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Microsoft is killing 15 products in 2026, including Windows 11 24H2 and Office 2021
Winsage
July 12, 2026

Microsoft is killing 15 products in 2026, including Windows 11 24H2 and Office 2021

Microsoft will discontinue support for several products in 2026, including: 1. Windows 11 24H2 (Home and Pro) - End of servicing on October 13, 2026. 2. Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 - End of support on October 13, 2026. 3. Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 - Final ESU year ending on October 13, 2026. 4. SQL Server 2016 - Extended end of support on July 14, 2026. 5. SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019, Project Server 2016 and 2019 - Support ends on July 14, 2026. 6. Microsoft Publisher - Retired after October 2026. 7. Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, Skype for Business Server - Final ESU cutoff on October 31, 2026. 8. Windows 11 Enterprise and Education 23H2, .NET 8, .NET 9, PowerShell 7.4 - End of servicing on November 10, 2026. 9. Windows 10 2016 LTSB and IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 - Extended support ends on October 13, 2026. 10. Windows 11 SE - Support ends on October 1, 2026. 11. Dynamics CRM 2016 and older versions - Lost support earlier in January 2026. 12. Microsoft Configuration Manager, version 2409 - End of support on June 6, 2026. 13. Visual Studio 2022 LTSC channels, versions 17.10 and 17.12 - End of support in January and July 2026, respectively. 14. InfoPath 2013, SharePoint Designer 2013 - End of support on July 14, 2026. 15. Azure service retirements - Occurring in late 2026. Organizations are advised to review their software landscape and plan for transitions to avoid disruptions.
2026's best RPG might look like Disco Elysium, but it was heavily inspired by Deus Ex, and its creator wants 'to do a first-person game at some point'
AppWizard
July 12, 2026

2026’s best RPG might look like Disco Elysium, but it was heavily inspired by Deus Ex, and its creator wants ‘to do a first-person game at some point’

Christoffer Bodegård began his journey into PC gaming with a DOS machine from his father and first played Disney's The Jungle Book. His passion for role-playing games was ignited by Dragon Age: Origins, which led him to explore many titles, including Planescape: Torment. After eight years of development, his game Esoteric Ebb launched in March to critical acclaim. Currently, he is playing Victoria 3, having logged around 400 hours, and previously played Abiotic Factor. The oldest games on his PC are Heroes of Might and Magic 3, King of Dragon Pass, Deus Ex, and Diablo 2, with Heroes 3 being a favorite. He has logged around 1,000 hours in Esoteric Ebb and is particularly fond of Europa Universalis IV, especially the Anbennar mod. Bodegård has never uninstalled Deus Ex, which greatly influences his design philosophy. He relies on Notepad++ for scripting and has improved his desktop organization from a cluttered state to a cleaner setup.
Elder Scrolls Online studio echoes id Software, claims to now be the same size it was 10 years ago following Xbox layoffs
AppWizard
July 12, 2026

Elder Scrolls Online studio echoes id Software, claims to now be the same size it was 10 years ago following Xbox layoffs

ZeniMax Online Studios has experienced a significant workforce reduction, returning to headcount levels similar to those from 2015-2018, following layoffs of 213 and 136 employees, with an additional 62 positions cut in 2025 after the cancellation of the MMO Blackbird. Senior developers, including Brandon Adler, have expressed concerns about perceptions of the studio's talent pool amidst these changes. The layoffs at ZeniMax and id Software were strategic responses to the evolving game development landscape. Other companies like Bungie and BioWare have also seen similar workforce adjustments without necessarily improving productivity or creative output. There are concerns that this narrative may be used as a public relations strategy by Microsoft, potentially perpetuating negative stereotypes about laid-off employees.
Obsidian game director is sick of hearing bad takes about the state of the studio: 'The through line from KotOR2 to our current games is pretty clear'
AppWizard
July 12, 2026

Obsidian game director is sick of hearing bad takes about the state of the studio: ‘The through line from KotOR2 to our current games is pretty clear’

