Microsoft is raising US Xbox console prices yet again
Microsoft has announced that the price of Xbox Series S and Series X consoles is due to increase next month. This is the second time this year that the company has raised prices and the jump from the initial launch prices are quite extreme.
A 512GB Xbox Series S console is now a massive 25 percent more expensive than when it first went on sale – up from $300 in 2020, through $380 earlier this year, up to $400. For now, the price changes on impact the US.
Microsoft brings AI to the Game Bar with Gaming Copilot
It seems that nothing is immune to being injected with AI – certainly not if Microsoft is involved. Now the company is bringing Gaming Copilot to the Game Bar.
Currently in beta testing, Gaming Copilot is now available in Game Bar for Windows PC for Xbox Insiders enrolled in the PC Gaming Preview. The arrival of Copilot in another Microsoft tool is far from being surprising, but just what does this mean for gamers?
NVIDIA will support Windows 10 into late 2026
NVIDIA has answered a question that many people have been mulling over. It is now very well known that Windows 10 reaches the end of its life in October this year – although there is the option of extending support for up to year. But what of the software that runs on Windows 10?
Some companies – including Microsoft – have indicated when some of their software will no longer be supported on Windows 10, and now NVIDIA has shared some important information. The company has revealed to gamers how it intends to handle support for Windows 10 Game Ready drivers.
Microsoft tests unifying gaming libraries across devices
Microsoft has new options for gamers signed up to the Xbox Insider program looking for more from their gaming libraries. In addition to a cross-device play history that can be accessed from Windows and Xbox, there is also a significant update to the Xbox PC app.
Following an earlier library update, Microsoft says that it remains committed to making it “the go-to destination for your games” by adding cloud-playable console titles to the Xbox PC app.
Why mixed reality is the next big leap for gaming
Gaming has never been isolated from the prevailing technology. Whether it was the 8-bit consoles of the 1980s or the open, immersive worlds of today, every generation of gamers has experienced a change in the way games are played, viewed and experienced.
In 2025, another frontier is being opened up-one that may change not only the way we play, but where and with whom. Mixed Reality (MR) is quickly proving itself to be more than a fad, but rather the next significant step in gaming.
Microsoft announces another round of layoffs as it plows money into AI
Microsoft plans to further reduce its global workforce, having already trimmed back on employee numbers several times this year.
The company is yet to provide exact details of the number of people affected by the latest round of layoffs, and it has also not revealed which divisions are to be hit. Microsoft has confirmed, however, that the cutbacks represent less than 4 percent of its workforce, leading to estimates of around 9,000 layoffs.
Silicon Power launches Inspire microSDXC card
When it comes to capturing high-res video or running games on portable devices, storage performance can often be the deciding factor between smooth success and frustrating failure. Silicon Power is looking to give creators and gamers a reliable solution with the launch of its all-new Inspire microSDXC card.
The Inspire card is available in four capacities -- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. The company says this card can hit maximum read speeds of up to 170MB/s. Write speeds will vary by model, with the 1TB version reaching up to 160MB/s and the 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities topping out at 150MB/s.
Meta finally updates Messenger to allow sharing larger files
Despite the popularity of WhatsApp and other messaging apps, Meta’s Messenger (or Facebook Messenger) maintains an incredibly healthy userbase. Millions of people continue to use this stalwart of social messaging even though it has various limitations when compared to its rivals.
But Meta has just addressed an issue that has irked users for a long time: the size of file attachments. For far too long, a file size limit of 10MB has been in place -- a limit that is way out of line with modern file sizes (although it was higher for some users). Now it has been increased.
Microsoft makes a browser-based, AI-generated version of Quake II to promote Copilot -- play it now!
Continually seeking new ways to make Copilot seem appealing, Microsoft has turned to retro gaming as a lure. The company has released a browser-based version of Quake II to serve as a Copilot Gaming Experiences demonstration of AI capabilities.
