I've been eagerly waiting for this bundle to launch since I tested Honeycomb's prototype last year, and even more so when the standalone Foxtrot stick won my highest praise. Still, even though it remains my favorite flightstick for Microsoft Flight Simulator, the Foxtrot always felt like it was missing that compact throttle box. Problem solved.

Honeycomb Aeronautical provided a sample but did not see, nor did it have any input on, the contents of my article before publishing.

How much does the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit cost?

You'll find the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit for $179.99 at Honeycomb's own store or through approved third-party US resellers such as Sporty's and Focus Camera. Over in the United Kingdom, a £159.98 listing at Argos is your best bet, besides a £161.18 option at Amazon UK that's imported from Europe with a slower delivery expectation.

Otherwise, the standalone Foxtrot Aviation Stick is still available for $149.99 at Amazon US, though the compact Throttle Box isn't currently sold separately, so the Takeoff Kit bundle is a smarter buy. If you're unsure, or you're in another part of the world, Honeycomb lists more global resellers for extra options. Whichever you choose, the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit is only compatible with PC.

What I like about the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit

One of my only complaints from my review of the Foxtrot Aviation Stick was the lack of analog throttle controls, but that's what the compact Throttle Box is here to solve. Otherwise, the flight stick itself is identical, so everything I said in that original article is still accurate. That includes my willingness to settle for digital throttle control, but now I don't have to.

Underneath the Foxtrot stick, I spotted the same screw threads: a pair on either side. These finally have a use, since Honeycomb includes screws and plates that attach the Throttle Box to the left or right side of the Aviation Stick. That alone seriously improved my earliest experience with the Takeoff Kit, as the extra weight helps keep it grounded.

All four sliders feel identical, with enough resistance to stop them from rattling around or accidentally moving by small amounts. Each has a detent toward the bottom, which lets me push past into reverse thrust or lets me know when I'm at the limit for the speed brake and flaps. After a few flights, I found that I generally preferred a general aviation (GA) setup with propeller and mixture levers.

Along the bottom, four chunky switches come in adorably tiny versions of a landing gear lever, a pair of engine switches, and a rotating parking brake. I use them only a fraction as much as the sliders, but they still provide satisfyingly realistic feedback when I'm getting ready for take-off or completing a landing. Plus, I only needed to assign four axes and four buttons, so setup was fast.

Does the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit have any issues?

The Foxtrot compact Throttle Box had two physical issues, though one was minor, and the other seems specific to my sample. That is, the interchangeable lever handles should be easy to swap out, but one doesn't fit flush because of an apparent fault in the plastic mould. So, if I wanted the complete GA set, I'd have to deal with a throttle lever that sits too high.

Sticking with the Airbus-style speed brake lever doesn't necessarily bother me too much, since it's the prop and mix handles that lean harder into the realism aspect, but it's something that would only be solved through a chat with Honeycomb's customer support team. There are no spare parts for sale on its website, so it's something to check when you buy the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit.

That minor issue is simply that the compact Throttle Box is too lightweight (~330g) to hold steady on my desk mat, sliding forward when I push the levers. It fares better on wood, giving the rubber feet a better chance to grip, but I suspect this might have influenced Honeycomb's decision not to sell it separately. Still usable, but it's better when tethered to the Aviation Stick.

So, the biggest downside to the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit is that the compact Throttle Box isn't sold separately, at least not yet. That might change in the future (and I hope that it does), but anyone who bought into the standalone Foxtrot Aviation Stick before now will be left feeling a little stuck.

In theory, the Throttle Box could retail for around $30, which hints at why it isn't available on its own. It could be that manufacturing costs are only covered when it's included as a bundle with the flightstick, and that mass-producing packaging and licensing for a separate unit isn't viable just yet.

On the other hand, Honeycomb already sells a range of accessories at a matching $29.99 price point, including a mix of electronics and plastic or metal add-ons. It's blocking existing consumers from accessing the most natural pairing for Honeycomb's Foxtrot stick, but it's less drastic for newcomers.

Otherwise, I'll always lament the lack of XBOX compatibility, but Honeycomb might solve that in the future with one of its 'XPC' variants. It delivered the same equivalents with its Alpha Flight Controls XPC, and an upcoming variant of its excellent Echo Aviation Controller is set to do the same.

Should you buy the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You want an immersive flight sim experience

✅ You don't want an overwhelming setup with too many inputs

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You already own the Foxtrot Aviation Stick

Buying the Takeoff Kit gives you the fantastic Foxtrot Aviation Stick, which, while it doesn't feature the world's best technology, is still my favorite overall flightstick because it's so convenient. That's still the theme here, as Honeycomb adds a no-frills Throttle Box that mostly matches, but at the same time, feels like a more budget-grade add-on that should be sold (and branded) separately.

That, paired with an unfortunate flaw in the lever handles that came with my sample, leaves me wanting changes. If Honeycomb can sell the compact Throttle Box separately, with its own warranty support system, and even consider selling the GA lever handles separately, it'll win a higher score from me. Instead, it's easier to recommend the Bravo Throttle Quadrant Lite.

Microsoft's big news this week is about how Windows 11 is now considerably more responsive on 8GB of RAM. A couple of weeks ago, it was the Xbox Series X|S and AMD-powered gaming handhelds getting AMD's FSR 4.1 upscaling to help boost performance.

What do these stories have in common? To me, they're evidence that the standard tech market model is breaking down in the face of unprecedented hardware shortages.

Laptops and desktop PCs keep rising in price, even as they're stripped of memory and storage. Xbox consoles have never been pricier. The latest gaming handhelds, including the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, are ballooning in price, to the point that they cost as much as a high-end gaming laptop from just a few years ago.

Consumer hardware that used to brute-force its way to acceptable performance in Windows, games, and beyond is no longer on the table for a lot of people because of AI-inflated prices.

What's left? Microsoft, despite its major role in the AI race, can't directly make hardware cheaper. It can, however, make it last longer by focusing on optimizations and innovations that offset the current economic reality that's keeping old hardware in our hands.

Windows 11 running better on 8GB PCs is part of a bigger picture

The bigger story surrounding Windows 11's 8GB improvements is that Microsoft is putting significant engineering efforts into improving the OS for low-end hardware. And it's not afraid to show it off.

To me, this is a reversal of tradition. For what feels like all my life until recently, the answer to a sluggish PC was to upgrade the hardware. Microsoft and its OEMs loved this tradition, of course, because it let them sell more products.

Now, the focus is shifting to making the hardware we have feel like it can indeed last until an upgrade becomes affordable.

