gaming support Archives

Winsage

April 6, 2026

Linux gaming reaches 5.3% on Steam, Windows drops below 93%

The Linux gaming market share among Steam users has reached 5.3%, a historic high, coinciding with Windows usage dropping below 93%. Windows 10 usage has decreased by nearly 15%, while Windows 11 has gained only 10.6%. SteamOS Holo 64-bit is the leading Linux distribution, making up 25% of all Linux users, largely due to the popularity of the Steam Deck. macOS has gained 1.2% market share, indicating a shift in gaming preferences. Valve announced plans to expand SteamOS to desktop PCs, which may further boost Linux gaming adoption.

Winsage

April 2, 2026

Wine has been translating Windows games to Linux since 1993, but Proton is what made it effortless

Wine is a compatibility layer, not an emulator, that translates Windows API calls into POSIX equivalents, allowing Windows applications to run on Linux. Proton, developed by Valve, builds on Wine and includes additional components like DXVK and VKD3D-Proton to enhance performance for Windows games on Linux through Steam. For Steam users, Proton is recommended for a streamlined gaming experience, while Lutris is suggested for those outside the Steam ecosystem. Wine has been in development since 1993, focusing on recreating the Windows API, but faced challenges with gaming compatibility. Cedega was an early attempt to improve gaming support over Wine but ultimately declined. Valve's development of Proton was motivated by the need for better compatibility for Windows games on Linux, especially highlighted by the launch of the Steam Deck. Wine struggled with synchronization issues and handling direct kernel access by Windows applications, which Proton addressed with seccomp-bpf filters and syscall user dispatch. Both Wine and Proton are crucial to the current state of Linux gaming.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

Project Helix will make things easier for game devs, says indie program lead, because “one Xbox build” is all you need

Chris Charla, with 16 years at Xbox and 13 years in the ID@Xbox program, discussed Project Helix, the next-generation Xbox system. It will allow users to play both PC and Xbox games, contrasting with competitors like Sony. At the Game Developers Conference, he highlighted the goal of simplifying game launches, enabling developers to create a single build for Xbox, PC, and cloud platforms. Project Helix will support easy PC and cloud gaming. Charla mentioned that developers currently working on Xbox and PC will benefit from Project Helix, with support for Xbox API, backend integration, and marketing. The system is expected to release in 2027 or 2028, and it may resemble a "gaming PC" running Windows 11.

Winsage

February 1, 2026

5 Essential Free Apps That Aren’t Available On The Microsoft Store

The Microsoft Store has recently added applications like VLC, Foobar2000, Firefox, and Brave, but several essential applications are still missing, leading users to download installers from developers' websites. Microsoft has discontinued support for Office installations via the store, and the transition to allowing Win32 app formats has introduced more applications, although many developers may find this shift too late, with full support for Win32 apps not expected until 2025. Notable applications currently unavailable on the Microsoft Store include: - Steam: A critical gaming platform with over 140 million users, absent from the store due to Valve's competition with Microsoft. - Notepad++: A popular text and code editor known for its simplicity and versatility, requiring direct download from its official website. - Calibre: An open-source e-book manager that allows users to organize, convert, and enrich e-books, also needing to be downloaded from its official site. - qBittorrent: A free and open-source torrent client offering a clean interface and extensive features, available only through direct download from its official website. - Paint.net: While available on the Microsoft Store for a fee, it can be downloaded for free from the developer's website, providing robust image editing features.

Winsage

December 1, 2025

The top 2 Linux distros Windows 10 users are fleeing to right now

On October 14, Windows 10 was discontinued, leading to user frustration due to hardware requirements for Windows 11. This has resulted in a resurgence of the Linux community, with Zorin OS and Bazzite attracting former Windows users. Zorin OS achieved one million downloads in two months, with 78% from Windows machines, while Bazzite recorded approximately 150,000 downloads in a month, totaling a petabyte of downloads. Zorin OS appeals to regular users with its productivity tools, while Bazzite caters to gamers with its gaming support and security features. This trend indicates a shift in user preferences towards Linux, with projections suggesting a rise in Linux's market share by 2026. The advantages of Linux include security, stability, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility.

