After years and years of anticipation, GTA VI will finally ship this week. In fact, the game may have already pre-loaded on your console if you pre-ordered it. Regardless of whether you pre-load the game or download it later, it will take up a lot of storage.

Rockstar says you need up to 212GB free to pre-load GTA VI, depending on your device.

With the game being so large, you'll likely want additional storage so you can install GTA VI without clearing out other games to make space.

The good news is that the XBOX Series X and XBOX Series S support seamless storage expansion. The bad news is that stock of supported cards is extremely limited.

You may be able to find select individual XBOX storage cards in stock, but the only one I've been able to find available online consistently is the 2TB SANDISK Optimus GX C50 Xbox Storage Expansion Card.

Is the SANDISK Optimus GX C50 a good XBOX storage card?

The SANDISK Optimus GX C50 is the WD_BLACK C50 Storage Expansion Card under a new name. If you search for the old WD_BLACK card on SANDISK's website, you'll see a prompt explaining the change (shown above).

Regardless of the name, the performance of the card is excellent. The SANDISK Optimus GX C50 fully supports features like Xbox Quick Resume. You can quickly transfer games back and forth between the card and your console as well.

In short, using the SANDISK Optimus GX C50 should feel exactly like having a game stored directly on your XBOX Series X|S.

Unless you care about the graphics and logo on the card, you can take a deeper dive into the SANDISK Optimus GX C50 by reading our WD_BLACK C50 Storage Expansion Card review. I'll warn you that doing so may make you cry when you see the launch price of that card.

Is now a good time to buy XBOX storage?

If you haven't shopped for a console or gaming accessories for a while, you're likely shocked by the price of additional storage. The $479.99 price of the 2TB SANDISK Optimus GX C50 is more than an XBOX Series X cost just a few years ago if you found a good deal.

The XBOX Series X launched at $499.99, but for years it was easy to find one for less. Heck, Verizon used to literally give them away if you signed up for broadband. But like laptops and other gadgets, gaming devices have skyrocketed in price over the years due to the global component shortage.

So, through the twisted lens of current gaming prices, you could almost say that $479.99 is a "fair" price for 2TB of storage. Maybe a better way to say it would be to call it an "expected" price.

With GTA VI pre-loading on consoles starting November 10 and the game launching on November 19, now is the perfect time to expand the storage of your XBOX Series X|S.

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Razer has released so many keyboards during 2026 that even I sometimes need a minute to remember which Huntsman does what.

I've reviewed the $499.99 Huntsman Signature Edition, the excellent Huntsman V3 Pro Low-Profile TKL, and more recently Razer's $139.99 Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic. The latter brought adjustable Hall Effect switches and Razer's increasingly sophisticated competitive gaming features to its flagship keyboard family.

And yet the Razer keyboard I keep coming back to isn't a Huntsman.

It's the Reclusa.

Razer first introduced this new enthusiast-focused family with the Reclusa X Mini 65%, a remarkably good little $49.99 keyboard with hot-swappable mechanical switches, dual-layer dampening, south-facing LEDs, and that distinctive black, white, and mint-green tri-tone design. I loved typing on it, and its price-to-quality ratio made it ridiculously easy to recommend.

Now we have its considerably more ambitious sibling.

At $129.99 (Best Buy or Razer.com), the Razer Reclusa Mini 65% costs $80 more, but Razer has stuffed most of its premium gaming technology inside while preserving what attracted me to the cheaper keyboard in the first place.

I've used it as my primary keyboard for two weeks. And despite having plenty of alternatives sitting nearby, I don't particularly want to switch back.

Razer had no input, nor did it see the contents of this review, prior to publication.

Same Reclusa formula, considerably more hardware

The overall aesthetic of the Raze Resclusa Mini 65% remains fantastic.

You still get the compact 65% layout, tri-tone keycaps, and bright mint accents that prevent this from becoming another anonymous black gaming rectangle. The lighting comes from south-facing per-key RGB LEDs rather than shine-through legends.

I do miss having the legends themselves illuminated, especially in a dark room, but I understand the decision. The Reclusa is supposed to feel like Razer's enthusiast keyboard family, rather than another variation of Huntsman.

Where the premium model immediately wins me over is the multifunction dial in the upper-right corner. After missing dedicated media controls on the Reclusa X, having a conveniently positioned dial back for volume and other controls makes a surprisingly big difference to my everyday use.

There's also more going on underneath those keycaps.

Razer uses a PPS plate, lubricated stabilizers, IXPE switch foam, and dual-layer silicone dampening. According to my product briefing, the IXPE layer was specifically added over the Reclusa X's acoustic system to further reduce unwanted resonance.

I can totally hear (and feel) it.

The Reclusa Mini sounds more controlled and dampened than the X. It's audible without producing the higher-pitched clacking that can become irritating in an office. The best way I can describe it is a satisfying"plunk."

More importantly, this is probably the best typing experience I've had on any Razer keyboard.

That's quite a claim, considering how many Razer keyboards I've tested this year. I mean, they've all been great, but my hands feel happy with this one.

Reclusa goes magnetic

The biggest change is replacing the X's conventional mechanical switches with Razer's linear Hall Effect Magnetic switches (read our primer on HE switches for controllers to get an idea of why they're great).

Actuation can be adjusted anywhere from 0.1mm to 4.0mm, compared with the fixed 2mm actuation of the Reclusa X, and the magnetic switches are hot-swappable for compatible third-party alternatives.

That opens the door to Razer's current collection of advanced input features, including Rapid Trigger, Snap Tap, Snap Flex, Dynamic Keystroke, and Dual-Keypress Priority (I explain those a bit more in my recent Huntsman review). Razer Synapse, its love/hated software, also provides individual switch calibration, something particularly useful if you begin swapping magnetic switches.

There's an enormous amount to play with, or you can just use some of the presets and not worry about it.

I won't pretend every person buying this board needs to spend hours configuring individual actuation points, either. I'm perfectly happy using the Reclusa as a fantastic typing keyboard most of the day and taking advantage of its speed while gaming.

But if you're the kind of player who does obsess over these settings, Razer gives you the tools.

Polling jumps from 1,000Hz on the Reclusa X to 8,000Hz when wired, while wireless operates at up to 1,000Hz. The Reclusa Mini also supports 2.4GHz HyperSpeed, Bluetooth, wired USB-C, multi-device HyperSpeed pairing, and switching between three Bluetooth devices.

That's the real argument for paying $129.99.

An awkward $80 question

Ironically, the Reclusa Mini 65%'s biggest competitor might be Razer's own $49.99 Reclusa X Mini 65%.

I gave that keyboard 4.5 stars in my review because it nailed the fundamentals for an almost comically low price.

The premium Reclusa is better. It feels more substantial, sounds better, adds wireless connectivity, returns my beloved dial, dramatically expands switch configuration and brings Razer's current Hall Effect gaming technology along for the ride.

At $129.99, it's also competitively positioned within the enthusiast Hall Effect market. For context, Razer's own Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic TKL launched at $139.99, while the Mini 65% was $119.99. Wooting's plastic 60HE v2 launched at $179.99, with its aluminum version reaching $239.99.

Still, the cheaper Reclusa X exists.

If you're plugging a keyboard into one PC, don't care about Rapid Trigger or adjustable actuation, and just want something excellent to type and game on, save the $80. The X remains absurdly good.

It's also worth mentioning the lack of adjustable rear feet. Curiously, this didn't bother me despite normally raising the back of my keyboards. The default angle works well enough that I stopped thinking about it.

And naturally, 65% remains 65%. I love the extra mouse space and compact footprint. If you depend on a function row or numpad, nothing about this keyboard will change your mind.

Should you buy the Razer Reclusa Mini 65%?

You should buy this if...

✅You loved the idea of the Reclusa X but wanted Razer's premium gaming technology.

✅You want adjustable Hall Effect switches, Rapid Trigger, 8KHz wired polling, and serious customization.

✅You need both excellent wireless connectivity and wired performance.

✅Typing feel and keyboard acoustics matter as much to you as gaming performance.

✅You want a compact keyboard without sacrificing a multifunction dial.

You shouldn't buy this if...

❌You don't need wireless or Hall Effect gaming features. Buy the $49.99 Reclusa X and pocket the $80.

❌You need a full-size or TKL layout.

❌Adjustable rear feet are important to your typing position.

Bottom line

I'm almost annoyed by how much I like this keyboard.

I've got Huntsmans. Lots of Huntsmans. Some of them have more premium materials, some have different switches, and one I've reviewed costs nearly four times as much.

But for the last two weeks, the Reclusa Mini 65% has been the keyboard sitting in front of me, and I'm in no rush to replace it.

Razer's $49.99 Reclusa X remains the rational recommendation for most people. It nails the core fundamentals and punches ludicrously far above its price. The $129.99 Reclusa Mini takes that unusually good foundation and adds the stuff enthusiasts and competitive gamers are more likely to appreciate: magnetic switches, adjustable actuation, 8KHz polling, sophisticated input controls, wireless connectivity, better acoustics, and that incredibly handy dial.

Do I need any of it?

Probably not.

But I'm keeping it on my desk anyway.

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The RAM Crisis continues to worsen, driving the prices of our beloved PC gaming upgrades we took for granted to unaffordable levels for the common man.

Fortunately, Newegg's latest offering from its ongoing Black November Doorstopper campaign has unlocked a massive sales bundle for a plethora of highly sought-after PC gaming components, including a CPU with 8 cores and 4.2 GHz clock speeds, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD, to name a few.