This shift comes a couple of years after Microsoft's massive Copilot+ PC initiative, which I'm sure was conceived as an ultimate ploy to get users to buy new hardware.

That didn't turn out so well for Microsoft. The AI tools built into the OS failed to capture the whimsy of the average user. Adoption was slow, no doubt largely because of rising prices. The Copilot+ PC badge was eventually phased out in September 2026.

Microsoft must have realized at some point during this transition that the millions of Windows users still running old hardware are not going to upgrade any time soon.

Optimization used to be a nice bonus when it arrived, but it's now becoming a major pillar in Microsoft's consumer strategy.

AMD's FSR 4.1 will held extend the life of consoles and handhelds

Microsoft isn't just working on optimizations for Windows users. AMD recently announced it's bringing its FSR 4.1 upscaling technique to its older hardware, which includes Xbox Series X|S, Radeon RX 6000 GPUs, and a host of Ryzen-powered gaming handhelds, including the ROG Xbox Ally X.

I've discussed how this update gives the current console generation some much-needed legs in the face of next-gen uncertainty. It improves image quality, makes rendering easier, and boosts framerates (maybe not all at the same time).

It won't turn your Xbox into a supercomputer, but it is the next best thing to buying an entirely new device with more power. This is particularly important as rumors of the next-gen Xbox Helix's $1200-$1800 price begin to swirl.

If Helix indeed launches at that price, Microsoft has to know that adoption won't be fast. But the company also knows it can't afford to lose those Xbox gamers.

Keeping the Series X|S relevant longer into the future ensures that gamers keep buying Game Pass subscriptions, keep buying new games, and, ultimately, remain inside the ecosystem.

Microsoft doesn't really need people to buy new PCs

Microsoft used to make ungodly amounts of money from licensing Windows on PCs. However, it's arrived at a point where licenses are a tiny fraction of revenue. It's all about the subscriptions now, including Game Pass, Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Copilot, Azure, and many more.

Don't get me wrong; I'm sure Microsoft would still love to be selling a ton of PCs. That's just good for business. That's not what's happening these days. PC sales are on a steep decline because of rising prices.

But as long as people are still using some sort of Windows PC that doesn't frustrate them with sluggish performance, there's a good chance that Microsoft will receive at least one monthly payment and remain within the ecosystem.

The current upgrade cycle is stuck in place

Microsoft realized at some point that the upgrade cycle we're currently in is going to last for a lot longer than usual, especially as prices keep climbing.

And although I'm sure there were external circumstances playing a role in these recent optimizations I laid out, the big story is that Microsoft knows software is the answer to unaffordable hardware.

Do you agree with my opinions above? Do you think we'll be seeing a lot more software optimization in the years to come if PC prices don't drop? Do you think this is all just a small bandage on a seeping wound? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Season 1 is coming to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on November 6, a mere two weeks after it officially launched. For DMZ players, there will be a bunch of new content, not least the new X01 map.

But I get it; you may also feel like you're 'behind' or not prepared. You see the big content creators on Twitch and YouTube with a stash full of the highest rarity items. But most of us aren't able to play the game all day (even I, when covering it is part of my job).

Solo players can also feel a little left out, since regularly hitting the toughest areas for the best gear usually needs the coordination of a full squad. X01 especially sounds like it's going to be tough, so you're going to want gear. And plenty of weapons.

Fortunately, even if you are playing solo, there are some good routes out there you can run with the sole purpose of just getting loot. And decent loot, at that. The one I'm going to feature here can be done in 10-15 minutes, has an exfil close by every time, and crucially, should be pretty chilled out.

How to farm good loot and weapons in MW4 DMZ easily as a solo player

I take no credit for coming up with this idea. Plenty of folks on YouTube have talked about it, and I first saw TheSpazo on YouTube recommend it as a loot run.

Essentially we're going to target six bunkers on the left side of the map and throw in one compound that sits on the route. This guarantees six weapon lockers and a safe, as well as plenty of bags, military lockers, foot lockers, tool boxes, and, if you need to upgrade your FOB, a ton of valuables really easily.

The first thing you need to do is deploy into the Operation Iron Citadel story mission. If you don't have this unlocked yet, you need to complete the first three missions on the pyramid and you'll get access.

You don't need to do the mission for this, but using it guarantees you're going to spawn on the map in the right place.

When you're in your raid, open the map, and you're looking for six marks along the left portion that are little circles. They're missile silos, which may come into play in future content, but attached to them are bunkers full of goodies.

There will be one to the west of where you spawn, so hit that one first. There will then be a second one south of that. The gallery above shows all the grid locations for each of the six.

Basically you need to grab the first vehicle you can and hit all six bunkers as fast as possible. A car will often spawn near you when you load in, or you can find one down at Deadtown.

But the route is simple. Start at the bottom around where you spawn, drive up to each silo, go in through the bunker entrance that will be off to one side, and just loot everything inside.

You'll find maybe one AI enemy in some of the bunkers, but that's about the only resistance. When you come to a door locked from the inside, simply follow the windows and go round to the door at the other side of the room. This is the room you really want to hit because it's where you'll find the weapon lockers.

The only non-bunker part of this run is the Military Compound just north of the airbase. You don't need to waste time clearing it; simply approach from the south, go through the gap in the wall, up the external staircase on the first building, and the safe is in the room at the top.

Then leave the way you came and go back to hitting the bunkers. By the time you finish, you'll have had a chance to loot at least six weapons along with a ton of other great stuff.

The valuables you get are also an easy way to get DMZ Cash by selling them in the FOB. If you're not needing any to craft upgrades, just sell them, and you'll be rolling in cash. Maybe hang onto any Gold Skulls or Gold Bars, though if you find any, because you'll need them at some point in the future, and they're pretty darn rare.

Once you've looted all the bunkers, hit an exfil and get out. If your Operator has the Trait that reveals the Final Exfil point on the map, this will often be in the top left corner, which is ideal to hit from the final bunker.

Other players in your match are less likely to be there, but if it's not, there always seems to be an exfil in the vicinity of the airbase if you've loaded in via the story mission.

There's the whole discussion over whether there are actually fewer players in a lobby when you select a story mission or not, but in my experience this run has been pretty chilled. I've only seen one player in the last 10 runs, funnily enough, someone who beat me to the Final Exfil point.

So you do need to keep your guard up, but only you will spawn at that location for that story mission, so it increases your odds. But speed is of the essence. Don't waste time running; don't waste time looting other buildings. Get a vehicle and move fast, in and out.

