Apple is experiencing shipping delays for the MacBook Neo
Orders from Apple's online store aren't expected to ship until mid-April
This demand is attributed to first-time Mac owners, making it the biggest Mac launch for Apple
Haven’t ordered your new MacBook Neo yet? Well, I’d advise you to score Apple’s budget laptop sooner rather than later, as it’s experiencing shipping delays everywhere.
Following its launch on March 11, the MacBook Neo has proved to be one of Apple’s most popular products in recent years, but it appears that the tech giant hasn’t been able to keep up with the skyrocketing demand that’s come with it. As a result, shipping delays are increasing, and now you may not be able to get your hands on a MacBook Neo until mid-April at the very earliest.
According to 9to5Mac, every configuration of the MacBook Neo has sold out in the US and won’t be shipped until between April 6 and April 13 when you order from Apple’s online store, pushing shipping dates back a good two to three weeks.
Apple’s online store in the UK is showing similar dates, and most models are due to be shipped between April 9 and April 16. Based on which iteration of the Neo you opt for, you could be looking between April 16 and April 23 for your device to be shipped — this is mainly for the MacBook Neo with the Blush finish, and applies to both the 256GB and 512GB models. Ordering from your local Apple store may not be the best idea either, as in-store collection dates are also being pushed back.
Waiting until next month to snag what will undoubtedly become one of the best budget laptops isn’t ideal, but a few weeks back, we predicted that Apple would sell these by the boatload, and voilà. But despite the frustrating delays, it reveals something monumental for Apple as a company, and it’s all thanks to first-time Mac customers.
For the first time, a MacBook launch has ushered in a demand that you only really see with the release of a new iPhone. Apple CEO Tim Cook has deemed it the ‘best launch week ever’ for Macs, which has been fuelled by first-time MacBook owners. This can be attributed to the MacBook Neo’s affordability, giving users who've wanted to convert to Mac a better entry point, but could never justify the hefty price tag. But the Neo has also done a stellar job at luring casual users and students.
Just like us, users on Reddit also expected the demand, with one describing the MacBook Neo as ‘such a neat notebook’, garnering a shedload of responses agreeing that it'll be a big hit with scholars, especially when September comes around. Not only that, but Apple’s budget laptop has given users more reason to not opt for an iPad, which costs around the same as the MacBook Neo, but requires purchasing a separate keyboard and other accessories, which aren’t budget-friendly.
With this in mind, picking a MacBook Neo up at your nearest Apple store may be your best option if you don’t want to wait nearly three weeks for one to arrive. Alternatively, you can try other retailers such as Amazon, which offers same-week shipping. Unfortunately, the MacBook Neo is out of stock on Amazon UK, so heading to the Apple store is your best shot right now.
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Pearl Abyss has released a major patch for Crimson Desert, fixing numerous bugs
The update includes significant changes to boss encounters and AI aggression
Pearl Abyss has also promised Intel Arc GPU support after user complaints
Pearl Abyss' Crimson Desert is gradually shifting from mixed reception to positive among fans, particularly on Steam, and swift action from the developers has played a major role in that.
A new Crimson Desert patch has been deployed across all platforms, including numerous bug fixes, performance improvements, user interface updates, and stability fixes, and Pearl Abyss has also promised Intel GPU support.
Notably, it has also implemented changes to the game's boss encounters, effectively reducing overall AI aggression.
The boss encounters were one of the main obstacles for reviewers, and that was certainly the case for me. Bosses would often leave players little room to retaliate to their near-constant attacks, even after using revival tools.
Some of the patch notes highlight changes such as reducing the 'health and attack of specific enemies and bosses', and 'adjusting certain attack patterns for Kearush the Slayer', a boss that has notoriously left most players frustrated.
Further inventory management adjustments were made via the addition of camp storage, which means gameplay should flow a lot smoother with less tedious looting.
(Image credit: Pearl Abyss)
Perhaps more importantly, though, Pearl Abyss' pledge to Intel Arc GPU support is a great sign that it's not resting on its laurels, and has issued an apology for its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) misunderstanding.