One of our favorite deals from this package is the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D that's now 33% off for $299.00 at Newegg (was $449.00). This powerhouse of a CPU, coupled with a capable GPU like the GIGABYTE Gaming Radeon RX 9070 GRE (now available for $499.00 at Newegg), will ensure your rig has the power to run demanding PC games like Cyberpunk 2077 at high settings while keeping your computer from overheating using efficient power management.

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The first mini PC powered by a Snapdragon X2 Elite is now available in Europe. The ASUS Ascent QN10 launched in the United States back in September, and it is now for sale in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Thanks to the Snapdragon X2 Elite inside, the Ascent QN10 has an NPU with 80 TOPS that can handle language models, image processing, and automation workflows.

Unlike many mini PCs, the Ascent QN10 has an anodized aluminum chassis rather than a plastic one. That 0.7-liter body is 13 x 13 x 4 cm (5.1 x 5.1 x 1.5 inches), meaning it should fit comfortably on a desk or tucked away.

The Snapdragon X2 Elite is the star of the show, but the Ascent QN10 has some other tricks. For example, it is designed to keep heat from its CPU and SSD separate. The mini PC takes fresh air in from one side, then splits it.

Despite recently launching in Europe, the ASUS Ascent QN10 is already discounted in some countries. The PC has an MSRP of €2,195, but it is currently available for €2,005 on ARLT (German retailer).

There have been consumer mini PCs with Arm processors, but the Ascent QN10 is the first with a Snapdragon X2 Elite. The mini PC from ASUS stands out from many competing devices thanks to its metal body, processor, and cooling.

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Oh boy, the very thing that made World of Warcraft and, indeed, World of Warcraft: Forever popular is now becoming the subject of intense debate.

World of Warcraft: Forever is Blizzard's take on the "Classic+" pitch, where fans asked the firm for years for an old-school alternative to World of Warcraft: Retail. Now, Retail has become a bit of a chore in recent times, with various systems on timers and deadlines making the game feel a bit more like work than an actual game. To compensate, Blizzard made a big effort to boost "convenience" in Retail, even at the cost of immersion and general quality.

World of Warcraft: Forever is supposed to be an alternative option that's closer to the original experience: meditative, more methodical, and crucially, slower-paced. The friction that exists in Classic-style WoW makes the victories and loot far more meaningful than in Retail-style WoW, which practically hands out the best gear for free these days. Retail has become about timers and racing to the finish line, and it's a fun race, admittedly; but the gameplay style has undoubtedly led to the game's decline in recent years.

World of Warcraft players have been flooding in to play WoW: Forever, which is mechanically more simplistic than Retail on the surface. Instead, it's designed to reward perseverance, planning, socializing, and methodical play over rapidity.

Indeed, much like other friction-heavy games like Elden Ring, World of Warcraft: Forever encourages player interaction and socializing, asking questions, and strategizing, something modern WoW's timer-oriented gameplay undermines. Ironically, it's suboptimal to chat in World of Warcraft these days, with dungeon runs operating in complete silence unless someone gets angry and yells at you for a mistake.

Yet still, some players aren't happy with the way WoW Forever asks players for patience.

Across WoW communities from Reddit to X, players are debating "convenience" in World of Warcraft: Forever, with Classic fans dubbing those who make calls for making WoW:F more convenient "Retail Andys."

Blizzard has already begun addressing feedback regarding WoW: Forever, buffing dungeon mob EXP gains by 50%, and some are calling for them to buff it even more.

It'll be interesting to see if Blizzard continues to cave to the loud calls for simplifying World of Warcraft: Forever, given that oversimplification and homogenization are what have essentially killed World of Warcraft's main retail arm.

Games need friction

A good example of a game that went hard on "quality of life" features to its detriment is Monster Hunter Wilds, and arguably even Monster Hunter World before it.

Monster Hunter is a franchise that revolves entirely around the hunt, which previously included gathering materials, crafting specific counter-armor sets, studying monster behaviors and weaknesses, and so on. In Wilds, Capcom dumbed down every aspect of the game to try and appeal to a so-called "wider" audience, and the game suffered for it. The convenience undermined the game's core gameplay loop, robbing hunts of a sense of challenge and accomplishment.

I think there's certainly something to be said for having "too much of a good thing." Humans are hard-wired to seek convenience and the path of least resistance, and the calls to dumb down World of Warcraft: Forever already emerge from that.

When something becomes too easy, it becomes trivial and arbitrary. I can't remember the last time I was excited for a drop in World of Warcraft's modern setting ... but I was excited to get a basic-ass green dagger on my level 10 rogue earlier today.

Gear and boss kills have become essentially meaningless in modern World of Warcraft, as free loot is handed out simply for logging in. Blizzard gave out the free loot because ultimately, players asked for it. But the decline of the game showcases why listening too much to calls for convenience and difficulty nerfs isn't always a good idea.

Either way, World of Warcraft: Forever has been a resounding success story for Blizzard so far. Let's see if they can avoid messing it up ...

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After decades, Dell still offers a massive catalog of consumer laptops, but some models with modern components can quickly become expensive, given the industry's ongoing memory (RAM) shortages.

Thankfully, Best Buy's early Black Friday sale cuts hundreds of dollars off two of Dell's more compact and portable options.

You can grab the 14-inch Dell 14S for $999.99 at Best Buy (was $1,449.99), saving $450 on a productivity-focused laptop, or pick up the more affordable Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 for $799.99 (was $1,299.99) as a flexible convertible 14-inch option for note-taking, sketching, and regular everyday use, with a $500 saving.

Which Dell deal should you buy?

While both laptops offer durable designs, portable 14-inch displays, and dedicated NPUs for local AI features, they're aimed at different users depending on your wants and needs. Before you spend during Black Friday season, it's worth looking into the specs a little deeper.

If you're after a productivity laptop, the Dell 14S (31% off) is better. It comes equipped with a long-lasting battery, an OLED 2K touchscreen with deep contrast, and a modern AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 processor paired with 16GB of RAM to boost multitasking with multiple web browser tabs, creating documents or spreadsheets, video calling, and plenty more.

Otherwise, if you're shopping on a tighter budget or want a Windows laptop that's equally useful for school and everyday use, the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (38% off) is a good fit. It still offers good productivity performance with substantial standby power efficiency thanks to its Intel Core Ultra Series 2 (Lunar Lake) 256V CPU coupled with 16GB of RAM, a 120Hz 2K touchscreen that makes scrolling and digital sketching with compatible (but sold separately) pens feel seamless, and a solid design so it can pull multiple duties as a notepad, movie viewer, or regular laptop with ease.

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"Do you want to turn on Sticky Keys?" has likely popped up on your PC at some point. That prompt appears after you press the Shift key five times and allows you to enable the feature. Soon, Windows 11 will make it easier to stop that message from appearing.

In one of the latest Windows Insider builds, Microsoft introduced an updated version of the prompt. Windows 11 will soon let you permanently disable the Sticky Keys shortcut directly from the prompt itself.

The same change is also coming to the prompt used for Filter Keys, another accessibility feature that can be enabled through a keyboard shortcut.

Windows 11 already lets you disable that shortcut, but it requires a couple of extra steps. Within Settings, you need to navigate to Accessibility > Keyboard > Sticky Keys. That section has other controls, such as turning off Sticky Keys when two keys are pressed at the same time.

The current Windows 11 prompt includes a quick link to that section of the Settings app, but the process will soon be streamlined. The updated prompt still includes a shortcut to all Sticky Keys settings.

Sticky Keys is a useful feature that improves accessibility. It lets you press one key at a time instead of holding multiple keys at once. For example, instead of pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete simultaneously, you can press Ctrl, then Alt, then Delete.

The shortcut to enable Sticky Keys by pressing Shift five times has been part of Windows for decades. While useful, it can be triggered accidentally. Last week, I was in a creative program and pressed Shift five times as part of my normal workflow and accidentally summoned the prompt to enable Sticky Keys.

I took the opportunity to disable the shortcut through the Settings app, but soon that won't be necessary since the prompt will include a check box that prevents it from appearing again.

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In this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden break down a major architectural efficiency victory in Windows 11 under the ongoing Windows K2 initiative: reducing memory footprint and improving responsiveness by 20% on 8 GB RAM machines through WinUI conversions, OEM memory budgets, and memory compression.

We also analyze reporting on upcoming Windows 11 default wallpaper refreshes and detail why a full-blown Windows 12 release in 2027 is looking increasingly unlikely. We discuss platform fragmentation across Germanium and Bromine codebases, component cost inflation ("Ramageddon"), and why Microsoft could move toward iterative annual OS branding rather than forced migrations.

The conversation also tracks Copilot’s new opt-in integration into Windows Search, its discontinuation on LG and Samsung smart TVs, and hands-on impressions of the major performance rewrite of the Xbox PC app on handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally X20.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast is sponsored by Surfshark VPN. Unlimited devices, access your content from anywhere, and auto-block malware on Windows, Edge, and other platforms from $2.50/mo, with 3 months extra FREE. Sign up today!

