've used in years

I finally got my hands on GameSir's Swift Drive prototype, and it's beyond any of my expectations. This is a truly game-changing product.

Windows Central

"AI definitely has a place in gaming": I asked readers about the future of gaming AI, and I wasn't expecting these answers

AI fatigue is already a real thing, but I can't help but assume that its implementation in gaming is only getting started. I asked our readers what they think about this trend, and most answers were surprisingly helpful. Here's what Windows Central readers think about AI in gaming.

Windows Central

I bought Valve's new Steam Controller with my own money for a solid week of PC gaming — and you only need to know about one genuine downside

Valve takes another shot at a PC gaming controller that tempts players away from their consoles, and it convinced me to buy. So, was it worth the asking price?

Windows Central

Celebrating the community: Introducing Windows Central REPLAY, a new way to win prizes and share your wildest gaming moments

Making gaming fun again—one clip at a time, and you're the star.

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