Gaming April 2026
Global headlines curated by our intelligent agents.
Latest News
Even Microsoft Seems to Know Gaming on Windows 11 Isn't Great These Days
It's no secret that gaming on Windows 11 has been a little rough in recent years. Performance and usability problems have been plaguing the OS for a while now, but it seems like Microsoft is finally trying to do something about it. Microsoft has kicked off an internal initiative codenamed Windows K2, according to Windows Central. Rather than being a version of Windows itself, this project seems to aim to change the design philosophy of future Windows updates instead. Over the past several years, Microsoft has been focused on releasing new features as fast as possible, which has led to some incredibly awful updates. Just look at Recall, a Copilot+ feature which uses AI to save screenshots of literally everything you do on your PC so that you can reference them later. Back in 2024, Microsoft tried to rush that out super quickly, only to have to hold it back due to obvious security issues. With K2, Microsoft slowing things down a bit and trickling out updates with a higher bar of quality. We've already seen evidence of this program, with the recent AutoSR update coming to the Xbox Ally X nearly six months after its release. Microsoft could have just shipped the feature without making sure it worked properly ΓÇô after all, it's been available for Windows ARM systems for more than a year. Hopefully this means that Microsoft will have some semblance of restraint when comes to shoving new features into Windows 11. Or, at the very least, less frequent updates that make you restart your gaming PC.Microsoft Wants PC Gaming BackPC gaming on Windows is obviously still huge, with Microsoft's operating systems making up for 92% of gaming PCs, according to the latest Steam Hardware Survey. While Windows does have a comfy majority, Linux gaming is growing at an incredible rate, thanks in large part to the Steam Deck, and other handhelds that are now running SteamOS or Bazzite. Just last month, the amount of people running Linux on their gaming PCs has gone up 3% to 5.33% of Steam's install base. Certainly a big part of that is there are more devices out there that come with SteamOS these days, but right now Linux just has better gaming performance than Windows, especially on low-end hardware. It seems like Microsoft is aware of this. As Windows Central reports, Microsoft is now looking at SteamOS as the benchmark for gaming performance, trying to match its performance with comparable hardware. Hell, even in my testing, I've definitely noticed that handheld gaming PCs running on Valve's operating system have a bit of a lead, which is why the Lenovo Legion Go S can still hold its own against the Xbox Ally X and the Legion Go 2 despite having a slower chip. Microsoft paying more attention to its operating system's efficiency and performance is a good sign, but it'll be some time yet before we see whether or not this renewed push for quality pays off. However, Windows 12 is lurking somewhere on the horizon, so hopefully Microsoft carries this K2 initiative forward to its next major OS launch.Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra
MicrosoftΓÇÖs Xbox mode is now available for all Windows 11 PCs
The Xbox mode aims to bridge the gap between Windows and Xbox consoles.
TodayΓÇÖs Top Deals: Shout! Factory Blu-ray Steelbook, Razer BlackWidow Keyboard, and MTG Strixhaven
Plus, AmazonΓÇÖs Gaming Week sale continues with top deals on games, headsets, and more.
ROG Xbox Ally gets more Switch-like with latest patch
With tweaks around docking, wireless controllers, and resolution scaling, ROG Xbox Ally handhelds are looking a little more Switch-like.
Best Buy Has Open Box Sony Playstation VR2 Headsets for Just $199.99 with Free Shipping
Geek Squad verified units in "like new" condition
The Xbox Ally X's Fancy Upscaling Tech Is Available to Xbox Insiders Today
When the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X was first announced, one of its biggest promised features was AutoSR, or automatic super resolution. And now, almost seven months after the handheld launched, the feature will be available to Windows insiders today. AutoSR functions similarly to Nvidia's DLSS or AMD's FSR, in that it takes a lower resolution image and upscales it to a higher displayed resolution. Just like these other solutions, AutoSR would be using an AI model to upscale your games, but instead of using special cores in the GPU, it's using the Xbox Ally X's NPU, or neural processing unit. Unlike other AI upscaling methods, AutoSR should work on pretty much any game. Because it isn't implemented on a per-game basis like DLSS, AutoSR works at the driver level, so potentially any game running with DirectX should be compatible. According to the DirectX blog about the technology, offloading the upscaling to the NPU allows for a larger model, which means greater preservation of detail, with a bit of a cost to latency. Microsoft also claims that its AutoSR model is more memory-efficient than other GPU-based upscalers, which are a bit more demanding on memory bandwidth. This is important, because handhelds like the Xbox Ally X don't have a ton of memory bandwidth to spare. However, rather than just kicking off for everyone using the Xbox Ally X, AutoSR will only initially be available to folks who connect their handhelds to an external display. That's mostly because the higher resolution of a TV is hard for the Z2 Extreme to handle, so game-agnostic upscaling should go a long way to making games run a bit faster. Microsoft claims that this new technology can improve 1440p performance by about 30%, which could be the difference between a stuttering mess and a playable game. Either way, I'll be trying out this technology myself when the update goes live later today. And hopefully, Microsoft will allow this to be used in handheld mode soon ΓÇô there are more than a few games that don't exactly run super well at 1080p on the Xbox Ally X, after all. Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra
MicrosoftΓÇÖs DLSS competitor is now available on the Xbox Ally X handheld
Xbox Insiders get early access today
Subnautica 2 launches soon after lengthy legal dispute
ItΓÇÖs almost time to jump in.