• [05:41] – Windows 11 Uses Less RAM (Windows K2): How moving system UI to WinUI, stripping WebView dependencies, enforcing OEM memory budgets, and revamping RAM compression saves up to 1 GB on 8 GB PCs.
• [09:54] – Responsiveness Benchmarks & Mac Comparisons: Testing 26H2 multitasking performance, 20% responsiveness gains, and parity with 8 GB macOS systems.
• [17:26] – AI & NPU-Driven OS Optimization: Exploring machine learning prefetching to optimize system resources based on individual app usage habits.
• [20:55] – Copilot App Overhaul & Reasoning Models: Daniel’s impressions of automated model selection, conversational depth, and critique of the Chromium-wrapped desktop client.
• [29:39] – Copilot in Windows Search (Opt-In): The evolution of the former "Ask Copilot" taskbar feature into an optional, native WinUI search integration without forced AI prompts.
• [37:27] – Copilot Discontinued on Smart TVs: Microsoft ends Copilot support on LG and Samsung smart TVs as the platform pivots away from consumer assistants toward productivity.
• [44:12] – Why Windows 12 Is Unlikely in 2027: Analyzing Tom Warren's wallpaper leak, dual platform codebases (Germanium vs. Bromine), enterprise upgrade friction, and component shortages delaying an OS cycle.
• [50:03] – Annual Windows Naming (Windows 27?): Comparing Microsoft's release cadence to macOS and Android annual versioning instead of disruptive numbered leaps.
• [01:00:05] – Major Xbox PC App Rewrite: Massive performance boost (60% faster) on the newly overhauled Xbox Insider app, handheld scaling, and instant artwork loading on the ROG Xbox Ally X20.

Have a question you want us to answer on the podcast? Send it to us at [email protected]

Hosts:

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

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Microsoft has pushed back against reports that the company has built a modernized Registry Editor app for Windows 11, clarifying that the newly discovered modern Registry Editor is just a sample app, and not intended to ship in Windows.

Windows Latest was first to report on this new Registry Editor app, but stated within their article that the app is "not a mock-up," which led some people online to believe this app is a real replacement for the existing Registry Editor.

It appears that the app is a mockup, designed to showcase Microsoft.UI.Reactor technology, meaning it was only built to show developers what is possible with the tech and not representative of any modernization work ongoing by the Windows team.

Unfortunately, some reports didn't make it clear in their headlines that this app is just a sample app, which has resulted in a lot of pushback and criticism from users due to its unfinished design. Now, two Microsoft execs have taken to X to clear up the mess.

"It’s a sample. You say it’s the new one and then in the last line of the tweet you point out it’s a sample," Microsoft VP Scott Hanselman said in a reply to Windows Latest on X. This was followed up by a post from Windows Insider lead and CVP Marcus Ash, who said "Right. A sample. Not a developer preview of a new regedit."

So, that's confirmation from Microsoft that this new Registry Editor is not coming to Windows 11, and is just a sample app designed to showcase to developers what is possible with Microsoft.UI.Reactor.

With that said, this doesn't mean the Windows team isn't working on a modernized Registry Editor. My own sources tell me the Registry Editor is on the list for a modern rejuvenation under the Windows K2 effort, but there are other pillars and higher priority items that need to be addressed first before the Registry Editor can be tackled.

The good news is a modern Registry Editor for Windows 11 is unlikely to look like the sample app being depicted in recent reports, and that a modernized Registry Editor is on the docket for the future.

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For most people, Windows 11 Home is the version I'd recommend. It includes virtually everything you need for everyday computing, productivity, gaming, and schoolwork, and paying extra for Pro won't make your PC faster.

I personally use Windows 11 Pro, but for specific reasons. I regularly rely on Group Policy, BitLocker, Remote Desktop, and Windows Sandbox, which give me more control over Windows and aren't all available with Home.

That's ultimately the decision: Pro is worth paying for if you actually need its additional tools. Otherwise, keep your money.

In this new Windows 11 guide, I'll explain the important differences between Windows 11 Home and Pro, which Pro features I think justify the extra cost, and which edition you should buy.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro differences at a glance

Both editions share the same foundation and offer most features regular users need for everyday tasks. The main differences can be found in advanced security, virtualization, remote access, hardware support, and business management.

The following table highlights the most important differences.

As you can see, Home already includes most of the features needed for everyday computing. The Pro edition adds capabilities that become useful when you need more control over your computer.

The short answer: Which should you buy?

Choose Home if you primarily browse, work, study, stream, or play games.

Choose Pro if you specifically need Group Policy, full BitLocker management, Remote Desktop hosting, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, or business-management features.

If you don't know whether you need Pro, you probably don't.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro pricing

When you buy a new desktop or laptop, Windows 11 is usually included in the price. However, if you're building a new computer or installing the operating system on an empty hard drive, you may need to purchase a product key separately.

Microsoft lists the following prices for its Windows 11 editions in the United States. The retail price of Windows 11 Home is usually $139.99, while Windows 11 Pro costs $199.99. If you already have a device with the "Home" edition, you can upgrade to "Pro" for an extra $99.99.

Prices may vary depending on the retailer and available promotions.

If your computer already runs Windows 11 Home, you can upgrade to Pro without reinstalling the operating system or losing your files and apps.

To check the available upgrade options, open Settings > System > Activation and select the option to upgrade your edition through the Microsoft Store.

One thing to keep in mind is that you don't have to buy Pro just because it's the more expensive edition. Unless you need its additional capabilities, Home is usually the better value.

What Windows 11 Pro features are worth paying for?

This is where the differences become more interesting. Windows 11 Pro includes several tools that aren't available in Home, but not all of them will be useful to everyone.

From my experience, four features make Pro particularly useful.

Group Policy Editor

The Local Group Policy Editor is one of the features I use most in Windows 11 Pro.

It provides access to advanced system settings that aren't always available through the Settings app. You can use it to configure Windows Update behavior, manage security policies, restrict access to certain features, and control other parts of the operating system.

For example, when I want to change how a feature behaves, Group Policy gives me another way to configure the system without relying on third-party apps or manually changing Registry entries.

This is particularly useful if you regularly troubleshoot the operating system, experiment with system settings, or want more control over your computer.

Windows 11 Home doesn't include the Local Group Policy Editor.

Worth it for: Enthusiasts, admins, and people frequently tweaking Windows.

My recommendation: If you're an advanced user who frequently changes system settings, Group Policy alone can make Pro more appealing. However, most everyday users won't need it.

BitLocker Drive Encryption

BitLocker is another reason I prefer Windows 11 Pro.

It lets you encrypt drives to protect your files from unauthorized access. This is especially useful if you store sensitive information on your computer or carry a laptop outside your home or office.

Windows 11 Home features "Device Encryption" on supported hardware. This feature uses the same BitLocker encryption technology, but it doesn't offer the same management options as Pro.

For example, with the full version of BitLocker, you can enable encryption and save the BitLocker key locally to retain full control. On the other hand, Device Encryption stores the BitLocker key automatically in your Microsoft account, so technically, the key isn't fully under your control.

Also, the feature gives you more control over drive encryption, including the ability to manage encryption on additional internal and removable drives.

Worth it for: People who need more control over drive encryption, particularly laptops or PCs holding sensitive files.

My recommendation: If you regularly work with sensitive files or want more control over encryption, including the ability to take full control of your decryption key, Pro is worth considering. However, don't upgrade just because you want basic drive encryption. Home already provides that capability on supported devices.

Remote Desktop

Remote Desktop is another feature I use regularly.

Windows 11 Pro allows you to connect to your computer remotely using the built-in Remote Desktop feature. This is useful when you need to access your desktop from another computer, whether you're in another room or away from home.

Windows 11 Home can connect to another PC but cannot act as a Remote Desktop host.

You can use third-party applications, such as Chrome Remote Desktop or RustDesk, as an alternative.

Worth it for: Anyone who regularly needs to remotely access the PC itself.

My recommendation: If you regularly access your main computer remotely, this is one of the clearest reasons to choose Pro.

Windows Sandbox

Windows Sandbox is another feature found in the Pro version, but I use it occasionally.

It creates a temporary, lightweight, isolated Windows 11 environment that lets you test untrusted apps, open unfamiliar files, and experiment with tools without changing your main installation.

When you close Windows Sandbox, it deletes everything inside that temporary environment.

I find this particularly useful when testing apps or checking something I don't want to install directly on my main installation.

Windows 11 Home doesn't include Windows Sandbox.

Worth it for: Enthusiasts and developers testing apps or unfamiliar files.

My recommendation: If you frequently test apps or experiment, Sandbox is a valuable addition. If you only install familiar apps, it probably isn't worth paying extra for Pro.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro virtualization

Beyond Windows Sandbox, Windows 11 Pro includes Hyper-V, Microsoft's virtualization platform.

Hyper-V allows you to create virtual machines that run other operating systems inside Windows 11. For example, you can install another version of Windows or a Linux distribution in a virtual machine without changing your main installation.

This is useful for developers, administrators, and advanced users who need to test software or work with different operating systems.

Windows 11 Home doesn't include Hyper-V. However, both editions support Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), which allows you to run Linux distributions and command-line tools directly in the operating system.

If you need a traditional virtual machine on Home, you can also use third-party apps such as Oracle VirtualBox.

The important consideration is that you don't need Pro to use Linux on Windows 11. The upgrade becomes more useful when you need the built-in Hyper-V platform and Windows Sandbox.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro hardware support

For hardware support, both editions support modern processors, graphics cards, storage devices, and other computer components. However, the "Pro" edition can support many more processing cores, memory, and server-grade hardware.

For example, Windows 11 Home supports up to 128GB of RAM, while Windows 11 Pro supports up to 2TB.

This difference won't affect most consumers. Even demanding apps, games, and productivity workloads generally don't require more memory than Home supports.

Also, given the price of memory today, few people can afford 2TB of RAM, let alone the specialized hardware needed to support that capacity.

However, the additional capacity can be useful for specialized workstations running professional applications, large datasets, and demanding virtual machines.

Also, while the Pro edition of Windows 11 supports up to 128 processing cores and up to two processors, the Home edition supports only one processor with up to 64 cores.

If you're building a regular desktop computer or purchasing a laptop for everyday use, the hardware limits of Windows 11 Home should be sufficient.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro for gaming

When it comes to gaming, both editions offer essentially the same experience.