Take a Weapon Backpack if you have one

As you're focusing on just harvesting loot with this run, you want to take as little as possible in with you. You shouldn't be coming into contact with many enemies, so one tip would be to only take in one weapon so you have a vacant slot.

If you have a Weapon Backpack you can use, take it, because with a vacant slot in your loadout and this, you have a chance to exfil with two new weapons per run.

At the very least use a Medium Backpack if you can, because that secure slot will guarantee you get out with any high-value items you find, such as recipes and weapon manuals.

But leave your backpack as empty as possible. You need the space because you're going to find a lot of loot.

I specifically say this is a good loot run to carry out as many times as you can before Season 1 for a couple of reasons.

The first is that right now, choosing this story mission seems to have reverted to the old ways where there seem to be fewer players. Only one person will ever get a story mission spawn at a time, so you will be starting on your own. But still, other players exist, so speed is essential.

The other reason is that this could change when Season 1 starts. Or loot spawns could change. In a live service mode like DMZ, always be ready for a change to come in that could end whatever methods you've become comfortable with. But we've had the final pre-season update now (as far as we know) so you have at least a few days while it should stay like this.

So it's a good time to stock up on weapons and materials and get crafting FOB upgrades if you can. Especially if you're wanting to check out X01. That promises to be a difficult location, so get the best start you can before it arrives.

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Microsoft has announced (via Xbox Wire) one of the strangest promotions it's done in years. It's hosting a free giveaway on social media for the Xbox Series X–Bite, a custom-made Xbox Series X trapped in a fake alligator.

This is not a gimmick display piece; there is an actual, fully functional Xbox Series X inside this fabricated beast, complete with a built-in resting place for an Xbox Series X controller rest in the alligator's jaw.

Do note that only one Xbox Series X-Bite exists and that Microsoft will only give it away to one winner. If you're interested in this monstrosity.

Here are the rules for entering this giveaway promotion:

• Step 1 - Make an X, Instagram, or TikTok account.
• Step 2 - Follow @XBOX on your platform of choice.
• Step 3- Repost the designated XBOX sweepstakes post.
• Step 4 - Manually add #XbiteSweepstakes to your repost.
• Step 5 - Make sure to set your account's privacy settings to public so Microsoft can see your post.

The Xbox Series X-Bite sweepstakes giveaway will run from 9:00 a.m. PT on November 3, 2026, to 11:59 p.m. PT on November 10, 2026.

Keep an eye out for notifications from Microsoft after you enter. If you've won, you will need to claim your prize within 48 hours of Microsoft's notification; otherwise, you'll miss your chance.

Windows Central's take

Now I've seen my fair share of bizarre gaming promotions as a gaming journalist over the years, but this one takes the cake for how random it is. I mean, how do you even put any discs in this gator (and will Xbox controllers' wireless connections be able to get through its stomach)?

I can't help but wonder if this was originally meant to be a Grand Theft Auto 6-themed Xbox Series X giveaway (considering the game takes place in a satirical version of Florida called "Leonida"), but something happened to cause Microsoft to veer away from any mention of it.

Either way, with Xbox consoles struggling for stock, I'm sure there will be plenty of people crazy enough to enter this contest to win the Xbox Series X-Bite and display it as a treasured heirloom for future generations to guard with their lives...or take the console out of the gator's stomach and toss out the reptile if it's too big to fit in their rooms.

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Copying and pasting continues to be an issue for those who install the latest updates from Microsoft. Just one month after an update broke functionality in Excel, October's release has caused the same issue.

The latest issues are caused by the KB5002934 update for Microsoft Excel, which is for Excel 2016. That version replaces KB5002665, which included a hotfix for a copy/paste bug. Despite superseding the previous update, the KB5002934 update can also prevent you from copying and pasting if a workbook contains conditional formatting.

Only a small set of Excel users should be affected by the bug, since it's limited to Excel 2016. Newer versions of Excel do not have the issue.

The bug appears in a way that may confuse those who run into it. Rather than Excel showing an error message or making a noise, the function simply fails.

The updates to Excel ship through Windows Update, though they aren't updates to the operating system itself. They function similarly to updates for other Microsoft apps such as Edge.

Luckily for those facing the issue, Microsoft has already fixed the bug. The company released a new build of Excel that fixes the issue. If Excel is running build 16.0.5574.1006 (or later), you should be fine.

You can check your Excel version by opening File > Account and looking under About Excel.

If for some reason you are still facing the issue, you can try these steps from Microsoft as a workaround:

• On the Home tab, select the Paste dropdown list, and then select Paste Special.
• In the Paste Special window, select one of the following options:
  • Formulas
  • Formulas & Number Formatting
  • Values
  • Values & Number Formatting
  • Link

I'm glad that Microsoft fixed the problem so quickly, but it's concerning that updates caused the same issues two months in a row.

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Microsoft's tiny XBOX Nano controller is now available from Microsoft and third-party retailers like Antonline for $49.99. Just last month, Microsoft officially announced its new pocket-sized Nano, and it's on track for its targeted release, with a launch today, November 4, 2026.

It's a slim alternative, measuring slightly over 5 inches and weighing only 3.5 oz (~99 g), which makes its Cloud Gaming appeal to smartphone gamers pretty obvious, but it works on Microsoft's consoles as expected. Our own Jez Corden went hands-on with the XBOX Nano, and his initial impressions are positive, with a full review to follow.

What makes the XBOX Nano so special?

What makes the XBOX Nano Controller unique is that, despite its small stature, it's billed as having the same high-level quality as regular-sized XBOX controllers (though there's no rumble feature). Still, Microsoft made sure to have the Nano stand out with some unique features:

• It fits easily in your coat or bag pocket, even when traveling.
• An ergonomic design makes it more comfortable for gamers with small hands.
• A rechargeable battery.
• An 'Action Button' that can take screenshots, record gameplay, or perform other in-game shortcuts.
• XBOX Wireless or Bluetooth support.
• Compatibility with XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, Windows PCs, Android, iOS, smart TVs, and XBOX Cloud Gaming.

So, if you like the idea of a compact XBOX controller you can take with you without bulky carry cases, the XBOX Nano Controller might interest you. For some of us, the $49.99 retail price might feel steep for a controller without Hall Effect or TMR thumbsticks, but it certainly has its appeal elsewhere.

We'll see if the Nano can prove us wrong about cost when we review it, but judging by Jez's early impressions, it's looking solid so far.

