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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Project Groundside turns Halo Wars into a first-person shooter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ubisoft actually makes sense

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

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

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

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

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

When can I pre-load GTA 6?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Free printable map and physical poster

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Games leaving Xbox Game Pass (November 15)

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

Windows Central's take

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Steam's share of Windows 11 users continues to rise

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

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

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

NVIDIA's RTX 3060 reclaims the top spot

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

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

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

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

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

Windows Central's take

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gaming handhelds are eligible

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

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

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

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

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

Terms and conditions

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

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

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

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

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

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

South of Midnight creative director David Sears recently made a surprisingly candid admission in an interview, saying that if he had been responsible for Xbox's budget decisions, he "probably" wouldn't have approved funding for the project.

This bizarre (or perhaps expected) twist now links two Xbox-related studios with comments questioning whether their games should have been funded at all. Before this, online drama surrounded Double Fine (Psychonauts, Keeper) saying something similar, albeit in a more tongue-in-cheek way.

To which MinnMax's Ben Hanson asked: “You would not have funded it yourself? If you were actually running Xbox, you would have been like, ‘No, turn off that tap much quicker?’”

Sears replies, “Yeah, probably.”

Xbox's creative freedom came at a cost

Sears went on to explain: “Yeah, I mean, I wanted to make it, no doubt, right? And obviously because we made it. Um, you know, would I have turned off, you know, someone else's money flow before South of Midnight? Yeah, cuz I'm not completely selfless.”

“But, you know, it just seems like in hindsight at least, it was unsustainable. So, of course, it was going to have a, you know, shocking outcome.”

Interestingly, Sears wasn't entirely critical of Microsoft. Earlier in the interview, he praised the company's support for South of Midnight, saying, “Microsoft encouraged everything,” while describing the creative freedom Compulsion Games enjoyed during development.

It’s a shame that things turned out the way they did. It’s hard to know who to fully blame, but Phil Spencer’s vision for Xbox of letting studios have complete creative freedom was fantastic on paper, yet in practice, it clearly didn’t work, especially for this era of gaming.

Who knows, maybe back in the Xbox 360 days, when games were regularly made on smaller budgets within a year or two, it might have been more sustainable. But given the bloated budgets for gaming that exist after 25 years of Xbox, and how development for major games can now span five-plus years, it’s difficult to see how that approach could continue indefinitely.

That said, let me know your thoughts on Sears’ comments. Are they shocking, or are you not surprised at all? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll!

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

October 2026 was an extremely stacked month for Xbox games, with titles like Gears of War: E-Day, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Final Fantasy Resonance, and many vying for attention and our wallets.

How many games, you ask? Well, via analysis from @KoreaXBOXnews on X, 210 Xbox games launched in October 2026, 95 of which supported Xbox Play Anywhere.

That huge statistic highlights the general market challenge so far, as users debate market saturation. Gears of War: E-Day and its virtue as an "exclusive" game on Xbox has been under a microscope, with claims that the game hasn't delivered for Microsoft. Even if that was true, it was among many big high-quality releases actively competing with hundreds of other Xbox games at once for attention, and that's without mentioning the 187 Xbox games released in September 2026.

On the plus side, @KoreaXBOXnews's analysis shows that Xbox Play Anywhere is gaining more momentum, consistently hovering around 50% share since June 2026 (or 70% if you count "triple-stack" achievement games, otherwise known as shovelware titles. Microsoft is cracking down on this exploitative practice, where developers ship multiple versions of the same game to bait achievement hunters.)

This means Microsoft is focusing on encouraging more games adopt Xbox Play Anywhere going forward, as more people are liking the idea of buying an Xbox game once and then being able to play it on console, handheld, and Windows PC within the Xbox ecosystem.

Can't say I blame them because being able to buy and play a game on an Xbox Series X|S, and then being able to play on an Xbox Ally X while carrying over data with no extra charge is a pretty good deal.

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

Microsoft's COO Helen Chiang was fired from Xbox a few weeks ago, after 27 years of top-level leadership spent across the org, most prolifically at Minecraft.

The removal was abrupt and somewhat confusing on the face of it. Chiang was widely respected across the Microsoft stack and is a trusted figure, described to me as "by the book" by our own sources. When it emerged that she had been fired for "policy violations," it added an unexpected twist that left us with more questions than answers, ultimately.

Now, Helen Chiang has responded to the incident on LinkedIn, titled "Clarity is Kindness," which is a comment Xbox CEO Asha Sharma made to the WSJ while discussing the health of Microsoft's gaming business recently.

There has been some speculation about my abrupt departure from Microsoft, including claims that I was “fired for a policy violation”. That’s not accurate," Chiang writes, "silence should not be mistaken for agreement. What has been said about my departure, and what has been left unsaid, has created a picture of me that I hardly recognize. It’s important to me to set the record straight."