Windows 11 Home and Pro support modern gaming technologies, including DirectX 12, Auto HDR, and DirectStorage on compatible hardware for 4K gaming.

Also, both editions can run games from platforms such as Steam, the Microsoft Store, and other digital game stores.

Windows 11 Pro doesn't provide higher frame rates or better graphics simply because it includes additional features.

If you're building a computer primarily for gaming, Windows 11 Home is the edition I recommend. You can save the extra money and put it toward a better graphics card, additional storage, or more memory.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro business features

Another major difference is that Windows 11 Pro includes features designed for environments where administrators need to manage computers, configure security settings, and control how users access system features.

For example, Pro supports joining an Active Directory domain or Microsoft Entra ID, allowing a computer to connect to an organization's identity and management infrastructure.

The edition also includes additional management capabilities, including mobile device management (MDM), organizational configuration policies, and Windows Autopilot support.

These tools allow businesses to configure computers, apply security settings, and prepare devices for employees.

Some of these capabilities require additional Microsoft services, subscriptions, and organizational configuration. Purchasing Windows 11 Pro alone doesn't automatically provide access to every business management service.

For the majority of home users, these features won't make a difference. However, if you're in a work environment that requires you to bring your own computer and join the company network, the Pro edition is the right choice.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro performance

If you're wondering which edition runs faster, the short answer is neither, and they perform virtually the same.

Home and Pro share the same core foundation and offer similar performance on identical hardware.

Windows 11 Pro doesn't automatically make apps launch faster, improve gaming performance, or reduce memory usage.

The main hardware advantage of Pro is its support for more memory. For example, Home supports up to 128GB of RAM, while Pro supports up to 2TB. However, this doesn't mean upgrading to Pro will make your existing computer faster.

In my experience, the processor, available memory, storage, background apps, and system configuration have a much bigger influence on how responsive a Windows computer feels.

Unless your workload requires more memory than Home supports, you shouldn't expect a performance improvement from changing editions.

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro for college

If you plan to upgrade your laptop or desktop for college, the edition doesn't matter. If you have to choose between Home and Pro and the price doesn't increase, choose Pro. Otherwise, the Home edition provides all the tools you need to tackle virtually any task, including using productivity apps, streaming media, internet browsing, and gaming.

You also have access to Windows Subsystem for Linux, which can be useful for programming and other technical courses. However, Windows 11 Pro may be useful if your coursework requires Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, or specific business management capabilities.

If your college requires one of these features, check the software and hardware requirements before purchasing a computer.

Otherwise, I recommend choosing Windows 11 Home and saving the extra money for other equipment or school expenses.

Windows 11 Pro for Workstations

Microsoft also offers Windows 11 Pro for Workstations, a specialized edition designed for computers with more demanding hardware and professional workloads.

This edition includes the features available in Windows 11 Pro, plus additional capabilities for high-performance workstations.

For example, it supports more memory and processors than the standard Pro edition. It includes technologies such as SMB Direct and the Resilient File System (ReFS) for supported workloads and configurations.

These capabilities are designed for specialized environments, including professional workstations that handle demanding computing tasks and large amounts of data.

The majority of regular consumers and even many professionals don't need this edition.

If you're buying a regular desktop computer or laptop, Windows 11 Home or Pro is generally the better choice.

Which Windows 11 edition should you choose?

For most people, I recommend Windows 11 Home.

Home gives you virtually everything you need for everyday computing, gaming, schoolwork, and productivity. Paying extra for Pro won't make Windows faster or improve gaming performance.

Windows 11 Pro makes sense when you can name the feature you need from it. Group Policy, BitLocker management, Remote Desktop hosting, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, and business-management capabilities are legitimate reasons to upgrade.

I use Pro myself because several of those features are part of my workflow, but my needs probably aren't the same as yours.

Here's my recommendation for choosing the right edition:

• Choose Windows 11 Home if you're a home user, student, gamer, or someone who uses a device for everyday tasks.
• Choose Windows 11 Pro if you need advanced security features, virtualization, Remote Desktop, Group Policy, or business integration.
• Choose Windows 11 Pro for Workstations if your hardware and professional workloads require its additional capabilities.

If you're unsure whether you need Pro, Home is almost certainly where I'd start. You can always upgrade later without reinstalling Windows. Microsoft documents upgrading an activated Windows Home installation to Pro through the Microsoft Store or with a Pro product key.

Are you using Windows 11 Home or Pro? If you paid extra for Pro, which feature made the upgrade worthwhile? Let me know in the comments!

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Windows 11 is getting another substantial batch of changes in November, but after going through what's coming, two improvements stand out to me: the customizable context menu and Cloud Rebuild.

The first finally gives you control over some of the clutter that has plagued Windows 11's right-click menu, while Cloud Rebuild offers a much easier way to reinstall Windows without creating a bootable USB drive.

Those are only two of the 11 changes worth knowing about this month, which also include improvements for handheld gaming, Phone Link, accessibility, Edge performance, security, and more.

Availability will vary because Microsoft rolls many features out gradually, but here's what you should be watching for in our latest Windows 11 guide.

Windows 11's best features arriving in November

Here's all you need to know about the features and changes coming in November.

1. You can finally customize Windows 11's cluttered context menu

Starting with the November update, Windows 11 is getting a new context menu experience that gives you more control over the commands and app extensions that appear in the main menu.

The new menu reduces clutter and makes the experience faster by moving app extensions into a separate submenu. It also introduces a "Customize menu" option at the bottom of the interface, which opens a dedicated Settings page where you can enable or disable built-in commands, add options such as "Print" and "Send to," and control which app extensions appear in the main menu or submenu.

You can also display "Cut," "Copy," "Paste," "Rename," "Delete," and "Share" as individual commands instead of showing them in a vertical view. Windows 11 also lets you move "Properties" to the bottom of the menu as it appeared on Windows 10.

To access these options, right-click a file, folder, or the desktop and select Customize menu, or open Settings > Personalization > Context menu.

You can keep the default configuration if you prefer. Holding down "Shift" while right-clicking also reveals the legacy context menu.

The ability to customize the menu is particularly useful because it gives users more control over which commands they see without forcing everyone to use the same layout.

2. Xbox mode gets easier to navigate with a controller

Microsoft is also refreshing the Gaming Task View experience in XBOX mode. The updated interface retains the familiar design but adds a navigation bar that makes it easier to access options such as "Exit to Desktop" and "Power Options" using a game controller.

It's a relatively small change, but it makes basic actions easier to navigate using a gaming controller.

3. Privacy controls become easier to find in Settings

The Settings app is getting a few usability refinements. The "Privacy & security" page now groups Location, Microphone, and Camera controls more clearly, making it easier to review these permissions.

Microsoft is also expanding the "Device Info" card on the "Home" page to more markets. Available to users signed in with a Microsoft account, the card provides an overview of key hardware specifications and a shortcut to the "About" page.

The "Storage" page is also getting visual changes to its temporary files section.

These aren't major additions, but they make some commonly used Settings pages easier to navigate.

4. You can preview phone messages without opening Phone Link

Phone Link integration is getting a small convenience improvement. When your phone is connected, you can hover over a recent message or notification in the Start menu's "Recent" section of the mobile pane to preview its contents without opening it.

It's a minor addition, but it makes checking incoming messages more convenient without opening your phone or the Phone Link app.

5. Magnifier gets much better for multi-monitor setups

The Magnifier feature is getting three useful improvements, including independent zoom levels for multiple monitors, viewport locking, and a new contrast theme. These additions give you more control over magnified content while making it easier to work across multiple displays.

The biggest improvement is per-monitor zoom, which lets you assign a different magnification level to each display. For example, you can keep one monitor at 150 percent and another at 200 percent.

The feature is enabled by default, but displays must use "Extend" mode. Adjust each screen with the Magnifier toolbar or shortcuts ("Windows key + Plus/Minus").

Viewport locking keeps one magnified screen fixed while you move the pointer to another. Use "Ctrl + Windows key + K" to lock/unlock or "Windows key + Esc" to release all.

A new dark contrast theme reduces glare while keeping colors intact. Enable it from the Magnifier toolbar or Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier. Color inversion is separate.

6. Narrator can finally read and navigate math equations

The Narrator feature now supports reading and navigating math equations, making it easier for people with low vision to understand formulas, equations, and scientific notation.

The feature works with supported Microsoft 365 apps, including Word and PowerPoint, as well as web content in Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome.

You can use it with the "Narrator key + Alt + N" shortcut to enable math navigation, and then use the arrow keys to explore individual parts of an equation. Use the "Esc" key to exit. Math reading supports six languages, including English, German, Spanish, Finnish, and Traditional Chinese.

You can change the language and other preferences under Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Math reading.

Browser support requires Microsoft Edge version 153.0.4234.32 or later, or Google Chrome version 153.0.8010.18 or later.

7. Windows Recovery can automatically reconnect to Wi-Fi

Windows 11 is making recovery easier by allowing the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to reuse eligible Wi-Fi profiles saved in the main operating system.

This allows computers to connect automatically to supported wireless networks during recovery operations such as Quick Machine Recovery and Cloud Rebuild, without requiring administrators to configure Wi-Fi credentials separately during recovery.

The feature is enabled by default and supports certain certificate-based enterprise networks, though it doesn't currently support TPM-backed certificate keys. Network administrators can turn off the capability through the Recovery Configuration Service Provider (CSP).

WinRE only accesses saved network credentials when a recovery operation requires connectivity, rather than maintaining a permanent network connection.

