Current State Archives

Winsage

March 22, 2026

Trust But Verify ⭐️

Pavan Davuluri has been appointed as the new leader of Windows development at Microsoft. The company has committed to enhancing the quality of Windows through 2026. Davuluri's recent blog post, primarily directed at Windows Insider Program participants, lacks an apology for past customer grievances and does not address several critical issues, including forced telemetry, bundled software, chaotic updates, forced Microsoft account sign-ins, and the mandatory use of Microsoft Edge. While he mentions plans to improve Windows Update and acknowledges the need for better reliability and transparency in the Windows Insider Program, many concerns remain unaddressed. The introduction of Copilot and its integration into Windows will continue, but users have expressed frustration over its implementation. Davuluri's approach to improving performance through the WinUI3 framework is met with skepticism.

AppWizard

March 20, 2026

Zelensky Says Ukraine Targeting Kremlin-Backed Messaging App Max

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine is working to penetrate Max, a messaging app backed by the Russian state, amid restrictions on platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp imposed by Russia's media regulator, Roskomnadzor. He noted that both Ukrainian and Russian intelligence agencies use Telegram for recruitment and influencing public perception regarding the conflict. Reports indicate access issues with Telegram in Russia, suggesting a possible government blockade ahead of a crackdown next month. Access to Max is limited to Russian citizens with domestic phone numbers and users from "friendly" countries, reflecting the government's control over information flow.

Winsage

March 18, 2026

Microsoft appears to be dumping native Copilot for Windows 11 in favour of web wrapper yet again

The latest update for Copilot has transformed it into a WebView-based application, marking it as a hybrid app rather than fully native. The new Copilot (version 146.0.3856.63) operates as a web application, evidenced by multiple sub-processes in the Task Manager that are characteristic of Microsoft Edge. The version number of Copilot aligns closely with that of Microsoft Edge. The revamped Copilot functions as a web app within a desktop shell but loads content from copilot.microsoft.com. Despite its web-based nature, it performs comparably to its native predecessor and launches more quickly. Microsoft had previously announced a "native" version of Copilot, which was misleading as it still relied on web components. In 2025, Microsoft began distributing a truly native Copilot app, free of web components, which started in March 2025. However, the Copilot has now reverted to a web-based format for users in the Windows Insider Program, with plans to extend this change to non-Insiders soon.

Winsage

March 6, 2026

A buggy Windows 11 update locked my Xbox Ally X for 12 hours

The author experienced frustration with the Xbox Ally X handheld, which, despite its impressive hardware, feels unfinished and struggles due to limitations of Windows 11. An update intended for the device led to a critical failure, displaying a message that the device couldn't be repaired, potentially due to corrupted boot files from the update. This incident raises concerns about the reliability of future Xbox devices built on PC architecture, especially if simple updates can result in system failures.

Winsage

March 6, 2026

Broken Windows: How Microsoft Loses Its AI Premium

As of March 6, 2026, Microsoft is facing significant challenges, including a quarterly expenditure of .5 billion on data centers and chips, and a decline in cloud margins from 70% to 67%. The adoption rate for its AI assistant, Copilot, is only 3.3%, raising concerns about its future revenue. Additionally, Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI is under scrutiny due to projected losses of billion for OpenAI this year. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is expected to increase operational costs for Azure due to rising energy prices and potential shipping delays for server components. If growth slows and margins continue to decline, Microsoft's stock could drop to around per share based on historical valuation averages. The Trefis High Quality Portfolio has outperformed major benchmarks with returns exceeding 105% since its inception, emphasizing the benefits of a diversified investment strategy over individual stocks.

AppWizard

February 23, 2026

New report says older games like CS2 and League of Legends take up 35% of PC playtime, but Roblox reigns supreme

The gaming industry is experiencing significant changes, with a few major titles dominating player engagement. The "big five" PC games—Counter-Strike, Fortnite, Minecraft, League of Legends, and Roblox—account for 35% of player hours, while older titles make up about 10%. In 2025, newly released games, including annual franchises like Call of Duty, represented only 14% of player hours on Steam. A large portion of PC gamers, 45%, engage with games that are one to seven years old, and 41% play titles that are eight years or older. Despite challenges, industry revenue has been maintained or grown through price increases rather than expanding the player base. Roblox has emerged as a significant market driver, representing over 4.5% of non-China spending and accounting for 67% of net growth in 2025. Developers on Roblox are earning over 0 million annually, with a 70% year-on-year growth. Titles like Grow a Garden have surpassed engagement metrics for Blizzard's games, and others have outperformed Valve's Dota 2. The anticipated release of GTA 6 could signal a new era, although its 2026 launch is uncertain.

AppWizard

February 1, 2026

Steam Opens the Gates: Four Major PC Games Are Free to Play This Weekend

Steam is currently offering free access to four PC games: Fallout 76, Deep Rock Galactic, Dead by Daylight, and Grounded 2. The free access for Deep Rock Galactic, Dead by Daylight, and Grounded 2 lasts until February 2, while Fallout 76 is available for free until February 5. After the promotional period, players will need to purchase the games to retain access. Discounts are available for those interested in buying: Fallout 76 is 80% off, Dead by Daylight is 60% off, and Deep Rock Galactic is 70% off. Grounded 2 is not included in the discount promotion.

Winsage

January 30, 2026

Windows 8 had a 30-second ad with more creativity than all of Microsoft’s Copilot-heavy Windows 11 marketing

In 2025, users reported over 20 issues with Windows 11, leading to dissatisfaction reminiscent of past criticisms of Windows Vista and Windows 8. The original Windows 8 promotional campaign effectively highlighted its features through engaging marketing, contrasting with recent Copilot ads that faced backlash for showcasing the AI's limitations. Microsoft has shifted its focus towards AI integration, particularly with Copilot, despite negative feedback from users and developers regarding its effectiveness. Historically, Microsoft responded to Windows 8's challenges by releasing Windows 8.1, which addressed user concerns and improved functionality. A similar update, Windows 11.1, could help restore user confidence and improve the overall experience with Windows 11.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

PS2Recomp: Porting PlayStation 2 Games to PC

Software developer ran-j (Ranieri) has announced a project called PS2Recomp, which aims to recompile PlayStation 2 code for modern platforms like Windows, Linux, and potentially Android. The project is open-source and available on GitHub for developers and gamers to contribute. PS2Recomp is inspired by the N64Recomp initiative and seeks to address challenges in current PS2 emulation, such as high power demands and graphical glitches. The focus is on PC development, and while no playable games are available yet, updates will be shared regularly.

AppWizard

January 19, 2026

One dedicated fan remakes Sonic the Hedgehog’s weirdest game for PC, and it’s my childhood dream come true

Sonic and the Black Knight is a Wii exclusive game that features Sonic as a knight in a medieval setting. A fan-driven project called Project Reforged, developed by 'Besky,' aims to reimagine the game for PC, enhancing gameplay and introducing new features like a parry mechanic. The alpha demo is currently available for players, featuring the Misty Lake zone, five stages, and two bosses, including King Arthur and Sir Galahad. The mod is free to download, though it may have bugs and incomplete features.