In the full post shared below, Chiang denies that she leaked information, sought employment at Microsoft competitors, engaged in insider trading, bullying, or embezzlement, or that she left because she didn't get the CEO job. She says that she always hoped to stay at Microsoft and "keep building," and this departure wasn't what she envisioned.

"I share this because I don’t want my departure reduced to an inaccurate story about incompetence, ambition for the next big job, or a Nelson-level scandal."

As to not paraphrase, I've included the full text from the post below.

"Clarity is Kindness

There has been some speculation about my abrupt departure from Microsoft, including claims that I was “fired for a policy violation”. That’s not accurate and while I won’t turn this into a play-by-play, silence should not be mistaken for agreement. What has been said about my departure, and what has been left unsaid, has created a picture of me that I hardly recognize. It’s important to me to set the record straight.

First, I did not leak confidential company information to the press. I have never communicated with any journalist outside the limited, company-authorized interviews I’ve done as part of my job. That includes every journalist who reached out this week seeking my side of the story.

Second, I did not leave XBOX to join a competitor. You don’t spend two decades somewhere without developing a deep loyalty to the people, teams, and businesses you’ve helped build. XBOX was never just another stop in my career. My end game was always to keep building here.

Third, I did not engage in discrimination, bullying, harassment, insider trading, embezzlement, or other fraudulent activity. I stand by my record: both the results I delivered and the way I have treated people throughout my career. I won’t let speculation define my character or erase that record.

Lastly, I did not leave because I was passed over for a bigger role. Since having children, I’ve been intentional about how I define ambition and success. I haven’t actively sought out bigger roles or increased responsibilities, and the last time I interviewed for a job was in 2011. My reputation and results paved the way for the opportunities that followed. I went where the company believed I was needed and where I could have the greatest impact. I did not ask for my most recent role, either. I was promoted into it in July.

I believe in fairness, accountability, and holding ourselves to the standards we expect of others. Those standards only mean something when they’re applied consistently. I have serious concerns about how they were applied in my case, and I believe those concerns deserve to be taken seriously.

I share this because I don’t want my departure reduced to an inaccurate story about incompetence, ambition for the next big job, or a Nelson-level scandal. My story is about staying true to your core values, especially when it is hard. That’s the legacy I hope to leave behind.

To everyone who has reached out with hugs, love, and support: thank you. So many of you have reminded me of the wonderful times we’ve shared over the past 20 years and the impact we’ve had on one another. Some of you I haven’t been in touch with for several years, yet you still took the time to check on me. Others are people I’ve never even met, but you reached out anyway. That speaks volumes about the care and humanity in our industry and the connections that transcend where we work.

This is not how I ever imagined my story here would end. And it is not the whole story." — Helen Chiang, former Xbox COO.

Helen Chiang's somewhat unceremonious departure comes amidst widespread upheaval at Xbox as Microsoft restructures its gaming org, which has led to thousands of layoffs, divestitures, and studio closures. Microsoft managed to return some studios to independent ownership and has sold others to publishers, as it tries to rein in spending in general.

The Coalition has been put on the hook for $500 million per Microsoft's finance auditors, who only see the dollars and not the complexity of game development, the impact the pandemic had on the development of games between Gears 5 and E-Day, and other mitigating factors.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has returned the brand's focus to its core customers in recent months, with a return of exclusive games, boosting investment in the existing console infrastructure, and improving things on the back end for game developers.

I suspect there'll be more disruption before things calm down ... as the industry in general reels from an overabundance of content, reduced consumer spending, and the AI-fostered RAMpocalypse.

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

The integration of Call of Duty: Warzone with Modern Warfare 4 is happening on November 6 when Season 1 begins for this year's game.

While it also means the end of Warzone for players on Xbox One and PS4, it will be bringing a bunch of new content to the table. When the switchover happens, there will be two brand-new maps to play at first, alongside two returning classic maps at some point later in the season.

Besides access to all the new weapons from Modern Warfare 4, the battle pass, the leveling and prestige system, Camo challenges, and Calling Cards, there are also some quality-of-life improvements, too. Here's a brief overview of what's coming.

Two new Call of Duty: Warzone maps: Hajin and Zodiac

At the launch of Season 1 there will be two Warzone maps to play, and they're both brand-new for the Modern Warfare 4 year: Hajin and Zodiac.

Zodiac we've already seen during the Modern Warfare 4 beta period earlier this year. Set around a drone manufacturing facility in South Korea, Zodiac is the new Resurgence map and will be joined in the rotation by the returning Rebirth Island at some point during the season.

Hajin is the new "big map" for Battle Royale. Set across North and South Korea, anyone who's already jumped in to play DMZ will be familiar with the Hajin location. It appears to be the same physical map, so those players will already have a leg up on the terrain.