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Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, one of my favorite RPGs in years, is releasing its final DLC expansion, "Processional of the Damned", on December 8, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store.

It will feature a brand new storyline, a new party member, a new "Zealot" archetype, new enemies to battle, new gameplay features, new gear, and much more.

Here's what you need to know about the "Processional of the Damned" DLC.

The expansion will have players meet a recruitable companion named Stella, a miraculist raised by the Order of Saint Cognatius.

She leads you on a trip across the galaxy to explore a giant voidship graveyard infamously known as the "Processional of the Damned" due to a mysterious force calling her there.

Things get dicey quickly as you and your crew get trapped within the voidship graveyard. Now must work with the survivors of a lost missionary expedition to uncover the Processional of the Damned's mysteries, learn what drew Stella to this accursed place, and find a way to escape before the Forces of Chaos or worse things slaughter you.

As this is Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader's last DLC expansion, it's going all out with tons of new gameplay features, including:

• Stella, a new Miraculist companion who can set enemies on fire with psychic Pyromancy and change their abilities mid-fight depending on Veil Degradation or how many Psykers there are currently in your party.
• A playable "Zealot" archetype that's all about smashing enemies to death with hammers and other bludgeoning melee weapons.
• New enemies to fight, including Chaos Space Marines from the Black Legion and Aeldari from the Iyanden Craftworld.
• A new "Insanity" gameplay mechanic that will inflict horrifying effects on all of your companions, especially Stella.
• New weapons (including a Grenade Launcher), a new romance option, new companion events, new items, new space exploration options, and other hidden surprises.

I'm going to miss this wonderfully dark and amazing RPG take on WH40K

Out of all the RPGs I've played these past few years, I've never been so enthralled by one as much as Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. Not only was it the best introduction to Warhammer 40,000's vast, complex universe lore for newcomers, but it's also a brilliant game in its own right.

Its characters had rich personalities with intriguing arcs; its turn-based tactical combat was brutal and satisfying; its storylines had me hooked from beginning to end, and its vast array of dialogue choices had meaningful consequences while vastly improving replay value.

On top of that, every expansion released for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader was jam-packed with amazing content that aimed to make the whole game better, rather than just a few extra bits here and there.

So I can't wait to see what insane final adventures Owlcat Games has in store for us when Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader's Processional of the Damned DLC expansion launches on December 8, 2026.

Whatever it is, it will be a great way to kill time while waiting for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader's successor, Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, to come out next year.

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If you're looking for a laptop that's easy to carry without settling for weaker specs, LG's 'gram' range is still one of the strongest options around. To some, it's surprising to see LG in the category, but in the industry, they're still known for lightweight designs, built for traveling workers.

With multiple models at Best Buy currently available across different price points before Black Friday, we've picked some standout LG Gram laptops that offer a balance of value, features, and performance.

• Shop lightweight LG Gram laptops

For example, the travel-friendly LG gram Max 17-inch touchscreen with an Intel Core Ultra 7 355 (Panther Lake) CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD is currently discounted from $1,749.99 to $1,199.99 at Best Buy.

It features exceptional processing power for tackling heavy workloads, a 2.5K display that renders images with sharp details and vibrant colors, a large battery life of over 26 hours, and a thin 0.6-inch profile with a durable magnesium alloy chassis.

Alternative lightweight picks

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Searching for a specific email in Outlook can prove challenging. Outlook search can sometimes return irrelevant results while missing the exact email you need. Microsoft is looking to improve that frustrating experience with a revamped search.

The new search has a feature that genuinely removes the most frustrating part of Outlook for me. That phrase is thrown around a lot online and is often clickbait, but I mean it here emphatically.

Outlook now handles stop words better. Those words, such as "the," "and," and "is," often clog search results with irrelevant emails. I can't tell you how many times those tiny words have led to terrible searches that made me fish through the results that appear chronologically.

Microsoft's example from a blog post shows how drastically different the results are when searching "the FY27 budget" using the old Outlook search versus the new one.

The improvements highlighted by Microsoft center around ranking emails better. Microsoft focused on three areas when building the new search tool in Outlook: better ranking, improved performance when connectivity is poor, and a tighter feedback loop.

When you search for an email within Outlook, you will see seven ranked results rather than three. Those emails are ranked based on recency, sender, how much the message has been interacted with, and other factors. Expanding the number of ranked messages presented should show users more relevant emails while also helping Microsoft improve its ranking systems over time.

The new ranking layout is available across several versions of Outlook, including the new and Classic versions.

There are other upgrades as well. Classic Outlook now automatically falls back to locally indexed content when connectivity is poor. That same functionality is on the way to new Outlook but will ship later.

Users of Classic Outlook should also see faster search results. Microsoft also said recent improvements reduced latency for the slowest 5% of Outlook searches.

The improved rankings in Outlook are the result of a small language model ranker built specifically for Outlook. That model is trained through distillation, meaning it is built under the supervision of a larger model.

Distillation helps Outlook search be more efficient than if it had to run a larger model just to look through and rank emails.

I'd probably be okay with using a larger model in Outlook if it cut out irrelevant results that appear simply for using an article or common verb like "is." I bet I'd still save some time that way. But I don't have to test that theory because the new Outlook search is lightweight.

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If you’re like me, a massive Halo fan, you’ve probably played Halo Wars at some point. Maybe you enjoyed the huge battles with friends online, or perhaps you just stuck to the campaign because, well, it was great. But have you ever found yourself thinking how cool it would be to get your feet on the ground and see it all from a first-person perspective? Well, now you can.

Researching this has been a bit of a headache. It’s been difficult to pin down who originally created the crossover, but from what I can tell, there are at least two projects out there? Both presumably use AI to achieve the first-person mode, because that’s just the world we live in now.

The two projects in question are Halo: Theater of War and Project Groundside. For the sake of simplicity, I’m going to focus on Project Groundside, since it appears to be the main project people are using and playing. If you’d like to try it yourself, you can join their Discord server linked here.

Just a quick heads up too: these mods are only available on PC, so if you're on console, you're sadly out of luck.

Project Groundside turns Halo Wars into a first-person shooter

Project Groundside lets you play Halo Wars normally, but with the ability to control units in first person. The style is heavily inspired by Halo: Reach, complete with Reach weapon models and a sprint mechanic. In fact, you can even drive a Warthog, tank, and Falcon, and there’s a third-person mode available too.

The project also introduces a respawn mechanic where you can choose to load in as a Marine, Spartan, or ODST, each with different weapons to choose from. Respawns do cost supplies, though, to try and keep things balanced.

