Stay updated with the latest in technology, global innovations, and key economic trends. From AI breakthroughs to global energy market insights, we bring you the news that matters.
Microsoft to Launch Xbox Mode for a Console-Like PC Experience.
Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
-
Microsoft Unveils "Xbox Mode" for Windows 11: A Seamless Fullscreen Console Experience for PC
Microsoft has officially announced the upcoming launch of "Xbox Mode" for Windows 11, scheduled for release in April 2026. This new feature provides a dedicated gaming interface similar to the "Fullscreen Experience" pioneered by the ROG Xbox Ally.
The Controller-First Interface
Xbox Mode is designed to transform the Windows desktop into a distraction-free, immersive gaming environment. Key highlights include:
Optimized for Controllers: The entire UI is built for seamless navigation using a gamepad.
Universal Compatibility: It will be available across all Windows 11 devices, including laptops, desktops, and tablets.
Staged Rollout: Initially, Xbox Mode will launch in select markets, with specific regions yet to be announced by Microsoft.
New PC Gaming Developer Tools
In addition to the UI overhaul, Microsoft introduced several cutting-edge features to enhance PC game development:
Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD): Aimed at eliminating "stutter" in games. After a successful debut on the ROG Xbox Ally last year, it is now being opened to all developers.
DirectStorage Enhancements: Now supports Zstandard compression and introduces the Game Asset Conditioning Library, allowing developers to set specific compression rules for different game assets.
DirectX Machine Learning (ML): New features to accelerate hardware-based ML processing, enabling developers to embed custom AI models directly into their games.
GPU Stability Tools: The introduction of DirectX Dump Files for capturing GPU crash states and updates to PIX (DirectX debugger), including the new Tile Mappings Viewer.
The introduction of Xbox Mode is a direct answer to the popularity of handheld PCs (such as the ROG Ally and Steam Deck). Microsoft wants Windows 11 to be more keyboard-friendly for machines without keyboards, reducing the burden on the operating system that comes with a regular desktop, so that resources can be fully allocated to games.
Stuttering during shader compilation is a chronic problem in PC games. Enabling ASD (Actions Manual Send and Write) will help Windows games run smoother, closer to console games, a key factor in making PC gameplay feel as stable as Xbox Series X.
The addition of ML (Machine Learning) features in DirectX reflects the era of AI-Generated Content in games. Developers will be able to use AI to create fresh dialogue or adjust NPC behavior to be smarter in real-time, relying on the PC's processing power.
This is about drawing more Windows users into the Xbox universe. Having Xbox Mode readily available upon startup will blur the lines between PC and console, which will significantly boost PC Game Pass subscriptions.
Ask me anything about this article. No data is stored for your question.
Microsoft Unveils "Xbox Mode" for Windows 11: A Seamless Fullscreen Console Experience for PC
Microsoft has officially announced the upcoming launch of "Xbox Mode" for Windows 11, scheduled for release in April 2026. This new feature provides a dedicated gaming interface similar to the "Fullscreen Experience" pioneered by the ROG Xbox Ally.
The Controller-First Interface
Xbox Mode is designed to transform the Windows desktop into a distraction-free, immersive gaming environment. Key highlights include:
Optimized for Controllers: The entire UI is built for seamless navigation using a gamepad.
Universal Compatibility: It will be available across all Windows 11 devices, including laptops, desktops, and tablets.
Staged Rollout: Initially, Xbox Mode will launch in select markets, with specific regions yet to be announced by Microsoft.
New PC Gaming Developer Tools
In addition to the UI overhaul, Microsoft introduced several cutting-edge features to enhance PC game development:
Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD): Aimed at eliminating "stutter" in games. After a successful debut on the ROG Xbox Ally last year, it is now being opened to all developers.
DirectStorage Enhancements: Now supports Zstandard compression and introduces the Game Asset Conditioning Library, allowing developers to set specific compression rules for different game assets.
DirectX Machine Learning (ML): New features to accelerate hardware-based ML processing, enabling developers to embed custom AI models directly into their games.
GPU Stability Tools: The introduction of DirectX Dump Files for capturing GPU crash states and updates to PIX (DirectX debugger), including the new Tile Mappings Viewer.
The introduction of Xbox Mode is a direct answer to the popularity of handheld PCs (such as the ROG Ally and Steam Deck). Microsoft wants Windows 11 to be more keyboard-friendly for machines without keyboards, reducing the burden on the operating system that comes with a regular desktop, so that resources can be fully allocated to games.
Stuttering during shader compilation is a chronic problem in PC games. Enabling ASD (Actions Manual Send and Write) will help Windows games run smoother, closer to console games, a key factor in making PC gameplay feel as stable as Xbox Series X.
The addition of ML (Machine Learning) features in DirectX reflects the era of AI-Generated Content in games. Developers will be able to use AI to create fresh dialogue or adjust NPC behavior to be smarter in real-time, relying on the PC's processing power.
This is about drawing more Windows users into the Xbox universe. Having Xbox Mode readily available upon startup will blur the lines between PC and console, which will significantly boost PC Game Pass subscriptions.