"We are currently working on compatibility and optimization support so that Crimson Desert can also be enjoyed on Intel Arc GPU systems," Pearl Abyss said on X. "We apologize for any confusion our FAQ wording from several hours ago regarding playability on Intel Arc GPUs may have caused."
Many have also argued that Arc GPU support should have been available from day one (to which I’d agree), but it's good to see that the dev team isn't abandoning Intel hardware after initial fears that it might.
The speed of new patch deployments from Pearl Abyss is incredible to see, and unlike what many players have come to expect; game studios these days can take months to deliver bug fixes and other vital improvements. Hopefully, Pearl Abyss will continue to hit this high bar.
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Activision has slashed the price ofCall of Duty: Modern Warfareon Steam for the Spring Sale
It's currently 90% off, available for a record low price of $5.99 / £4.99 / AU$9.59
The game's player counts have boomed to new heights thanks to the deal
If you're looking for an incredible bargain in the Steam Spring Sale, then Activision has you covered with an incredible discount on 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
Right now, the game is a massive 90% off, plummeting to a record low $5.99 / £4.99 / AU$9.59 on the platform. Usually it costs $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$89.95 and has previously only gone down to $19.79 / £16.49 / AU$29.68 when it's been on sale.
I can't think of the last time that a recent Call of Duty game has ever been that cheap, and plenty of other Steam users have obviously taken notice of the deal. The game hit an all-time new Steam peak player count of 61,667 thanks to this deal, with tens of thousands of players right now, according to SteamDB.
Modern Warfare is now one of the most played first-person shooter (FPS) games on the platform, beating out Warzone, Black Ops 7, and Black Ops 6 - which have a total of 17,442 players at the moment in the combined Call of Duty experience. It has roughly double the current Steam players of Battlefield 6, too, no small feat for a game that's now almost seven years old.
(Image credit: Activision)
The first instalment of the rebooted Modern Warfare series, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, is looked back on fondly as one of the best Call of Duty games in recent memory. It's gritty and grounded, with a superb campaign that contains now iconic sequences like the tense room-clearing action of Clean House.
Although it's no longer receiving major content updates, it has plenty of maps and modes to discover, in addition to a strong arsenal of weapons. Even if you've played it before, the servers are now the most populated that they have been since launch, giving you a rare opportunity to drop back into bustling online lobbies.
There's no saying just how long this boom will last, either, so I'd recommend diving in as soon as possible if you want to give the multiplayer a good go.
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A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, March 22 (game #749).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #750) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… In pieces
NYT Strands today (game #750) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
WRECK
DICE
CRUSH
WHAT
DISHES
SUCK
NYT Strands today (game #750) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 9 letters
NYT Strands today (game #750) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: top, 4th column
Last side: bottom, 3rd column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #750) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #750, are…
SNAP
CRACK
SPLINTER
RUPTURE
FRACTURE
SPANGRAM: BREAKDOWN
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
A straightforward game to begin the week, with SNAP firing off a rapid search for me.
As I was connecting SPLINTER I felt sure it would be the spangram, as it’s unusual for words to span from top to bottom, but instead it was BREAKDOWN.
The other unusual thing about today’s search was how many non-game words qualified for the theme — I found three, but I’m sure there are more in there.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, March 22, game #749)
ZIPPER
THERMOS
ESCALATOR
ASPIRIN
DUMPSTER
SPANGRAM: GENERICTERM
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
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The CEO of Reddit has been talking about verification
Face ID or Touch ID could be used to prove you're human
Nothing has been decided or implemented on Reddit yet
Reddit has a serious bot problem, and CEO Steve Huffman has been talking about ways that it could prove that posts are crafted by humans – including the possibility that Face ID and Touch ID verification could be required.
Huffman made the comments in an interview with TBPN (via Engadget), while discussing the idea of making Reddit more valuable for its users, and opening out the platform to people who haven't used it before.
"The most lightweight way [to verify a user is human] is with something like Face ID," Huffman said, before going on to mention more "heavy" options such as ID checking services, and other alternatives in between.