Winsage

November 25, 2025

Xbox November Update: Gaming Copilot Available on Mobile, Full Screen Experience Out Now, and More

The full screen experience (FSE) is now available on a wider range of Windows devices, providing a clean interface for controller-first gaming. Windows Insiders can preview this feature on various Windows 11 PC form factors. A new user-selected resolution feature allows Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to stream games at resolutions up to 1440p. Xbox Cloud Gaming has expanded to India, marking its 29th market, and is now available on LG TV and Amazon Fire TV devices in Brazil and Argentina. Xbox Cloud Gaming support is being added to more Fire TV devices, including Fire TV Stick 4K Plus and Fire TV Omni QLED TVs. The Xbox Design Lab is offering free engraving on controller purchases from November 28 to December 12. The Backbone Pro – Xbox Edition accessory is designed for use across multiple screens and offers both wired and wireless connectivity. Over 1,000 games now support Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing players to switch devices without losing progress, with recent additions including ARC Raiders and Keeper. Xbox is also expanding its cloud gaming library for Game Pass members. Mouse and keyboard support, along with touch controls for over 230 games, have been introduced. Xbox encourages community feedback through the Xbox Insider Program for early access to new features.

Winsage

October 28, 2025

Windows 11 Pro is down to just $15 — save $184 on your upgrade

Microsoft has introduced Windows 11 Pro at a price of .97, down from its regular MSRP of 9. This offer includes a lifetime license. Key features of Windows 11 Pro include a sleek interface, improved multitasking tools like Snap Layouts, enhanced security with TPM 2.0 and BitLocker, and gaming support with DirectX 12 Ultimate. The operating system also features a built-in AI assistant called Copilot, which can summarize web pages, generate text or images, open applications, and suggest code snippets. The transition to Windows 11 Pro is recommended as Windows 10 is being phased out.

BetaBeacon

September 28, 2025

Play Games Sidekick Explained: Google Brings Live Tips Inside Android Games with Gemini AI

Google introduces Play Games Sidekick, a Gemini-powered in-game overlay for Android games that offers conversational help, quick access to screenshots, screen recording, player stats, and community features.

AppWizard

August 27, 2025

A Bunch Of Game Pass Subscribers Are About To Get New Perks

Microsoft is expanding access to cloud and PC gaming features for Game Pass Core and Game Pass Standard members. Starting today, Xbox Insiders can test a new initiative that provides limited cloud and PC gaming access to these subscribers. Game Pass Core members will have access to approximately 50 games, while Standard members will have access to over 400 games. Players can also use cloud gaming for titles they own that support this feature, which was previously exclusive to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. Microsoft is working on providing PC versions of select games in the Core and Standard tiers. Many titles in these libraries are classified as Play Anywhere games, allowing access on both platforms with a single purchase. The Game Pass PC offering includes a broader selection of games at a lower price for non-console owners. The upcoming Xbox Ally PC gaming handheld, launching in October, will feature an Xbox-like operating system. The success of this initiative may depend on whether Microsoft removes the requirement for console players to pay for multiplayer access.

Winsage

August 13, 2025

Microsoft Stock Gains as Edge Promotes Over Chrome Browser Use

Microsoft's stock price has risen on the Nasdaq exchange as the company encourages users to switch from Google's Chrome browser to its Edge browser. On Tuesday, shares of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) saw a modest increase as the company reiterated its recommendation for Windows users to abandon Chrome, promoting Edge as a more secure alternative. Users attempting to close Chrome receive a notification encouraging them to switch to Edge. Chrome users outnumber Edge users by a ratio of approximately six to one. In the latest pre-release version of Edge, new flags prompt users to pin Edge to their taskbar and make it their default browser if Chrome usage exceeds 90%. Microsoft is also transitioning users from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and is facing criticism and a class action lawsuit regarding the discontinuation of security support for Windows 10. Despite these challenges, Microsoft continues to support popular gaming titles and maintains a "Strong Buy" consensus rating from analysts, with a 26.03% increase in share price over the past year and an average price target indicating an 18% upside potential.