Xbox is preparing for significant layoffs and a sweeping restructuring under CEO Asha Sharma’s “Xbox Reset” plan. After spending over $20 billion with declining revenue, Microsoft’s gaming division faces budget cuts, a hardware crisis, and a fundamental business overhaul starting July 2026.

Microsoft’s Xbox division is preparing for major layoffs in July 2026 as part of a sweeping restructuring plan led by CEO Asha Sharma. Bloomberg reported on June 10, 2026, that the cuts will be announced shortly after Microsoft’s fiscal year ends on June 30, with marketing budgets and other operational areas also facing significant reductions. The Verge reported that approximately 1,000 jobs may be at stake and that a studio closure could be part of the changes.

What Did the “Xbox Reset” Memo Actually Say?

Hours after Bloomberg broke the story, Xbox published the full internal memo on Xbox Wire under the title “Next 100 Days: Xbox Reset.” Written by CEO Asha Sharma and Chief Content Officer Matt Booty, the message was addressed to every Xbox employee worldwide. It outlined five key realities the company must confront, beginning with a staggering financial admission.

“Excluding Activision Blizzard King, over the past five years, we have spent over $20 billion on ongoing investments in our content, platform, and hardware subsidy, but our annual revenue has declined nearly half a billion during that time,” the memo stated. “Going forward, this cannot continue.” The memo also revealed that Xbox expects to close the current fiscal year at roughly a 3% accountability margin, down year-over-year.

Three Straight Quarters of Revenue Decline

The financial picture the memo describes aligns with Microsoft’s recent quarterly earnings. In the FY2026 Q3 results reported on April 29, 2026, Xbox hardware revenue fell 33%, marking the second consecutive quarter with a decline above 30%. Xbox content and services revenue dropped 5%, continuing a three-quarter streak of overall gaming revenue decline. While Microsoft as a whole posted $82.9 billion in revenue (up 18% year-over-year), the gaming division has been a persistent weak spot, dragging down the More Personal Computing segment.

A Hardware Component Crisis Unlike Any Before

Perhaps the most alarming section of the memo dealt with hardware costs. Sharma revealed that when she took over as CEO in February 2026, the price Xbox paid for console storage components was already over 2x what it had been the previous autumn. Those costs have since doubled again. Planning for the 2027 holiday season, Xbox expects another significant increase, pushing component prices to over 5x what they were just two years earlier. Memory costs have followed a broadly similar trajectory.

The memo acknowledged that while the entire industry faces a components crisis, Xbox has been hit harder than many competitors “due to the choices we made over the last half decade.” Crucially, Sharma admitted that Xbox is currently unable to manufacture as many consoles as players want to buy.

Is Xbox Abandoning Console Hardware?

No, but the approach is changing dramatically. The memo confirmed Xbox remains committed to its “Helix” hardware codename, widely understood to be the next-generation Xbox console. However, it stated that Xbox needs “a new business model and partnerships for hardware” to make it viable. This language suggests future Xbox consoles may involve manufacturing partnerships with third-party companies rather than the traditional first-party-only production model. Reports from April 2026 already indicated that the global memory shortage could delay Helix’s launch, with Sharma signalling that Microsoft is waiting for supply chain stabilisation before confirming dates.

Studios Are “Over Extended” and Investment Priorities Will Shift

The memo directly addressed Xbox’s sprawling studio portfolio. Sharma and Booty wrote that Xbox expanded its studio system to support “multiple strategies across subscription, streaming, and devices” but has since found itself “over extended.” They acknowledged that Xbox stewards some of the industry’s most defining franchises but “have not adequately funded them to compete and win.”

This is a particularly significant statement given what happened in July 2025, when Microsoft cut roughly 9,000 jobs across its gaming division, shut down The Initiative studio, and cancelled high-profile projects including Perfect Dark and Everwild. The memo signals a similar reckoning may be approaching, with The Verge reporting that a studio closure or changes to the Xbox studio lineup could be part of the July cuts.

Xbox leadership said they will “reassess the balance” between supporting existing franchises and investing in new IP, evaluating priorities for the next five years. The recent Xbox Games Showcase 2026, which confirmed Gears of War: E-Day as an Xbox console exclusive launching October 6, 2026, and Clockwork Revolution as an exclusive for 2027, appears to be the first visible result of this refocused strategy.

Platform Infrastructure Being Rebuilt from the Ground Up

The fifth and final reality outlined in the memo concerns Xbox’s technology stack. “Our current platform infrastructure is not built for the battle ahead,” Sharma and Booty wrote. They described systems that are “overly complex, spanning hundreds of dependencies” and said Xbox has become “too reliant on vendors” to operate those systems. The plan is to rebuild Xbox’s software stack, develop capabilities across hardware, PC, mobile, and streaming, and potentially pursue mergers and acquisitions to accelerate the transformation.

What Happened in the First 100 Days Under Sharma?

Asha Sharma was named Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming on February 20, 2026, replacing the retiring Phil Spencer. A former President of Microsoft’s CoreAI product division, Sharma’s appointment was seen as a surprise, passing over Spencer’s long-time deputy Sarah Bond, who chose to leave Microsoft. Sharma also sits on the boards of Home Depot and Coupang, the South Korean e-commerce giant.

In her first 100 days, Sharma oversaw several notable moves. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s price was cut from $29.99 to $22.99 per month in April 2026, though new Call of Duty games will no longer be added to Game Pass on day one. The Xbox Games Showcase 2026 reintroduced console exclusives and announced major titles. The Player Voice feedback channel was launched, and platform update velocity reportedly increased.

When Sharma took over, Matt Booty publicly assured employees that no organisational restructuring was planned and studio structures would remain intact. Four months later, that assurance has been overtaken by the “Xbox Reset” memo’s far more sobering message.

How Does This Compare to the Rest of the Industry?

Xbox’s restructuring is part of a broader pattern hitting the entire games industry. In January 2026, Ubisoft closed its Halifax and Stockholm studios, cancelled six game projects including the long-troubled Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, and launched a company-wide reorganisation affecting its 17,000 employees. Sony shut down Bluepoint Games. Over the past two years, major layoffs have struck Epic (860 jobs), Unity (1,800), PlayStation (900), and Riot (530), among many others.

What makes Xbox’s situation distinct is the sheer scale of investment that has failed to generate returns. Spending $20 billion over five years while seeing revenue decline by half a billion is an extraordinary admission, especially published on an official Xbox website. As Push Square noted, this financial disclosure “perhaps helps explain the sudden departure of ex-leaders Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond.”

What Does This Mean for Players Right Now?

In the short term, Xbox’s announced game lineup appears safe. Gears of War: E-Day (October 6, 2026), Halo: Campaign Evolved (July 28, 2026), Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations (July 7, 2026), and other Showcase titles are proceeding as planned. Game Pass is growing again and is now cheaper than it was six months ago. The return of console exclusives signals a clearer identity for the platform.

However, the medium-term outlook carries real uncertainty. If a studio closure is part of the July cuts, more game cancellations could follow. The Helix console’s timeline remains unclear amid the component crisis. And the “five-year investment reassessment” could mean that some franchises or projects currently in development may not survive the review.

For Xbox employees, the weeks ahead will be deeply stressful. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported that while the exact headcount is unknown, the layoffs are expected to be significant. Marketing teams appear especially vulnerable, and the broader operational cuts suggest that no part of Xbox’s business is immune.

The Bigger Picture: Reset or Retreat?

Sharma’s memo walks a deliberate line between crisis communication and rallying cry. It acknowledges deep structural problems while insisting that Xbox’s foundation (over 1 billion players annually, 72 billion hours of play, major franchises, and a presence across console, PC, mobile, and streaming) remains strong. The memo ends with a call to “reset for a stronger Xbox and build the #1 gaming and entertainment company.”

Whether this reset delivers on that ambition or marks another chapter of contraction will depend on execution over the coming months and years. What is clear is that the status quo at Xbox is over, and the cost of that change will first be felt by the people who built the platform to where it is today.

Remedy Entertainment has officially revealed the PC system requirements for Control Resonant ahead of its September 24, 2026 launch. A GTX 1070 and 16 GB RAM will get you in, while an RTX 3070 is recommended for the best experience.

Remedy Entertainment has published the official PC system requirements for Control Resonant on the game’s Steam store page. Launching September 24, 2026 on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and GeForce NOW, the action-RPG sequel to 2019’s award-winning Control asks for surprisingly modest hardware, starting at a GTX 1070 and 16 GB of RAM.

What Are the Minimum PC Requirements?

Here is what you need to run Control Resonant at its lowest settings:

The GTX 1070, originally released in 2016, and the RX 5600 XT from 2020 are still widely used cards. Both deliver roughly the same level of rasterisation performance, making this a relatively low barrier to entry for a next-generation title. The 16 GB RAM requirement is now standard for modern AAA games, though it represents a doubling from the original Control’s 8 GB minimum.

Recommended PC Specs for a Smoother Experience

The recommended GPU tier sits at the RTX 3070 or RX 6700 XT, both 8 GB cards. This is a strong signal that 8 GB of VRAM will be sufficient for whatever settings and resolution the recommended tier targets. The Ryzen 7 3700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor from 2019, suggesting that Remedy’s Northlight Engine scales well across multiple cores. RAM stays at 16 GB for both tiers, which is good news for budget builders.

What Performance Do These Specs Target?

Remedy has not yet disclosed the exact resolution and frame rate targets tied to these requirement tiers. The studio confirmed that more detailed performance breakdowns will be shared before the September 24 launch. Independent analysis suggests the recommended specifications likely target 1080p at 60 FPS on medium-to-high settings, roughly equivalent to the PS5 experience. The minimum tier is estimated to deliver around 30 FPS at 1080p, potentially with upscaling assistance.

