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.

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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.

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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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In the lead-up to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's release, the developers made the controversial announcement that the console versions would require VRR monitors in order to run at 120Hz in Performance mode.

Players who didn't have or couldn't afford VRR monitors were mad at this last-minute decision, and the developers took notice because, as of today, they have reversed it as part of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's Season 1 update.

According to the Season 1 patch notes, the developers stated, "We have opened up 'Performance Mode (120Hz)' for all PlayStation 5 & XBOX Series X|S players with 120hz displays, regardless of VRR support. For the best experience, VRR is recommended."

So while VRR monitors are still needed to achieve the best frame rate performance possible, at least those who don't have VRR monitors won't be forced to buy one just so they can have smooth, optimal gameplay.

But will this and the rest of Season 1's content be enough to attract more players to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and help offset its worrying 32% sales drop? Only time will tell.

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The new Xbox PC app, which we recently dived into in its earlier forms, is finally going live for testers today. Here's what you need to know.

On Xbox Wire, Microsoft's VP for Xbox Experiences, Jason Beaumont, revealed that the latest Xbox PC app iteration offers 60% improved launch speed and detailed some of the usability refinements we previously saw in earlier versions.

I demonstrated the upcoming Xbox PC app in a couple of videos recently. It is a web app, but it's orders of magnitude faster than previous versions, and rubber banding on devices like the Xbox Ally X has been virtually eliminated.

"We’re also bringing the refreshed XBOX web experience to more players and rolling out updates to XBOX cloud gaming apps on supported TVs and VR headsets," Beamont explained. "These changes are part of our work to make XBOX faster, simpler, and more familiar wherever you play."

Indeed, the Xbox Cloud Gaming app has also received a similar overhaul, the interface of which has been in testing and early rollout for a few months. The idea revolves around unifying the different Xbox experiences across PC, TV, mobile devices, cloud, consoles, and handhelds so that the most familiar parts of the apps are always within muscle memory.

If you want to test out the new Xbox PC app today, you'll need to enroll your gaming PC in the Xbox Insider test on PC specifically, using the Xbox Insider Hub app from the Microsoft Store.

1. Download the Xbox Insider Hub on your PC from here.
2. Navigate to Previews from the left panel.
3. Scroll down to find "PC gaming."
4. Click "Join" and wait while it says "Pending." You can leave the app.
5. Check 10-15 minutes later to see if it now says "Manage." If so, you're now enrolled.
6. Reboot your PC and check the Xbox app and Microsoft Store for an update.

The Xbox PC app has improved leaps and bounds

The Xbox PC app still has a big feature gap compared to Steam, for sure. There's a lack of community tooling, in-app mod delivery and curation, and the search functionality is often slow to catch up with recently launched products. There's also still a big catalog gap between Xbox's PC store and other platforms, although Microsoft's initiatives with Xbox Play Anywhere have been doing some strong heavy lifting recently.

As someone who primarily games via Xbox, I've found recently that I don't really need Steam at all anymore for new PC games, given that so many now support Xbox Play Anywhere across devices.

I'd love to see more customization features go live in the Xbox PC app to line up with what we have on console. I'd love to see more community tools and ways for developers to interact with their audiences. I think Microsoft's game recommendation is very poor overall (why are you recommending me Roblox when you literally know I'm in my 40s, Microsoft?).

But the work is being done; Microsoft has uncharacteristically stuck it out with this aspect of its platform despite being very late to the party, and it's great to see as an Xbox customer. But it remains to be seen if Microsoft can win over non-Xbox customers in a PC universe dominated by Steam.

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On October 23, 2026, AMD began rolling out FSR 4.1 for Xbox, starting with beta drivers for Xbox Ally handhelds. Now, AMD has announced that FSR 4.1 is available for Xbox developers working on Series X|S games.

FSR 4.1 is the latest version of AMD's AI-powered upscaling technology, rendering games at lower internal resolutions before reconstructing them to a higher output resolution while preserving detail and improving performance.

