Microsoft just hit reset on its gaming identity, and in a way, it feels like going back to basics. Because “Microsoft Gaming” is out, and Xbox is officially back at the center of everything.
In a recent internal shift, Microsoft has rebranded its entire gaming division back to Xbox, effectively dropping the “Microsoft Gaming” label altogether.
This isn’t just a cosmetic change. The new CEO, Asha Sharma, has made it clear that “Xbox needs to be the identity”, signaling a move away from the broader, corporate-sounding branding toward something more focused and recognizable.
The “Microsoft Gaming” name originally came into play during the Activision Blizzard acquisition era under Phil Spencer, when the company was positioning gaming as a larger business unit. Now, the shift suggests a return to a more gamer-first identity, with Xbox once again leading the narrative.
Alongside the rebrand, Microsoft has outlined a new direction internally under the message “We Are Xbox.” The focus is shifting toward a few core pillars like hardware, content, services, and overall player experience. 
There is also a noticeable change in how success is being measured. Instead of just sales or subscriptions, the company is now prioritizing daily active players, which shows a stronger emphasis on engagement over raw numbers. 
At the same time, Xbox is reevaluating its strategy around exclusivity, cloud gaming, and even AI integration. The goal seems to be building a more flexible ecosystem that works across console, PC, mobile, and cloud rather than locking players into one platform. 
This may look like a simple rebrand, but it feels more like a reset. With next-gen hardware on the horizon, Microsoft is streamlining its identity around Xbox while doubling down on cloud, multiplatform play, and engagement. In the end, it is less about changing the name and more about returning to what already works.
Acer’s Predator Atlas 8 finally has a US release date and price, several months after the company first showed off the handheld in May. The highlight is the Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip inside, which has been adopted by only a couple of other consoles besides the Atlas 8. This version will go on sale exclusively at Best Buy on November 1 for $1,299.99.
Acer originally said the Atlas 8 would arrive in North America in October, but left pricing open at the time. The launch came amid the ongoing DRAM crunch, which has made memory more expensive across the PC industry and complicated pricing for hardware makers.
Gaming laptops and I have a complicated relationship. One of my first gaming rigs was an Acer Predator that was already outdated when I bought it. I was a broke college kid, and that was the best I could afford. So trying out high-end gaming laptops is always fun. But ASUS' ROG Zephyrus G14 is a lot more than a laptop that can run AAA games. It is portable, so you're not lugging around a 2.5kg machine everywhere you go. It is built well, none of that plastic chassis, and can even function as a normal laptop outside of just gaming.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.