Remedy has officially confirmed it is targeting a stable 60 FPS on all platforms. The studio has upgraded its in-house Northlight Engine for longer draw distances, more on-screen enemies, and heavier destruction effects while maintaining that frame rate goal.

Path Tracing, DLSS 4.5, and RTX Support

Control Resonant will launch with a full suite of NVIDIA RTX technologies. Announced during GDC 2026, the confirmed features include path-traced effects, RTX Mega Geometry, DLSS 4.5 with Dynamic Multi Frame Generation, and DLSS Ray Reconstruction. Tatu Aalto, Remedy’s Technical Director of Graphics, stated: “The world of Control Resonant is packed with rich detail, and path-traced lighting takes it to the next level.”

Path tracing simulates how light behaves in the real world far more accurately than standard ray tracing, producing superior shadows, reflections, and ambient lighting. However, it demands significantly more GPU power. The current published specs almost certainly target standard rasterised rendering. Separate ray tracing and path tracing requirements are expected before launch, which will likely call for considerably more powerful hardware, especially for 4K resolution with full path tracing enabled.

For context, the original Control remains one of the best ray tracing showcase titles to date. Resonant is positioned to push that visual fidelity even further, particularly on RTX 40 and 50 series cards with Multi Frame Generation support.

How Do These Compare to the Original Control?

The 2019 Control launched with noticeably lower requirements after Remedy revised its initial specs downward. Here is how the two games compare:

The jump is substantial but expected. Control Resonant shifts from the indoor corridors of the Oldest House to larger open-ended outdoor environments in Manhattan. The Northlight Engine has been significantly upgraded since Alan Wake 2 with GPU-driven rendering, mesh shaders, and single-pixel occlusion culling to handle the greater geometric detail and path-traced lighting demands.

Will Your Current PC Handle It?

If your system has a GTX 1070, RX 5600 XT, or anything above those, you meet the minimum GPU threshold. Cards like the GTX 1660 Super, RTX 2060, or RX 5700 XT should handle low-to-medium settings comfortably. The RTX 3060 Ti and above will put you in recommended territory or better.

On the CPU side, an i5-8500 is a 6-core Coffee Lake chip from 2018. Any modern Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5 from the last four to five years will exceed minimum requirements. The Ryzen 7 3700X recommended spec suggests the engine benefits from higher core counts, so an 8-core CPU is ideal for the best experience.

The 100 GB SSD requirement is notable. While installing on a traditional hard drive may technically work, modern engines increasingly rely on fast storage for texture streaming and asset loading. An SSD is strongly recommended.

What Is Control Resonant About?

Control Resonant is an action role-playing game developed and published by Remedy Entertainment, co-financed with Annapurna Pictures. Unlike the original Control, which was a third-person shooter, Resonant leans into melee-focused combat and deeper RPG mechanics. Players control Dylan Faden, Jesse Faden’s brother, who emerges from FBC captivity to fight a reality-bending cosmic entity that has overtaken Manhattan.

Dylan wields the Aberrant, a shapeshifting melee weapon that can morph into hammers, dual blades, and other forms on demand. Players choose their starting weapon form and develop Dylan’s paranatural abilities through a deep progression system. Remedy describes the game world as “open-ended” rather than open world, offering explorable zones, optional quests, and end-game activities including the returning SHÜM arcade challenges with leaderboards. Multiple save slots are confirmed, a direct response to player feedback from the first game.

Pricing and Launch Details

Control Resonant is priced at €59.99 / £49.99 / $59.99 for the Standard Edition. The Digital Deluxe Edition costs €69.99 / £59.99 / $69.99 and includes a digital artbook, original soundtrack, AWE Mission outfit, Untapped Artifact wallet, and a starter resource bundle. Pre-orders are live now on Steam and other platforms, with a Hiss Corruption Outfit and Pickpocket’s Tool Artifact as pre-order bonuses. The game also supports Xbox Play Anywhere for cross-buy between Xbox and PC.

The Mac version via Steam and the App Store will follow later in 2026. The game supports 15 languages at launch, with full audio in 8 languages and interface plus subtitle localisation for additional languages including Turkish, Korean, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, and Traditional Chinese.

Common Questions About Running Control Resonant on PC

Is 16 GB RAM mandatory?
Yes. Both the minimum and recommended tiers list 16 GB. Systems with only 8 GB will almost certainly experience severe performance issues, heavy stuttering, or inability to run the game properly.

Do I need an SSD?
Remedy lists SSD as the required storage type. While an HDD installation may technically work, expect significantly longer load times and potential texture streaming problems. An NVMe or SATA SSD is strongly advised.

Can I play without an RTX card?
Absolutely. The minimum requirement is a GTX 1070, which has no ray tracing hardware. Standard rasterised rendering will work on any supported GPU. Path tracing and DLSS features are exclusive to RTX series cards.

What do I need for 4K with path tracing?
Remedy has not published ray tracing or 4K-specific requirements yet. Based on the visual ambition and path tracing confirmation, expect to need at least an RTX 4080 or better for 4K path-traced gameplay. Detailed performance tiers should arrive before the September 24 launch.

Will DLSS help with performance?
Yes. DLSS 4.5 with Dynamic Multi Frame Generation will be available at launch. This technology can dramatically boost frame rates on RTX GPUs, making higher resolutions and ray tracing more accessible without native rendering overhead.

Overall, Control Resonant’s PC requirements sit in a comfortable spot for 2026. Remedy has kept the entry point accessible while clearly leaving room for high-end hardware to shine with path tracing and advanced RTX features. If you have a mid-range system from the last few years, you are likely already set to explore the paranatural streets of Manhattan when the game launches on September 24.

California’s State Assembly passed AB 1921, the Protect Our Games Act, by a 43 to 16 vote. The bill backed by Stop Killing Games now advances to the California Senate.

The California State Assembly passed AB 1921, the Protect Our Games Act, on May 27, 2026, by a vote of 43 to 16. Authored by Assemblymember Chris Ward and backed by the Stop Killing Games movement, the bill would require digital game publishers to give players 60 days’ notice before shutting down game servers, then either provide a playable version of the game, release an enabling patch, or issue a full refund. The bill now moves to the California State Senate, where committee hearings are expected in June.

What Does the Protect Our Games Act Actually Require?

AB 1921 targets server-dependent digital games sold or re-released on or after January 1, 2027. When a publisher decides to end support, they must notify players at least 60 days in advance through both the game itself and their official website. The notification must include the shutdown date, which services will end, which features will become unavailable, any known security risks, and how players can continue using the game or obtain a refund.

After shutdown, publishers must offer at least one of three remedies:

• A standalone version of the game that works independently of the publisher’s servers
• A patch or update enabling continued play without publisher-controlled infrastructure
• A full refund equal to the original purchase price

The bill also prohibits selling or distributing a game that has already been rendered unplayable. Enforcement falls to the California Attorney General or district attorneys through civil action.

What Is Excluded from the Bill?

Free-to-play games, subscription-based titles, and games that are already permanently playable offline are all exempt. The bill specifically targets paid games that rely on publisher-run online systems to function.

A notable amendment on May 18 narrowed the scope further. The original language covered any digital game “available for purchase” after January 1, 2027, which would have captured legacy back-catalogue titles still on sale. The revised text now applies only to games “first available for purchase or re-released for purchase” after that date, closing a loophole that concerned both publishers and legislators.

How Did Stop Killing Games Get Here?

The movement traces back to 2024 when Ubisoft shut down The Crew, an online racing game, permanently removing access for everyone who had purchased it. YouTuber Ross Scott of Accursed Farms launched the Stop Killing Games consumer campaign, arguing that publishers should not be allowed to sell a product and then destroy it.

The campaign grew rapidly. In Europe, the associated European Citizens’ Initiative “Stop Destroying Videogames” collected 1,448,271 signatures before closing in July 2025. After validation, 1,294,188 signatures were confirmed valid, well above the one million threshold required to force a formal European Commission response. The initiative was officially submitted to the Commission on January 26, 2026.

In April 2026, Stop Killing Games publicly backed California’s AB 1921, helping advise on the drafting of the legislation. The bill cleared the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Appropriations Committee (11-2 vote) before passing the full Assembly floor vote.

What Happened at the European Parliament?

On April 16, 2026, the European Parliament held a public hearing on the initiative, hosted jointly by the Internal Market (IMCO), Legal Affairs (JURI), and Petitions (PETI) committees. Ross Scott, organiser Daniel Ondruška, Moritz Katzner, and legal experts presented their case to MEPs.

The hearing was widely seen as positive. Committee Vice Chair Nils Ušakovs called the initiative “a concern for probably hundreds of millions of European citizens.” MEPs raised topics including a “right to resurrect” for abandoned software, guarantee periods for digital products, and integration with the planned Digital Fairness Act. European Commission copyright lawyer Giuseppe Abbamonte pledged to review copyright regulations and report findings in July.

A plenary session on May 21, 2026, further discussed the initiative with cross-party support. European Commissioner Michael McGrath confirmed on May 7 that the Commission’s formal response is expected by late June or July 2026. The Commission is legally obligated to respond, though it is not required to propose legislation.

Why Is the ESA Opposing the Bill?

The Entertainment Software Association, the US trade body that previously organised E3, has been the most vocal opponent of AB 1921. In a May 2026 letter to California lawmakers, the ESA argued the bill is “fundamentally flawed” and “could force developers to spend limited time and resources keeping old systems running instead of creating new games, features, and technology.”