Now, this mod serves more as a proof of concept, but it’s pretty cool nonetheless. With the future of Halo up in the air, it’s refreshing to see projects like this give fans a taste of something different, especially when nobody knows how long it'll be till the next game.

I, for one, would love to see large-scale battles in a Halo sandbox with destructible environments in an official game. We’re sort of getting a glimpse of that with modded Halo 3 on PC, which has up to 128 players now in a match, and that's definitely tiding me over for now.

Let me know your thoughts on this in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll below:

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I managed to get my average-sized hands on a below-average sized controller this past week, as the Xbox Nano Controller prepares for lift off.

Microsoft revealed the Xbox Nano Controller a short while ago, but it had leaked a fair bit even before then via patents and regulatory filings. The pint-sized pad is a unique offering from team green, and it actually gives us a glimpse into how their thinking is evolving for their gaming operation in general.

The Xbox Nano Controller goes on sale on November 4, 2026 for the United States, United Kingdom, and other select markets, arriving right in time for Christmas. The Xbox Nano Controller is priced at $49.99 (via Amazon US here), comes with all the standard Xbox inputs, albeit without vibration motors or removable batteries.

We're still putting it through its paces before a full formal review, but initial impressions are positive. There's one feature here that isn't even activated yet ... though. Let's get into it.

Super cute, with super caveats

Yes, this controller is indeed Nano by name, and Nano by nature. It's roughly the same width as a standard Xbox controller, but it has a much shorter profile, with ergonomic palm grips that feel good in the hand even as an adult.

The thumbsticks, buttons, triggers, and bumpers are all slimmed down, but are positioned nicely making it easy to differentiate by feel alone. Actuating the triggers is easy because of the way they're lipped, and the bumpers are slightly raised rather than flush, which makes rolling your finger between them intuitive in motion.

As mentioned, there are no vibration motors this time around, however, as they naturally couldn't fit inside. The battery cell doesn't have a listed lifespan on the page, so we're still testing it out, but I've been abusing it a fair bit over the past week and still have 20% left which is impressive. I'm still working on a more in-depth analysis there.

Speaking of "a work in progress," for some reason, Microsoft has strangely tried to hide the fact this controller supports Wi-Fi direct capabilities for Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Indeed, as shared by The Verge and clarified by our own sourcing, Microsoft will soon reveal its Google Stadia-like capabilities for gamepad connections direct to your Wi-Fi, eliminating the latency of Bluetooth. By connecting directly to the servers over the internet, you eliminate some additional jumps your controller would otherwise have to do to reach the game. I'm told all future Xbox controllers will come with this tech as standard, including the Xbox Elite Controller Series 3, which is likely also imminent for reveal.

The Wi-Fi direct capabilities will only be available in the United States initially, and only in testing, before going global in the coming weeks and months ahead.

In any case, this is a really nice addition to the Xbox controller lineup. It's going to be ideal for travel due to its weight and size, and is easily pocketable. It might also be a better option for younger gamers with smaller hands. Microsoft has been marketing it against Minecraft Dungeons 2, which offers a glimpse at how they're thinking about positioning it.

I'll put together a full review in the coming days, but early impressions are very solid!

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As Xbox tries to shed studios, there may a light at the end of the tunnel in store for Arkane Lyon. According to a new report from Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, multiple companies, including French publisher Ubisoft, have submitted offers to acquire the acclaimed studio behind Dishonored, Deathloop, and the upcoming (at least we hope so) Marvel’s Blade.

Sources familiar with the negotiations revealed that at least two other gaming entities have made bids, while Microsoft has also considered management buyout options to spin the Lyon-based team out as an independent entity. Not unlike what has become of Undead Labs. While terms have not been finalized, a successful acquisition would reportedly allow Arkane Lyon to finish development on Marvel’s Blade, which was first unveiled at The Game Awards in 2023.

A critical deadline in Xbox's sweeping "reset" of studios under it's wing

The bidding comes after months of intense uncertainty for Arkane Lyon. Following the arrival of CEO Asha Sharma earlier this year, Xbox embarked on a sweeping "reset" across its studio portfolio aimed at reining in operational costs.

In July, Microsoft outlined plans to divest five internal studios. While teams like Double Fine and Compulsion Games transitioned toward independence and others secured new homes, Arkane Lyon was placed in an official consultation period under French labor laws to determine its fate.

Reports last month revealed that Arkane Lyon faced a strict mid-November deadline to secure a buyer or face complete closure, putting roughly 217 jobs and the future of Marvel’s Blade at risk.

An Xbox spokesperson confirmed the company is actively exploring options ahead of a December deadline, though Microsoft declined to elaborate on specific negotiations.

Ubisoft actually makes sense

Ubisoft's bid has some geographic logic at least, they are headquartered in France and already have an extensive local infrastructure which would make it easy for them to absorb Arkane Lyon.

Interestingly, it won't be the first major asset Ubisoft has taken off Microsoft's hands. Back in 2023, Microsoft famously offloaded the cloud streaming rights for all current and future Activision Blizzard titles to Ubisoft for 15 years to appease regulators in the UK and close its merger. Securing Arkane Lyon would be the latest instance of Ubisoft swooping in to swipe up pieces of Microsoft's portfolio, if it happens!

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Grand Theft Auto 6 arrives on November 19, but you're going to need to clear out your console drive for that 212GB file size. But let's be honest, you won't be playing anything else.

Rockstar has officially shared when you can start digital pre-loads (via Grand Theft Auto 6's website), because who wants to be waiting on 212GB on launch day to play? The clock officially starts ticking on Tuesday November 10 so you'll have 9 whole days in advance to start your engines. That said, the exact time depends on your chosen platform.

When can I pre-load GTA 6?

Xbox Series X|S digital preloading kicks off globally at 12:00 a.m. GMT on November 10. For US players thats:

• Eastern (EST): 7:00 p.m. (Nov 9)
• Central (CST): 6:00 p.m. (Nov 9)
• Pacific (PST): 4:00 p.m. (Nov 9)

European players will get access from 1 a.m. CET on November 10.

PlayStation 5 players will get access to the game at 12 a.m local time wherever you are.

For those who opted for physical retail editions, code-in-a-box copies are slated to begin arriving at retailers starting November 12.

In addition to the above, when the game launches on November 19, it will go live in your area at 12 a.m. local time, regardless of platform. So yes, some people will be able to play before others.

Free printable map and physical poster

Rockstar also revealed that on launch day (November 19), a printable version of the official GTA 6 cover art and the full map of Leonida will be available as a free digital download via the official site.