Reddit is looking at passkey technology in general, Huffman said: "They actually require a human presence. A human has to touch, or do, or look at something. That actually just proves that there's a person there, or gets you pretty far."
'We do want to know you're a person'
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman says that while there are legit types of AI content on the platform, the company is considering Face ID and other passkey verification methods — among other options — to ensure there's a human behind each prompt while allowing users to stay anonymous: pic.twitter.com/Erv2jfj9QuMarch 20, 2026
Huffman also said the internet as a whole needs better third-party tools for verifying that someone is a human being, without having to require any kind of ID and without impinging on the privacy and security of users.
Reddit isn't the only online platform struggling with an influx of automated bots, especially with the rise of generative AI to power them. We're getting to the stage where bot traffic is overtaking human traffic on the web.
While platforms such as X and Facebook seem okay with AI-generated content being posted for the masses, it's something Reddit is keen to crack down on – while also respecting the anonymity of its users.
"Part of our promise for our users is we don't know your name but we do want to know you're a person," Huffman said. "It'll be an evolution for us for a while, and probably every platform to find the right middle ground here."
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If PSN was down for you, it wasn't just you. The official PlayStation Status page confirmed that "Some services are experiencing issues" — and specifically, the services in question were "Gaming & Social". The Status page now says all services are online, and I've been able to get back to gaming in Overwatch 2, but it sounds like not everyone has been so lucky…
Downdetector's reports are dropping for PSN access, and for other games and services that spiked at the same time, possibly as a result of the PSN problem in actuality.
However, not everyone says they're able to get on, so we're keep an eye on the situation, because while it's officially no longer down according to PlayStation, it may not be over…
Hello folks, I'm looking out for status info on what's happening on PSN, and will update this page as I find info!
What's out? Officially, all of these
(Image credit: PlayStation)
Here's Sony's list of what's officially down — you can see that Sony officially recognized it around 40 minutes ago, but reports online first surface around an hour ago. And to be fair, by Big Tech standards, acknowledging a problem after 20-30 minutes isn't too bad at all.
It's noticed elsewhere
(Image credit: Downdetector)
You can see that people aren't just noting that PSN is down on Downdetector, but it's hard to whether these are connected — the reports may be just the ripples of PSN being down, as specific games or services get flagged as not working as a result.
You can also see that the spike is dropping, though there's no status update from Sony and I'm not playing Overwatch 2 yet…
Still the official line
"You might have difficulty launching games, apps or network features. We're working to resolve the issue as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience."
So what can you do?
Well, I'm accessing the PlayStation Store right now, and browsing the Spring Sale. I seem to be able to download Slime Rancher 2 from PS Plus' Monthly Games perfectly well. I just started playing The Long Dark, which I had downloaded but never actually fired up before, so that's fine.
What do you mean 'Offline'?
(Image credit: Future)
Now, I do notice that my 'Online status' is offline, and it really doesn't want to let me select the option and do anything with it, despite the fact that I am clearly online and downloading a game. Slime Rancher is at 70%.
Downloads work!
(Image credit: Future)
So, I've been able to add Slime Rancher 2 to my library, download it, and start playing successfully it all during this PSN outage — which is a drastic improvement on previous PSN outages, where often people couldn't fire up games they'd already downloaded, let along play online or download and start new games.
It's back… maybe
People are saying that PSN is back, and I can confirm that I'm now able to log back into Overwatch 2.
As you'd imagine, gamers were getting a little frustrated at the outage.
On Reddit, there's a 300-plus comment PSN outage megathread, with many posters complaining about the modern nature of online-only games.
"What makes it worse is how random it feels. You can sit down ready to play, and out of nowhere you’re getting connection errors with no warning and no clear idea when it’ll be fixed. It just kills the whole vibe, especially if you only had a little time to play," says one user, Used_Debt_9763.