Stop Killing Games responded within 24 hours, systematically addressing each argument. The movement pointed out that the bill does not require perpetual server support, does not mandate source code disclosure, and does not force publishers to reveal anti-cheat systems or security infrastructure. It simply requires one of three off-ramps when support ends. As the movement put it: “If your car’s GPS subscription ends, the provider shouldn’t get to remotely disable your car.”

Despite ESA lobbying, the bill cleared every committee stage and the full Assembly vote. Stop Killing Games described this as winning against the ESA three separate times in California’s legislative process.

What Comes Next for AB 1921?

Passing the Assembly is only the first legislative hurdle. The bill now goes to the California State Senate, where it will face policy committee hearings, potential further amendments, and a floor vote requiring at least 21 of 40 Senate votes to pass.

If the Senate approves it (potentially sending it back to the Assembly if amended), it moves to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. The Governor has 12 days to sign it into law, let it pass without signing, or veto it. If the entire process is completed in 2026, the law would take effect on January 1, 2027. If it runs into 2027, the effective date would shift to January 1, 2028.

Stop Killing Games organisers have suggested the Senate stage could be decisive for the bill’s fate and are encouraging public engagement to keep momentum going.

Why California Matters for Global Gaming

California is home to some of the world’s largest game publishers, including EA, Activision Blizzard, and numerous studios in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas. Silicon Valley’s concentration of tech companies makes California legislation uniquely influential. A state-level consumer protection law here could effectively set standards for the entire industry, as publishers may find it simpler to apply uniform policies globally rather than maintain separate end-of-life frameworks for different jurisdictions.

Combined with the European Citizens’ Initiative, which represents the demands of over 1.29 million verified EU citizens, and the UK Parliament petition that gathered 189,887 signatures before debate in November 2025, the pressure on game publishers is mounting from multiple continents simultaneously.

The Bigger Picture: Digital Ownership Under Scrutiny

The Stop Killing Games movement taps into a broader cultural shift around digital ownership. As physical copies have given way to digital distribution, players increasingly find themselves holding licenses rather than products. When a publisher shuts down authentication servers, entire libraries can vanish overnight. The shutdowns of The Crew, Anthem, and Concord have become prominent examples of this practice.

In February 2026, Stop Killing Games announced the launch of two NGOs, one in the EU and one in the US, specifically for “long-term counter-lobbying” on game destruction. In France, consumer group UFC-Que Choisir filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft over The Crew’s shutdown in March 2026, alleging the company misled consumers about the permanence of their purchase.

The movement has been careful to frame its demands as reasonable minimum standards rather than radical changes. It does not ask publishers to keep servers running forever, does not demand source code releases, and does not challenge existing monetisation models. It asks only that when support ends, it ends responsibly.

Key Questions Players Are Asking

Would this law apply to games already shut down?

No. AB 1921 is not retroactive. It would only cover games first sold or re-released on or after January 1, 2027. Previously shut-down titles like The Crew would not be affected.

Does the bill require publishers to keep servers running forever?

No. Publishers can shut down servers whenever they choose. The bill only requires that when they do, they provide 60 days’ notice and then deliver one of three solutions: an offline-capable version, an enabling patch, or a full refund.

What about live-service microtransactions and DLC?

This remains one of the most debated aspects. Stop Killing Games has argued that refunds are particularly important for live-service titles where players may have purchased expansions, cosmetics, or DLC shortly before shutdown. Under the bill, refunds are the fallback remedy only when a playable version or enabling patch is not provided.

When could this become law?

If the bill passes the California Senate and receives the Governor’s signature during 2026, it would take effect on January 1, 2027. Senate hearings are expected in June 2026, but the timeline depends on committee schedules and potential amendments.

What is happening in Europe?

The European Commission must formally respond to the Stop Destroying Videogames initiative by July 27, 2026. Commissioner McGrath indicated the response could come as early as June 16. The European Parliament hearing in April showed strong cross-party support, and integration with the upcoming Digital Fairness Act is considered a likely path forward.

You don’t need old consoles or complicated emulator setups to revisit classic PlayStation games. From PS Plus Premium to standalone purchases and full remakes, here’s every official method available on PS5 and PS4 in 2026.

Sony has officially made more than 100 classic games from the PS1, PS2, and PSP eras playable on PS5 and PS4. There is no longer any need to dig old consoles out of storage, deal with BIOS files, or go through complicated emulator setups. From PlayStation Plus Premium subscriptions to individual game purchases, remaster collections, and the classic catalog on the PS Store, there are now multiple official ways to access these games. In this guide, we examine each method one by one.

PS Plus Premium (Deluxe in Türkiye): The Main Gateway to Classics

The highest tier of PlayStation Plus, called Premium (marketed as “Deluxe” in Türkiye), provides full access to the classic games catalog. PS1, PS2, PSP, and even PS3 games through streaming are included in this subscription. In Türkiye, the regular 12-month price of PS Plus Deluxe is set at 2,740 TL. During the February 2026 campaign, the price dropped to 2,772.90 TL (35% off the original 4,266 TL price).

The classic catalog continues to expand every month with newly added titles. The latest classic game added in May 2026 was the 1997 arcade hit Time Crisis. The game is available on PS5 and PS4 with new gyro aiming support and the original console-exclusive stages. In January 2026, Ridge Racer was added as well, featuring up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and special video filters for the original PlayStation version.

Which Classic Games Are in the Catalog?

The PS Plus Premium/Deluxe classic catalog includes dozens of PS1, PS2, and PSP games. Notable PS1 classics include Tekken 2, Resident Evil Director’s Cut, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, Dino Crisis, the Syphon Filter series (1, 2, 3), MediEvil, Ape Escape, Wild Arms, The Legend of Dragoon, Twisted Metal, Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee, and Doom (1993).

On the PS2 side, titles such as Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, the Sly Cooper series, Dark Cloud, Rogue Galaxy, Tomb Raider: Legend, the TimeSplitters series, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, and Star Ocean: Till the End of Time are available. PSP classics include Tekken 6, Daxter, Jeanne d’Arc, Killzone: Liberation, and Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters.

Some games, such as Dino Crisis and Resident Evil Director’s Cut, are available exclusively to PS Plus Premium subscribers and cannot be purchased individually.

No Subscription Required: Individual Purchase Option

There is an important detail many players are unaware of: most classic games included in the PS Plus Premium catalog can also be purchased individually through the PS Store. This means you do not have to pay for a monthly or yearly subscription. On the PS Store, PS1 classics are generally priced between $4.99 and $9.99 (or regional equivalents), while PS2 classics range from $9.99 to $20.99.

Games purchased individually are permanently added to your library. Even if your subscription expires, you will still have access to them. For players who only want to play a few specific classics, this option is much more cost-effective than paying for a yearly subscription.

Your Old PSN Purchases May Still Be Valid

If you digitally purchased PS1, PS2, or PSP classics from the PlayStation Store during the PS3 era, there is good news. When the modern PS4/PS5 versions of these games are added to the PS Plus classic catalog, you may be able to download them for free using your old license. This was never officially announced in a major way, but many players discovered it on their own. Games such as MediEvil and Ape Escape have confirmed this functionality.

All you need is to use the same PSN account from the past. If you search for the game on the PS Store and see “Free” or “Download” instead of a price, it means your old license has been recognized.

Remaster and Remake Collections: The Brightest Emulator-Free Experience

Some classic franchises are now available on PS5 through fully rebuilt or visually enhanced remaster/remake versions. These are standalone games that can be purchased directly from the PS Store without requiring emulators or subscriptions:

• Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy: Completely rebuilt versions of the first three Crash games.
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy: Modern recreations of the original three Spyro games.
• MediEvil (2019 Remake): A fully rebuilt remake of the PS1 classic compatible with PS4/PS5.
• PaRappa the Rapper Remastered: The HD version of the legendary rhythm game.
• Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition: Enhanced versions of GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas.
• Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection: The remastered PS4/PS5 version of the legendary PS3 trilogy.
• The Last of Us Remastered: The enhanced PS4 version of the PS3 masterpiece, compatible with PS5.

These remasters and remakes deliver the original experience in the best possible way on modern hardware. Additional benefits include 4K resolution support, improved loading times, and modernized control schemes.

Technical Improvements Added to Classic Games on PS5

PS1 and PS2 classics played through PS Plus are not exact copies of their original versions. Sony has added several modern improvements to these games:

• Up-rendering: Original low-resolution graphics are optimized for modern displays.
• Rewind: Allows players to rewind a few seconds and retry difficult sections.
• Quick Save: Instant save points that did not exist in the original versions.
• Special Video Filters: CRT monitor effects, retro scanlines, and other visual filters.
• Trophy Support: Many classics now include modern PSN trophies.
• 16:9 Widescreen Support: Originally 4:3 games have been adapted for widescreen displays.

These enhancements bring old games in line with modern comfort expectations. Features like rewind and quick save, in particular, make the challenging games of that era much more accessible.

Cloud Streaming Option for PS3 Classics

PS3 games cannot run directly on PS5 due to the technical architecture of the Cell processor. However, PS Plus Premium subscribers can play these games through cloud streaming. A stable internet connection with at least 5 Mbps speed is required.

The PS3 streaming catalog includes titles such as Tokyo Jungle, PixelJunk Monsters, and many other PS3-era games. Although streaming is not as seamless as downloading, it is currently the only official way to access these titles.

Which Option Is Best for You?

What Can’t PS5 Backward Compatibility Do?

