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Owner of big gaming platform can't believe how bad Windows 11 is – and hints are dropped about big things for Linux gamers this year
Winsage
January 16, 2026

Owner of big gaming platform can’t believe how bad Windows 11 is – and hints are dropped about big things for Linux gamers this year

Michał Kiciński, the new owner of GOG, expressed surprise at the longevity of Windows, criticizing it as poor-quality software. Maciej Gołębiewski, managing director of GOG, noted the company's strategic shift towards Linux, driven by increasing game compatibility and the success of SteamOS. This pivot is part of a broader industry trend as developers recognize the value of alternative operating systems. GOG plans to embrace Linux more fully by 2026. Meanwhile, Microsoft has focused on integrating AI into Windows 11, which has faced criticism for not addressing foundational issues, particularly in performance and functionality.
Microsoft's Windows 11 SE, once supposed to be a ChromeOS-killer, bites dust in next ten months
Winsage
January 2, 2026

Microsoft’s Windows 11 SE, once supposed to be a ChromeOS-killer, bites dust in next ten months

Microsoft has announced that Windows 11 SE will reach its end of life in 2026. Initially launched in 2021 for K-8 educational environments, Windows 11 SE was designed as a streamlined, web-first operating system to compete with ChromeOS. It allowed only approved applications for educational purposes and required administrator approval for traditional Windows applications. The last supported version for Windows 11 SE is version 24H2, with no new feature updates planned. Schools using Windows 11 SE devices will need to transition to a supported edition of Windows for ongoing updates and support. Microsoft recommends upgrading to maintain security and support, as it will also phase out support for other products, including Office 2021 and Windows 11 24H2 (Pro and Home), by the same deadline.
Microsoft's change to Appxsvc may slow some Windows 11 PCs
Winsage
December 30, 2025

Microsoft’s change to Appxsvc may slow some Windows 11 PCs

Microsoft is modifying core system settings for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 by enabling the AppX Deployment Service (Appxsvc) to launch automatically upon boot-up, transitioning from a manual trigger system. This change was confirmed in the December 2025 "Patch Tuesday" update (KB5072033) for both Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025. The Appxsvc will now remain active in the background from the moment the computer powers on, regardless of Microsoft Store access, to enhance system stability and minimize app installation failures or update glitches. Microsoft warns against manually reverting this setting, as it could lead to malfunctions in Store apps and essential services. Analysts suggest this move aligns with a strategy for updating Microsoft Store apps directly through Windows Update.
CD Projekt Sells DRM-Free PC Storefront GOG to Original Co-Founder for $25.2 Million, Insists It's Financially Stable
AppWizard
December 29, 2025

CD Projekt Sells DRM-Free PC Storefront GOG to Original Co-Founder for $25.2 Million, Insists It’s Financially Stable

CD Projekt has sold its DRM-free PC storefront, GOG, to co-founder Michał Kiciński for 90.7 million Polish złoty (approximately .2 million). Kiciński, who co-founded GOG in 2008 and holds a 10% stake in CD Projekt, will lead GOG independently while maintaining its DRM-free philosophy. A distribution agreement between CD Projekt and GOG has been established for future collaboration, including the release of upcoming CD Projekt Red titles on the GOG platform. CD Projekt aims to focus on video game development, including The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2, following the sale. GOG has remained financially stable and continues to attract gamers with its mission. CD Projekt previously employed 1,335 staff.
silver Android smartphone
Winsage
December 24, 2025

Microsoft engineer says Windows isn’t being rewritten to Rust with AI

Galen Hunt, a Distinguished Engineer at Microsoft, has proposed to eliminate all C and C++ code within the company, focusing on transitioning to Rust. This initiative aims to address technical debt and improve memory safety, as C and C++ are responsible for approximately 70% of vulnerabilities in Microsoft products. Microsoft plans to leverage AI and modern tooling to facilitate this transition, which includes rewriting portions of the Windows kernel in Rust. Hunt is seeking a Principal Software Engineer with Rust expertise to support this effort. The adoption of Rust is growing globally, with a reported 2.3 million developers using it, and major tech companies are increasingly integrating it into their infrastructure.
“My goal is to eliminate every line of C and C++ from Microsoft by 2030” — Microsoft bets on AI to finally modernize Windows
Winsage
December 24, 2025

“My goal is to eliminate every line of C and C++ from Microsoft by 2030” — Microsoft bets on AI to finally modernize Windows

Microsoft is planning to replace C and C++ with Rust across its codebases by 2030, as stated by engineer Galen Hunt. The company aims to eliminate every line of C and C++ using artificial intelligence and advanced algorithms, targeting a goal of “1 engineer, 1 month, 1 million lines of code.” Microsoft has developed a code processing infrastructure to support this initiative, which is already operational for various code understanding challenges. In 2023, Microsoft began rewriting parts of the Windows Kernel using Rust due to vulnerabilities associated with C and C++. The new role advertised by Hunt is part of the Future of Scalable Software Engineering group within Microsoft CoreAI, indicating a significant investment in modernizing Microsoft's code for enhanced security and efficiency.
Better Relevance for AI Apps With BM25 Algorithm in PostgreSQL
Tech Optimizer
December 23, 2025

Better Relevance for AI Apps With BM25 Algorithm in PostgreSQL

Tiger Data, formerly known as Timescale, has released a preview version of pg_textsearch, an open-source extension for PostgreSQL that uses the BM25 algorithm to improve keyword search relevance and performance. The project quickly gained over 1,800 stars on GitHub. The rebranding reflects a strategic shift from a focus on time-series databases to a broader scope, including cloud offerings and PostgreSQL for various applications. The pg_textsearch extension addresses the need for enhanced search capabilities in PostgreSQL, particularly for AI applications, as customers sought a general-purpose search primitive. The BM25 algorithm improves relevance ranking in information retrieval systems, offering features like inverse document frequency and term frequency saturation. The extension is compatible with PostgreSQL versions 17 and 18 and enhances performance for large datasets. Development of pg_textsearch began in October, utilizing AI tools to streamline the process, with a production-ready version expected early next year.
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