8. You can reinstall Windows 11 from the cloud without a USB drive

I've been testing Cloud Rebuild, and eliminating the need to create installation media is easily its biggest advantage. However, I also ran into an important limitation: the feature depends on Windows Update having the drivers your PC needs.

Unlike a traditional local reinstall, it doesn't depend on the existing Windows installation or require a bootable USB drive or a custom recovery image. You can also start it from the Windows Recovery Environment when the device cannot boot.

You can start the process under Settings > System > Recovery and use the "Rebuild this PC" option, or from WinRE by selecting Troubleshoot > Recovery and uninstall > Cloud Rebuild. After connecting to Ethernet or Wi-Fi, the system will display the target build, edition, and language before installation.

The feature includes two options to clean the drive. For example, the "Remove files" option reformats the system drive, although specialized recovery tools might still recover some data. On the other hand, the "Remove and sanitize files" option uses the storage hardware's erase capability to erase the selected drives before reinstalling the operating system. Sanitization can't be undone and can take several hours to complete.

In my testing, one of the things I like most about Cloud Rebuild is that it eliminates the need to create installation media before reinstalling Windows 11. However, my testing also revealed an important limitation. The process depends on Windows Update to find the required drivers, which means it may not work on every configuration. I encountered this problem when testing the feature inside a virtual machine.

If you plan to use Cloud Rebuild, the device must also meet some requirements. For instance, the computer needs a working recovery environment, a network connection, and compatible drivers available through Windows Update. If a required networking or storage driver isn't available, the process can fail and may require recovery media from the device manufacturer or an installation USB drive.

For managed devices, administrators can also configure and initiate Cloud Rebuild remotely through the Recovery CSP, including specifying a target Windows build. Once the reinstall finishes, the device starts the Out-of-the-Box Experience (OOBE), allowing managed devices to be automatically reprovisioned through Windows Autopilot and Microsoft Intune.

9. Microsoft Edge can launch up to 33% faster

Microsoft Edge is getting faster and more consistent launches through a new Accelerated App Launch feature. Microsoft says most users should see launch times improve by around 15 percent when Edge is already running, with gains of up to 33 percent under heavy multitasking.

The new feature lets the operating system check for an existing Edge process when you open the browser from the Start menu, Taskbar, or a supported link. In the past, the system had to start an additional process to check whether the browser was already running before forwarding the request. As a result, removing that extra step helps reduce launch delays, especially when the device is under load.

Accelerated App Launch requires Microsoft Edge version 150 or later and Windows 11 versions 26H2, 25H2, or 26H1 with the November 2026 update or later installed on the computer.

One thing I wanted to point out is that the feature isn't limited to the default system browser. Developers can also implement this feature in their apps.

10. Windows 11 gets smarter about sleep and battery life

Windows 11 is also improving its adaptive hibernate policy on devices that support Modern Standby. The system will hibernate less often when the battery charge is above 80 percent, helping the computer resume more quickly. When the charge drops below 10 percent, the system will hibernate sooner to help preserve the remaining battery power.

11. Microsoft is enabling stronger security on more PCs

Microsoft is expanding Memory Integrity protection to more eligible devices. During updates, supported devices may automatically enable memory integrity, also known as Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI), to help protect the Windows kernel against malicious code.

The feature uses Virtualization-based Security (VBS) to help prevent untrusted code from modifying critical kernel components and ensures that only trusted kernel-mode code and drivers can run.

The new setting change works by checking the hardware capabilities, driver compatibility, and performance requirements before enabling the protection. The rollout also respects existing user and administrator configurations, so the system won't automatically turn memory integrity back on if it was explicitly disabled.

Although the expansion is a welcome security improvement, the feature isn't without trade-offs. Virtualization-based security can introduce performance overhead, and incompatible drivers or software can cause problems on some systems.

I wouldn't recommend turning off the protection simply because the operating system now enables it by default. If you stumble upon performance problems or hardware compatibility issues, check for updated drivers first and determine whether Memory Integrity is responsible before changing your security settings.

Windows Central's Take

Cloud Rebuild and context menu customization are easily the two November changes I'd watch most closely. Both address genuine Windows 11 pain points rather than simply adding another visual tweak or secondary feature.

Cloud Rebuild is especially promising. Being able to reinstall Windows without creating installation media could make recovery considerably easier, but my testing exposed an important limitation: it still depends on Windows Update having the drivers your PC needs. I ran into that problem while testing the feature in a virtual machine.

I'd like to see Microsoft make that process more resilient before calling it a replacement for traditional recovery media. If Microsoft can solve the driver problem, Cloud Rebuild could become one of Windows 11's most useful recovery tools.

Which November change would make the biggest difference to how you use Windows 11? Or is there something Microsoft still hasn't fixed that you'd rather see prioritized? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

When faced with a RAM shortage and dropping PC sales, companies have limited options. PC makers can't do much to increase the supply of memory chips in the short term, and expanding production takes time. That leaves app makers and developers under pressure to make their software more memory-efficient.

Microsoft led the charge recently in optimizing apps for systems with less RAM, though Discord also made a strong effort by ditching Electron. Everything from Windows 11 features to built-in Microsoft apps have been upgraded to use less RAM.

Microsoft is enforcing "memory budgets," such as restricting PCs with 8GB of RAM from having bloatware.

My question is, why did it take a RAM crisis for Microsoft, Discord, or any other company to care about efficiency?

Biggest News of the Week

With Microsoft and third-party developers working to make apps more efficient, PCs with only 8GB of RAM should perform better (though it's worth noting 8GB of RAM is already fine for some workflows). It's a welcome change, but I can't help but wonder why it's needed.

The latest version of Windows 11 proves that the operating system can run more efficiently than what we had even just a few months ago.

A lot of factors contributed to Windows 11 getting too bloated and RAM-hungry. The operating system has grown significantly since launch, adding features and expanding preexisting functionality. It seems that much of that growth happened without RAM overhead being a priority.

There also wasn't as much pressure to optimize apps until the RAM shortage kicked in. RAM was relatively inexpensive and many systems allowed you to upgrade later if you ever needed more memory.

Just as one example, back in 2023 we covered a deal that dropped the Corsair Vengeance 32GB 5200MHz to $180. Back then, it was noteworthy because the same module had previously cost $250. That price remained stable until about September 2025.

Now, that same RAM costs over $500.

Considering the relatively low cost of even a 32GB DDR5 RAM module back then, Windows 11 could chug along while eating up memory without affecting performance.

Now, out of necessity, Microsoft needs to optimize Windows 11 and as many apps as possible to reduce the total RAM demand across the PC industry. If companies like Discord hop on board, all the better.

Shopping with Sean

Due to the ongoing RAM shortage, it is increasingly difficult to find PCs with 16GB of RAM paired with premium specs for under $1,000. The current discount on the Acer Swift 16 AI slashes $550 off a laptop that can handle local AI workloads and creative work like video and photo editing. It also has an OLED panel our friends at Tom's Guide called its "standout feature" due to its sharp image quality and 120Hz refresh rate.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

It's a rough time to be shopping for PC hardware and laptops. Believe me, as a PC gamer, I know the struggle. Prices are incredibly high because of AI-driven component shortages, and some relief can go a long way.

That's why I'm happy to share some exclusive discount codes redeemable at Newegg. All codes offer an additional discount on top of any sales that Newegg already has running, so you can absolutely stack sales.

These exclusive deals cover everything from PC components to accessories to pre-built PCs and monitors, giving you plenty of variety. I've rounded up some eye-catching deals below, and I've also made this quick-hit list of discounts with links to Newegg for each broader category.

Save even more on PC hardware at Newegg with these exclusive discount codes

Save more on Windows PCs and monitors with our special discounts

Bonus deals on WD hard drives

FAQ

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

As fans mark N7 Day today, the annual November 7 celebration of the Mass Effect franchise—the community-led #SaveMassEffect campaign has dramatically escalated its visibility by taking its message directly to Electronic Arts. Following the digital billboard placement in Times Square, the organizers at "We are Mass Effect" dispatched a mobile billboard truck to circle both EA and EA Sports headquarters in Redwood City, California, yesterday.

Mobile billboards hit EA headquarters

The truck featured a new sign with a QR code and a website URL directing curious onlookers to SaveMassEffect.com. According to "We are Mass Effect" organizer Mer, who spoke to IGN, the primary goal of the truck was to "spread the word and bring as much attention to the movement as possible," and as a reminder, this isn't all about Mass Effect. The campaign also seeks to offer a message of unity for fans of BioWare franchises and raise awareness about the human beings affected by the recent changes. "We want to remind people that real people have been impacted by the closure of BioWare and the cancellation of the game. We wanted to show them that there is a community that deeply cares about the legacy they’ve created. For us this has never been just about the IP but the people behind it and their work."

There is another billboard planned to drive around The Game Awards ceremony for about four hours next month.

N7 Day mobilization

The momentum continues today on N7 Day. Another mobile billboard is scheduled to appear near BioWare's former offices. Additionally, "We are Mass Effect" has been putting the finishing touches on a special video featuring contributors, fans, and original Commander Shepard voice actors Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer. To further drive home the franchise's enduring popularity, the group is pushing an "N7 Play Day" in an attempt to boost Steam player numbers for Mass Effect: Legendary Edition.

Upcoming documentary in the works

Perfectly timed just days before today's N7 Day, a new documentary chronicling the studio's rise and tragic closure has also been announced. Titled MASSIVE EFFECT: THE BIOWARE STORY, the Edmonton-led film is slated to premiere in 2027. Created by Shane Fennessey and Adam Scorgie, the project actually began filming two years ago, long before the studio knew it would be shuttered.