It's also part of Microsoft's wider push toward a more unified Xbox ecosystem across consoles, handhelds, and desktop gaming PCs. While the tech has mostly been showcased on Xbox Ally X hardware so far, early beta driver results showed meaningful improvements to image quality and frame rates, at least in supported games.

In our own testing, demanding games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Control Resonance, and Gears of War: E-Day showed more consistent frame rates on the Xbox Ally X with FSR 4.1 enabled, while titles like The Witcher 3 Remaster ran closer to 60 FPS with even more image clarity improvements.

Certain games that previously appeared noticeably soft or blurry in their Quality modes on Xbox Ally X also showed substantial image-quality improvements while maintaining strong performance, even in games that show dozens of enemies on screen at once, like Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.

How much of a difference FSR 4.1 makes on Xbox Series X|S will depend on per-developer implementation, and we already know that certain games that rely on ray-traced lighting, like Silent Hill 2, need more work. Still, those early Xbox Ally X results suggest FSR 4.1 could act as a software-driven mid-generation upgrade of sorts, helping developers squeeze more performance out of existing hardware. Good news.

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After months of anticipation, World of Warcraft: Forever, the reimagined take on the World of Warcraft's "classic" era, has finally gone live on PC via the Battle.net store.

Normally, whenever a new MMORPG or expansion for one comes out, its launch is usually riddled with server stability problems or log-in queues so long that it will take players hours to log in (like FFXIV: Endwalker's infamous launch, for example).

However, World of Warcraft: Forever's launch appears to have gone more smoothly than expected, thanks to its "Megaserver" architecture, which handles more players at once than individual "realm" servers in regular World of Warcraft.

Our own Jez Corden tested World of Warcraft: Forever and described it as a "very stable launch", which suffered no lag while spawning dozens of players and monsters at once.

Blizzard's vice president, Holly Longdale, has also made a post on X saying World of Warcraft: Forever's launch is "so far so goodish which is crazy by itself". Judging by the huge wave of replies to that comment, players seem to agree.

People are calling it the best launch World of Warcraft has ever had, with minimal queue times when logging in that last only a couple of minutes, minimal server lag, and no constant disconnects.

Windows Central's take

I myself have briefly logged into World of Warcraft: Forever to mess around with it before heading to work and was surprised by how fast I was able to log in (only a few minutes tops) and how smoothly it ran at max settings.

Granted, I haven't visited one of the major player settlements yet, so that will be when I can truly stress test this game's stability. But right now, I'm looking forward to playing this game when I get off work tonight and see if it can make up for the many gameplay, storytelling, and microtransactional shortcomings World of Warcraft: Midnight has put players through.

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GOG is one of the world's most popular digital storefronts for PC games. It's beloved by players for releasing PC games without DRM restrictions and releasing long-awaited ports of classic games like Breath of Fire 4 and Dino Crisis, fully updated to run on modern PCs.

GOG has reached its 18th anniversary this year. To celebrate, it will be hosting its first-ever gaming showcase event called the "GOG Showcase" on November 5, 2026, to reveal new games, new features, and more surprises as it enters a new chapter.

The GOG Showcase will be broadcast on GOG's YouTube channel at 7:00 PM CET / 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT / 6:00 PM GMT.

Windows Central's take

GOG has gained a surge in popularity this year as it's become a champion for preserving not only classic games but also consumers' rights and true digital ownership of games (which is becoming rarer in the wake of PlayStation killing physical discs or Microsoft blocking players' entire Xbox game libraries).

Granted, it isn't entirely perfect, as over a thousand games on GOG are missing DLC, updates, and other features compared to their Steam or Epic Games Store counterparts.

However, when it comes to providing games players can keep forever with their own dedicated launchers and with no DRM to hinder their performance (with a 30-day return as a bonus), GOG has its competition beat in that regard.