It's been a pretty good location for DMZ so far, and while there are areas with tall buildings, there are also plenty that are more open, and the terrain is quite varied. Also coming across from DMZ is the variable weather, so one match it might be sunny and clear, and another the map may be shrouded in fog. Hajin will also have two new Gulags.

The previous big map, Verdansk, will be joining the Battle Royale rotation at some point during the season, bringing some new POIs along with it.

New features and weapons for Warzone under Modern Warfare 4

Besides the new map, there are also some new features and just overall quality-of-life improvements for Warzone beginning with Season 1. These include:

• Tactical Sprint will be available to all Operators without the need for a Perk, but its duration is slightly shortened.
• Players can drag their allies while reviving them, pulling them out of harm’s way.
• Additional weapon balance tuning.
• Improved visibility and readability across all maps.
• Improved footstep audio

Tactical Sprint is probably a big one for Warzone players, and while it doesn't sound like it will be overpowered, it will at least help in keeping that fast-flowing experience players have become familiar with.

Without it applied in multiplayer in Modern Warfare 4, you can feel quite slow, and that was never going to work in Warzone.

It'll be interesting to see what the weapon balancing looks like, though. Additionally, the time to kill (TTK). In DMZ, PvP encounters are often over before you even spot who's firing at you, so hopefully Warzone has found a balance here. There are definitely some weapons that already feel like everyone will gravitate towards them, but it'd be nice if there's a wider meta than there often is.

All of the weapons from Modern Warfare 4 and the new ones introduced in Season 1 will be available to Warzone players, as will their attachments, including Apex.

Legacy weapons from as far back as Modern Warfare 2 will remain accessible in Warzone. These will be available as a five-attachment version, alongside any previously acquired legacy weapon blueprints.

Additionally, and what sounds quite interesting to me, is that on Hajin, Zodiac, and Verdansk, we'll now have movable interactive objects. These include fuel barrels, which will go boom, and apparently objects such as dumpsters and "pyramids" that can be used to create cover. Or roadblocks. So maybe keep an extra eye out when you're driving.

Players will also be able to get their hands on Elite Perks, which will add a fourth perk to their loadout. These are found in-match at Buy Stations, and more can be obtained through Supply Run contracts. But only one can be active at a time.

Oh, and the Aston Martin Dreadnought vehicle that we've been driving about in DMZ will also be joining Warzone.

Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 game modes

Camo grinders will be delighted to hear that casual mode has returned for both Battle Royale and Resurgence and will be available on all maps.

Additionally, at Season 1 launch there will be three limited-time modes (LTMs):

• Rally Point LTM
• Loaded Resurgence
• Massive Resurgence

Additional LTMs are promised throughout Season 1, including Rockets and Snipers, and Extreme Resurgence.

Rally Point is described as a casual mode designed to help new and returning players get to grips with the mechanics of Warzone, as well as check out the new Zodiac map and learn about some of the new features. 20 players will be in each lobby.

"Rally Point is a no-circle, infinite Resurgence, and Drop-In/Drop-Out mode, allowing players to come and go as they please."

For completing the challenges in this mode, there will be an exclusive weapon blueprint and two camos to unlock.

Loaded Resurgence will be across Zodiac and Rebirth Island and looks the same as we've known it before. Drop in with your preferred loadout and earn new perks with eliminations as you try to get to Specialist.

Massive Resurgence is Resurgence, but on the Hajin big map with 120 players. There aren't any special rewards listed for these modes right now, but that doesn't mean there won't be some.

Call of Duty: Warzone Mode Mastery camos arrive from Season 1

While much of the camo grind in Modern Warfare 4 is universal across multiplayer, DMZ, and now Warzone, like the others, there is a dedicated set of Mode Mastery challenges to complete. And now we know what we'll have to do.

• Parallax: Get 5 kills in a match 300 times.
• Damascus Reforged: Get 2 kills without plating 200 times.
• Empyros: Place in the top 5 with at least 6 kills 75 times.

Presumably we'll still be able to do the Mode Mastery camos in casual mode, too, but even so, they're still going to be a pretty long process. The saving grace is that if you've been playing Modern Warfare 4, this year you at least already have a head start.

Nevertheless, I spent 65 hours doing last year's Warzone Mastery Camo, even using casual mode, and I feel like this year's is going to take longer than that. I'm not sure I have it in me. We'll see.

Additionally, there will be a "Return to Call of Duty: Warzone" event running with some additional camos to get your hands on. And who doesn't like some shiny camos?

Season 1 for both Modern Warfare 4 and Warzone goes live on November 6 at midnight ET (9pm Pacific) globally. Additionally, it will be available on the Nintendo Switch for the first time. Find the full details on the Warzone integration at the Call of Duty Blog.

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