PS5 is not physically compatible with older PlayStation discs. You cannot insert PS1 CDs, PS2 DVDs, or PS3 Blu-ray discs into a PS5 and play them. Only PS4 discs and digital PS4 games are supported through backward compatibility. Therefore, if you own a physical PS1 or PS2 collection, you will need to purchase the digital versions to play them on PS5.

Additionally, PS3 games purchased digitally through PSN during the PS3 era (excluding PS1/PS2 classics) cannot be downloaded and played on PS5. PS3 games are only accessible through streaming.

Frequently Asked Questions by Players

Can I play classic games without PS Plus?

Yes. Most games in the classic catalog are also sold individually on the PS Store. You can buy them directly without a subscription and permanently add them to your library. However, some exclusive titles such as Dino Crisis and Resident Evil Director’s Cut are only available to Premium subscribers.

Is there a difference between PS Plus Deluxe and Premium in Türkiye?

In Türkiye, the “Premium” tier is branded as “Deluxe.” In terms of content, it includes the classic games catalog, game trials, and cloud streaming access (depending on connection speed). Functionally, it is equivalent to the global Premium tier.

Which PS1 games support trophies?

Not every PS1 classic includes trophies, but games such as Ape Escape, the Syphon Filter series, MediEvil, Dino Crisis, Wild Arms, Twisted Metal, I.Q Intelligent Qube, and many others support them. Trophy support is becoming increasingly common in newly added titles.

Can classic games also be played on PS4?

Yes. Most games in the PS Plus Premium/Deluxe classic catalog work on both PS5 and PS4. Individually purchased classics can also be played on both consoles.

Do rewind and quick save work in every game?

Most PS1 and PS2 classics support rewind, quick save, and video filters. However, trophy support is not guaranteed for every game, and some titles do not include this feature.

Conclusion: Nostalgia Is Easier to Access Than Ever

As of 2026, there is no need to revive old consoles from storage or struggle with emulator settings to play classic PlayStation games. Thanks to Sony’s PS Plus Premium system, individual purchase options, and extensive remaster/remake catalog, you can directly access some of the most beloved titles from the PS1, PS2, and PSP eras on modern consoles. The catalog continues to grow every month, and newly added classics like Time Crisis keep the nostalgia alive.

NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW enforces a 100-hour monthly playtime cap on all Performance and Ultimate subscribers as of 2026. Only legacy Founders members remain exempt. Here’s the full breakdown of how it works, extra costs, and rollover rules.

NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW cloud gaming service now enforces a 100-hour monthly playtime cap on all paid subscribers. The restriction, first announced in late 2024 and rolled out globally on January 1, 2026, applies to both the Performance ($9.99/month) and Ultimate ($19.99/month) tiers. According to NVIDIA, the change affects approximately 6 percent of users, with the vast majority of subscribers already playing under 100 hours each month.

How the 100-Hour Cap Works

Every billing cycle, Performance and Ultimate members receive 100 hours of playtime on high-performance cloud rigs. That translates to roughly 3 hours and 20 minutes of gaming per day over a 30-day month. For casual and moderate players, this is more than enough. The limit primarily targets heavy users who stream games for extended periods daily, which increases server load and can degrade the experience for everyone else.

NVIDIA has stated that the primary goal is to keep subscription prices stable without having to raise monthly fees. By capping the top end of usage, the company aims to balance server demand and maintain low queue times across its global data centres.

What Happens When You Hit 100 Hours?

Once you exhaust your 100-hour allotment, you have two options. The first is purchasing additional playtime in 15-hour blocks: $2.99 for Performance subscribers or $5.99 for Ultimate subscribers. The second option is continuing to play as a free-tier user, which means shorter session limits (1-hour blocks), potential queue waits, access to basic rigs instead of premium hardware, and ads during sessions.

This means you are never completely locked out. However, the downgraded experience is a clear incentive to either manage your hours or pay for extras. For context, a player averaging 4 hours per day (roughly 122 hours per month) would need at least two additional 15-hour blocks, adding around $6 to $12 per month depending on the tier.

Do Unused Hours Carry Over?

Yes, but with a cap. Up to 15 unused hours from your current billing period automatically roll over to the next month. If you only use 85 hours in a given month, you will start the following month with 115 hours. However, the rollover is capped at 15 hours regardless of how little you played. Even if you used zero hours, only 15 carry forward, giving you a maximum of 115 hours the next cycle.

This rollover mechanic adds meaningful flexibility for players whose gaming habits fluctuate month to month, such as during exam periods, holidays, or between major game releases.

Who Is Exempt from the Limit?

The only permanently exempt group is original Founders members. These are subscribers who joined GeForce NOW on or before March 17, 2021, and have maintained their membership without any lapse. Founders members retain unlimited playtime for life as long as their subscription stays active and uninterrupted. NVIDIA’s official FAQ explicitly confirms this perk.

There is an important caveat: if a Founders member upgrades to an Ultimate plan, they lose the unlimited playtime benefit and become subject to the 100-hour cap. Reverting back to the original Founders tier restores unlimited play, provided there has been no payment gap. If a Founders member lets their subscription lapse for any reason, the lifetime benefit is permanently forfeited.

How Extra Hours Are Priced

At 4 hours per day, the annual cost of a Performance subscription jumps by roughly 60 percent compared to the base rate. For Ultimate subscribers, the increase is similar in proportion. The system rounds up to the nearest 15-hour block, so exceeding 100 hours by even one hour triggers the full block charge.

Turkey Gets Its Own Timeline

GeForce NOW operates in Turkey through a local partner called GAME+, which runs its own pricing and subscription model. While the global 100-hour limit launched in January 2026, GAME+ initially announced in late 2024 that it had no plans to implement the cap in Turkey. That stance has now changed. GAME+ has confirmed the 100-hour limit will apply to Turkish Performance and Ultimate subscribers starting June 10, 2026.

Turkish users who subscribe before that date will enjoy a grace period, retaining unlimited playtime until June 2027 as long as their membership remains uninterrupted. Current Turkish pricing starts at 599 TL/month for Performance and 1,199 TL/month for Ultimate, with discounted rates available on 6-month and 12-month plans.

Alternatives for Heavy Cloud Gamers

If 100 hours per month is genuinely not enough, the cloud gaming market in 2026 offers several alternatives. Boosteroid provides access to a different game library without the same hourly caps. Shadow offers a full Windows desktop in the cloud, letting you install any game from any storefront without library restrictions. Xbox Cloud Gaming ties into the Game Pass ecosystem with a rotating catalogue rather than hourly limits. Each service has trade-offs in latency, library size, resolution support, and regional availability.

GeForce NOW still leads in raw streaming performance, with RTX-powered rigs capable of 4K HDR at up to 240 FPS on the Ultimate tier. For most players who stay under 100 hours, the value proposition remains strong, especially given that the service connects directly to existing Steam, Epic Games, and GOG libraries without requiring repurchases.

How to Track Your Playtime

NVIDIA provides a detailed account dashboard at nvidia.com/account/gfn where subscribers can monitor their monthly usage. The panel shows total hours consumed, a per-game breakdown, and remaining hours for the current billing cycle. Checking this regularly can help you pace your gaming and avoid surprise charges near the end of the month.

Things Players Often Ask

Does the 100-hour limit apply to the free tier?
No. Free-tier users already face 1-hour session caps with queue waits. The 100-hour monthly cap only applies to Performance and Ultimate subscribers.

Can I check how many hours I have left mid-month?
Yes. The NVIDIA account portal provides real-time tracking of your remaining hours, including per-game usage data.

What happens if I cancel and resubscribe?
You lose any grace period or legacy protection. Your new subscription starts under the current terms, which include the 100-hour limit.

Is there a family plan or shared hours option?
Not currently. NVIDIA’s Director of Product Marketing Andrew Fear acknowledged community interest in options like family plans during a May 2026 interview, but no concrete plans have been announced.

Do Founders members keep unlimited play if they switch to Ultimate?
No. Upgrading to Ultimate subjects your account to the 100-hour cap. Reverting to the base Founders membership restores unlimited play, as long as there was no payment lapse during the process.

Does the limit reset on the first of each month?
No. It resets on your personal billing date, not on a fixed calendar date. If your billing cycle starts on the 15th, your 100 hours reset on the 15th of each month.

Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox Elite Controller Series 3 has been leaked by Brazilian regulator Anatel. The pro-grade gamepad features dual scroll wheels, direct-to-cloud Wi-Fi connectivity, a user-replaceable battery, and a redesigned D-pad.

The Xbox Elite Controller Series 3 has leaked through images accidentally published by Brazilian regulatory agency Anatel, confirming that Microsoft’s next-generation pro gamepad is close to launch. Originally reported by Brazilian tech site Tecnoblog and subsequently covered by The Verge, Windows Central, Engadget, and Kotaku, the leak reveals dual scroll wheels, direct Wi-Fi cloud gaming connectivity, a user-replaceable 1,528 mAh battery, and a redesigned D-pad. The Elite Series 2 launched back in November 2019, making this a seven-year gap between generations.

How the Leak Happened

Anatel, Brazil’s telecommunications regulator, reviews hardware before it can be sold in the country. During this certification process, images and technical documents for the Elite Series 3 were inadvertently made public. The same day, Anatel also leaked a separate compact Xbox Cloud Gaming controller, giving the gaming world an unprecedented double reveal of unannounced Microsoft hardware.

Neither controller has been officially announced. However, Windows Central’s senior editor Zac Bowden noted that Microsoft’s annual Xbox Games Showcase, scheduled for June 7, 2026, is the most likely venue for the formal reveal. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has recently signalled a renewed push into first-party hardware, and these leaks reinforce that direction.