If you prefer physical collectibles for your wall, a double-sided printed version of the map and poster will be sold through the Rockstar Store shortly after launch for $0.99, or included as a free gift with any purchase.

If you haven't secured your copy yet or need to grab discounted currency to shave a few dollars off the purchase price, check out our GTA 6 pre-order guide for retailer links and gift card strategies.

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Microsoft has announced the next wave of Xbox Game Pass titles coming and going during the first half of November 2026 (via Xbox Wire).

13 Xbox games are expected to join the vaunted subscription service. They include the likes of Football Manager 27 (the latest entry in SEGA's long-running series of football manager simulators) and two spin-offs of the popular indie game, Vampire Survivors.

These spin-offs are the turn-based dungeon crawler, Vampire Crawlers, and Warhammer Survivors, which is basically Vampire Survivors but with characters and enemies from Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer: Age of Sigmar franchises.

Here is the full 1st batch list of Xbox Game Pass titles for November 2026.

New games coming to Xbox Game Pass Essential (November 15)

• Banjo Kazooie (Cloud and Console)
• Banjo Tooie (Cloud and Console)
• Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (Cloud and Console)
• Gears of War: Judgement (Cloud and Console)
• Halo: Spartan Assault (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Perfect Dark (Cloud and Console)
• Viva Piñata (Cloud and Console)
• Viva Piñata: TIP (Cloud and Console)

Games leaving Xbox Game Pass (November 15)

• 1000xResist (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Barbie Horse Trails (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Firefighting Simulator – The Squad (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• GoldenEye 007 (Cloud and Console)
• Great God Grove (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Moonlighter (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Pigeon Simulator (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Police Simulator: Patrol Officers (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Relic Hunters Legend (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Total Chaos (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Winter Burrow (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Wreckfest (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Windows Central's take

Out of all the games announced, the one I'm most looking forward to playing is Warhammer Survivors. It features the same addictive roguelike, "Bullet-Heaven" gameplay as Vampire Survivors but with the grim-dark aesthetics and over-the-top violence of Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer: Age of Sigmar.

It will feature over 40 playable characters, over 75 weapons that you can combine into new ones, mountains of funny fan-service Easter eggs, and tons of enemies and challenging bosses to fight across multiple stages.

I had a blast playing the demo on Steam, so I can't wait to try the whole thing when Warhammer Survivors drops onto Xbox and Xbox Game Pass on November 10, 2026.

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Steam's October hardware survey has landed, and it basically performed a round trip compared to the previous month's results.

In September, I noted that the massive 4.77% jump in 32GB RAM systems was likely due to an influx of Chinese players, as it lined up with a 7.42% growth in the language on Valve's platform.

That appears to have been true. The 32GB tier took a massive 5.16% dive in October, falling back to 37.06%.

At the same time, the 16GB tier moved back into top position with a 3.60% increase to arrive at 41.42%. Users polled with Simplified Chinese as their main language dropped 9.41%.

The bigger news for many of our readers is the jump in Windows 11 adoption, which continues at a fairly steady pace.

Steam's share of Windows 11 users continues to rise

In October, Windows 11 users on Steam climbed by a respectable 1.17% to 72.51% overall. This caused Windows 10's share to drop 2.5%, hitting 21.11%.

This is a better improvement than September, which saw just a 0.37% rise for Windows 11. In the same month, Windows 10 also rose by 0.71%.

Are gamers suddenly abandoning Windows 10 at a faster pace? Probably not. What's more likely is another correction to do with the polled sample. Windows 10 is still holding onto just more than a fifth of the overall OS share among Windows, Linux, and macOS.

NVIDIA's RTX 3060 reclaims the top spot

Another interesting tidbit from the October survey lands in the GPU section. Whereas last month the RTX 5070 took top place with a significant 5.86% share, it fell by 2.3% in October to land at 3.56%.

The GPU to replace it as the most common amongst polled Steam users? The legendary NVIDIA RTX 3060, jumping 0.08% to hit 3.62% overall.

Looking at the overall results, 8GB GPUs (especially the RTX 3060) are back in top spots alongside 1920x1080 monitors, which now make up 50.23% (a 2.32% improvement since last month).

If RAM and storage prices were indeed driving users to upgrade, last month's 32GB RAM and RTX 5070 anomalies wouldn't have been crushed out so quickly or so drastically.

To me, as I mentioned, this seems to be more of a correction for September's skewed survey than large moves by consumers as they deal with the ongoing RAM and storage crisis.

Windows Central's take

It seems to me, based on Steam's October survey, that PC gamers are continuing to update their software while holding onto their hardware.

For example, Windows 10's end-of-life support that was extended until October 2027 is still looming over many heads. At the same time, PC component prices are obscene, forcing gamers to reconsider upgrades.

This could be bad news for game developers, as many rely increasingly on hardware that's priced out of the average gamer's reality.

For next month, I'm keeping an eye on whether or not Windows 11 keeps rising and if RTX 50-series GPUs get another boost in shares against older cards.

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Microsoft has revealed the depths of its work to make Windows 11 feel less sluggish, with the company claiming, among other things, up to 20% better responsiveness on systems with 8GB of RAM.

Microsoft has claimed before that things "seem faster," but is there any juice behind this new claim? I decided to find out myself by running some tests on an 8GB laptop in my office.

The results will likely be surprising to some, especially once we get into the heavier workloads below.

How I tested Windows 11's responsiveness on an 8GB laptop

I installed a barebones version of Windows 11 25H2 (262000.7019) from about a year ago on an Acer Swift Air 14 with an Intel Core 5 320 CPU, 8GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD.

I didn't touch the page file (4524MB), and I only installed the necessary drivers before beginning my tests. I used the Best Performance power profile for all tests.

Once I'd completed all tests on 25H2, I upgraded to Windows 11 26H2 (26300.9711), which was released in October. Same system, same drivers, same programs.

Microsoft used telemetry data from things like Search, Settings, File Explorer, and Snipping Tool to measure responsiveness. I took a look at RAM usage instead; lower usage generally means fewer hiccups and interruptions, leading to an overall better experience.

Testing Windows 11's fresh-boot memory footprint with 8GB of RAM

For this test, I checked both new and old versions of Windows 11 about 10 minutes after booting the PC. This gives me a baseline to work with. I opened no additional apps and just let the system idle.

The older Windows 11 25H2 version was eating up 5.3GB of RAM in this scenario, leaving 2.3GB free. Windows 11 26H2 dropped RAM usage to 4.1GB, leaving 3.5GB free. That's a big drop.