Another, SillyWillySaxon, says, "Outage has made me realise just how many games are an online service. I can’t access career mode on something as simple as EA Sports PGA Tour. I feel so vulnerable with most of my games being digitally downloaded 😓"
Let's hope that the PSN's return in the last few minutes holds up — not all recoveries from outages go smoothly, after all…
Online, but not officially
(Image credit: Future)
Sony still hasn't updated the PlayStation Status site to say that it's back officially. I am, as you can see, back Online though.
I can see my Trophies again! I don't really care about Trophies these days — long gone is my Xbox 360 Achievement-hunting era — but given that 20 minutes ago I couldn't see them, it's a welcome improvement.
Seems like it's still lucky for some but not others
On that occasion, the company came in for a huge amount of flak for its lack of announcements about what was happening. At the time of writing, there's been no note on X/Twitter about this one, either.
I'd be very surprised if there was any similar handout today, given that the outage hasn't lasted for long and appears to be coming to an end. But we'll keep our eyes on what's happening in case it's not fully over yet.
It's also worth nothing that on Downdetector.com there has been a bit of a rise in reports after the big drops during the recovery…
(Image credit: Downdetector)
Overwatch 2 has been working fine for me, at least. Got walked all over once, nailed it once. About par for me. Obviously the problem in the first game was my team…
The Downdetector.com graph is back to dropping, after a brief pause, though commenters are in various states of disruption.
"All my stuff is loading it shows my friends it's says I'm online but fun cod won't work," says 'Jirdoon'.
"still cant get in but their site says everything's up wth," says 'jsafkerjr44'.
"imma make a digiorno pizza in the meantime," says 'mario', wisely.
"I can stream games or play fortnite ok but I can't play online ps plus games or games like call of duty online," says John Burrows in our own comments section here.
Still plenty of people saying it's down for them, sadly.
The most recent post on X from PlayStation is inviting you to play Fortnite to get new skins — I just hope you're actually able to get online to do it…
Drop in to the MrSavage Fortnite PlayStation Cup this weekend 💥Play solo in Zero Build or Battle Royale from March 21-22 to get the MrSavage and Savage Siren outfits: https://t.co/xJkBnV8MxD pic.twitter.com/ffil7NMEIIMarch 21, 2026
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Assassin's Creed Shadowsart director Thierry Dansereau has discussed the game at a recent
He explained why the historical figure of Yasuke was chosen to be one of the game's protagonists
"It gave us the opportunity to play and view Japan as a foreigner, like most of our players," he said
Assassin's Creed Shadows is officially one year old, and art director Thierry Dansereau reflected on why his team featured the historical samurai Yasuke as a protagonist at an event held to celebrate the mark the game's anniversary.
"Yasuke is the first historical protagonist that the Assassin's Creed games have," he said. "We did that because Yasuke, from the historical knowledge that we gathered, [was] close to Oda Nobunaga, who is one of the main characters of the game."
Before becoming a samurai, the historical figure was of African origin and is believed to have arrived in Japan during the Sengoku period in the service of a Jesuit missionary, an event depicted early on in the game. In addition to his closeness to Nobunaga, Dansereau said that Yasuke's status as a foreigner was a major reason why he was chosen to star in the game.
"It gave us the opportunity to play and view Japan as a foreigner, like most of our players," he said. "He's discovering Japan at the same time as the player."
According to Dansereau, Yasuke's apparent size and strength also made him a good pick too and, alongside the inclusion of the fictional ninja Naoe, allowed the team to depict one of two "very strong fantasies" of the period: "the shinobi and the samurai."
"We didn't want to have one character archetype at all, and Yasuke was fulfilling that fantasy of the samurai quite well, while Naoe was embodying the fantasy of the shinobi," he explained. "There are many reasons, but Yasuke became the obvious choice for us to put in the game."
A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, March 21 (game #1014).
Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.
What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Connections today (game #1015) - today's words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today's NYT Connections words are…
RACK
COUCH
RUN
STILL
CROWD
CHAIR
HEAD
BENCH
IMAGE
LEAD
FRAME
BAR
CHANNEL
WEIGHTS
KITE
SHOT
NYT Connections today (game #1015) - hint #1 - group hints
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: What the one in charge does
GREEN: Snaps from moving images
BLUE: Ready to pump iron
PURPLE: Add a word that rhymes with “smurf”
Need more clues?