Dual Scroll Wheels: A First for Gamepads

The most visually striking addition is two scrollable wheels positioned at the bottom of the controller, flanking the headphone jack. This is the first time scroll wheels have appeared on a mainstream console gamepad. The Verge theorises they could serve as extra input surfaces for games like Microsoft Flight Simulator, handling functions such as flap adjustments, camera zoom, or audio and game-chat balance.

The concept echoes Valve’s Steam Controller and its dual trackpads, which aimed to bring PC-style input granularity to living-room gaming. Given that the Elite series has always supported interchangeable components, these wheels may also be removable or remappable through the Xbox Accessories app.

Redesigned D-pad and Ergonomics

The D-pad has received a complete overhaul. Leaked images show a more ergonomic and responsive design, and the Elite line’s signature modular swap system appears to remain intact, so players can still switch between different D-pad styles. The controller’s grip texture has also been updated for improved comfort during extended sessions.

One major question remains unanswered: whether Microsoft has addressed the notorious stick drift problem. Both the original Elite and the Series 2 suffered from quality-control issues related to analogue stick wear. Rumours earlier in 2026 suggested Microsoft might adopt TMR (Tunneling Magnetoresistance) sensors, which are more durable than traditional potentiometers and even Hall Effect sticks. However, the Anatel images do not confirm or deny their inclusion.

Direct-to-Cloud Wi-Fi Connectivity

The headline technical feature is integrated Wi-Fi that allows the controller to connect directly to a home router, bypassing the console or phone entirely when playing cloud games. This “Direct-to-Cloud” architecture eliminates the Bluetooth relay bottleneck that currently adds latency to Xbox Cloud Gaming sessions. According to reports, this could reduce input lag by approximately 20 ms.

A new pairing button on the front of the controller enables instant switching between local mode (connecting to a console) and cloud mode (connecting to Wi-Fi for streaming). The Anatel filing lists Wi-Fi 6 support alongside Bluetooth 5.3 and USB-C connectivity. The approach mirrors what Google attempted with the Stadia controller, which also connected directly to servers via Wi-Fi, but Microsoft is implementing it within a full premium controller ecosystem rather than a standalone streaming device.

The controller also appears to feature an updated version of Dynamic Latency Input (DLI), Microsoft’s technology that synchronises the controller’s polling rate with the display’s refresh rate to minimise the time between a button press and its on-screen effect.

User-Replaceable Battery and Modular Design

The Elite Series 2 shipped with a built-in, non-user-replaceable rechargeable battery rated at 2,050 mAh. The Series 3 shifts to a modular approach with a smaller 1,528 mAh removable battery pack. While the capacity is lower on paper, the ability to hot-swap batteries means players can carry spares and never need to pause for charging.

Modularity extends beyond the battery. Leaks suggest that trigger mechanisms and front-face buttons may support hot-swap components. Players could choose between clicky mechanical switches, similar to those found in gaming mice, and softer membrane-style buttons depending on preference. Interchangeable trigger springs with different resistance levels, one set for racing games and another for shooters, are also rumoured.

What About Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers?

Earlier leaks, tied to the “Sebile” codename for Microsoft’s next-gen controller programme, pointed toward advanced haptic feedback using voice-coil actuators (VCA) and adaptive trigger resistance, features that would bring the Elite Series 3 closer to what Sony’s DualSense offers. Court documents from the Activision Blizzard acquisition also revealed that Microsoft was developing enhanced tactile feedback for future controllers.

However, the Anatel filing does not explicitly confirm these features for the Elite Series 3. It remains possible that some of these capabilities will appear in the standard next-gen Xbox controller rather than the Elite model, or that they were simply not detailed in the regulatory submission.

Elite Series 2 vs Elite Series 3: Key Differences

Expected Release Date and Pricing

Microsoft has not announced an official release date. The fact that Anatel is already certifying the device strongly suggests it is nearing production readiness. Windows Central, Engadget, and other outlets expect the reveal at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 7, 2026, with a retail launch likely during the 2026 holiday season.

No official pricing has been disclosed. The Elite Series 2 launched at $179.99 in the US and £159.99 in the UK. TechRadar and Gfinity Esports both estimate the Series 3 will sit between $180 and $200, reflecting the additional hardware capabilities. Whether the price increase will be modest or significant depends on which premium features make the final cut.

Connection to Project Helix and the Xbox Ecosystem

The Elite Series 3 is widely seen as part of Microsoft’s broader “Project Helix” hardware strategy. Alongside the compact Cloud Gaming controller that leaked on the same day, it signals a future where Xbox controllers function as smart, cloud-capable devices that do not necessarily require a console to deliver a full gaming experience. Xbox’s push toward an “Xbox Everywhere” model, where games are accessible across console, PC, mobile, and cloud, is now being reflected directly in peripheral design.

Questions Gamers Are Already Asking

Has stick drift been fixed?

The leaked images and Anatel documents do not confirm whether Hall Effect or TMR sensors are being used. Both Elite Series 1 and 2 were widely criticised for stick drift caused by traditional potentiometer-based analogue sticks. This remains the biggest open question heading into the official reveal.

Will it work with current Xbox consoles and PC?

Yes. With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, and USB-C, the Elite Series 3 is expected to be fully compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PCs. Cloud mode also enables direct use with mobile devices and smart TVs running Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Does a smaller battery mean shorter play sessions?

Not necessarily. The 1,528 mAh pack is smaller than the Series 2’s 2,050 mAh built-in cell, but newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chipsets are more power-efficient. The real advantage is modularity: carrying a second charged battery eliminates downtime entirely.

When will we know more?

The Xbox Games Showcase on June 7, 2026, is the most likely date for the full reveal. Microsoft may choose to announce sooner given the scale of this leak, but no earlier date has been confirmed.

The Xbox Elite Controller Series 3 shapes up as the most ambitious pro-grade gamepad Microsoft has ever built. Whether it lives up to seven years of expectations will depend on the details that the Anatel leak could not confirm, particularly around stick drift solutions and haptic feedback. June 7 should provide those answers.

Sony’s latest financial report shows that 85% of PS5 and PS4 game sales were digital in Q4 FY2025, the highest ratio ever recorded. Physical game spending has hit historic lows globally. Here’s what it all means for the future of gaming.

Sony’s FY2025 Q4 financial results, published on May 8, 2026, confirm that 85% of all full game sales on PS5 and PS4 were digital downloads. Physical copies accounted for just 15% of total software sales during the quarter ending March 31, 2026. This is the highest digital download ratio Sony has ever recorded, and it arrives alongside a lifetime PS5 install base of 93.7 million units and 125 million monthly active users.

What Sony’s Latest Numbers Actually Show

The 85% figure represents a quarterly peak, but even the full-year average tells a striking story. Across FY2025 (April 2025 to March 2026), the digital download ratio averaged 78%, a 2% increase year-over-year. Total software unit sales reached 317.9 million for the fiscal year, with first-party titles contributing 5.8 million units in Q4 alone. These are not projections or estimates; they come directly from Sony Interactive Entertainment’s official business data.

For context, digital sales represented just 19% of PlayStation’s software revenue a decade ago. The pandemic pushed that number to 65% in 2020, and it has climbed steadily every year since. Reaching 85% in a single quarter is a landmark moment that reshapes how the industry thinks about distribution, retail, and the very concept of game ownership.

Physical Game Sales Are at Historic Lows

The decline is not limited to PlayStation. In the United States, spending on new physical video games fell 11% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching just $1.5 billion. According to games industry analyst Mat Piscatella, that is the lowest figure tracked since records began in 1995 and marks the seventeenth consecutive year of decline. The peak was $11.6 billion in 2008.

Across Europe, the picture is similarly stark. In the UK, almost 90% of game sales were digital as of 2022, and Ubisoft reported a 35% drop in UK physical game sales during FY25. In Germany, 70% of game purchases were digital as of 2025. Even when looking only at games that have both physical and digital versions available (excluding digital-only titles), PS5 digital sales in Europe jumped from 55% in 2023 to 64% in 2024. The sports franchise EA Sports FC 25 hit 62% digital across Europe, up from 55% for its predecessor.

The UK games market as a whole reached a record £8.8 billion in 2025, but the growth was overwhelmingly driven by digital software. Digital console software alone generated nearly £2.5 billion, up 9% year-over-year, while physical boxed game revenue continued to shrink.

Why Digital Is Winning

Several forces are driving digital dominance simultaneously. The most obvious is convenience: players can purchase, download, and start playing a game within minutes without leaving their home. Digital storefronts run frequent sales and bundle promotions. Subscription services like PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass provide access to hundreds of titles for a monthly fee, further reducing the incentive to buy physical copies.

Hardware design is accelerating the shift as well. The PS5 was Sony’s first home console to launch with a disc-less SKU. The PS5 Pro shipped without any built-in optical drive at all. In Japan, the PS5 Digital Edition outsold the disc model by a staggering margin: Famitsu data from early April 2026 showed 12,141 digital PS5 units sold in a single week versus just 558 disc models. The disc-less Xbox Series S accounted for 75% of Xbox platform sales in 2025.

On the publishing side, an increasing number of titles are released as digital-only products. Many live-service games never receive a physical release. Even when discs exist, they often function more as installation keys that still require large downloads, diminishing one of physical media’s traditional advantages.

What This Means for PS6

Sony has not officially revealed the PlayStation 6, but the signals are hard to ignore. Sources cited by Insider Gaming in September 2025 indicated that PS6 will launch with two models: a fully digital edition and a model with a detachable disc drive. Sony reportedly views the detachable drive approach, first tested on the PS5 Slim, as a success that met all internal targets.

