Vue lecture

"Unethical use of Azure" reportedly leads to firing of Microsoft Israel execs — Microsoft has been investigating potential abuse of its products in targeting Palestinians

Microsoft's Israeli subsidiary has been placed under ownership of Microsoft France in the interim, after a Microsoft investigation reportedly uncovered "unethical" use of its products violating its terms of service and code of conduct.

Microsoft logo

Microsoft logo

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Sandisk's official Xbox Ally / X microSD card is solid — but should you actually buy it?

I was able to grab Sandisk's official microSD card for the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X range. But ... it's honestly not much more than a logo. Here's what you need to know.

The Xbox Sandisk official MicroSD card

You are just paying for a logo here, oddly.

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"Not a preload issue": Xbox responds as 'Forza Horizon 6' PC files leak in full a week before launch — and pirates already cracked it (UPDATED: Microsoft responds)

It's a potentially multi-million dollar error. Playground Games' upcoming arcade racer has leaked in full on Steam early, unencrypted. The raw files quickly made their way to the world wide web, and the rest is history.

An official screenshot of a race in Forza Horizon 6.

Pictured: pirates racing to acquire Forza for free.

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"We currently only support Steam and EGS stores for PC": A major upcoming sequel ditches Xbox PC and Xbox Play Anywhere — is this an emerging trend?

Aliens: Fireteam Elite was a surprise win for Xbox PC and Play Anywhere a few years ago. The sequel has not only ditched Play Anywhere, but Xbox PC all up.

Two armored soldiers in a dimly lit, industrial sci-fi setting fire weapons at approaching alien creatures. The scene conveys intense action and urgency.

No Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 on your Xbox Ally fellas.

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"Too many of us are eager to take Xbox for granted": Despite sentiment online and fears for the future — I've never been happier and more satisfied to be an Xbox gamer.

It's Schrödinger's Xbox. Simultaneously dead, and simultaneously feeling more alive than ever. Despite mainstream negative sentiment towards Xbox and Microsoft in general, I've never been happier to be a gamer in this ecosystem. On paper, everything is better than ever, but fears for Xbox's long term viability as an ecosystem are clouding everything.

Xbox controller

Xbox controller

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"SteelSeries finally helped me retire my battered 2015 Astro A50": This is the multiplatform headset, perfected

Finally, after almost a decade, I've replaced my battered Astro A50 headset. The Arctis Nova Pro Omni ticks every single box for multiplatform gamers, in an option far more affordable than its Elite cousin.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni photographs

Headset ascending.

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"Absolutely ridiculous, and completely unjustifiable": World of Warcraft causes a stir — new cosmetic 'houses' cost as much as an entire expansion

World of Warcraft's housing system was a deep investment for the game, and is purely cosmetic offering no power or progression to players ... but, increasingly expensive additions have users questioning the value proposition here.

New World of Warcraft housing items with Gallywix the goblin crime lord crudely photoshopped on top.

Gallywix would be proud.

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"With our partners, we’ve been committed to continual updates": The Xbox Ally range picks up BIG enhancements to boost the TV experience — with AutoSR in tow

The promised auto super resolution features appear on Xbox Ally X today, with other major enhancements to the Xbox Ally connected TV experience. Here's what's new.

Xbox Ally X

Xbox Ally X

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"GitHub is failing me, every single day, and it is personal": After Xbox and Windows, now GITHUB is in crisis — Microsoft, what are you doing?

One of GitHub's most staple contributors announced they are abandoning ship due to constant outages. GitHub's COO responds, promising change, but is it all too little too late?

Github logo on a phone screen with a cracked display, with Microsoft's logo blurred in the background via depth of field.

How many more Microsoft pillars can Satya Nadella's regime screw up?

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"If it continues like this WoW will inevitably die": World of Warcraft players beg Blizzard to slow down — for all the wrong reasons

I recently alluded to this idea that World of Warcraft is losing control of its quality ... well, control. And this concept really came to ahead this week with Midnight's 12.0.5 patch, which introduced a mountain of new bugs.

A bug in World of Warcraft. Like, an actual bug, a beetle.

A bug in World of Warcraft. Like, an actual bug, a beetle.

