launch times

Winsage
March 31, 2026
Microsoft is recalibrating its approach to integrating Copilot within Windows 11, focusing on quality and user experience rather than rapid AI expansion. Pavan Davuluri, president of Microsoft's Windows + Devices division, emphasized three core pillars for enhancing Windows 11: performance, reliability, and "craft." The company plans to reduce Copilot's presence by eliminating "unnecessary Copilot entry points" in applications like Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets, and Notepad, responding to user feedback about clutter and distraction. While scaling back on consumer-facing Copilot features, Microsoft will continue to develop AI for developer tools, background functionalities, and enterprise features. Upcoming changes include the option to reposition the taskbar, improvements to File Explorer, more reliable file operations, and modifications to Windows Update. The company aims to decrease OS-level crashes, enhance Bluetooth and USB stability, and strengthen Windows Hello biometric authentication. Microsoft also plans to revamp the Windows Insider Program and engage with the Windows community through in-person meetups.
Winsage
March 30, 2026
Microsoft plans to enhance the File Explorer experience in Windows by 2026, with initial improvements available to Windows Insiders as early as April. Key updates will focus on a quicker launch experience, reduced flicker, smoother navigation, and improved performance for everyday file tasks. Enhancements will address latency issues in search, navigation, and context menus, aiming for faster and more reliable file copying and moving. The context menu will see lower latency when right-clicking, and system-level changes will aim to reduce interaction latency and improve the shared UI infrastructure. Third-party file managers currently demonstrate faster performance compared to the default File Explorer, highlighting the need for Microsoft to improve its application.
Winsage
March 21, 2026
Microsoft is addressing user dissatisfaction with Windows 11 by implementing several changes. These include enhanced taskbar customization, allowing users to reposition the taskbar; a more selective integration of AI features, reducing unnecessary AI entry points in applications; greater control over updates, enabling users to skip or pause updates; performance improvements aimed at reducing sluggishness in File Explorer and enhancing memory efficiency; and increased reliability by focusing on reducing crashes and improving app stability. Additionally, Microsoft plans to enhance various functionalities, including Bluetooth and USB connectivity, printer support, and search functionality, while also making widgets less intrusive.
AppWizard
March 14, 2026
Microsoft has introduced enhancements to its Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) technology to address lengthy shader compilation times for PC gamers. The ASD technology generates a Pre-compiled Shader Database (PSDB) from a Shader Object State Database (SODB), allowing for faster game startups by eliminating the need for local compilation. Since integrating ASD into its software development kit (SDK), Microsoft has achieved an 85% reduction in launch times for the game Avowed. NVIDIA, Intel, and Qualcomm are also set to support ASD in their hardware. Additionally, Microsoft has updated its API to allow developers to upload pre-compiled shaders through the Xbox Partner Center, starting with the Xbox app on PC.
AppWizard
February 25, 2026
Capcom has announced that Resident Evil Requiem will be released globally on February 27, 2026. Pre-orders are available, and players can preload the game on their preferred platforms. Game director Koshi Nakanishi praised the performance of Resident Evil Requiem on the Nintendo Switch 2, stating that the game runs smoothly on the console, leading the team to proceed with its development for the system.
AppWizard
January 31, 2026
Code Vein 2 is set to launch at 3 pm PST on January 29. The deluxe edition will unlock three days earlier for early access. Global launch times include: Los Angeles at 3 pm PST, New York at 6 pm EST, London at 11 pm GMT, Berlin at 12 am CET on January 30, Tokyo at 8 am JST on January 30, and Sydney at 8 am AEDT on January 30. Preloading is not available for the standard edition, but the deluxe edition allows for advanced access.
AppWizard
January 30, 2026
Code Vein 2 is set to launch at 3 pm PST on January 29, with the deluxe edition unlocking three days earlier. Launch times for various regions are as follows: Los Angeles at 3 pm PST, New York at 6 pm EST, London at 11 pm GMT, Berlin at 12 am CET, Tokyo at 8 am JST, and Sydney at 8 am AEDT. Preloading is not available for the game, except for those who purchased the deluxe edition, which allows early access.
AppWizard
January 28, 2026
The Midnight Walkers launches at the following times across different time zones: - Los Angeles: 6 pm PST on Wednesday, January 28 - New York: 9 pm PST on Wednesday, January 28 - Nuuk: 12 am WGT on Thursday, January 29 - London: 2 am GMT on Thursday, January 29 - Berlin: 3 am CET on Thursday, January 29 - Sydney: 1 pm AEDT on Thursday, January 29 - Auckland: 3 pm NZDT on Thursday, January 29 - Tokyo: 11 am JST on Thursday, January 29 Preloading is not available for The Midnight Walkers; all early access participants will gain access simultaneously.
Winsage
January 20, 2026
Microsoft's PowerToys has released version 0.97, enhancing the Windows 11 experience with a new utility and significant updates to the Command Palette. The Command Palette now features a Personalization page for customizing its interface, including background images and color tinting. It also includes fallback ranking for search results, allowing users to manage command order through drag-and-drop. A new extension enables control of PowerToys features directly from the Command Palette, and the Peek feature allows file and folder previews. Additional updates include support for Pinyin, a Remote Desktop extension, custom search engine selection, and drag-and-drop support for File Indexer and Clipboard History. The new CursorWrap feature allows seamless mouse movement across multiple monitors. The Quick Access flyout has been optimized for faster launch times and can be customized or disabled. PowerToys now offers expanded CLI support for utilities like FancyZones and Image Resizer. Other changes include the Light Switch feature following the Night Light setting, a revamped "What's new" dialog, and improvements to the Advanced Paste feature. CursorWrap shows promise but has minor bugs and user requests for further refinements.
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