future releases Archives

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Xbox Just Dropped The Price Of Game Pass Ultimate, But There’s A Catch

Microsoft has reduced the monthly fee for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from .99 to .99 and for PC Game Pass from .49 to .99. Subscribers will lose immediate access to new releases of the "Call of Duty" series, which will now be available on Game Pass approximately a year after their initial release. Despite these changes, most aspects of the Game Pass services will remain unchanged, including day-one access to other gaming titles, online multiplayer capabilities, and in-game perks. The service has over 20 million users as of November 2022.

AppWizard

April 14, 2026

Rockstar Games hack shows why GTA 6 isn’t releasing on PC and console simultaneously

Rockstar Games experienced a security breach involving a third-party service, leading to the public release of stolen data after the company declined a ransom demand. The leaked information suggests that PC players contribute only 3% to the weekly bookings of GTA Online, amounting to approximately 4,273, while PlayStation 5 players account for 476,346 in bookings with a weekly active user count of 3,474,021. The weekly active user counts are 894,621 for PC and 3,474,021 for PlayStation 5. This financial disparity may influence Rockstar's release strategies, particularly regarding the anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6.

Winsage

April 11, 2026

Big changes coming with Windows 11. Microsoft might be bidding goodbye to the Control Panel

Microsoft is set to launch a significant update for Windows 11 in April 2026, focusing on enhancing both functionality and aesthetics. The update will streamline the Settings interface, align dialog boxes with dark mode, and aim for a more intuitive user experience. Under design director March Rogers, the initiative seeks to address historical criticisms of Microsoft's design approach, emphasizing the alignment of form and function. Key features of the update include a clearer Settings layout, dark mode for legacy dialog boxes, the ability to move the Taskbar, voice input for File Explorer, and AI integration with Narrator. Additionally, the update will adapt to evolving hardware needs with improved stylus configuration for 2-in-1 devices. User feedback is being prioritized in design decisions to create a cleaner, more cohesive system.

Winsage

April 5, 2026

Microsoft Ships Emergency Windows 11 Fix for Broken Patch

On March 31, Microsoft released emergency update KB5086672 in response to issues caused by the previous preview patch KB5079391, which left many Windows 11 devices in a loop with error code 0x80073712, blocking access to March security fixes. Microsoft withdrew KB5079391, which was launched on March 26, and replaced it with KB5086672, a cumulative update that includes all fixes from March 2026. KB5086672 supersedes previous updates, including KB5079473, KB5085516, and KB5079391. Users with the "Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available" setting will receive KB5086672 automatically, while others can manually check for updates or download it from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Microsoft has been issuing multiple emergency updates recently, raising concerns about the quality of its update pipeline, with a history of emergency patches for various issues affecting Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server. The issues from KB5079391 may resurface in the upcoming April cumulative update.

BetaBeacon

April 5, 2026

Wine 11.6 Begins Reviving Its Android Driver

Wine 11.6 has been released with a focus on reviving its Android driver, updating the build system for Android, and enhancing the DLL loader order heuristics to better support game mods.

AppWizard

March 31, 2026

Smaller Minecraft updates like Tiny Takeover and Chaos Cubed “feel more sustainable” for Mojang, says lead: “There’s always another one right around the corner”

Mojang is shifting its focus to smaller, more frequent updates for Minecraft, such as the Tiny Takeover and the upcoming Chaos Cubed, while still considering the possibility of larger updates in the future. Product manager Anna Lundgren stated that this new approach feels "more sustainable" and allows for diverse content, catering to different player preferences. Although the community desires larger updates reminiscent of earlier versions, Lundgren assured that the team is flexible and can produce updates of varying sizes. Additionally, Mojang has incorporated real animal voice actors for new sounds in the game.

Winsage

March 30, 2026

Firefox extends support for older Windows versions until August 2026

Firefox has extended its support for Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 until August 2026. Initially, support was set to end in February 2026 with version 115 ESR being the last compatible version. The extension allows Firefox 115 ESR to receive updates until the end of August 2026, responding to user demand for ongoing security updates on these platforms. After August 2026, users may need to upgrade their operating systems to continue receiving updates and new features. Firefox 115 ESR is currently the only major browser version supporting these older Windows systems.

AppWizard

March 29, 2026

Minecraft’s switch to smaller game drops doesn’t rule out “more transformative updates”

The Tiny Takeover update is the ninth 'game drop' from Mojang since the company adopted a strategy of smaller, more frequent updates in 2024. This approach allows for a sustainable development model, enabling different teams to focus on various projects simultaneously. The update emphasizes art and sound design for baby mobs, while previous updates targeted different gameplay aspects. Mojang plans to continue releasing updates that cater to diverse play styles, ensuring there are appealing options for all players. The company is also working on larger transformative updates, such as the Vibrant Visuals graphics refresh for Minecraft Java.

Winsage

March 13, 2026

Lifetime Office 2021 And Windows 11 Pro Bundle Hits $50

A bundle is available that includes a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Windows 11 Pro for approximately . This offer provides an estimated discount of 88% off the typical retail price, eliminating ongoing subscription costs. Office Professional 2021 includes applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, while Windows 11 Pro features security enhancements such as BitLocker and virtualization capabilities. The bundle is particularly appealing for users looking to upgrade from older versions of Office or Windows. Office 2021 is a perpetual license for a single Windows PC and will not receive new features, only security and bug fixes. Windows 11 Pro is also a perpetual license, requiring separate purchases for major future releases. Users must ensure their PC meets the hardware requirements for Windows 11, including a compatible 64-bit CPU and TPM 2.0. This deal is suited for solo professionals, students, and small teams, but may not be ideal for those who rely on cloud collaboration and frequent feature updates.

Winsage

March 6, 2026

Windows Server 2025 Native NVMe: Storage Stack Overhaul and Benchmark Results

On December 15, 2025, Microsoft announced native NVMe support in Windows Server 2025, marking a significant evolution in data management and access. The new architecture replaces Disk.sys with NVMeDisk.sys, allowing direct communication from the filesystem to hardware via StorMQ, eliminating latency and enhancing performance. Testing revealed increased read speeds, particularly in random 4K and 64K benchmarks, with significant reductions in average read latency and lower CPU usage during sequential operations. Write operations showed modest improvements. A registry modification is required to enable this feature, and caution is advised due to potential complications with NVMe drives when deduplication is enabled.