The documentary will feature interviews with a massive number of original BioWare developers, alongside major industry figures like Geoff Keighley, Casey Hudson, and former EA CEO John Riccitiello. BioWare co-founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka provided a touching joint statement for the film's reveal: "We're proud this film honours those who made it all possible. The best stories never really end."

The filmmakers are now calling on the Mass Effect community to help finish the story. They are actively inviting players to submit their own BioWare history, including fan art, cosplay, convention photos and videos, and personal memorabilia, for possible inclusion in the final documentary. For a fanbase currently fighting tooth and nail to save their favorite gaming universe, the opportunity to cement their memories in a feature film couldn't have come at a better time.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

World of Warcraft is the game that absolutely refuses to die, and in fact, it's potentially now bigger than ever.

Confirmed today on the official Warcraft social media channels, Blizzard said that World of Warcraft Forever represents its biggest launch in history by peak players, beating even the likes of Wrath of the Lich King from WoW's previous height almost two decades ago.

"Congratulations, you made HISTORY!" the post reads, "WoW: Forever has achieved the biggest launch in WoW history by peak concurrent players," and also confirmed that it has "the highest number of returning WoW players in history" as well.

For those who don't know, World of Warcraft is an MMORPG where thousands of players pile into single servers to create a persistent, online living world. Microsoft and Xbox acquired the game a few years ago along with Activision, Blizzard, and King, and it has already been teasing a World of Warcraft port to Xbox consoles for some time. The game is presently only available on PC and cloud streaming services like NVIDIA GeForce Now.

The retail version of World of Warcraft has strayed intensely from the game's original vision in recent years, leading to players leaving the game and potentially even the genre en masse. World of Warcraft Forever is essentially a remix and polish of the original vision for World of Warcraft, with minimal handholding, a boosted sense of risk and reward, a reduction in "convenience" features that reduce in-game social interaction, atop a boost in visual quality. WoW:F also has thousands of new quests and stories, taking place in an "alternative timeline" of sorts that exists a year or so before World of Warcraft's original base game.

It remains to be seen if WoW:F can maintain the momentum it has seen, but the whole ordeal leaves World of Warcraft's main arm, currently dubbed Midnight, with a bit of a headache in my view.

The only game that could kill WoW was, in fact, WoW itself

Many games have tried to kill World of Warcraft over the years, but none have truly succeeded. WoW and Final Fantasy 14 remain the only large, populated purely subscription-based MMORPGs at least in the West as of writing, with incumbents relying on free-to-play business models to entice players.

World of Warcraft's subscription model ensures it can pump out huge amounts of content at a rapid clip, although in recent years, many have been wondering if it has become too rapid. World of Warcraft's main "retail" arm has seen a huge decline in quality, with players asking the firm to slow down to focus on the details and polish. Blizzard so far has ignored those calls.

WoW:F represents a complete reversal on what WoW retail has become in essence. World of Warcraft retail has abandoned all forms of immersion, friction, world building, and outdoor levelling gameplay for a focus on arcade-style endgame content which, while admittedly still fun, is frankly quite exhausting. World of Warcraft's story writing has been dismal for years, and bugs have been more prevalent than ever before.

RELATED: World of Warcraft's Ion Hazzikostas promises Retail won't get abandoned

The WoW:F team exists separately from the WoW: Retail team, and the divergence in philosophies are stark. WoW:F's focus on social systems, in-game immersion, understated and environmental storytelling, and slower, more methodical gameplay seems far more inline with what lapsed WoW players actually want.

I feel World of Warcraft's retail arm has focused on "data telemetry" over good human design instincts and it has led to the game's hollowing out. Hopefully, World of Warcraft: Forever can give Blizzard a hard lesson in listening to players directly — something I feel the retail team no longer does.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Windows Insiders have a bunch of new builds to check out. Microsoft released five Insider builds to wrap up the week, and they include everything from tiny changes and fixes to a massive update to Magnifier.

Rather than stretching a single magnified view across all of your displays, Magnifier will remember distinct zoom percentages to each monitor.

Magnifier also has a new contrast theme to reduce glare. This is different from the color inversion. Magnifier's contrast theme leaves photos, charts, and videos untouched.

This release of Windows Insider builds also serve as a reminder that Microsoft is reducing that amount of storage that comes with a Microsoft 365 Family plan. Of course, Microsoft does not phrase it that way, but it's true.

The build shipping to Beta channel Insiders adds a section in the Settings app that shows how much shared storage is used across your Microsoft 365 Family plan. That plan currently includes up to 6TB of OneDrive storage spread across six users. That will soon be reduced to 2TB of OneDrive storage shared across the entire family.

Windows Update (Beta)

• With this update, the Beta channel moves to Windows 11, version 26H2, with the build number increasing to Build 26320. You shouldn't expect any significant change from this build number increase alone, as it's delivered via an enablement package (eKB) update.

Windows Search (Beta, Beta (26H1))

• New Windows Search experience with inline actions: A new Windows Search experience built on WinUI 3 is beginning to roll out. It's faster, more efficient, and features a streamlined design that makes results easier to scan. Inline actions let you quickly complete tasks directly. Turn on dark mode or Bluetooth, adjust your screen brightness, mute your device, or arrange windows from Windows Search.
• Windows Search is improving how it understands what you're looking for, including better matching for typos and synonyms. These improvements will continue to be fine-tuned over the coming weeks. For more information about the changes, check out the Windows Insider Blog.
• English is the only supported language for this initial release.

Live captions (Beta, Experimental)

• Live captions now gives you control over what gets transcribed. Previously, captions used system audio, with an option to add your microphone. Now you can choose system audio, your microphone, or both, so captions follow the sound you care about. Caption an in-person conversation without picking up system audio, or follow audio from your PC during a meeting or while watching a video.

Gaming (Beta)

• Quick settings is coming to the Gaming Task View navigation bar in XBOX mode, giving you access to the full set of Quick settings available on the Windows taskbar without having to leave XBOX mode.

Web sign-in (Beta)

• Web sign-in now works on Microsoft Entra hybrid joined devices. Before this update, it was only available on Microsoft Entra joined devices. You can sign in to Windows at the lock screen with a passwordless credential: a FIDO2 security key, a passkey on your phone, or a Temporary Access Pass (TAP). You don't need a password. Once you're signed in, Windows gets a Kerberos ticket, so on-premises file shares and internal sites keep working. For more information, see Use web sign-in to enable passwordless sign-in in Windows.

Windows Hello (Beta, Experimental (26H1)))

• Windows Hello facial recognition can temporarily brighten your screen to help you sign in when you're in a dark or dimly lit room.
• To turn on this feature, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Facial recognition (Windows Hello) and turn on Automatically adjust screen brightness during face recognition.

Windows Hello (Experimental)

• Sign-in and unlock now behave more consistently and give clearer guidance. You no longer have to wait for face or fingerprint recognition to finish before entering your PIN. Use whichever method works first. At certain times, such as after a restart, you'll need your PIN first. After that, biometrics work as usual.
  • New Windows Hello events let IT admins see how users sign in. The sign-in experience doesn't change. In Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Security, event 4628 records the Windows Hello methods a user has set up and which method they used to sign in (PIN, face, fingerprint, or no Windows Hello). Event 4629 records failed Windows Hello sign-in attempts. Both events use the existing Audit Logon policy.
  • For troubleshooting, events 5010 and 7010 in Event Viewer > Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > HelloForBusiness > Operational record each Windows Hello sign-in and unlock, along with the result.

Input (Beta)

• The dialogs that ask whether you'd like to turn on Sticky Keys or Filter Keys are being updated, making it easier to dismiss these prompts permanently. If you don't use these keyboard features, you can choose not to be asked again directly from the dialog, helping you continue what you're doing with fewer interruptions.

Input (Experimental)

• Live captions now gives you control over what gets transcribed. Previously, captions used system audio, with an option to add your microphone. In Live captions settings, you can now choose system audio, your microphone, or both, so captions follow the sound you care about. Caption an in-person conversation without picking up system audio, or follow audio from your PC during a meeting or while watching a video.

Settings (Beta)

• Windows Settings now contains shared storage usage across Microsoft 365 Family subscriptions. A breakdown for each family member is coming soon. If your subscription was purchased after October 8, 2026, you can check the view by going to Settings > Accounts > Cloud storage. If your subscription was purchased before October 8, 2026, this view will be available for you after the first subscription renewal on or after May 2, 2027. Learn more about the changes to Microsoft 365 storage.

Settings (Experimental)

• Discover your account benefits in Settings. It's now easier to discover the benefits and services available with your Microsoft account, right in Windows Settings.

File Explorer

• The Address Bar now supports ~, making it quicker to navigate directly to your user profile folder and subfolders, for example, ~\AppData.

File Explorer (Beta (26H1))

• PDF and non-HTML files downloaded from the web can now be previewed automatically in the Preview pane.

Math equations in Braille with Narrator (Experimental)

• Building on Narrator's math reading and navigation support, the experience is expanding to refreshable Braille displays. When Narrator reads supported equations in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Edge, or Google Chrome, Narrator Math is now shown on your connected Braille display, letting you explore them by touch while listening to Narrator.
• Math is at the heart of STEM education and learning, and this update helps students and professionals independently read, understand, and explore equations, formulas, and scientific notation with confidence.
• You can choose a math format in Braille without changing your default Braille output table. Supported math output formats include Nemeth (default), UEB, CMU, Vietnamese, Swedish, LaTeX, and ASCIIMath. In Narrator Math settings, you can also customize the reading language, speech behavior, and navigation preferences.

