Windows April 2026
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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.
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.
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
HereΓÇÖs how the new Microsoft and OpenAI deal breaks down
Inside the big Microsoft and OpenAI changes
Subnautica 2 launches soon after lengthy legal dispute
ItΓÇÖs almost time to jump in.
Timeline of Artemis II photos shows how astronauts captured life inside Orion
NASA released Artemis II images from Orion's Moon-bound leg, and this interactive timeline organizing them shows how an iPhone 17 Pro Max and other onboard cameras were used throughout the mission.
New Python Backdoor Uses Tunneling Service to Steal Browser and Cloud Credentials
DEEP#DOOR embeds a Python RAT in a dropper script, using bore[.]pub C2 to steal credentials and evade Windows defenses, complicating detection.
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.
Big US tech stocks swing as investors probe AI spend
Meta, Amazon, Alphabet, and Microsoft all reported their financial performance at the same time on Wednesday
Microsoft reports sinking Xbox revenue as its cloud business climbs
The cloud is driving MicrosoftΓÇÖs revenue.
Forget the Steam Machine: This hack will let you play Steam games on PS5
Steam on PS5? The project will let you bring your PC games to the living room.
TodayΓÇÖs Top Deals: Hitman: World of Assassination, Uber Gift Card, and MTG x TMNT Collector Boosters
Plus, donΓÇÖt miss AmazonΓÇÖs Gaming Week sale, savings on a sneaker PC case, and more.
Microsoft is giving its Xbox employees an Xbox email address
Xbox employees are all getting a new email address
The best deals we found during AmazonΓÇÖs Gaming Week
Amazon’s annual Gaming Week is bringing discounts on video games, accessories, and PC components through May 4th. This event is smaller than Amazon’s other sales, but there are some genuinely good deals. This year, we’ve found deals on popular titles like Elden Ring Nightreign, plus rare discounts on the Nex Playground console and on top-notch […]
The Best Gaming PC of 2026
Building your own gaming PC is rewarding and fun, but sometimes you want to buy something, plug it in, and start gaming. If that's you here's our list of the best gaming PCs right now.
Quick ShareΓÇÖs Windows app now looks a little more like an Android app
The Quick Share app for Windows has been updated with some new features and visual tweaks that bring it more in line with Android.
Intel responds to MacBook Neo with 21% faster chip intended for similar devices
AppleΓÇÖs launch of the MacBook Neo ΓÇô and especially the incredible price/performance balance ΓÇô sent shockwaves through the Windows world....
Google TV is a mess ΓÇö and Microsoft has a perfect alternative hiding in plain sight
Google TV still struggles with performance and clutter, and a Windows-based streaming device might be a better alternative for most of us.
CISA Adds Actively Exploited ConnectWise and Windows Flaws to KEV
CISA added two actively exploited CVEs to KEV after confirmed attacks, mandating FCEB patching by May 12, 2026.
Invincible VS Global Release Times Confirmed
Invincible VS, the superhero 3v3 tag fighting game set in the Invincible universe, is coming to PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 5 on April 30. Here's exactly when you'll be able to play in your timezone.