$100 Nintendo gift cards are $20 off at Newegg today
You can buy up to 10 two-packs.
Final Fantasy 14 Director Confirms Nintendo Switch 2 Performance and Mouse-Keyboard Controls
Naoki Yoshida confirmed Switch 2 technical details during an interview at FFXIV Fan Fest alongside the Evercold reveal.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on Nintendo Switch 2 Goes Minimalist by Removing Most of the Interior Decor and Background Props
The Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth demo on Nintendo Switch 2 has attracted a mix of criticism, praise, and humor for removing most of the interior decor and background props, leaving rooms feeling somewhat minimalist compared to the PS5 version.
Samsung says the RAM shortage could get even worse next year
No end in sight for RAMaggedon.
The Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum have been turned into retrofuturistic handhelds
The Spectrum and The C64 clamshell handhelds each come bundled with 25 unique retro games.
PlayStation now requires a ΓÇÿone-time online checkΓÇÖ to confirm you own a game
Welcome back, DRM discord.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Surprise Update Adds More Story
Nintendo has dropped a surprise update for Super Mario Galaxy 2 that adds a new storybook chapter.
New Xbox Boss Says 'We Know We Have Work to Do' as Console Revenue Continues to Plummet
New Xbox boss Asha Sharma has acknowledged the ongoing financial struggles of MicrosoftΓÇÖs gaming business, amid a shakeup and repositioning of the brand around its core fans.
PlayStation Addresses PS5 DRM Concerns in New Statement
PlayStation has broken its silence on the drama surrounding DRM concerns with the PS4 and PS5.
The Alienware AW2726DM Is the Least Expensive 27" QHD 240Hz OLED Gaming Monitor Ever
Buy two and create a 49" 5020x1440 multi-monitor setup for a budget-friendly price.
Get a 20,000mAh Power Bank That Quadruples Your Nintendo Switch 2 Playtime for a Mere $12
Features 22.5W of fast charging with the built-in USB cable
MSI's Flagship 18" 4K+ Gaming Laptop with AMD Ryzen 9 X3D CPU and RTX 5080 GPU for $2,599
This deal runs for only 2 days.
Undisputed Developer Ends Support to Focus on Sequel; Adds Talent from Rockstar and EA Sports
Steel City Interactive, the team behind Undisputed, has announced that it will be ceasing support for the boxing game ahead of a sequel. Undisputed was released back in 2024 after spending nearly two years in early access. It was the first licensed boxing game since EAΓÇÖs Fight Night, and was an earnest attempt to make something from next to nothing. The team was eventually able to attract real boxers and major boxing organizations to help make the game more authentic.Undisputed received mixed reviews from critics, including IGN (we gave it a 6), but many see the potential in Steel CityΓÇÖs vision. As a result, the studio has announced via a YouTube video that it will be ending post-launch support for Undisputed to focus its efforts on a sequel. Not much has been revealed about the sequel, but Steel CityΓÇÖs CEO, Ash Habib, stated the developer has recruited renowned talent from Rockstar Games, 2K, and EA Sports.Ultimately, the decision to end support for the first game came down to the fact that the foundations for the original game were rocky, and difficult to build upon. To resolve this, UndisputedΓÇÖs sequel will be built on a new engine with world-class AAA talent. The studio has a deal in place with Muhammad AliΓÇÖs team and has extended it until 2037 as a show of commitment to continuing with the Undisputed brand. A release window and further details are being kept under wraps for the time being, but more details will be shared in the future.EAΓÇÖs Fight Night franchise went defunct back in 2011 with the release of Fight Night Champion, and although there were rumblings that EA might bring the series back, it never happened. Instead, EA has invested in UFC, which has become a more dominant combat sport. UFC 6 is scheduled to release on June 19, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PS5, ensuring combat sport fans will still have something to enjoy while waiting for Undisputed 2.Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
Splatoon Raiders preorders for the Switch 2 are nearly 20 percent off
Hopefully, itΓÇÖs a trend that continues.
Microsoft reports sinking Xbox revenue as its cloud business climbs
The cloud is driving MicrosoftΓÇÖs revenue.