Intel Archives

AppWizard

July 26, 2026

Halo: Campaign Evolved Looks Worse Than Master Chief Collection on Steam Deck and Xbox Ally

Halo: Campaign Evolved has been released for early access. It features impressive visuals on high-end PCs and current consoles but struggles on lower-end hardware, particularly handheld devices like the Steam Deck. The game requires an Intel Core i7-10700K and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super, which are beyond the capabilities of the Steam Deck and base Xbox Ally. On the Xbox Ally, the game runs at 1280x720 resolution with Very Low settings and achieves around 30 fps, occasionally dipping into the mid-20s. Despite being technically playable, the visual quality is poor, with bland textures and a lack of environmental detail. In contrast, the Master Chief Collection runs at 65-70 fps on the Xbox Ally and offers superior visual fidelity. The Steam page claims Campaign Evolved is Steam Deck Verified, although performance is lacking compared to other titles. For those wanting to experience the original Halo campaign on the Steam Deck, the Master Chief Collection is recommended.

AppWizard

July 26, 2026

Minecraft system requirements raised for the first time in 17 years — Microsoft now recommends 16GB of RAM and a 2020s or newer CPU to run the Java Edition

Microsoft has updated the minimum and recommended system requirements for Minecraft: Java Edition for the first time in 17 years. The new minimum requirements are as follows: - OS: Windows 10 64-Bit, Windows on ARM, macOS 12+, or Linux 64-bit (previously Windows 7, macOS 10.14.5 Mojave, or later) - CPU: Intel Core i3-10100 / AMD Ryzen 3 3100 / Qualcomm Snapdragon X / Apple M1 (previously Intel Core i3-3210 / AMD A8-8600 / Apple M1) - GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 950 / AMD Radeon RX 460 / Intel Arc A310 / Intel i5-6400 (iGPU) (previously Intel HD Graphics 4000 / AMD Radeon R5) - Memory: 8GB (discrete GPU) / 12GB (iGPU) (previously 2GB) The new recommended requirements are: - OS: Windows 11 64-bit, macOS 14+, or Linux 64-bit (previously Windows 10, macOS 10.14.5 Mojave, or later) - CPU: Intel Core i5-12400 / AMD Ryzen 5 5600 / Apple M2 Pro (previously Intel Core i5-4690 / AMD A10-7800 / Apple M1) - GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 / AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT / Intel Arc A580 (previously Nvidia GeForce 700 series / AMD Radeon RX 200 series) - Memory: 16GB (previously 4GB) Players whose systems do not meet the new minimum requirements can switch to the Bedrock Edition to continue gameplay, though this may result in the loss of certain mods.

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

Xbox backwards compatibility now available on PC, starting with four original Xbox games

Microsoft has launched a pilot program allowing select original Xbox titles to be played on Windows 11, with four classic games now available: BliNX: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fusion Frenzy. Players can access these games via a Game Pass Essential subscription or purchase them individually, and those with previous digital copies on Xbox consoles can download them at no extra cost. The games can be played at resolutions up to 2,560 x 1,920 pixels, maintaining their original aspect ratios and framerates, with options for enhanced graphics settings. The system requirements include at least an Nvidia GTX 950 or AMD Radeon RX 550, with recommended specifications for optimal performance. There are uncertainties regarding the expansion of the game library due to recent organizational changes within Microsoft, including layoffs in the backward compatibility program.

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

A Game About Penguins Arrives on PC on August 10. Free Prologue Available Now

A Game About Penguins, developed by CO's Entertainment, will be released on PC on August 10, 2026, with later availability on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The game features a sandbox environment where players can engage in activities like fishing, snowball fights, and ice skating, with online co-op support for up to 12 players. A free prologue titled A Game About Penguins: First Catch has been available on Steam since July 22, allowing players to experience core mechanics and customization options. The game supports multiple languages and requires a minimum of Windows 10 64-bit, a quad-core processor, 8 GB RAM, and 2 GB of storage space.

Winsage

July 24, 2026

“We’ve got a few more surprises coming” Microsoft talks what’s next for Surface and the people’s desire for a Surface Studio monitor in new video

Microsoft executives Pavan Davuluri and Brett Ostrum discussed the future of the Surface lineup, highlighting the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8, which feature advanced Intel and Snapdragon SoCs. They mentioned the recent unveilings of the Surface Laptop Ultra and RTX Spark, and hinted at upcoming surprises, including a potential Surface Studio monitor and Surface Mini, indicating responsiveness to consumer interest.