Although both commits are the same at 9.5GB, Windows 11 26H2 uses slightly less at 4.4GB compared to 4.7GB.

TL;DR: Windows 11 26H2 is well ahead in the boot test where no additional apps are running, using significantly less RAM than 25H2.

Testing common workloads in Windows 11 with 8GB of RAM

Now that I've established a baseline, I put together a test to see how each PC handles an average user's daily workload.

I opened 10 tabs in Edge with a mix of Windows Central, Reddit, YouTube, Gmail, X, Amazon, etc. I also opened a Word document, Slack messenger, and the Spotify app.

Windows 11 25H2 climbed to 7.0GB RAM usage, while 26H2 hit just 6.6GB. That's about a 0.4GB improvement. Windows 11 26H2 was able to keep its cache larger while also committing less RAM at 10.4GB compared to 12.2GB.

For reference, committed memory indicates how much RAM the PC is setting aside for operations. In this case, 12.2GB of RAM committed includes physical system RAM and virtual memory (set by the page file). Committing less RAM keeps your system from clogging up, so this is good news.

TL;DR: Windows 11 26H2 keeps its lead under load, actively using less RAM and allocating less RAM overall.

Testing heavy workloads in Windows 11 with 8GB of RAM

Although the fresh crop of recommended Windows 11 laptops with 8GB of RAM aren't really meant to handle workloads this heavy, I knew it would be fun to really stress out the PC.

I opened Edge (with 20 tabs), a Word document, an Excel spreadsheet, Spotify, Slack, Microsoft Store, the Photos app, File Explorer, and GIMP simultaneously for this test.

You can see the 7.3GB total RAM usage on 25H2 and just 6.8GB on 26H2. That's a good sign, but there's some nuance.

Windows 11 25H2 began requiring more RAM than the system could provide, which led to paging and swapping, which led to disk usage spikes as the PC moved increasingly to virtual RAM.

Windows 11 26H2 also saw some disk usage spikes, especially when jumping around between apps and tabs, but not quite as severe.

The big number that stands out is committed RAM. 25H2 has 15.2GB allocated, while 26H2 has just 10.4GB allocated. Overall, the system is still using less RAM.

TL;DR: Heavy workloads bog down any 8GB system, but Windows 11 26H2 puts up a much more responsive fight than 25H2 from a year ago.

Windows Central's take

It's a bad time to be shopping for a new PC. The world's supply of memory and storage is constrained due to demand from AI data centers, leaving scraps for the rest of us.

The shortage is also forcing PC brands to raise prices. To offset costs, these brands are also reintroducing 8GB RAM models. This has led to plenty of discourse as to whether or not that's enough memory for modern Windows 11, which I explored in June.

In my opinion, Microsoft is A) listening to its user base that has been asking for a more streamlined Windows 11, and B) making it easier for OEMs to sell 8GB laptops to a wider range of people.

I'm here for it. There's no reason Windows 11 should be bogging down a system with 8GB of RAM, especially if it's just being used for common tasks. Compared to almost exactly one year ago, it definitely appears that the work was well worth the time.

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Microsoft has been busy at work reducing the amount of RAM that Windows 11 consumes, and it finally made an official statement today on the topic.

As it turns out, the company has already been quietly shipping performance improvements in the latest Windows 11 updates, focusing on making systems with 8GB of RAM feel a lot more responsive.

The result? Microsoft says Windows 11 is now about 20% more responsive on 8GB PCs compared to before this work started. The work also applies to systems with 4GB, 16GB, and beyond, with specific tuning for each amount.

This couldn't come at a better time. RAM and storage shortages (explained below) are driving up the cost of all PCs, and models with 8GB of RAM are being revived to lessen the burden on consumers.

Our favorite 8GB Windows laptops in November 2026

Companies like Dell, Acer, and HP have all recently launched 8GB laptops that cost somewhere around $699, with student and regular discounts frequently dropping those numbers lower.

If you were hesitant to shop for an 8GB laptop before, the recent Windows 11 updates should have you reconsidering, especially when prices are this reasonable. Here are my three favorite 8GB laptops right now.

Dell's new XPS 13 for 2026 wowed both Zac Bowden and me at Computex earlier this year, and it's been available to buy since June.

It's a laptop with many premium features despite its price, including a higher-res 2560x1600 (QHD+) display with a 120Hz refresh rate, an IR camera for Windows Hello facial recognition, capable speakers, and a comfortable keyboard/touchpad combo.

👉 Does Acer's Swift Air 14 beat Dell's awesome XPS 13?

It does not, however, offer USB-A or 3.5mm audio ports. Its display does not use an OLED panel; it uses IPS instead. And the $599 price is only available for students.

Still, $699 for everyone else is not bad at all in this economy, and most users should have no issues with the XPS 13.

HP's OmniBook 5 14 comes with the same Intel Core 5 320 CPU as the other laptops in this roundup, so don't expect any major performance changes.

The OmniBook 5 includes an OLED panel for deeper contrast and more vivid color than IPS. The tradeoff is a lower 1920x1200 resolution and lower 60Hz refresh rate compared to the XPS 13.

HP's laptop also includes HDMI and 3.5mm audio ports alongside dual USB-C at 10Gbps. It's nice to have native video, but the lack of Thunderbolt is a letdown.

This laptop is currently on sale for $599.99 for everyone, making it (temporarily) the best deal of the bunch.

Acer's Swift Air 14 immediately makes an argument for itself with twice as much storage (512GB) as the Dell and HP laptops. For those who prefer to store locally, this could be the deciding factor. However, it does drop down to PCIe 3.0 speeds.

Performance is largely the same thanks to it having the Intel Core 5 320 chip inside, with 8GB of LPDDR5x RAM.

The display hits a 1920x1200 resolution; it doesn't have touch, but it does hit a smoother 120Hz refresh rate. You're definitely giving up some screen quality to land that extra storage.

While the keyboard is great, the touchpad leaves something to be desired. Your experience may vary.

Why is Microsoft concerned with reducing Windows 11 RAM usage?

Sure, Windows 11 could always be more streamlined, but this big push for more RAM efficiency is also a result of the ongoing memory and storage crisis.

See, AI data centers are eating up many of the foundational components of PCs, making the consumer side far more expensive.

RAM in particular has exploded in price; the same 32GB kit of DDR5 I bought for my gaming PC a few years ago, for example, is roughly 600% more expensive today. Storage isn't much better.

