Prism Archives

Winsage

April 12, 2026

Windows on Arm isn’t the problem. Bad reviewers are.

Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission from purchases made through links in their articles. Recent reviews of the ASUS Zenbook A16 have raised discussions about Windows 11 on Arm, particularly regarding the performance of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 processors. Devices with Snapdragon X chips run Windows 11 on Arm, and Microsoft has improved compatibility significantly, with users spending 90% of their time on apps that run natively on Arm. While some reviews exaggerate app compatibility issues, many users cannot specify which apps do not work. The "Works on Windows on Arm" initiative lists compatible applications, including Google Chrome and Adobe Creative Suite. The ASUS Zenbook A16, featuring the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme and 48GB of RAM, now starts at ,699.99 after a price adjustment due to a listing error.

Winsage

March 31, 2026

Lenovo Legion 7 and the N1X leak: Will this be the first serious Windows-on-ARM gaming laptop?

A recent discovery involving Lenovo's model listings revealed a "Legion 7 15N1X11," which may indicate a 15-inch Legion model of the 11th generation potentially powered by an NVIDIA N1X platform. This model deviates from the typical Intel, AMD, or Qualcomm nomenclature associated with gaming laptops. While the specifics of the device's final specifications and potential release remain unverified, the mention of an ARM gaming laptop raises questions about the future of Windows on ARM, a segment that has struggled in gaming. NVIDIA has introduced the GB10 Grace-Blackwell superchip, which integrates an ARM CPU with Blackwell GPU technology, and speculation exists that the N1X might share similarities with this chip. The current Legion 7a generation features AMD Ryzen AI 400 processors and GeForce RTX laptop GPUs. Windows 11 has improved compatibility for ARM, but challenges remain with games relying on anti-cheat drivers not designed for ARM systems. The reference to a 15-inch model suggests a potential transition to a dedicated chassis for this specific SoC class.

Winsage

February 22, 2026

Windows 12 Forecast Six Expert Predictions

Microsoft is preparing for the release of Windows 12, which is expected to feature an AI-native experience with deep integration of Copilot, showcasing capabilities like on-screen comprehension, voice activation, and task automation. The hardware requirements will be elevated, necessitating 16GB of RAM, rapid NVMe storage, and a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for advanced features. Windows on Arm is gaining momentum, with improvements in app compatibility and battery life, while a modular architecture called CorePC is being developed to facilitate faster updates and enhance security. Licensing for Windows 12 is expected to remain unchanged for consumers, with optional cloud-enhanced services available. The update cadence will increase, allowing for faster feature drops independent of major OS releases, with the Windows Insider Program continuing to test new features. Upon its release, Windows 12 will integrate Copilot, provide a more cohesive OS core, and support both x86 and Arm architectures.

Winsage

February 11, 2026

“Windows 11 26H1” is a special version of Windows exclusively for new Arm PCs

The recent developments in Windows versions present challenges for app developers and IT professionals, particularly with the introduction of a new Windows version designed exclusively for the latest Arm PCs. This shift highlights Microsoft's commitment to Arm processors, moving away from its historical focus on x86 versions. The 24H2 update for Windows 10 and 11 introduced significant enhancements for Arm PCs, including an optimized x86-to-Arm translation layer called Prism, improving compatibility and performance for applications not originally designed for Arm. This update coincided with the launch of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X-series processors, leading to more Arm-native Windows applications being released by third-party developers. Microsoft's hardware strategy has shifted, as the new Surface PCs launched in mid-2024 now exclusively use Qualcomm processors, moving away from Intel chips. Since the 24H2 update, development on Arm and x86 versions of Windows has progressed at different rates, with certain features available on Arm versions earlier than on x86 systems. Windows 11 24H2 was also available on Arm PCs in retail stores months before being released to the broader PC ecosystem. Microsoft has been contacted for details on the upcoming Windows 11 26H1 update and its potential enhancements.

AppWizard

January 29, 2026

Little Woody is an adorable 2D puzzle game with a great short demo that you can check out now, but be warned: It’ll leave you wanting more

Little Woody is a 2D point-and-click puzzle game with a free demo that leaves a lasting impression. The demo is brief, ending abruptly just as the player begins to engage with the puzzles. Despite its short length, the experience was enjoyable enough for the player to add it to their wishlist, with the developers targeting a full release in Q2 of this year.