Microsoft has restructured Xbox, resulting in significant layoffs affecting thousands of employees and the disbanding of four game studios, including Double Fine and Compulsion Games returning to indie status, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs were sold. Obsidian Entertainment, initially thought to be unaffected, also faced layoffs but is reportedly developing a new Fallout game with Josh Sawyer as director. A member of Obsidian's leadership, Adler, expressed frustration over misconceptions about the studio's evolution, emphasizing that key figures from its past successes remain. He reassured fans that the core essence of Obsidian is unchanged, despite recent challenges. Adler acknowledged the emotional toll of the layoffs and expressed support for departing employees. Anticipation for Obsidian's new Fallout title is growing.
Microsoft is now using AI to fix Windows bugs before hackers exploit them
Winsage
July 12, 2026

Microsoft is now using AI to fix Windows bugs before hackers exploit them

Microsoft is integrating artificial intelligence into its vulnerability detection processes for the Windows operating system to enhance security. This will lead to more frequent security updates during monthly Patch Tuesday releases. The company aims to address the rise in AI-driven exploits and is refining its secure software development model to combat evolving tactics used in AI-driven attacks. While AI will assist in identifying vulnerabilities, human oversight will remain essential, with developers reviewing code and validating AI-generated findings before deploying updates.
Microsoft filing shows total ZeniMax layoffs at 379, with over half coming from Elder Scrolls Online studio that's lost at least 60% of its staff in the past year
AppWizard
July 12, 2026

Microsoft filing shows total ZeniMax layoffs at 379, with over half coming from Elder Scrolls Online studio that’s lost at least 60% of its staff in the past year

ZeniMax Online Studios and ZeniMax Media have undergone significant restructuring, resulting in the layoff of 379 employees—213 from ZeniMax Online and 166 from ZeniMax Media. There is no separate notice for Bethesda Game Studios, suggesting that some layoffs may include Bethesda personnel. The ZeniMax Online Union's membership has declined from 461 to approximately 186 employees, indicating a reduction of about 40% in workforce over a year and a half. Despite The Elder Scrolls Online generating substantial monthly revenue for over a decade, the decision to reduce the workforce raises questions about the strategic direction of ZeniMax Online.
Minecraft Update 3.42 Applies Bedrock 26.33 on July 11
AppWizard
July 11, 2026

Minecraft Update 3.42 Applies Bedrock 26.33 on July 11

The Bedrock Edition 26.33 has been released as update 3.42 for Minecraft on PS4, addressing a bug related to texture bleeding on custom blocks. The update has a modest download size and is considered a minor hotfix. Mojang is also aware of various other bugs reported by players, including unusual grass behavior, issues with skin display, and significant lag in multiplayer environments, among others.
Palworld studio says delete your old mods before the 1.0 release: 'Disabling them is not enough'
AppWizard
July 11, 2026

Palworld studio says delete your old mods before the 1.0 release: ‘Disabling them is not enough’

Palworld is officially launching on July 10 after two and a half years in early access. The game's price will remain unchanged, but players are warned about potential issues with outdated mods. Pocketpair encourages players to back up their save data, delete specific old files, verify game files via Steam, and check that the game launches properly before the update. Players should unsubscribe from and delete any mods and wait for developers to confirm compatibility with the 1.0 version before reinstalling. Issues arising from using mods are not covered by support.
"Compliance-in-advance is never enough to appease a zealous censor": Robert Yang on the current challenge of bringing experimental gay games to Steam
AppWizard
July 11, 2026

“Compliance-in-advance is never enough to appease a zealous censor”: Robert Yang on the current challenge of bringing experimental gay games to Steam

Radiator Forever, a collection of short and experimental gay games by developer Robert Yang, has launched on Steam alongside its presence on Itch.io. Yang discussed the challenges faced by adult game creators, particularly due to payment processor issues and online regulations in the UK, which affect the viability of such games on major platforms. Users must log in to view the collection on Steam, and UK users need a valid credit card for age verification. The Steam listing is difficult to find without a direct link and is subject to geoblocking in certain regions. Yang explained that the anti-sexuality censorship campaign led by Collective Shout and payment processors prompted Itch to obscure many NSFW games. He noted that Valve has classified Radiator Forever as containing "frequent nudity and sexual content," which limits its visibility on Steam. Despite efforts to comply with content guidelines, Yang faced challenges due to perceived biases against indie developers compared to major publishers. The re-remastered collection includes enhancements like a completion percentage tracker and a tagging system for new content.
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