Magnifier (Beta (26H1))

• More and more of the work people do happens across more than one screen. You draft on one display and keep source material open on another. You fill in a form while a reference document sits beside it. Those extra displays can be more helpful when each one can do its own job, and now Magnifier supports exactly that.
• To use this update, set your monitors to Extend in System > Display, not Duplicate, so Windows treats each screen as its own space.
• Every screen keeps its own view at its own zoom. In earlier versions of Magnifier, zooming in stretched a single magnified view across all of your displays, so one screen's zoom followed you everywhere and screen edges blurred together. With this update, each monitor's boundary is respected, and each monitor can have its own zoom percentage. Your writing screen can be at 300% while your reference screen stays at 150%, and the magnified view no longer spills from one display into the next. This behavior matters because different tasks and screen resolutions often require different levels of magnification to remain comfortable to read.

Setting the zoom on each screen is easy. Choose whichever method feels natural:

• Move your mouse pointer onto the screen you want to adjust, then press Windows key + Plus (+) or Windows key + Minus (-), or hold Ctrl + Alt and rotate your mouse wheel.
• Set the percentages directly in Accessibility > Magnifier.
• Drag the Magnifier toolbar onto a specific screen to adjust that screen from its on-screen controls.
• Per-monitor zoom is turned on by default. If you prefer the classic behavior where a single zoom spans all of your displays, you can turn per-monitor zoom off at any time from either the Magnifier toolbar or Accessibility > Magnifier. You can turn it back on whenever you like.
  • As you move your mouse from screen to screen, the magnified view naturally follows your pointer. Sometimes this might cause you to lose sight of the content that you're actively working on.
  • Viewport locking keeps that view in place. For example, you might be drafting an email based on a section of a document open on another display. Position that display so the paragraph you need is in view, press Ctrl + Windows key + K, and the screen holds its view steady while you move your cursor over to write. The locked screen stays fully live and interactive, so you can glance back, click, or copy from it whenever you need to, and its view stays put until you release it.
  • A message appears on the screen when it's locked, so you always know what's being held. To lock or unlock a screen, point your mouse at that screen and press Ctrl + Windows key + K again. To release everything at once, press Windows key + Esc to dismiss all locks. To use a different key combination, you can switch the lock shortcut to Ctrl + Alt + P in Accessibility > Magnifier.

Magnifier new contrast theme

• A new contrast theme toggle for a lower-glare screen. If bright screens are uncomfortable, many people use color inversion to reduce glare. However, inversion changes everything on screen, including photos, charts, and videos. With this update, Magnifier introduces a new contrast theme toggle.
• Reduce glare with a single toggle. Turn on a contrast theme directly from the Magnifier toolbar for a more comfortable viewing experience.
• Choose the contrast theme that works best for you. The dark theme is applied by default, and you can choose which contrast theme the toggle uses under Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier.
• Photos, videos, and charts keep their original colors. Unlike color inversion, the contrast theme recolors the interface without touching your photos, charts, or videos, so they keep their real colors.
• Color inversion is still here. This isn't a replacement. If you use inversion today, it works exactly as it always has. The contrast theme is a separate, purpose-built option to reduce glare when you want a darker interface without inverting colors.

Manage camera, microphone, and location access for desktop apps (Experimental (Future Platforms)

• Windows Insiders can now manage camera, microphone, and location permissions for individual desktop apps. Previously, access for traditional desktop applications was managed through a single device-wide setting.
• With this update, you can review and control access on an app-by-app basis, giving you greater visibility into which apps are requesting access to sensitive resources and more control over your privacy choices. These controls make privacy permissions easier to understand and manage across the wide range of desktop apps you use every day.

What's changing

• Allow or deny access for each desktop app individually.
• Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Camera, Microphone, or Location to review and manage permissions.
• Apps that haven't yet accessed a resource prompt for permission the first time access is requested.

What stays the same

• Existing app permission decisions are preserved.
• Apps previously granted access continue to have access.
• Apps previously denied access remain denied.
• No action is required, and no settings are reset.
• Existing enterprise policies continue to function as designed. We're exploring additional management capabilities.

Notes

• Most desktop apps appear with clear app attribution. However, some apps that rely on shared system components, browser-hosted experiences, or similar technologies might appear under a different name than expected.
• Some desktop apps might appear as Unsigned if Windows can't verify publisher information. Only grant access to apps you recognize and trust.

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A free tool with a bit of a strange name will let you know what's using the GPU on your PC. Microsoft engineer Scott Hanselman created gputaskman to show more details than Windows 11's built-in tools.

Task Manager can show per-process GPU usage and memory consumption, but it provides limited insight into exactly how applications are using GPU resources. You can see more information in the Details tab, but that still fails to paint a full picture.

The gputaskman app shows information for individual processes, such as GPU usage and VRAM consumption. Rather than simply showing that GPU memory is in use, gputaskman can help pinpoint whether that memory is being consumed by an AI model, a web browser, desktop rendering, or another process.

It can also identify local AI workloads and display details about running LLMs, including information about model memory usage and related GPU resources. The app displays GPU temperature as well.

Hanselman explained the app's purpose on the gputaskman GitHub page:

"Task Manager says '15 GB used.' This tries to answer: by what? Model weights? KV cache? Your browser? The desktop compositor? And why is so much GPU memory in system RAM?"

The app is still in the early stages of development. Hanselman has invited people on X to create pull requests. Right now, gputaskman supports Windows PCs with AMD or NVIDIA GPUs. Hanselman said in a follow-up post that the goal is to work on the Surface Laptop Ultra and other RTX Spark and Windows on Arm devices.

Microsoft's recently announced Hybrid intelligence initiative combines on-device AI processing with cloud-based AI services. As more AI tasks run locally on PCs, users may want better visibility into how those workloads affect GPU memory and performance. Tools such as gputaskman provide a detailed look at which processes, models, and applications are consuming GPU resources.

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It's a tricky time for new PC gamers. Building your own desktop rig is definitely an enjoyable (albeit sometimes stressful) adventure, at least when prices are reasonable, but that isn't the case right now. Component prices are up in a few categories, especially memory (RAM) and graphics cards (GPUs), but there's a clever workaround: pre-built PCs.

Letting someone else build your computer is a shortcut, but when the total cost saves you money, it's hard to pass up. Besides, I've tested iBUYPOWER's rigs firsthand, and I know that they're built with care, so it's definitely worth pointing out when some of its more affordable pre-built gaming PCs get even cheaper. Plus, you can grab a bargain rig from Best Buy, which makes things even easier.

Why I recommend iBUYPOWER PCs to beginners

I understand the apprehension that often comes from seasoned PC gamers who regularly build their own rigs, but I don't mind anyone opting for a pre-built machine. I've done it myself — quite a few times, in fact. Sometimes the package deal is a better financial option, and for others, it skips the stress of installing expensive components for the first time.

The only thing you have to do with an iBUYPOWER PC is install the graphics card, which is basically like slotting a cartridge into place and connecting a couple of nearby cables. You can't plug those cables in incorrectly either, because they're molded in a way that prevents that. Besides, they send their rigs with plenty of extra-clear instructions, and I'm confident that any newcomer would handle it just fine.

I tested a Trace X PC from iBUYPOWER, which is somewhat of a far cry from the more affordable offerings at Best Buy, but the principle is the same. They're boxed safely, come with a mouse and keyboard for a complete setup, and built-in Wi-Fi makes the whole process easier — even if you opt for a cabled Ethernet connection to your router later.

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Now that Season 1 has arrived for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, that means that Warzone has now integrated with this year's game.

With it comes two new maps, and in the case of the Resurgence map, Zodiac, we're starting to find some secret challenges with rewards to claim.

Below I've rounded up what I know of so far, either through my own play or from other community members. Here's what you can get and how to do it.

How to unlock the DRC Prototype Vel 46 Blueprint

Zodiac is hiding a secret weapon blueprint you can get, and it's actually pretty straightforward to unlock.

You can do it on any mode, so I recommend doing it in Rally Point while it's still around since it's easiest, and we don't know how long it'll be in the game for.

Drop into Trackline and head immediately for the room on the roof at the far southeast corner. Inside you'll find a computer you can interact with to call in a drone. It may not trigger the first time, so give it a few seconds, then try again.

Then you have to wait for the drones to come over. I recommend leaving it until they land with all their supplies rather than shoot them down. This is because they'll come to you on the roof, and you won't lose the box you need.

Ignore everything except the orange crates. Open all of them, and inside one should be the "DRC Prototype". Pick it up, and you'll complete the challenge and have the blueprint to use in any of your games across Modern Warfare 4 and Warzone. Which includes a free one-time crafting in DMZ, too.

Call of Duty: Warzone Zodiac secret calling card challenges

So far I've unlocked two calling cards on Zodiac for secret challenges. They're not necessarily must-haves, but for completionists, you'll be wanting to go and get them.

Here's what you have to do:

• Tourist Trap: Visit every point of interest on Zodiac.
• Fame: On Zodiac, get featured on the smart displays 8 times.

Getting "Tourist Trap" is easy enough. Drop in, and make sure you go to each POI at least once.

"Fame" is a little trickier, because it relies on you getting leading stats in your lobby. Be it a high score or most eliminations, you need to get your name on one of the screens across Zodiac. And you need to do it 8 times.

The good news is you can do this right now in Rally Point, the almost-endless mode (see below for more on that). I saw my name on there a few times for the highest score, so just do everything. Kill bots and real players, loot every crate you see, do contracts, and then do more contracts.

The reward for Fame is an animated calling card, and I kind of like it.

Drop a nuke on Zodiac, end the game, and get a weapon blueprint

I haven't done this one myself yet, so a hat tip to Incredilags on YouTube, where I've seen it first.

