future Archives

Winsage

October 8, 2026

Windows 11 Pro is now just $8 for life (Reg. $199)

Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is available for a limited-time offer of .97, down from its regular price of 9. This edition includes advanced features like Copilot, Snap Layouts, Biometric Login, and TPM 2.0, making it suitable for professionals in IT, development, and business sectors. The one-time payment grants lifetime access without recurring fees, and the license includes updates for future enhancements. The offer expires on October 11.

Winsage

October 8, 2026

Microsoft confirms a Windows update can close games that use AC-3 audio

Microsoft has acknowledged an issue related to a Windows update (KB5124010) released on September 22, 2026, which has caused unexpected closures of various games that rely on AC-3 audio decoding. This issue affects Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2, while server editions remain unaffected. The problem primarily impacts legacy applications that depend on Windows' built-in audio decoding, particularly older PC games using the Dolby Digital codec for pre-rendered cutscenes and licensed soundtracks. Microsoft has confirmed the issue but has not provided a list of affected titles, workarounds, or a resolution timeline. The status remains unchanged as of October 7, and the issue persists regardless of user action.

AppWizard

October 8, 2026

Dynamic Nvidia DLSS upscaling in Gears of War: E-Day is ace, and I wish more PC games took this approach

Nvidia DLSS upscaling is favored by the author, but the release of Gears of War: E-Day has changed their perspective on its use. The game features a dynamic upscaling option that works with a customizable frame rate target, enhancing image quality and performance management. Dynamic resolution scaling is common in console games but less so on PC, where options often lack customization for specific performance metrics. Gears of War: E-Day allows players to switch between upscalers like Nvidia DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR 4.1, and Intel XeSS 2, with the author typically using DLSS in Performance mode on a 4K setup. Testing on a system with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D and GeForce RTX 5090, the game averages 77fps at maximum settings, being 97.8% GPU bound. Transitioning to dynamic DLSS with a target of 60fps results in an average of 64fps and an average resolution scale of 61%, with an 11% increase in pixel count but an 18.4% decrease in performance. VRAM usage increases by nearly 3GB. The author prefers prioritizing sharpness and visual enhancements over smoothness, ensuring consistent 60fps gameplay and allowing users with less powerful graphics cards to enable frame generation without latency concerns. The author hopes more games will adopt similar configurability in the future.

AppWizard

October 8, 2026

Free Play Days – ARC Raiders, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Little Nightmares III, Screamer, and More

From October 8 to October 11, members of XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential can play Screamer and Family Man for free during Free Play Days. ARC Raiders is available for free to all XBOX members from October 8 to October 15. Players can also try timed trials of High On Life 2, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Little Nightmares III, and Rogue Waters. Discounts on games are available for those who wish to purchase them after the event. Screamer is developed by Milestone S.r.l., has a rating of 84/100, and is priced at .99 with a 60% discount during the event. Family Man, developed by No More Robots, has a rating of 47/100, priced at .99 with an 85% discount. ARC Raiders, developed by Embark Studios, has a rating of 11953/100, priced at .99 with a 50% discount. High On Life 2, developed by Squanch Games, Inc., has a rating of 2090/100, priced at .99. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, developed by GSC Game World, has a rating of 7190/100, priced at .99 with a 30% discount after Free Play Days. Little Nightmares III, developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., has a rating of 592/100, priced at .99. Rogue Waters, developed by Tripwire Interactive LLC, has a rating of 45/100, priced at .99 with a 75% discount during Free Play Days.

BetaBeacon

October 8, 2026

Medieval Strategy Game in the Spirit of Tetris, Drop Duchy, Released on Android and iOS

Drop Duchy is a game that combines elements from Tetris, city-building simulators, and card roguelikes. It involves strategically placing forests, rivers, and plains on the field, constructing production buildings, and building an army to defend territory. Players engage in battles where they must strategically combine allied units and plan attacks based on strengths and weaknesses of different units. The mobile version follows a "try before you buy" model, allowing players to download for free and purchase the full version for 475 rubles.