Winsage

January 26, 2026

Xbox App officially launches on ARM-based Windows 11 PCs from Microsoft

Microsoft has launched an ARM-compatible version of its Xbox App, enhancing the gaming ecosystem for ARM-based Windows 11 devices. Over 85% of the current Game Pass library is functional on ARM systems, although full compatibility remains exclusive to x86-based systems. Gamers can access unsupported titles through Xbox Cloud Gaming. Microsoft’s Prism emulation layer allows native x86 and x64 applications to run on ARM PCs, with recent updates improving Game Pass compatibility. Popular titles like Gears of War: Reloaded and Fortnite now support ARM. This development encourages innovation from companies like Nvidia and Qualcomm, while the gap in game compatibility between ARM and x86 architectures is closing. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is highlighted as a top choice for building or upgrading gaming PCs.

AppWizard

January 22, 2026

Arm-Based Windows 11 PCs Can Now Download and Play Games from the Xbox App

Microsoft's Xbox app on Windows 11 now supports game downloads on all ARM-based PCs, expanding functionality beyond cloud gaming for Qualcomm-powered devices. This update follows an initial rollout for Xbox Insiders in August, coinciding with Epic Games' compatibility of its Easy Anti-Cheat system with Windows on ARM. The Prism emulator was updated in December to support more x86 games on ARM devices, and the Xbox app now includes a Windows Performance Fit feature to assess game performance based on hardware. Over 85% of the Game Pass catalog is compatible with ARM PCs, with ongoing efforts to increase support. Emulation performance has improved on Qualcomm Snapdragon X Series chips, with further enhancements expected from upcoming X2 series chips, although native ARM64 game versions are still anticipated.

Winsage

January 21, 2026

The Xbox app is now available on Arm-based Windows PCs

Microsoft has launched its Xbox app for Windows 11 PCs with Arm chips, specifically those using the Snapdragon X processor. Over 85% of games on Microsoft’s Game Pass are now compatible with Arm architecture. The app allows for native game execution on devices, moving beyond previous limitations of cloud streaming. Microsoft has improved its emulator, Prism, to support AVX and AVX2 instructions. Additionally, a new feature called Game Save Sync integrates save data across PC and handheld devices. Microsoft plans to expand the Xbox app to select Hisense and V HomeOS-powered smart TVs in 2026. Xbox Game Pass offers various subscription tiers: Essential, Premium, and Ultimate, with the Ultimate Tier providing access to both Xbox and PC Game Pass games, including day-one releases for first-party titles.

Winsage

January 21, 2026

Play more: Xbox app is now available on Arm-based Windows 11 PCs

Windows 11 has made significant advancements in gaming, particularly for Arm-based devices. The Xbox app is now available on all Arm-based Windows 11 PCs, with over 85% of the Game Pass catalog compatible. Xbox Cloud Gaming offers an alternative for unsupported titles. The introduction of Prism allows x86/x64 software to run on Arm, supporting AVX and AVX2 for modern games. Epic Anti-Cheat support has enabled popular games like Gears of War: Reloaded and Fortnite on these devices. The Windows Performance Fit feature helps players choose games based on their hardware capabilities. Ongoing collaborations aim to enhance catalog compatibility and improve the gaming experience on various Windows 11 devices. Player feedback is shaping updates and new titles for Arm-based Windows 11 PCs.

Winsage

January 12, 2026

VLC gets native support for Snapdragon-powered PCs — but its devs haven’t forgotten your ancient Windows XP rig

The latest update to VLC, versions 3.0.22 and 3.0.23, introduces native support for Arm processors, specifically for Windows ARM64, requiring a minimum of Windows 10 RS5 17763 / 1809. This update improves playback across various formats, enhances subtitle rendering, includes codec updates, introduces a Dark Mode user interface, allows users to manage playing files, and addresses multiple security issues. The Snapdragon X2 Plus chip outperforms Intel's Core Ultra 7 265U and 256V processors, delivering up to 3.5 times the CPU performance of the former and a 52% increase in multi-core performance compared to the latter. Microsoft reported that 90% of usage time on Arm-based PCs is dedicated to natively compiled applications.