Pressing F7 in the Command Prompt displays a pop-up with a numbered list of recently executed commands, allowing users to select and execute commands quickly without retyping. This feature, introduced in MS-DOS 5.0 through DOSKEY.exe, has been integrated into Windows since the early 1990s. Users can navigate the command list with the Up and Down arrow keys and execute a command by pressing Enter. The command history is session-specific and is lost when the window is closed. The F7 feature provides a visual overview of commands, enhancing efficiency compared to repeatedly pressing the Up Arrow key. However, it does not retain command history between sessions or offer advanced features found in modern shells like PowerShell.
The Pixel Watch 5 has been spotted in the Google Health app, indicating an upcoming launch. It appears as a selectable device and prompts users to connect it to their Google Health account. The visuals for the Pixel Watch 5 are similar to those of the Pixel Watch 4, suggesting a shared design. Google is set to hold a hardware event on August 12, where the Pixel Watch 5 will be featured alongside the Pixel 11 series. The smartwatch is expected to come in 41mm and 45mm sizes with Wi-Fi and LTE options. A listing on the Google Play Console suggests an upgrade in RAM from 2GB to 3GB, while the CPU and GPU configurations will remain the same as previous models.
Cyan Worlds, the developer of the iconic game Myst, laid off approximately half of its workforce in 2025 due to financial struggles. In the same year, they developed a prototype for a new Myst game, codenamed Project Anglerfish, but the project is not currently in development due to a lack of interest from publishers. A teaser for the game was released, generating mixed reactions from fans who expressed disappointment over its cancellation while also showing a strong desire for a continuation of the Myst legacy. Despite the challenges in the current gaming landscape, there remains a dedicated audience for a new Myst experience, and Cyan has previously found success with crowdfunding for other projects.
- Endacopia: A point-and-click horror game inspired by 90s edutainment software.
- Broken Reality 2000: A first-person puzzle-platforming adventure set in a Y2K-themed metaverse.
- Plum Road Tea Dream: A semi-autobiographical journey of a queer POC developer through seven distinct graphical worlds.
- Moon Crashers: A game where players gather resources to build an escape rocket after crash-landing on the moon.
- Forsaken Realms: Vahrin's Call: A third-person fantasy adventure set in a beleaguered city.
- Kinny and the Cosmic Cauldron: A roguelike deckbuilder where players create soups for eldritch clientele.
- Dissolution of the Silent Union: A narrative with gloomy anime aesthetics and themes of decay.
- Orbital Hell: A hallucinatory score-attacker game battling geometric boglins.
- Désorienté: A narrative-driven experience set in a violent world with intestines as currency.
- CipherMind: A battle royale detective game for eight players in a concrete labyrinth.
- Lunarium: An action-RPG featuring a knight and a floating sorceress.
- Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand: A strategic spin-off involving tactical gameplay against waves of enemies.
- Joy Malignant: A dice-based RPG set in a city filled with despair.
- Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?!: A humorous isekai game featuring a truck driver.
- Outfield: An exploration of agricultural growth and its implications.
- Olga: A cozy adventure game without combat.
- Legacy of Sail: A nostalgic real-time naval tactics game.
- Culdcept The First: A modern adaptation of a board/card game fusion.
- Mistfall Hunter: A PvPvE extraction RPG.
- Turnip Mountain: A 2D climbing simulator in a whimsical world.
- Signy & Mino: Against All Gods: A side-scrolling RPG featuring a girl and her dog.
- Devil's Hand: A card game where players form poker hands on a grid.
- Parkside: Decayed Soul Manipulation: A sim shooter set in a dystopian California.
- Cloud Sculptor: A 3D puzzle-platformer where players create sculptures for ghosts.