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Did Asha Sharma kill another ill-fated Xbox project? The "Xbox Mobile Store" seems to be dead. [UPDATE: Xbox responds]

Previously announced for launch in July 2024, the ill-fated Xbox Mobile Store seems to be dead, with all test URLs relating to it now hitting a 404 error.

Xbox logo on a smartphone screen with a thumb hovering over it

RIP Xbox mobile game store. We hardly knew ye. Well, we never knew ye.

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"A heartfelt thank you": After 28 years, Microsoft legend, former Halo exec and Xbox Film/TV lead Kiki Wolfkill has left the company

Kiki Wolfkill spent almost three decades leading various initiatives across the Xbox platform, from art leadership, to transmedia initiatives, and video game production.

Kiki Wolfkill, former Microsoft Xbox/TV lead and Halo Transmedia director

Kiki Wolfkill at the Halo TV show premiere for Paramount+.

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It's time for Xbox to stop apologizing for its existence

If there's one thing I think Xbox should change under new CEO Asha Sharma — it's in how Xbox presents itself to the public. Xbox needs to stop hiding.

Xbox logo with sad doge meme crudely MS Painted on top.

Xbox hides its branding from its own events, barely integrates its services, and has the smallest marketing presence for its size on Earth. Why?

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"Darkest ever" Metro 2039 looks absolutely insane, but also painfully sobering — Xbox First Look showcase offers our first glimpse at 4A Games' next epic

Metro remains one of the best and most immersive shooter franchises of its era, and Metro 2039 looks to absolutely continue that tradition. 4A games offers us our first glimpse in partnership with Xbox.

Metro 2039

"The Stranger" takes center stage in a new story that once again takes us into the dark heart of the Moscow Metro.

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ASUS 'Raikiri II Xbox Wireless Controller' review — I had high hopes for this as an Xbox Ally companion ... sadly it falls a bit short.

It's my first time using an ASUS Xbox controller, and there's plenty of positive points. But there's a lot of negative points too — which at this price is a bit unforgiveable.

ASUS RAIKIRI II XBOX WIRELESS CONTROLLER

Nailing the basics, failing the details.

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If you bought an Xbox controller recently: Read this — Microsoft says you might be eligible for free batteries.

Did you buy an Xbox controller between December 2025 and April 2026? You might be in luck.

Batteries in an Xbox controller.

Xbox controllers usually come with batteries, but Microsoft shipped a ton that were missing batteries since Winter. Microsoft has got your back, though.

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"What's going on?!!": World of Warcraft just created a truly insane, epic moment in gaming history — I had no idea Blizzard was still capable.

I have no idea how Blizzard pulled this off, but during World of Warcraft's Mythic raiding "Race to World First" esports event, U.S. team Liquid discovered live to thousands that the final boss had an insane, secret final phase.

World of Warcraft casters react to L'ura's secret phase

World of Warcraft's Race to World First esports event took a truly unexpected turn, as the final boss on Mythic difficulty emerged into a secret phase, just as the game's frontrunner thought they'd won.

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“We’re finally ready to show more”: The more I explore this State of Decay 3 info, the more I’m left wondering how far Undead Labs is willing to go.

State of Decay 3 looks set to be something of a sleeper hit. Microsoft's Undead Labs has finally broken cover with the announce of its Alpha Test phase, and has now put up an exclusive interview.

State Of Decay 3 Ice

State Of Decay 3 Ice

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Microsoft Outlook frustrates Artemis II astronauts live from space — Microsoft's reputation for shoddy software now stretches to the moon

In space, no one can hear you scream ... at Microsoft Outlook (New). Microsoft's weird decision to split Outlook into two separate apps creates issues for the Atemis II NASA mission to the Moon, live on camera.

Starfield moon with Outlook logo peeking from behind it

Outlook (new), Outlook (PWA), or Outlook (classic)? Artemis II astronauts don't know either.

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'World of Warcraft: Midnight' Season 1 story end suggests to me that Blizzard really needs to rethink its story design processes — This could be much better, and far more satisfying with only a few tweaks.

SPOILERS: World of Warcraft's latest expansion is already proving controversial for re-treading some of the game's most hated lore. But is Blizzard trying to fix it, or will they end up making it worse?

World of Warcraft: Midnight

Xal'atath is angry. Very angry. Sorta.

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