We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…
NYT Connections today (game #1015) - hint #2 - group answers
What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: OVERSEE
GREEN: PICTURE TAKEN FROM A FILM
BLUE: COMPONENTS OF A WEIGHTLIFTING SETUP
PURPLE: ____ SURF
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #1015) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Connections, game #1015, are…
YELLOW: OVERSEE CHAIR, HEAD, LEAD, RUN
GREEN: PICTURE TAKEN FROM A FILM FRAME, IMAGE, SHOT, STILL
BLUE: COMPONENTS OF A WEIGHTLIFTING SETUP BAR, BENCH, RACK, WEIGHTS
PURPLE: ____ SURF CHANNEL, COUCH, CROWD, KITE
My rating: Hard
My score: 1 mistake
I didn’t see the purple group today. Kudos if you did.
Maybe I was blind to it because CHANNEL surfing is no longer a part of the dominant COUCH Potato mindset. The zapper of the '00s is the scroller of the '20s and today instead of whizzing through stations in search of instant gratification we’ll get our dopamine hits from on-demand video clips.
My mistake came with COMPONENTS OF A WEIGHTLIFTING SETUP. I was on the right track, but I chose FRAME instead of RACK — which possibly tells you how infrequently I go to the gym (I’m too busy scrolling).
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, March 21, game #1014)
YELLOW: DIRECT BLUNT, FRANK, PLAIN, STRAIGHT
GREEN: TARGET GOAL, MARK, OBJECT, POINT
BLUE: CHECKERS TERMS CAPTURE, CROWN, JUMP, KING
PURPLE: 20TH CENTURY AMERICAN POETS BISHOP, FROST, POUND, RICH
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
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A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, March 21 (game #748).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #749) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Trademarked no more
NYT Strands today (game #749) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
GASP
PROM
MORE
CREST
STARE
REPEL
NYT Strands today (game #749) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 11 letters
NYT Strands today (game #749) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: left, 3rd row
Last side: right, 7th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #749) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #749, are…
ZIPPER
THERMOS
ESCALATOR
ASPIRIN
DUMPSTER
SPANGRAM: GENERICTERM
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
Today’s search celebrates the brand names that became so popular that they ended up being the word we all used to describe them.
Many of these products became so ubiquitous that people didn't know they were brands in the first place — that is certainly the case for me and DUMPSTER. And, of course once the TRADEMARK runs out any big metal trash can manufacturer can call their product a DUMPSTER.
Seeing the letter Z got me off to a flyer today and along with the theme I immediately guessed what we were searching for; that didn’t stop attempting to submit SMORE, though.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, March 21, game #748)
SCHNOZZLE
MUZZLE
SNOUT
HONKER
BEAK
PROBOSCIS
SPANGRAM: ONTHENOSE
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
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Reductions in AI and more control over updates are included
Taskbar repositioning is returning as well
You don't have to look far on the internet to find complaints from Windows 11 users about the direction that the desktop operating system has been heading in lately, but it seems as though Microsoft is now making good on its promises to fix some of the biggest issues with the software.
Pavan Davuluri, the President of Windows & Devices at Microsoft, has written a lengthy blog post that was also sent out via email to users in the Windows Insider program. In it he shares some of the "initial changes" coming to preview versions of Windows across the next couple of months.
It reads like a wishlist put together by a disillusioned Windows 11 user: we're getting fewer "unnecessary Copilot entry points" (less AI slop), and that reduction in AI includes features pushed out to apps like Photos and Notepad. Desktop widgets are also being made "quieter" and less distracting, with improved personalization controls.
Another worthwhile change is more control over Windows Updates. Davuluri says these will be less disruptive going forward, and that users will have more choice when it comes to skipping updates (when setting up or restarting Windows, for example). Updates will be able to be paused for longer too.
Taskbar customization is coming back
Taskbar repositioning is coming back(Image credit: Microsoft)
File Explorer — the bane of many a user — is going to get "faster and more dependable", with performance improvements coming to the launch experience. The app will soon show reduced flicker and smoother navigation, and more reliable performance when it comes to day-to-day file management.