Amazon Q1 2026: Revenue Surges 28% as AWS and Advertising Drive Massive Gains Amazon.com, Inc. has reported a powerful performance for the first quarter of 2026, with total revenue climbing 28% year-over-year to $181,519 million . The e-commerce and technology giant also saw its net income soar to $30,255 million , reflecting strong operational efficiency and the continued success of its high-margin segments. Growth Engines: Cloud and Advertising The company’s growth remains anchored by its two most profitable divisions: AWS (Amazon Web Services): Revenue reached $37,587 million , a 28% increase . This growth highlights the sustained demand for cloud infrastructure as businesses transition more workloads to the cloud. Advertising Services: This segment continues its rapid expansion, generating $17,243 million in revenue, up 24% from the previous year. The $200 Billion AI Vision During the earnings call, CEO Andy Jassy reaffirmed Amazon's commitment to the AI revolution by m...
GitHub Copilot Overhauls Pricing: Moving to a Token-Based "Credit" System Following last week’s surprise announcement regarding a temporary freeze on new GitHub Copilot customer onboarding, GitHub has officially unveiled a complete overhaul of its AI pricing model. The platform is moving away from its previous "Request-Based" system in favor of a more granular, usage-based model powered by GitHub AI Credits . From PRUs to Token-Based Credits Previously, GitHub Copilot utilized Premium Request Units (PRUs) , which applied different multipliers based on the model used. However, this structure had a significant flaw: simple conversational queries and complex, long-running coding tasks were often treated as a single "request." While this made Copilot an attractive, budget-friendly alternative to token-based competitors, it created scaling challenges for GitHub’s backend. Starting June 1, 2026 , the new system will: Account for Every Token: Usage will be me...
Beijing Blocks Meta $2 Billion Acquisition of AI Startup "Manus" In a significant move highlighting the escalating technological rivalry between Washington and Beijing, China National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has officially blocked Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of the Singapore-based AI agent startup, Manus AI . The Intervention: A Major Regulatory Blow The NDRC has issued a formal order requiring both Meta and the relevant parties to "unwind" the transaction. While the commission cited compliance with "laws and regulations" as the basis for the decision, the move is widely viewed by industry analysts as a strategic effort by Beijing to prevent the "hollowing out" of China’s domestic AI innovation base. The "Manus" Story: From China to Singapore Manus AI, initially developed by the Beijing-based startup Butterfly Effect , gained global prominence in early 2025 as a breakthrough "action engine." Unlike tradit...
Mitchell Hashimoto Departs GitHub : Why the Creator of Ghostty is Moving Away Mitchell Hashimoto , the renowned software developer and creator of the popular open-source terminal emulator Ghostty , has announced that he will be migrating the project’s source code away from GitHub. This marks a significant departure for a developer who has been an integral part of the GitHub community since its earliest days. The "Breaking Point" Hashimoto, who joined GitHub in February 2008 as user #1299 , has been a daily active user for nearly two decades. However, he cites a growing frustration with GitHub’s reliability: Unacceptable Downtime: Hashimoto noted that recent service outages have become too frequent, with many lasting for extended periods. Operational Friction: For a project like Ghostty, which demands serious, consistent maintenance, these outages have become a major bottleneck. Hashimoto stated that GitHub no longer feels like a reliable "home" for mission-critica...
Amazon Enters the Desktop AI Race with "Amazon Quick": A New Powerhouse for Enterprise Productivity Amazon has officially launched its dedicated desktop application for Amazon Quick , an AI-powered assistant designed to streamline local and organizational workflows. Similar to competitors like Claude Cowork and Openclaw , Amazon Quick functions as an integrated co-pilot that manages files, calendars, emails, and more directly within the operating system. The Shift to Desktop While Amazon Quick debuted in October 2025 as a browser-based service, the move to a desktop app signifies a strategic push to capture the "on-device" workspace. This follows a growing industry trend of AI assistants moving closer to the user’s core OS, a space also recently targeted by the new Google Search Desktop app. Enterprise-Grade Intelligence Amazon Quick is primarily positioned for corporate and enterprise users. Its standout feature is its ability to perform advanced grounding anal...
GitHub CTO Issues Apology After Multiple Outages, Citing "The AI-Driven Coding Explosion" Vladimir Fedorov , Chief Technology Officer at GitHub , has formally apologized to the developer community following a series of service instabilities that saw the platform suffer two major outages within a single week. These incidents have raised significant concerns among top-tier developers, notably leading to the creator of Ghostty announcing a migration away from the platform. The Anatomy of the Outages The platform faced two distinct technical failures: April 23: A failure in the merge queue system disrupted repositories and hampered merge requests. April 27: A major search functionality outage triggered by a crash in the Elasticsearch infrastructure. The "AI Impact": A 30x Capacity Challenge Fedorov explained that the root cause lies in a fundamental shift in how software is developed. The rise of AI-powered coding assistants has led to an unprecedented surge in pl...
Beyond Vending Machines: Anthropic "Project Deal" Explores the World of AI-Led Negotiations Anthropic has unveiled the findings from its latest internal experiment, Project Deal , which pushes the boundaries of AI agency. Building on Project Vend where Claude models managed automated vending machines this new study investigated whether AI agents could successfully negotiate the buying and selling of goods on behalf of human users. The Experiment Setup Anthropic recruited 69 employees to participate in a simulated marketplace: Digital Twins: Each participant received a $100 digital allowance and completed a personality/interest assessment via Claude. This data was used to create a bespoke "AI Agent" for each employee. Autonomous Trading: The 69 agents were set loose to negotiate trades for secondhand items among their human counterparts. Once an agreement was reached, the participants were required to physically exchange the items and the agreed-upon cash value. ...
Comments
Post a Comment