So I'm looking forward to seeing what retro games from the past GOG plans to bring back next on PC when the GOG Showcase begins tomorrow (fingers crossed they bring back the PS1 JRPG classic, Legend of Dragoon).

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The Xbox Nano's worst-kept secret is finally out in the open, and Xbox Cloud Gaming is more accessible than ever.

We’ve been following the ultra-portable Xbox Nano Controller since its initial reveal, and while its pocket-friendly, SNES-inspired design has been the main talking point, we were pretty bemused by the lack of Wi-Fi capabilities. However, as the controller landed in reviewers hands, it turned out there was indeed Direct to Wifi connection included but Microsoft had kept it a secret for some unknown reason. Today, Xbox officially revealed the news officially. The much-anticipated direct Wi-Fi connection feature, officially dubbed "Cloud Connect", is rolling out in preview.

But the real surprise reveal lies in the rest of the announcement. Xbox have also announced a brand-new feature that lets you use your smartphone as a virtual controller for Xbox Cloud Gaming on supported Smart TVs. This will truly open Cloud Gaming up wide to loads of people who want to try it out.

Here is everything you need to know about the new updates and how to test them out.

The Nano's secret weapon: Cloud Connect

If you caught our preview of the Xbox Nano Controller, you already knew this was coming. Up until now, playing Xbox Cloud Gaming on a TV or web browser meant connecting your controller via Bluetooth. While functional, Bluetooth does introduce an extra layer of input latency before your command even begins its journey to the cloud servers.

Cloud Connect bypasses that entirely. By using a direct Wi-Fi connection from the Xbox Nano Controller straight to Microsoft’s cloud servers, input latency is significantly reduced, making gameplay feel noticeably more responsive. It is the exact same approach that Google Stadia's controller used, and bringing it to the Xbox ecosystem is a massive win for cloud players.

How to try it out:

Currently, the Cloud Connect preview is restricted to players in the US, and it is limited to supported Smart TVs and web browser experiences.

To set it up, you will need to configure the Nano Controller to your home Wi-Fi network. You can do this using the Xbox beta app on Android, or the Xbox Accessories app on PC (note: PC setup requires you to be enrolled in the Xbox Insider program). Once connected to your Wi-Fi, simply launch a supported Xbox Cloud Gaming session and sign in with the same Xbox account used during your setup. The controller will handle the rest.

The best news, your phone is now an Xbox controller?

The Nano getting Wi-Fi Connect wasn't really the biggest news today. If you want to fire up a cloud game on your Smart TV but don't have a physical controller handy, Microsoft has rolled out a solution: your phone.

In a new global preview available on supported Smart TVs where Xbox Cloud Gaming is live, players can now use an iOS or Android smartphone as a virtual gamepad.

The controls load entirely within your phone's web browser, meaning there is no bulky companion app required to get started. Even better, Xbox confirmed that some games will feature custom-tailored touch layouts specifically designed for how they play, rather than just slapping a generic digital gamepad on your screen.

How to try it out:

To access the virtual phone controller, boot up the latest Xbox Cloud Gaming app on your supported Smart TV and navigate to Settings > Account. Toggle on Preview Features. From there, whenever you launch a game without a physical controller connected to the TV, you will be prompted with an option to link your phone for that session.

Both of these features are still in their testing phases, so expect the occasional hiccup and a limited roster of fully supported titles while Microsoft gathers telemetry and player feedback. You can check out the official support page for guidance.

Behold the sheer convenience of using your phone for a quick Vampire Survivors run on the living room TV!

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

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

How much does the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit cost?

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

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

What I like about the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit

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

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

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

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

Does the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit have any issues?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Should you buy the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You want an immersive flight sim experience

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

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You already own the Foxtrot Aviation Stick

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take a Weapon Backpack if you have one

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the rules for entering this giveaway promotion:

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

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

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

Windows Central's take

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

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

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

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

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

What makes the XBOX Nano so special?

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

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

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

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

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