Then there's more taskbar customization, which Davuluri says is one of the "top asks" he's been hearing from users. You'll be able to fix it to the side or the top of the screen, no third-party utility required, with a coming update. This is of course a feature that we had in Windows 10 but that got cut for Windows 11.
What's more, Microsoft is making the Windows Insider program "more transparent" — with clearer channel definitions and improved access to new features — and upgrading the Feedback Hub as well, so you can more easily tell Microsoft how well (or how badly) it's doing with the upcoming changes.
Davuluri goes on to emphasize Microsoft's recent commitment to upping the performance, reliability, and "craft" (user experience) of Windows 11 in the coming months, and it would appear that there's lots in store. What the exec doesn't say is how many of these upgrades will be coded by AI — perhaps best not to ask.
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Pokémon Pokopiahas a hidden reward that can be found in the Sparkling Skylands
Players need to find all 300 Pokémon before accessing it
The completed Pokédex will be required to unlock the area
Pokémon Pokopia has a secret reward, but players can only earn it if they complete their Pokédex first.
Pokopia launched earlier this month on Nintendo Switch 2, so many players are likely still slowly trucking along and have not even finished the game's story yet.
It's a huge game with plenty to do, and for those who are invested for the long haul, there's a pretty neat reward waiting for you at the end of the road.
Pokémon Pokopia spoilers ahead!
According to IGN, players can unlock a hidden reward for finishing their entire Pokédex, and you can actually encounter the beginnings of it quite early on.
If you investigate the Sparkling Skylands, you can stumble upon a cave deep in one of the islands where they meet Gyrados for the first time. The area can be found by locating a room with a broken ladder and by following a black/yellow stripe WARNING panel on the floor.
After breaking through the panel beneath where the ladder descends, you should eventually drop into a small cavern. It's in there that players will find an Area Gate that lets players scan their Pokédex.
Here's the catch. You'll only be able to open it if you have completed the entire Pokédex, which means finding all 300 Pokémon first, minus event-only creatures.
If you haven't already discovered the Area Gate, you'll receive the recipe for the Neo Dowsing Machine by collecting the 300th Pokémon, which Professor Tangrowth will tell you to take to Sparkling Skylands.
Alternatively, you can use a Pokémon with the Search ability to help you track down the Area Gate without having to go through the trouble yourself.
When you unlock the Area Gate with your completed Pokédex, you'll find a recipe for a card reader inside, a shutter for the door that opened up, and a printer.
If you go up to the printer, you'll be rewarded with a cute certificate you can hang up, congratulating you on your completed Pokédex.
"We hereby certify your achievement of completing the Pokédex. May this great feat be celebrated by all!" the certificate reads.
In TechRadar Gaming's five-star Pokémon Pokopia review, lifestyle managing editor Josephine Watson said she "underestimated how well Nintendo would tackle its latest town-building / cozy life sim."
"It’s story-driven, offering a great gameplay loop, inventive mechanics, and very few friction points; Nintendo clearly learned from some of Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ quality-of-life hiccups," Watson writes. "My only wish would be for a little more individuality in Poké-personalities, but it’s still plenty charming as it is."
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Crimson Desert won't boot on systems using Intel Arc GPUs, according to multiple users
Pearl Abyss states Intel Arc GPUs are unsupported and suggests referring to the refund policy
The game currently has mixed reviews on Steam, with some negative ones from Intel Arc users
Pearl Abyss' long-awaited Crimson Desert has finally arrived after almost a decade of development. While it's received mixed reviews from users, many of the quality-of-life issues (and controls) are the culprit — but there's another major issue Intel hardware users should be aware of.
This means handheld, laptop, or desktop systems using either integrated or discrete Arc GPUs won't boot Crimson Desert, often displaying a message of 'the graphics device is currently not supported'.
Pearl Abyss' answer on its FAQ page raises a bigger concern for Intel Arc users, as it states: "If you purchased the game expecting Intel Arc support, please refer to the refund policy of the platform where the game was purchased for available options."