Microsoft has married its own Research lab’s MuseWorld and Human Action Model (WHAM) to show some of the different powers of generative AI. The company says that “by generating gameplay in real time, the underlying Muse shows how classic games like Quake II can be reimagined through modern AI techniques”. But what will matter to most people is that it is available to try out now, for free.
CS2 trade: Best practices for buying and selling in-game skins
Counter-Strike 2 has built on the legacy of its predecessors and maintained a competitive gaming experience while expanding the in-game economy. Trading skins has become an essential part of the community that allows players to personalize their loadouts and even earn money through smart investments. The value fluctuates based on demand, rarity, and market trends, which makes trading exciting and profitable.
Skins are more than just cosmetics; they represent status, strategy, and financial opportunity. Some items have become legendary, with prices reaching thousands of dollars. The rise of trading has had a significant impact on the game’s economy and has led to the creation of secure marketplaces and tools that assist players in making informed transactions. Understanding the mechanics of the cs2 trade is essential for anyone looking to buy or sell skins safely and efficiently.
PNY CS2342 M.2 2230 NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD delivers fast speeds in a tiny package
PNY has announced its latest solid state drive -- the diminutive CS2342. This M.2 2230 NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD is impressively fast, with read speeds hitting up to 7,300MB/s and write speeds reaching 6,000MB/s.
Available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, the CS2342 is primarily designed for gamers looking to upgrade devices like the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, or MSI Claw. With that said, it’s not only compatible with gaming handhelds -- this drive will technically also work in laptops and desktops.
Silicon Power Endura SSDs promise speeds up to 7000MB/s -- but where’s PCIe 5.0?
Silicon Power has announced its latest lineup of solid state drives, the Endura series, featuring four new models: E55, E60, ED90, and ES75. Built with 3D TLC NAND, these SSDs offer a mix of performance and reliability for different types of users. But here’s the thing -- there’s no PCIe 5.0 option. In 2025, that’s a tad surprising.
The E55 is the entry-level model, a meager 2.5-inch SATA III SSD. It comes in sizes from 512GB to 2TB and delivers read speeds up to 500MB/s and write speeds up to 450MB/s. If you’re still running a mechanical hard drive, this is an obvious upgrade.
CrossOver 25 makes gaming on macOS and Linux even better -- could it help gamers ditch Windows 11?
CodeWeavers has just released CrossOver 25 for macOS and Linux, and it’s packed with some seriously awesome improvements. Thanks to Wine 10.0 bringing over 5,000 changes, this update should make running both Windows games and apps on non-Windows systems smoother than ever. Could this finally convince gamers to dump Microsoft's OS?
Let’s be honest, Windows 11 hasn’t exactly won over everyone. Between forced updates, hardware restrictions, and Microsoft’s annoying obsession with AI features (that most people don’t even want), it has left many gamers looking for alternatives. That’s where CrossOver 25 comes in.
Transcend unveils the MTE255S PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe SSD
Transcend has launched a new solid state drive that is largely unremarkable. Called “MTE255S,” it features a PCIe Gen4 x4 interface and reaches read speeds of up to 7,400MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,500MB/s. While this performance is hardly the best on the market, it is still quite respectable.
With 1TB and 2TB storage options, the MTE255S comes equipped with a graphene heatsink to assist in cooling.Transcend includes LDPC error correction, though this model sadly lacks a DRAM cache and RAID engine -- something to strongly consider if you need sustained high-speed writes.
Samsung 9100 PRO SSD delivers insane PCIe 5.0 speeds
If you thought solid state drive manufacturers were going to be slowing down their progress, you should think again. Today, Samsung unveils its 9100 PRO series, and it’s insanely fast. Using PCIe 5.0, it achieves up to 14,800 MB/s read and 13,400 MB/s write speeds! That’s twice as fast as its predecessor. So, yeah, this is a pretty big deal.
There are two variants of the SSD -- the standard 9100 PRO and a version with a heatsink for better cooling. Samsung has equipped these drives with a power-efficient 5nm controller, reducing energy use by nearly 50 percent. Impressively, random read/write speeds can hit 2,200K/2,600K IOPS.
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