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

Four classic Xbox games are now playable with Backward Compatibility on PC

Microsoft is reviving the Xbox Backward Compatibility program by allowing classic Xbox games to be played on Windows PCs. The initiative, originally launched in 2015 for Xbox 360 games on Xbox One, had been effectively concluded in 2019. The new PC offering includes four original Xbox titles: BLiNX: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy, which can be played at no extra cost by owners of digital copies and are available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers. The PC versions feature enhancements such as customizable graphics settings, higher rendering resolutions, V-Sync support, fullscreen and windowed display modes, anisotropic filtering, improved anti-aliasing, and additional visual upgrades. Minimum system requirements include a GPU like Nvidia GTX 950 or AMD Radeon RX 550, a CPU with at least 4 cores, 8GB RAM, and Windows 11. Recommended specifications include a GPU like Radeon RX 68005 or Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti, a 6-core CPU, DirectX12 API, 8GB VRAM, and Windows 11. Microsoft plans to add more backward-compatible titles and features, including Xbox achievement support, in the future.

Winsage

July 23, 2026

3 Windows settings that can make or break your PC

Windows 11 includes various settings that can significantly affect computer productivity and performance. 1. Windows Power Mode: This feature allows users to select performance settings under Settings > System > Power & battery. Options include “Best Power Efficiency,” “Best Performance,” and “Balanced.” For an Intel Core 300 laptop, power consumption varies as follows: - Performance mode: 30W sustained, 60W boost - Balanced mode: 25W sustained, 60W boost - Efficiency mode: 15W sustained, 20W boost Switching from “Balanced” to “Performance” mode can increase performance by 5%, while “Efficiency” mode can save up to 50% battery life with an 18% performance drop. 2. Storage Sense: Found under Settings > System > Storage, this feature automatically cleans up unnecessary files to maintain optimal SSD performance. It activates when free disk space falls below a certain threshold and can be manually triggered. Users can configure it to manage the Downloads folder and convert locally stored files backed up to OneDrive into cloud-only files. 3. OneDrive and Windows Backup: OneDrive syncs files between the cloud and PC, which can slow down performance, especially on asymmetric broadband connections. Users can adjust backup preferences through the OneDrive icon in the Action Center, but Windows may not always respect these settings, potentially leading to unwanted file re-downloads.

AppWizard

July 23, 2026

Microsoft just brought four OG Xbox games to PC, with more console classics to come

Microsoft has enabled players to access original Xbox titles on Windows PCs and handheld devices through the Xbox Backward Compatibility scheme, eliminating the need for third-party emulators. The initial game lineup includes titles like Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy, available via the Xbox app or Game Pass subscriptions. Players who previously purchased these games do not need to buy them again due to the Xbox Play Anywhere program. The games utilize Microsoft's emulation technology, allowing enhancements such as increased resolution up to 2560×1920, anisotropic filtering, and MSAA anti-aliasing. The minimum system requirements include an AMD Ryzen 3 3100 or Intel Core i3-10300 CPU, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon RX 550 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 950 GPU, 4GB VRAM, and Windows 11 with updates until January 2026. Microsoft plans to expand the Xbox Backward Compatibility library on PC in the future.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Original Xbox Games Are Coming to PC Starting With Four Fan Favorites

Microsoft has launched its Xbox Backward Compatibility preview, enabling four original Xbox games—Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy—to be played on PC and handheld devices. These games feature enhancements such as 4x resolution upscaling, VSync support, multiple display modes, anisotropic filtering, and improved anti-aliasing. They are available for purchase on the Xbox Store and can be accessed on PC or handhelds through Xbox Play Anywhere or Xbox Cloud Gaming. All four titles are also included in Xbox Game Pass. Minimum system requirements for playing these games include: - GPU: Nvidia GTX 950 or AMD Radeon RX 550 or Intel UHD 770 or Intel Arc A310 - CPU: Minimum 4 Cores Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 or AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor - RAM: 8GB - OS: Windows 11 - Drivers and Versions: Latest Version as of January 2026 Recommended specifications include: - GPU: Radeon RX 68005 or Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti or Intel Arc A770 - CPU: 6 cores and 12 threads Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme - DirectX Version: DirectX12 API, Hardware Feature Level 11 - GPU VRAM: 8GB - OS: Windows 11 - Drivers and Versions: Latest Version as of January 2026

BetaBeacon

July 22, 2026

Microsoft is bringing original XBOX games to your PC and handhelds

Microsoft has launched the XBOX Backward Compatibility program on PC, allowing users to play original XBOX games on PCs and handhelds.