This is forcing PC makers to reevaluate their product lineups, as many consumers can no longer afford PCs with 16GB or more of RAM.

Cutting RAM in half is a huge cost saver and won't likely stop anytime soon (the RAM crisis could last for years to come), so it's great to see Microsoft taking user complaints about Windows 11's responsiveness (or lack thereof) seriously.

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Microsoft has detailed a number of changes and improvements that it has made to Windows 11 over the last handful of months that are designed to improve the OS for devices that have just 8GB of RAM. The company says that as of today, Windows 11 is more RAM-efficient and faster on PCs with limited memory compared to a year ago.

"On 8 GB PCs, Windows is now up to 20% more responsive, and multitasking is up to 40% faster in our lab test" Microsoft CVP Pavan Davaluri says. "We’re approaching this in three parts: making better use of the memory in every Windows 11 PC, protecting the interactions that need to feel instant even under load, and ensuring key apps and Windows require less memory."

Recent Windows 11 updates have changed how the OS preloads background services and apps on PCs with 8GB RAM. Now, the OS will no longer preload things like the Widgets Board on these devices with 8GB RAM or less, which frees up RAM for other tasks and activities.

Microsoft also says that it has worked with teams across Windows, Office, and Edge to reduce the amount of RAM these apps use, resulting in up to 900MB of RAM being given back to the system for other tasks. A large chunk of those savings came from Office apps, which add up to 350MB of RAM freed for the system.

There are also consolidation efforts around behind the scenes technology that should also free up system memory. A number of web-powered interfaces across the system are now powered by the same engine, rather than individual engines, and a number of web experiences are being rewritten as native WinUI experiences that use less RAM.

In fact, if you install Windows 11 version 25H2 from a year ago, and compared it to the latest version of Windows 11 with the latest OS updates installed, you'll find that even at idle, Windows is now using significantly less RAM compared to before. These improvements appear to be very real.

Additionally, the company is enforcing "memory budgets" on OEM hardware with limited RAM. This should stop hardware makers from preloading 8GB RAM devices with unnecessary bloatware, reserving preload for the most important services.

These improvements are all in the name of ensuring Windows 11 runs well on 8GB RAM. Windows 11's performance on limited RAM PCs was pulled into the spotlight earlier this year when MacBook Neo shipped, which revealed that macOS is well optimized for 8GB RAM.

Now, Microsoft is eager to let people know that it has made the necessary improvements to Windows 11 to ensure that it too is well optimized for 8GB RAM. Here's a rundown of some other improvements it has made to the OS over the last year:

• Memory compression already helps Windows keep more of your work in faster memory. Next, we’re making it even smarter and more efficient to get the most out of your system performance.
• Windows features and apps will share common parts instead of each carrying its own. Search and Widgets will share one web engine, and so will OneDrive and Photos for memory savings across all four apps.
• Apps and experiences built on WinUI 3, including File Explorer, Notepad, Paint, and the new Windows search are being designed to open faster and use less memory.
• Together with PC makers and silicon partners, we’re optimizing how much memory your PC needs to reserve for its hardware, leaving more available for Windows and the apps you use.
• We’re also working with third-party app developers to help their apps use memory more efficiently.

Of course, Windows 11 technically officially supports 4GB RAM PCs, and I'm told these optimizations also apply to those devices too. If you're running Windows 11 on 4GB RAM, you should see notable improvements to performance and multitasking with the latest OS updates.

But are these improvements going to be enough for users? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

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We're quickly approaching XBOX's 25th anniversary. Many companies are celebrating the event with special accessories and gear, but you can also build your game library as part of the festivities. If you purchase an eligible Windows 11 PC, you can claim 25 XBOX games that have a total value of over $500.

When Microsoft announced the promotion, it highlighted The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Minecraft Dungeons, and Gears of War: Reloaded as games you can claim after buying a PC. We now have a full list of what you'll receive.

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
• Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
• Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
• Minecraft Dungeons
• Gears of War: Reloaded
• Call of Duty: WWII
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• Fallout 76
• DOOM
• DOOM II
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition
• Age of Mythology: Retold
• Quake
• Quake II
• Wolfenstein: The New Order
• The Outer Worlds
• Rise of Nations: Extended Edition
• As Dusk Falls
• Battletoads
• Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
• Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection
• Fuzion Frenzy
• Gears Tactics
• Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
• BLINX: The Time Sweeper

That collection of games includes old classics like Fuzion Frenzy and recent AAA games. The bundle is a great way to grow your library or to help a friend or family member get started if you grab them a PC or gaming handheld as a gift.

Gaming handhelds are eligible

The X25 bundle can be claimed after purchasing any eligible PC running Windows 11, but I'd argue that it's best paired with a gaming handheld PC. Those types of devices are going to be popular gifts over the coming months. They allow you to take many of your favorite games on the go and are also a comfortable way to enjoy your favorite titles around your home.

Many of the games included in the bundle support XBOX Play Anywhere, meaning you can play them on your Windows PC and XBOX consoles. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Gears of War: Reloaded, and The Elder Scrolls Online all support XBOX Play Anywhere.

There are some notable games that do not support XBOX Play Anywhere, meaning their Windows and XBOX versions are treated separately. Call of Duty: WWII, Fallout 76, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, and Minecraft Dungeons are the biggest games from the bundle to not support XBOX Play Anywhere.

Our Managing Editor Jez Corden just re-reviewed the XBOX Ally X after using the gaming handheld for the past year. He called the gaming handheld "a fantastic device, a perfect companion for any XBOX player with a big Xbox Play Anywhere library."

That praise makes the XBOX Ally X arguably the best Windows PC to pick up when looking to claim the X25 bundle.

Terms and conditions

To get the free games, you need to purchase an eligible PC. Microsoft outlines the requirements:

"Eligible PCs include new Windows PCs and handhelds pre-installed with Windows Home and new Windows PCs pre-installed with Windows Pro running on NVIDIA RTX Spark silicon. Refurbished Windows PCs, and PCs purchased from unauthorized resellers, online marketplaces, liquidators, or auction websites, are not eligible."

The promotion runs from November 2, 2026 until December 31, 2026. You have to be in the United States to claim the games.

To claim the games, you'll have to open the Microsoft Store app on Windows 11. No later than November 30, 2026, the bundle will appear on eligible PCs and give you a chance to claim all 25 games.

Before you make any plans to purchase a PC to claim the free games then return the computer, Microsoft notes that it may revoke promotional benefits if a purchase is returned, canceled, or incomplete for other reasons.

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