Winsage

October 8, 2026

You can now try Windows 11’s new Search that’s faster and can perform tasks for you

Microsoft has introduced a significantly enhanced Search experience in Windows 11, allowing users to locate files and applications more efficiently and perform tasks directly from the search bar. An experimental Battery Status widget has been added for Insiders, providing a view of battery levels for PCs and connected peripherals. The Narrator tool now enables users to read mathematical equations. Microsoft has enabled IAKerb by default for Windows clients to improve authentication processes and reduce dependency on NTLM. The Task Manager will include process grouping capabilities, starting with Microsoft Defender. Recent updates have fixed an issue with Windows Sandbox that caused error 0x80073712 during updates. Enhancements to the security key PIN entry experience have streamlined the sign-in process. Improvements to the taskbar have resolved lag in app window previews and enhanced settings persistence for multiple monitors. The Settings interface has been updated, removing the backplate from the UAC icon. File Explorer now supports font preview and installation from context menus. A fix has been implemented for an issue with msmpeg2ac3dec.dll that caused application crashes. The default lock screen widget setup is being updated, with the Weather widget taking precedence.

Winsage

October 8, 2026

Windows Search learns to take orders

Microsoft has unveiled a preview of Windows Search that enhances user interactions and efficiency, featuring quicker results and a more organized interface. The new Actions feature allows users to modify settings directly from search results, such as muting speakers or minimizing windows. The search experience prioritizes results over a preview pane and includes improvements for handling typos and synonyms, although some inconsistencies remain. Inline previews and richer file details are planned for later this year. Built on the WinUI 3 framework, the updated Windows Search aims to improve performance and memory efficiency. The preview is currently available in English to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel, with access for eligible users through settings adjustments in the Windows Insider Program's Feature flags.

Winsage

October 8, 2026

Microsoft discloses bug in Windows 11 September update causing apps using Dolby Digital to crash

On October 2, Microsoft announced that its optional preview update "KB5124010," released on September 22, causes crashes in applications using the Dolby Digital (AC-3) codec on Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2. The update does not include security fixes and affects media players, games, and certain line-of-business applications that rely on Windows' built-in AC-3 audio decoding. Symptoms include applications failing to launch or crashing during specific features like music playback. Users can check if they are affected by verifying their OS version, installed updates, and application implementation. Microsoft plans to address the issue in a future update, but a timeline is not provided. Users can uninstall KB5124010 or pause updates as temporary solutions. The update has already caused issues for the game "WARDOGS," leading to compatibility investigations by the publisher, Team17.

Winsage

October 8, 2026

Can Windows on Arm really challenge x86?

Nvidia is launching its Arm-based RTX Spark platform, which aims to challenge the x86 architecture and support Microsoft's Windows on Arm strategy. The platform leverages Arm's energy efficiency and performance capabilities, potentially allowing it to compete with traditional x86 systems. Nvidia's entry into the market could drive innovation and competition, enhancing consumer products. Despite previous challenges faced by Microsoft's Windows on Arm initiative, Nvidia's involvement brings renewed optimism for Arm's market presence. The success of the RTX Spark platform may indicate the future viability of Arm within the Windows ecosystem.

AppWizard

October 8, 2026

PC-98 cult classic horror game Dead of the Brain is coming to Steam on October 30, with English support for the first time

Fakku has launched the Steam page for Dead of the Brain, following their acquisition of the publishing rights to FairyTale's catalog. The game originally debuted on NEC’s PC-98 platform and marks FairyTale’s first foray into the horror genre after a shift from adult-only erotic games. Dead of the Brain features character designs by Ryuichi Makino and pays homage to 1980s American splatter films. The narrative follows Cole, who witnesses a serum experiment gone wrong, leading to a zombie apocalypse. Gameplay includes visual novel-style dialogue and interactive segments with quick time events. The game will maintain its original pixel art aesthetic, with enhancements for HD displays and some quality-of-life improvements. Dead of the Brain is set to launch on PC via Steam on October 30, with plans for future English releases, including a sequel.