Multiple analysts and commentators have suggested that PS6 will not ship with a built-in disc drive in its base configuration. This would be a first in PlayStation history. The 85% digital sales ratio serves as the strongest data-driven argument for that direction. Additionally, rising memory and SSD prices have reportedly prompted Sony to consider delaying PS6 into 2028 while the company optimises component costs and evaluates business model changes, potentially including a cheaper, disc-less launch price.

The broader implication is clear: Sony is building its next-generation ecosystem around digital distribution as the default, with physical media becoming an optional add-on rather than a core feature.

Are Physical Games Really Dying?

Not entirely, but the trajectory is undeniable. Physical games still matter to collectors, to players who value resale rights, and to those who worry about digital ownership and long-term access. Technically, purchasing a digital game means buying a licence that a platform holder could theoretically revoke. Sony’s own recent introduction of a 30-day online check-in DRM system for newly purchased digital titles on PS5 has intensified those concerns.

Physical copies offer tangible ownership, the ability to lend or resell, and (in many cases) offline playability. There is also a growing collector’s market that may mirror what happened with vinyl records in the music industry: as digital becomes the default, physical editions could evolve into premium, collectible products rather than a mass-market distribution format.

However, even among younger gamers who express nostalgia or preference for physical media, the spending data does not support a reversal. Piscatella noted that while Gen Z may express interest in physical media, the numbers show spending continues to fall. The slowing rate of decline is more likely a sign of the market approaching its floor than evidence of a comeback.

The Ownership Debate: What Do You Actually Own?

This is perhaps the most important question for the long term. When a digital storefront shuts down or a publisher pulls a game, players lose access. The delisting of titles from PlayStation Store, the shutdown of live-service games like Anthem, and the DRM controversies of 2026 have all fuelled this debate. Physical discs do not solve every preservation problem (they degrade, require compatible hardware, and often still need patches), but they provide a degree of independence that purely digital purchases cannot.

For gamers who want to build a library they can access indefinitely, the shift to digital raises legitimate concerns. The industry has not yet offered a universally satisfying answer to the question of digital ownership rights, and the push toward 85% digital makes that conversation more urgent than ever.

What Players Usually Ask

What is PlayStation’s current digital game sales ratio?

In Q4 FY2025 (January to March 2026), 85% of all PS5 and PS4 full game sales were digital. The full-year average for FY2025 was 78%, up from 76% the previous year.

Will PS6 have a disc drive?

According to current rumours and leaks, PS6 will offer a detachable disc drive as an optional accessory. The base model is widely expected to be digital-only, making it the first mainline PlayStation console to launch without a built-in disc reader.

Are physical game sales declining everywhere?

Yes. In the US, physical game spending hit $1.5 billion in 2025, the lowest since tracking began in 1995. In the UK, physical sales dropped 35% in FY25. Germany is at 70% digital. The decline is global, though the rate varies by region and platform.

Is it better to buy games digitally or on disc?

Digital offers instant access, frequent discounts, and no storage clutter. Physical offers resale value, lending ability, and a degree of ownership independence. The best choice depends on your priorities. If long-term access and ownership matter most, physical still has advantages. If convenience and instant play are your priority, digital is the clear winner.

Could physical games become collectible?

Many analysts and industry observers believe physical editions will increasingly become premium, collector-oriented products rather than a mainstream distribution method, similar to how vinyl records found a niche audience after digital music took over.

The Bottom Line

PlayStation’s 85% digital sales figure is not just a quarterly data point; it is the clearest indicator yet that the gaming industry’s centre of gravity has permanently shifted. Physical media is not dead, but its role is rapidly changing from mainstream distribution channel to niche collector’s format. With PS6 reportedly designed around a digital-first philosophy and global physical sales hitting historic lows year after year, the disc era is not ending overnight, but it is undeniably winding down.

Microsoft’s April 2026 Xbox update delivers custom colors, up to 10 Home groups, per-game Quick Resume controls, Xbox Mode for Windows 11, and the first major achievement overhaul in years. Here is everything that changed across console, PC, and mobile.

Microsoft rolled out one of its most comprehensive Xbox updates on 30 April 2026, touching console, PC, handheld, and mobile surfaces simultaneously. The update brings custom color personalisation, up to ten pinnable Home groups, per-game Quick Resume controls, a Play History tab, Xbox Mode for Windows 11, a gamepad cursor, library unification, and the first meaningful overhaul of the Xbox Achievement system in nearly two decades. Under new CEO Asha Sharma, the changes signal a shift from single-device dashboard thinking to a unified gaming platform spanning every screen.

Console: Custom Colours, More Groups, and Real Control

The headline console change is Custom Color support. Players can now use hue, saturation, and lightness sliders to create a precise accent colour that appears throughout the Guide and UI. If you prefer a cleaner look, the accent can be disabled in Settings > General > Personalisation > Customize the Guide. Switching back to a system colour saves the custom selection, so you can return to it at any time. This level of granular colour control is new territory for Xbox and brings it closer to the personalisation depth gamers expect from phones and desktops.

The Home screen group limit has also jumped from two to ten. Groups can now be reordered using the same drag mechanic as moving games on Home, and pinning indicators in My Games & Apps make it easier to see which groups are already active. Microsoft is treating Home less like a static dashboard and more like a customisable workspace.

Quick Resume Can Finally Be Disabled Per Game

Quick Resume has been one of Xbox Series X|S’s standout features since launch, but always-online titles and games left idle for long periods could behave unpredictably when resumed. With this update, players can disable Quick Resume on individual games so they always boot fresh. The toggle is accessible from the More Options menu on a game tile in the Quick Resume group or from Manage Game and Add-ons > Quick Resume Settings. For competitive multiplayer titles that need a clean connection on every session, this is a welcome fix.

Play History Tab and Streaming Quality Tools

A new Play History tab inside My Games & Apps provides a dedicated entry point for recently played titles without navigating back to Home. The layout is horizontal, grouped by recency, and designed to keep recent gameplay visible and accessible across devices.

For cloud streaming, two new tools have been added. User Selected Resolution (USR) lets players choose their preferred streaming resolution before a session starts via Console Settings > Cloud Settings. Network Quality Indicator (NQI) displays lightweight, real-time feedback on connection health during gameplay, helping players understand how their network affects performance.

Xbox Mode: Windows 11 Gets a Console-Like Shell

Arguably the most significant part of the update is Xbox Mode, which began its general rollout on 30 April 2026. Previously tested as the Xbox Full Screen Experience on ASUS ROG Ally handhelds, Xbox Mode transforms any Windows 11 PC into a controller-first, full-screen gaming interface similar to Steam’s Big Picture mode. It foregrounds the game library, recently played titles, and controller navigation, while pushing the traditional desktop out of the way.

According to Microsoft, Xbox Mode can free up as much as 2 GB of memory by reducing unnecessary background processes. It is enabled through Settings > Gaming > Xbox mode, where players can also configure the system to boot directly into the mode on startup. The feature is rolling out in select markets first, with broader availability scheduled over the following weeks. Windows 11’s May 2026 Security Update on 12 May is expected to bring the feature to more users.

The strategic importance is hard to overstate. Xbox Mode gives Microsoft a single front-end experience that works on consoles, handhelds, traditional PCs, and potentially the upcoming Project Helix next-generation console arriving in 2027. Tech analyst Brad Sams described the underlying web-based dashboard as “the future of everything for Xbox,” noting that the same interface has both full-screen and desktop views, suggesting it will eventually replace or overlay the current console dashboard as well.

PC Library Unification, Gamepad Cursor, and Notification Control

On PC, the Xbox app now lets players manually add any installed game or application to their Xbox library, regardless of the storefront it came from. Names, icons, and launch options can be customised, and advanced users can attach mod parameters or special launch commands. This makes the Xbox library a genuine all-in-one launcher rather than a Microsoft Store wrapper.

Up to three games can now be pinned to the Jump Back In or Most Recent list on Windows 11 PCs and handhelds. Gamepad Cursor turns any connected controller into a mouse pointer via the left stick, making it possible to interact with apps not designed for controller input, like Spotify or Discord, without reaching for a mouse. And Game Bar notification positions can now be relocated to any corner of the screen through Settings > More Settings > General.

Achievement System Gets Its First Major Overhaul

Xbox Achievements have been a core feature since the Xbox 360 era, but the system has received almost no significant updates over the past 20 years. That changed in April 2026, when Microsoft announced the biggest Achievement overhaul to date. Select Xbox Insiders can now test new icons and animations for classic and rare achievement unlocks, with the notification visuals matching the player’s custom UI colour.

Two long-requested features are part of the update. First, players can hide any game from their Achievement history on their profile, keeping Gamerscore intact but removing visible traces. Second, games where all available achievements have been unlocked are now highlighted with a bold 100% marker in the player’s custom colour, along with new filter options to find completed and hidden titles quickly.

Xbox’s team described this as “one of our first steps towards celebrating those moments,” and CEO Asha Sharma confirmed that a dedicated team has been stood up specifically for achievement-related improvements. The community expects something akin to PlayStation’s Platinum trophy system to follow, though Microsoft has not confirmed that directly. Windows Central reported that the update is rolling out to more Insiders over time, with broader public availability coming later in 2026.

ROG Xbox Ally X and Mobile App Updates

ASUS ROG Ally and Ally X devices received docking improvements for external displays, along with super wideband stereo voice for LE Audio headsets and enhanced vibration. Auto Super Resolution (Auto SR) is also in Insider preview on the Ally X, aiming to make docked gaming look sharper without performance trade-offs.

On mobile, the Xbox app now sends wishlist alerts the moment a tracked game goes on sale, enters Game Pass, or becomes available for pre-order. A single tap takes the user to the game’s product page for immediate action.