The HP OMEN brand has rebranded to HyperX, introducing the HyperX OMEN 15 gaming laptop. It features a mid-range NVIDIA RTX 5050 GPU and a 120Hz OLED display. The laptop is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and has 32GB of RAM. It weighs 5.02 lbs and is designed for stationary use with extensive cooling vents. Connectivity options include HDMI, USB-C, and USB-A ports, as well as an Ethernet port. The keyboard has a four-zone RGB backlight, and the audio experience is adequate but may benefit from external speakers. The OLED display achieves a brightness of 503 nits and scores 100% in color accuracy for both P3 and sRGB gamuts. In gaming performance, it averages 47 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at high settings without ray tracing, and can reach up to 111 FPS with NVIDIA's DLSS technology. The specifications include a 15.3" 3K OLED display, 1 TB SSD, and a 70WHrs battery. The pricing strategy has raised questions about its value, especially with recent discounts.
The zombie genre has gained popularity in gaming, with a notable title being Yet Another Zombie Defense HD, which is currently available for free until July 30. This twin-stick shooter features gameplay that involves shooting zombies at night and building defenses during the day. It offers local and online multiplayer options, various weapons and traps, and integrates with Steam Workshop for character customization. The game is a promotional gesture for the upcoming release of Yet Another Zombie Survivors, set to launch on August 20, which will include new enemies and maintain a similar aesthetic.
The retail simulator genre on Steam has gained significant popularity since late 2024, with 14 new titles launched last week. "Mall Together" attracted over 1,000 concurrent players and is notable for allowing players to construct entire shopping malls. PlayWay, a major publisher, released two of last week's titles and has launched four games since July 20, with 474 products listed on Steam. Critics have labeled some titles as shovelware, but PlayWay has also produced successful games like "House Flipper 2." Smaller studios are contributing to the genre, indicating demand for well-crafted retail sims. The top sellers on Steam from July 14-21 included "Counter-Strike 2," "Palworld," and "Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced." "The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu," released on July 15, received nearly 1,500 "mostly positive" reviews.
In August 2026, ten notable video game titles are set to launch on PC:
- Beast of Reincarnation - August 3: An action-RPG by Game Freak featuring real-time and turn-based combat.
- Big Walk - August 4: A co-operative open-world adventure from the creators of Untitled Goose Game.
- Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls - August 6: A fighting game featuring iconic Marvel characters like Spider-Man and Captain America.
- Agefield High: Rock The School - August 12: A spiritual successor to Bully, offering a nostalgic schoolyard experience.
- Hell Let Loose: Vietnam - August 13: A 50v50 player battle game set during the Vietnam War.
- The Sinking City 2 - August 18: A survival-horror sequel with Lovecraftian elements.
- Mortal Shell 2 - August 20: A sequel known for its challenging combat mechanics, with a free demo available on Steam.
- Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 - August 27: Includes re-releases of Metal Gear Solid 4 and Peace Walker.
- Star Wars Zero Company - August 27: An X-COM-style game set during the Clone Wars, featuring Anakin Skywalker.
- Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy - August 27: A prequel exploring an original story in the Plague Tale universe.
Windows 11's 2026 update, version 26H2, enhances the Start menu, Taskbar, and Windows Search.
Taskbar Changes:
- Users can reposition the Taskbar to the top, bottom, left, or right of the screen.
- The interface adapts to the Taskbar's position, with the Start menu and Search opening downward when at the top.
- Vertical Taskbar layouts have an abbreviated year display and lack a seconds option, but support app ungrouping and labels with the "Never combine" setting.
- Users can reduce the Taskbar's size, which will also make icons smaller.
Start Menu Changes:
- Users can select from various size options for the Start menu, though drag-to-resize and full-screen layouts are not available.
- Users can choose which sections ("Pinned," "Recent," and "All") to display.
- A new setting allows users to hide their account name and profile picture while sharing screens.
Search Changes:
- The Search home page emphasizes recent searches and minimizes distractions from trending topics and promotional content.
- Web results are prioritized over products or sponsored content when they are the best match.
- Users can disable web results and Microsoft Store suggestions for a local search experience.
- The ranking system prioritizes local content, ensuring apps, settings, and files appear before web results.
- The Search box height has been increased by four pixels for improved usability.