While that doesn't completely rule out any chance of eventual Intel Arc support, it's a slight worry that there may not be any urgent push for support in the near future. We've reached out to Pearl Abyss on the matter, but haven't received a response yet.
Crimson Desert already has a lot riding against it in terms of some gamers not taking well to the onboarding experience. The control scheme and user interface aren't popular, no options for custom controls or key bindings, and now, no Intel Arc GPU support, might drive some gamers away.
Fortunately, Pearl Abyss has shown its commitment to implementing changes based on feedback, both in the review period and post-launch, so there's a good chance Intel Arc users won't have to wait long to finally dive in.
However, as it stands, it might be best if Intel Arc users completely steer clear of purchasing Crimson Desert until Pearl Abyss adds further clarity to the situation, and when (or even if) we should expect support. After all, it's a great game, and one that runs well on most hardware, but there's no use in owning a game that you can't play.
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It introduces a Precompiled Shaders feature to help supported games load faster
This is a situational benefit, but it'll apply more often than you think
Intel has introduced a new trick for some of its Arc GPUs, which helps supported games load a lot more swiftly (albeit in certain situations only, and I'll come back to that point).
Wccftech reports (via Tech PowerUp) that Intel's Precompiled Shaders feature is available with the latest Arc driver, and can be used by Intel Battlemage desktop GPUs, as well as Xe2 and Xe3 integrated graphics (in Core Ultra Series 3 and 200V chips for thin-and-light laptops, or handhelds).
How it works is this: normally, when you load a game for the first time, compiling shaders can take a long time and really slow things down. So what Intel does is precompile these shaders, and it has these stored in the cloud — then when its graphics app examines your installed games, and sees one it has shaders for, they're automatically downloaded and put in place.
Effectively, all that compiling work is being done beforehand, so when you launch the game, it loads far more snappily. We're talking about loading times that are typically twice or three times as fast, but some games can receive massive boosts — like God of War Ragnarok, which is 21x faster on an Arc B580 (or a mind-boggling 37x faster with the B390 integrated graphics on the new Panther Lake flagship).
As mentioned earlier, the game must be supported by Intel to allow for Precompiled Shaders, and only 13 titles are right now, but more are coming in the future. Further note that the games must be installed on Steam, and the current list of supported titles is:
Black Myth: Wukong
Borderlands 4
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Cyberpunk 2077
God of War Ragnarok
Gotham Knights
Hogwarts Legacy
NBA 2K26
Starfield
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
The Outer Worlds 2
Note that this is Intel's implementation of a broader tech coming from Microsoft known as Advanced Shader Delivery, which has been promised to Windows 11 gamers for later in 2026.
Intel clarified the situation for Tech PowerUp: "Intel Precompiled Shaders is custom-built and run by Intel. We are also working with Microsoft on launching Advanced Shader Delivery later this year. Together, both services will provide users of supported Arc GPUs with more game and game store coverage of technologies that reduce waiting times and in-game stutters due to shader compilation."
So this won't be limited to Steam in the future, as you might expect.
Analysis: a notable caveat
(Image credit: Santa Monica Studio)
If you're thinking that Precompiled Shaders — which is still labelled as a beta feature at this point — is just going to speed up things in a once-and-done kind of way, that's not strictly true. Yes, the game goes through this sometimes seriously demanding shader compilation process when you first run it, and that's all done and dusted thereafter — well, sort of.
The trouble is that the game may need to recompile the shaders in certain scenarios, such as after a new GPU driver update or game update. And when a game has a particularly lengthy compilation process, this can be a major annoyance. On top of that, compiling shaders can happen on-the-fly in the game, which can lead to stuttering, something that the Precompiled Shaders feature avoids entirely.
You can see why this is a very useful advance, then, even if it only applies in certain scenarios (and with supported games). And it's really useful for some handhelds, too — like the MSI Claw 8 AI+, which has an Intel Lunar Lake processor — where shader compilation can be a draining task that hits the battery hard if you're away from a power socket.
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