The Bigger Picture: One Dashboard for Every Device

These updates do not exist in isolation. In January 2026, Microsoft previewed a unified web-based dashboard for cloud gaming that shares its design language with the new Xbox Mode. The interface supports both a full-screen console view and a windowed desktop view, indicating Microsoft intends to maintain a single front end across all endpoints. With Project Helix (Xbox’s next-generation console) confirmed for developer alpha kits in 2027, the current wave of UI changes is effectively laying the groundwork for that device’s launch experience.

Under Asha Sharma, who took over as Xbox CEO in February 2026, the pace of community-driven updates has accelerated visibly. The March 2026 Insider features reportedly went from community request to shipping build in just two weeks. That speed is strategically important: it signals that Microsoft’s Insider Program is becoming a live product-shaping engine rather than a passive testing channel.

What Players Usually Ask

Is Xbox Mode available everywhere right now?

Xbox Mode started its rollout on 30 April 2026 in select markets. Microsoft has confirmed broader availability will follow over the next few weeks, with the Windows 11 May 2026 Security Update expected to deliver it more widely starting 12 May 2026.

Does Xbox Mode actually improve performance?

Microsoft states that Xbox Mode can reclaim up to 2 GB of memory by not loading unnecessary background processes. The impact should be most noticeable on handhelds and lower-spec laptops. On high-end desktops, the gains will likely be marginal.

Will these dashboard changes come to Xbox One?

Microsoft has not confirmed whether Xbox One consoles will receive the unified dashboard. Current updates target Xbox Series X|S. Given the hardware limitations of Xbox One, some features such as custom colours or the expanded group system may not be backported.

When will the Achievement overhaul reach everyone?

The new Achievement features are currently available to Xbox Insiders in the Alpha ring. Microsoft says they will roll out to more Insiders over time, with broader availability for all players coming later in 2026. No specific public release date has been announced.

Is Quick Resume being removed entirely?

No. Quick Resume remains active by default. The update adds a per-game toggle to disable it. This is ideal for always-online or competitive multiplayer games while keeping the feature intact for single-player titles.

For more Xbox ecosystem coverage, including the latest Game Pass additions, check out Xbox Game Pass May 2026 Wave 1: Full List of 14 Games on GamerMarkt.

Windrose, the hit pirate survival RPG by Kraken Express, was found writing up to 108 GB per hour to players’ SSDs due to its RocksDB save system. Patch 0.10.0.4 reduced disk writes by 60-75%. Here is the full breakdown.

Windrose launched into Early Access on April 14, 2026 and immediately became one of the year’s biggest PC gaming events: 1 million copies sold in six days, a peak of 222,134 concurrent Steam players, and an 89% positive review rate across more than 19,000 reviews. But beneath the successful launch of Kraken Express’s pirate survival RPG, a serious technical issue was quietly wearing down players’ SSDs at an alarming rate, writing up to 108 GB of data per hour during normal gameplay.

What Exactly Was Happening to Your SSD?

The issue was first brought to wide attention on April 22 by YouTuber Pixel Operative, who demonstrated that Windrose was reading from and writing to storage virtually nonstop during gameplay. While running around a base, write speeds would spike to a sustained 30 MB/s or higher. Sailing a ship made things worse, producing a near-constant 30 to 50 MB/s of write traffic. The only time disk activity dropped to safe levels was when the character stood completely still on land.

To put this into perspective, Pixel Operative compared Windrose against two similar survival titles. In a 60-90 second test window, Windrose generated 32 GB of reads and 1.3 GB of writes. Enshrouded, by comparison, produced 7 GB of reads and 695 MB of writes. Valheim came in at just 1 GB of reads and 5 MB of writes. Windrose was consuming storage resources at a rate that dwarfed every comparable game on the market.

The Root Cause: RocksDB Save System Configuration

This was not a random bug. A detailed technical analysis by community researcher NewMaxx (published on BoreCraft) traced the problem to Windrose’s persistence layer. The game uses RocksDB, a high-performance key-value store originally developed by Facebook, to handle its save data. Windrose runs at least three concurrent RocksDB database instances, each with its own async write queue.

The critical misconfiguration was in the Worlds database: 22 column families sharing a single 1 MB WAL (Write-Ahead Log) budget. Every column family has its own 64 MB memtable, but because they all share that tiny WAL cap, any write activity that pushed total WAL size past 1 MB would force-flush memtables across multiple column families. Small in-game state changes (moving an item, walking a few steps) would cascade into massively amplified physical disk writes.

Additional configuration flags reinforced the problem: paranoid checks enabled, strict point-in-time recovery mode, compaction and flush verification all turned on. The setup was internally consistent with a goal of minimizing crash-recovery data loss at any disk cost. Whether this was a deliberate design choice or an overly conservative default that shipped unchanged was unclear from the data alone.

How Much Damage Could This Actually Cause?

SSD lifespan is measured by TBW (Total Bytes Written). A typical 1 TB consumer SSD like the WD Blue SN5000 offers 600 TBW of rated endurance. At Windrose’s pre-patch rate of 108 GB written per hour, that drive’s entire rated lifespan would be consumed in approximately 5,555 hours of gameplay, or about 231 days of 24/7 gaming.

For modern TLC-based NVMe drives, the real-world risk was moderate. Most current-generation SSDs have enough endurance headroom that even heavy Windrose sessions would not kill them outright. However, the picture was more concerning for QLC drives (which have lower write endurance per cell), older SSDs already approaching their TBW limits, or budget drives with lower rated endurance. Some players on Steam forums also reported SSD temperatures reaching 83°C during play, which can accelerate cell degradation independently of write volume.

A frequently overlooked detail: the save files were stored in the user’s AppData folder on the C: drive by default, not on the drive where the game was installed. This meant even players who installed Windrose on a secondary drive were unknowingly hammering their system SSD.

The Fix: Patch 0.10.0.4

Kraken Express acknowledged the issue and released patch 0.10.0.4 on April 30, 2026. The patch notes included the line “Disk usage during gameplay has been reduced” alongside fixes for CPU usage on idle servers, connection issues, and a range of gameplay improvements.

Pixel Operative’s post-patch testing showed dramatic improvement. Write speeds during base exploration dropped to occasional bursts of 4 MB/s, down from a sustained 30+ MB/s. Sailing, previously the worst-case scenario, now peaked at around 13-16 MB/s in brief spikes rather than maintaining a flat 30-50 MB/s. Standing still produced less than 1 MB/s of writes. Overall, this represented a 60% to 75% reduction in sustained write traffic.

Community analysis from NewMaxx confirmed that the developers did not take the RocksDB tuning approach (adjusting WAL size and column family configuration) but instead implemented an application-side fix that reduced how frequently the game triggers save operations. Independent testing by another community member showed write calls dropping from 90,000-130,000 per second pre-patch to just 20-30 per second post-patch, representing roughly a 90% reduction in write frequency.

How to Protect Your SSD While Playing Windrose

Updating to patch 0.10.0.4 or later is the most important step. Beyond that, several community-developed workarounds can further reduce SSD wear:

• Relocate save files to an HDD: Move the SaveProfiles folder from C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\R5\Saved\SaveProfiles to a mechanical drive and create a junction link using mklink /J in an elevated command prompt. The game continues to use the original path, but actual writes go to the HDD.
• Use a RAM disk: Tools like ImDisk Toolkit let you create a RAM disk and redirect save files there, syncing back to your SSD at set intervals. This eliminates SSD writes during gameplay almost entirely.
• Monitor your SSD health: CrystalDiskInfo (free) shows total host writes, temperature, and overall health percentage. Samsung Magician and Crucial Storage Executive provide similar functionality for their respective brands. Checking these values periodically lets you catch abnormal write accumulation early.
• Keep at least 20% free space on your SSD: A nearly full SSD forces the controller to do more garbage collection and wear leveling, amplifying the effective write load per operation.

Understanding SSD Endurance: TBW Explained

TBW stands for Total Bytes Written and represents the total amount of data a manufacturer guarantees can be written to an SSD before cells begin to degrade. A 1 TB drive rated at 600 TBW can theoretically have 600 terabytes of data written to it over its lifetime. Most consumer warranties are dual-limited: a time period (typically 3-5 years) or a TBW ceiling, whichever is reached first.

In practice, the average gamer writes far less than the rated TBW over the life of a drive. Daily write volumes for typical gaming and general use range between 20-50 GB. At 50 GB per day, a 600 TBW drive would last approximately 33 years in theory. The concern with Windrose was that a single game could compress years of normal wear into weeks or months of heavy play.

It is also important to understand write amplification. The TBW figure manufacturers publish typically accounts for a standard amplification factor, but sustained small random writes (exactly the pattern RocksDB produced in Windrose) can push real amplification well beyond that baseline, especially on QLC drives. This means the effective endurance consumed may be higher than what a simple bytes-written calculation suggests.

Is Windrose Still Worth Playing?

Absolutely. With the SSD issue largely resolved, Windrose remains one of the strongest Early Access survival games of 2026. Its pirate-era setting, procedurally generated open world with over 100 hand-crafted points of interest, souls-lite combat system, and up-to-8-player co-op support make it a standout in a crowded genre. The game requires 30 GB of storage and recommends an SSD for smooth performance, as noted on its Steam page.

Kraken Express has committed to a 1.5 to 2.5 year Early Access roadmap, with roughly 50% more content planned for the full release including new biomes, bosses, enemies, and ships. The developer’s rapid response to the SSD crisis, deploying a substantial fix within eight days of the issue gaining widespread attention, is a positive signal for ongoing support quality.