When you're playing Rally Point, there is a mode challenge to drop a nuke on Zodiac. But this is pretty tough, especially solo or with randoms who drop out. The only known way to drop a nuke on Zodiac right now is to buy it from a Buy Station, and it costs $1 million.

The first time you get one, you'll also unlock a blueprint for the Han 86, the "Perfect End" which you can see in the Incredilags video above.

How to unlock the EXE Phone weapon charm on Zodiac

For Resurgence cash building teams will want the EXE phone. We all know what it does, but its locations have already been found.

If you drop in just south of Solar, there's a bridge, and directly south of the bridge is a sewer tunnel. Inside here there's a keycard scanner, and some are saying that triggering the scanner and taking the card opens the door.

Except it hasn't worked a single time for me. I've tried in Rally Point, Casuals, and normal Resurgence, and after many tries, the door still hasn't opened for me.

I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong, if it only works if a certain keycard comes out, or if there's a step that those who have done it so far don't realize they've done.

Someone has suggested to me it only works after you've completed the existing secret challenge to get a keycard on 27 different days, which I have only just completed, it seems. So I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow to see if that tracks.

But you can also get one by completing the Firing Range challenges, the Solar challenge, and the Furnace challenge, all of which are detailed below. Pick it up in six different matches and you'll complete a secret challenge and get yourself a weapon charm.

Violet Striker camo exclusive to Rally Point

To get the "Violet Striker" camo, you'll need to play the new Rally Point PvPvE mode. Unlocking it is pretty straightforward, though it may take a little time.

To get it, you simply have to get 300 kills on enemies in the Rally Point mode. Players and AI count equally, so make it as easy on yourself as you can and go after the bots.

How to complete the Zodiac Firing Range and Metal Detector secret challenges

If you go to Sentinel on the far right-hand side of the map, on the ground floor on the very left of the POI you'll find a door that leads into the Firing Range.

There are two easter eggs here. The first requires you to visit a Metal Detector five times in a single match. As there's one at the entrance to the Firing Range, simply run through it and trigger it, and keep doing it. It takes a few seconds to reset, but it's really easy.

You'll get a completion message on screen, but it doesn't seem to have a reward.

The second is a little harder to do, but I'm going to give you the easy way to make sure you get it done. On the wall in the Firing Range you'll see a pair of video screens.

It will show you each category of weapon, which lane you need to stand in, and how many shots you need to land on targets. The kicker is that to complete the easter egg, you need to do it all in a single match.

First up, do it on Rally Point. The next thing you should do is make sure you have a frag grenade in your loadout, because you need one of those to do the challenge. After that you have two choices. You can either load in and make sure you have each category in a loadout on your operator and down yourself so you can switch between them quickly.

Or as you complete categories, new weapons will spawn under the screens. In my experience, the two that I couldn't get from here, or from looting crates, were pistols and launchers. So if you load in with those in your loadout, the rest should drop for you as you run through it.

You'll know you completed each weapon when you see "Weapon Tested" on the screen. When you complete all 8, you'll finish the challenge, and the reward is the "Hot Range" weapon sticker.

After 7 or 8 challenges you will also get the EXE phone drop. So if you coordinate with your squad, this could be a quick way to get a phone in regular Resurgence matches.

How to complete the Solar secret challenge on Zodiac

At the Solar POI on Zodiac there is a secret challenge relating to aligning the array of solar panels.

Drop in and go straight into the building and find the PC with a note next to it. Read the note, then look at the pattern on the PC screen.

It tells you whether each of the solar panels should be vertical or angled. Take note of the pattern, and on the back of each solar panel there is a button box to interact with.

Not all of them will necessarily need changing, but simply match up the pattern and you'll complete the challenge.

The reward is the "Scaling Energy" emblem, but you'll also get a supply drop full of goodies, including one of the all-important cash phones. So you can redo this in future matches (if you can do it quick enough) and get some great gear and a phone to help you on your way.

How to complete the Furnace secret challenge on Zodiac

This one's really easy to do, but you will need $10,000 in cash first. Once you have that, head to Furnace and go inside.

Go to the actual furnace and drop $10,000 into the flames. The reward is the Fire Arcade weapon decal, but it'll also drop a cash phone every time you do it.

Whether it's worth tossing your cash for, you decide, but considering one of the challenges is dependent on getting the phone in six different matches, it's an easy way to also do that one.

How to unlock the Zodiac Railway loading screen

Chances are you got this one without even noticing, especially if you're working on the others. Simply play five different matches on Zodiac, and the Zodiac Railway loading screen is yours.

How to unlock the Unserialized weapon blueprint on Zodiac

To unlock the Unserialized Signal 50 blueprint, you simply need to trade your weapon at one of the weapon trading lockers on the map 25 times.

It doesn't matter what you trade or how many matches it takes; all you need to do is to do it 25 times and you'll unlock the reward.

The blueprint can be used in any mode, including a one-time free crafting in DMZ.

How to unlock the Chemical Trail contrail on Zodiac

Contrails are the colored smoke you emit while deploying in Warzone and there's a new one to unlock via a secret challenge on Zodiac.

To complete the challenge, you need to blow up a gas cistern on Zodiac 30 times. How do you do that? It's pretty easy but will take a few matches, even on Rally Point.

When the train goes through, blow up the yellow tanks on it by firing until they catch fire and explode. You don't want to be too close, as it'll affect your health, but do that 30 times and you'll get the Chemical Trail contrail.

How to unlock the Classifed Weapon camo

For getting 10 player kills with a Classifed Weapon you can unlock the camo to use on any of your loadouts. So how do you get those?

On regular Resurgence, you'll need to grab the weapons from the crates that drop with them in or from operators you eliminate that already got them.

In Rally Point, get your score up to 100, and the purple supply drop you'll be rewarded will have Classified Weapons inside. And on Rally Point, you will always respawn with that weapon.

They have to be player kills, though, not bots. Once you get 10, the camo is yours.

The Zodiac secret challenges are still being discovered, and it's possible there are still more out there. There's a new parachute in the game, for example, and so far nobody has worked out if that's locked behind a secret challenge or not. This guide will be updated as and when they're solved.

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AMD CEO Lisa Su, in an interview with Yahoo Finance, said yesterday that AMD is "a data center first company." Somewhere, a gamer clutched their Radeon GPU like it's a priceless heirloom.

This quote from Su seems to have made waves in the tech world. I get it. Nobody wants to hear that another company we're used to seeing sell consumer tech to us gamers and enthusiasts is going a different way.

But before we start singing hymns, let's see what Su actually meant with her data center tidbit.

People have a right to be worried, especially these days

I don't think there's anyone who follows tech markets, even from a distance, who doesn't know that there's an AI-driven memory and RAM shortage forcing consumer prices through the roof.

Not just that, but companies that were once focused on consumer products have been flipping over to the AI side, where there's a lot more money to be made. Micron did just that in late 2025, when it killed off its consumer Crucial brand to focus entirely on data center supply.

People have every right to be worried when a company like AMD, which makes consumer products, begins spewing data center rhetoric.

Hasn't AMD always been a data center company?

Some of you might be asking why this is big news. I get it. AMD has, after all, been a data center company for ages, selling its EPYC and Instinct AI accelerators for big money.

In 2024, Su basically said the exact same thing about the company's ultimate goals at a tech conference hosted by Goldman Sachs: AMD is a data center company.

But that was before AMD's data center revenue surpassed consumer and client revenue in 2026. Before we saw other big tech companies, like Micron, make massive pivots that left consumers without anything to buy.

I get why consumers are nervous, especially when AMD offers the best CPUs for PC gaming and is really the only counterpoint to NVIDIA's GPU dominance.

But why would Su go on Yahoo Finance and talk about anything else but where AMD gets most of its money?

Fears that AMD is abandoning gamers are unfounded ... so far

As I said, I get why consumers are upset over the data center rhetoric coming from Team Red. Thankfully, AMD's moves lately seem like anything but abandonment.

AMD's upscaling tech, FSR, keeps spreading to more hardware. Heck, even the recent FSR 4.1 is now being handed down to Xbox Series X|S and gaming handhelds to help keep devices relevant longer into the future. AMD's partnership with Microsoft means it'll be in the upcoming Helix console as well.

Elsewhere, AMD is keeping its Ryzen 5000 series on the AM4 chipset alive by expanding the lineup, perfect for value-conscious builders and gamers. And on the CPU side, new X3D chips keep getting added to the pool.

This doesn't seem to me like the actions of a company that's already checked out of the consumer stack. Will that hold? I can't answer that, but the idea of AMD pulling up its consumer stakes seems too far-fetched to believe.

Treat your old GPU with care

AMD's data center revenue only surpassed consumer and client revenue in Q2 2026, and it's worth pointing out that its Ryzen and Radeon consumer lines still rake in billions of dollars in revenue.

That could change over time, especially as consumers deal with years of hardship and PC sales plummet, but we'll cross that bridge when we come up to it.

What I'm more concerned with right now is not a complete halt to consumer production, but instead how AMD will be using its resources going forward. Shareholders always need more money, and right now, data centers are the easiest way to earn it.

If data center demand continues to explode, does AMD eventually pull all of its best into that division? Do the gaming and consumer teams get the leftover scraps?

For now, I don't think fans of Team Red need to panic. Lisa Su's recent comments, taken in context, are not shocking. They're not even new.

Still, some skepticism never really hurt anyone. Neither does keeping your aging GPU in tip-top shape as markets face continued uncertainty.

Do you agree with my take? Are Su's words as big a deal as many are making them? Where do you see AMD in 5 years? 10 years? Let me know in the comments section below!

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