Post-patch write levels are still somewhat higher than typical survival games, but they are no longer in the range that should worry owners of modern SSDs. If you are running a QLC drive or an older SSD, the junction-to-HDD or RAM disk workarounds described above provide extra peace of mind.

Questions Players Are Still Asking

Will Windrose kill my SSD after the patch?

For modern TLC NVMe or SATA SSDs, no. Post-patch write rates of 10-16 MB/s during sailing (the heaviest scenario) are well within normal operating parameters. QLC drives or SSDs already near their rated TBW limit should still be monitored, but the risk is now minimal for the vast majority of hardware.

Do I need to do anything after updating?

No. Simply updating Windrose through Steam applies the fix automatically. No manual configuration changes are required. The optional save-file relocation methods above are extra precautions, not necessities.

Where are Windrose save files stored?

By default, save files are located at C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\R5\Saved\SaveProfiles. This is typically your system SSD regardless of where the game itself is installed. If you want to redirect writes away from your system drive, use the junction link method described in the protection section.

Can I change the RocksDB settings myself?

No. According to community analysis, the RocksDB OPTIONS files in the save folder are overwritten every time the game opens the database. Editing them manually has no lasting effect because the game supplies its own configuration values in code. Any meaningful changes to the persistence layer must come from the developer.

How do I check how much data has been written to my SSD?

Download CrystalDiskInfo (free) and open it. It displays Total Host Writes, drive temperature, and an overall health percentage for every connected storage device. Samsung users can also use Samsung Magician, Crucial users can use Storage Executive, and Western Digital users can use the WD Dashboard utility.

Microsoft’s internal “Windows K2” initiative is overhauling Windows 11 with a focus on performance, reliability, and design. The project targets a 60% faster Start menu, SteamOS-level gaming performance, ad removal, and drastically reduced bloat through 2027.

Microsoft assembled an internal initiative codenamed “Windows K2” in the second half of 2025, and it is the most significant quality-focused effort the company has made for Windows 11 since launch. K2 is not a new version of Windows or a feature update. It is an ongoing program designed to address the biggest complaints users have about Windows 11 today, from sluggish performance and AI bloat to unreliable updates and advertising baked into the Start menu. Changes are already shipping through the Windows Insider Programme, with broader rollouts expected through summer 2026 and into 2027.

The Three Pillars: Performance, Craft, and Reliability

Windows K2 is built around three core pillars that directly map to the most common user frustrations. Performance addresses the fact that Windows 10 still outperforms Windows 11 in certain benchmarks. Craft tackles the UI inconsistencies, missing customisation options, and design clutter that have plagued the OS since 2021. Reliability focuses on reducing crashes, update-related disruptions, and driver instability.

A lesser-known fourth pillar, Community, signals Microsoft’s intention to rebuild trust with enthusiasts. Windows Insider meetups are returning, and team members are being assigned to respond directly to feedback on social media and forums. Internally, the culture has shifted away from shipping fast at all costs. New features are no longer allowed near public preview builds until they meet a significantly higher internal quality bar, according to Windows Central’s sources.

A Start Menu Rebuilt From Scratch

The Start menu is being completely rebuilt using Microsoft’s modern WinUI 3 framework. According to Windows Central, the new version will be up to 60% faster and more responsive than the current one. Users will gain the ability to resize it and hide entire sections, restoring a level of control that has been absent since Windows 11 launched.

Microsoft is also removing ads from the Start menu entirely. The company has acknowledged this is a genuine financial sacrifice, but the K2 team views it as essential for rebuilding user trust. The MSN-dominated Widgets Board is being restructured too: MSN will become a secondary feature rather than the default content hub, part of a broader push against what critics have called the “enshittification” of the Windows experience.

File Explorer Finally Gets the Speed It Needs

File Explorer has been one of Windows 11’s weakest points. Under K2, it is receiving major performance improvements including faster file navigation, quicker processing, and a new capability called “instant filename search” that aims to deliver results immediately rather than relying on slow indexing. Microsoft is using a third-party application called File Pilot as its performance benchmark for these improvements.

Context menus, which have been notoriously slow in Windows 11 compared to their Windows 10 equivalents, are also being addressed. A new System Compositor for WinUI 3 will reduce latency and memory overhead across the entire UI layer, ensuring elements like the Start menu and Taskbar remain responsive even under heavy system load.

Gaming: SteamOS Is Now the Benchmark

For gamers, the most exciting part of K2 is Microsoft’s decision to treat SteamOS as a direct performance benchmark. The company believes that within one to two years, Windows 11 gaming performance will be comparable to SteamOS on identical hardware, thanks to foundational platform changes shipping in the coming months. This is a remarkable admission: Valve’s Linux-based OS, which powers the Steam Deck, has proven that a leaner system can deliver meaningfully better gaming experiences on the same hardware.

The gaming optimisation work includes reducing background process overhead during gameplay, improving driver coordination with OEM partners, cutting shell latency, and streamlining game mode behaviour. These changes are also strategically important for Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox console, Project Helix, which will run Windows 11 with an Xbox Mode interface and natively support both Xbox and PC games. GamerMarkt’s detailed Xbox Project Helix breakdown explores how this PC-console hybrid further blurs the line between the two platforms.

Less AI Bloat, More User Control

Windows 11’s aggressive AI integration has been one of its most divisive features. Copilot entry points were pushed into Notepad, Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets, and even the taskbar. Under K2, Microsoft is pulling back. Unnecessary Copilot integration points are being removed from apps, and AI features are becoming optional rather than default. The AI agents recently added to the taskbar are being scaled back or made entirely opt-in.

This does not mean Microsoft is abandoning AI. Rather, the company is learning that AI cannot be the answer to every Windows complaint. The K2 approach repositions AI as a useful layer rather than the operating system’s main character, a shift that should make Windows feel less like a Copilot billboard and more like a platform that uses intelligence where it genuinely helps.

Debloating Windows 11 for Real

Microsoft is making a concerted effort to reduce Windows 11’s idle memory footprint and overall storage size. This matters especially for low-end hardware and gaming handhelds, where every megabyte of RAM and every background process counts. The company is targeting optimisations specifically for systems with 8 GB of RAM, a configuration that has struggled with Windows 11’s resource demands.

For gamers who play on budget hardware, this could be transformative. A lighter OS means more resources available for games. If you are already looking for titles that run well on modest specs, GamerMarkt’s guide to the best low-spec PC games in 2026 covers what is worth playing right now.

Updates That Stop Getting in the Way

Windows Update has been a persistent source of frustration. K2’s goal is to make Windows 11 reliable enough that a restart is only necessary once a month. Display and audio drivers will be updated only at restart time rather than during active use, eliminating the mid-session slowdowns that have disrupted gaming sessions and video calls.

Users will be able to shut down or restart their PCs without installing pending updates, even if those updates have already been downloaded. Update pausing is being extended, and users will gain the ability to selectively install only critical hardware drivers while deferring everything else. These are practical, quality-of-life changes that address real daily frustrations.

The Taskbar Is Finally Customisable Again

One of Windows 11’s most requested features is returning: the ability to move and resize the Taskbar. Users will once again be able to position it on any edge of the screen (top, bottom, left, or right) and choose a smaller Taskbar option. This restoration of user agency is a symbolic centrepiece of the K2 initiative, signalling that Microsoft is listening to how people actually use their PCs rather than dictating a one-size-fits-all layout.

What Players and Power Users Are Asking

Is K2 the same as Windows 12?

No. Windows K2 is not a new version of Windows. It is an internal quality initiative that will deliver improvements through regular Windows 11 updates. There is no separate download or upgrade required. The name reportedly comes from K2, the mountain, reflecting Microsoft’s view that fixing Windows while people are still using it is its hardest challenge.

When will K2 changes reach regular users?

Some changes are already shipping through Windows Insider builds. The rebuilt Start menu, File Explorer improvements, and gaming optimisations are among the first features expected to reach the general public. Broader rollouts will continue through summer 2026 and into 2027. The full release of Windows 11 26H2 is expected by late 2026.

Should Windows 10 users upgrade now?

Windows 10 reached end of life in October 2025 and no longer receives security updates. The K2 improvements give Windows 10 holdouts a strong reason to make the switch, especially as features like Xbox Mode are exclusive to Windows 11. By late 2026, the OS should feel noticeably faster and cleaner than it does today.

Will gaming handhelds benefit?

Yes. A significant part of K2’s work is aimed at making Windows 11 run better on portable gaming devices. Reduced idle memory consumption, lower storage footprint, better sleep and resume reliability, and controller-first navigation improvements all target the handheld gaming market where SteamOS has held an advantage.

The Bigger Picture: A Culture Change at Microsoft

The most important thing about Windows K2 might not be any single feature. It is the internal culture shift driving it. For years, Windows teams prioritised shipping new features as quickly as possible. Agility was king, and the result was an operating system that never stood still but constantly felt unfinished. K2 replaces the obsession with speed with an obsession with quality.

Microsoft is also being unusually transparent about its shortcomings. Internal documentation viewed by Windows Central confirms the company knows File Explorer is slower than Windows 10, that gaming performance has regressed, and that AI features were pushed at the expense of fundamentals. Acknowledging these problems publicly is a necessary first step, but execution will determine whether K2 becomes the turning point Windows 11 desperately needs or another promise that falls short.

By focusing on performance, reliability, and genuine user experience rather than AI integrations and advertising revenue, Microsoft is making a clear statement: Windows 11 is here to stay, and it is going to get significantly better. For gamers, the SteamOS benchmark, Xbox Mode integration, and reduced system overhead could finally make Windows 11 the platform it should have been from the start.