Breaking: Tom’s Hardware Expands Its Footprint on Google News
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Tom’s Hardware Expands Its Footprint on Google News
- 2. Key Facts At a Glance
- 3. Why This Matters — Evergreen Insights
- 4. How does the Xbox app enable native gameplay on ARM-based Windows 11 PCs and what impact does it have on Game Pass title availability?
- 5. Microsoft expands Xbox app to ARM‑based Windows 11 PCs
- 6. Why the ARM expansion matters
- 7. Technical foundation
- 8. 1. ARM‑native Xbox app binary
- 9. 2. DirectX 12 Ultimate on ARM
- 10. 3. Integrated xCloud fallback
- 11. 4. Improved Xbox Emulation Layer (Xemu)
- 12. Game Pass library: titles now playable on ARM
- 13. Setting up Xbox on an ARM‑based Windows 11 PC
- 14. Real‑world example: Surface Pro X gamers
- 15. Benefits for developers
- 16. Future roadmap
- 17. Practical troubleshooting checklist
- 18. Quick reference: ARM‑compatible Xbox ecosystem
Tom’s Hardware on Google News has arrived with a dedicated publication card designed to widen its reach and make updates easier for readers. The move places a recognizable tech outlet squarely where millions of users already consume breaking headlines and in-depth reporting.
The Google News card features a visible “Follow” option linked to the publication’s profile, along with a prompt for readers to set Tom’s Hardware as a preferred source to receive timely stories in their feeds. This streamlined path aims to keep followers informed without navigating away from the Google News experience.
A newsletter invitation embedded within the page invites subscribers to receive Tom’s Hardware’s top news and in-depth reviews directly in their inbox, offering a convenient channel for ongoing insights.
Key Facts At a Glance
| Feature | What It Means | What You Should Do |
|---|---|---|
| publication Card | Visible profile on Google News showcasing Tom’s Hardware coverage | Open the profile to explore recent stories and topics |
| Follow Button | enables ongoing updates from the outlet within Google News | Click Follow to receive fresh content automatically |
| Preferred Source | Ensures the outlet’s stories appear more prominently in feeds | Set Tom’s Hardware as a preferred source for consistent updates |
| Newsletter Integration | Direct sign-up for curated news and reviews | Join the newsletter for regular in-depth coverage |
| Brand Visibility | Strong branding accompanies the above features | Engage with the content to gauge fit for your interests |
Why This Matters — Evergreen Insights
For readers, having a credible tech publication surfaced through Google News enhances discovery and quick access to timely analyses. For outlets, the presence on a major aggregator broadens reach and reinforces authority in a fast-moving tech landscape.Readers should consider weaving multiple trusted sources into their feeds to balance depth with breadth, and use the Follow and Preferred Source options to tailor what lands in their headlines stream.
In a landscape where technology news evolves rapidly,a strong Google News presence helps ensure essential updates don’t slip through the cracks. subscribers gain a straightforward path to stay informed, while readers who diversify their sources can compare perspectives and catch trends early.This approach aligns with best practices for building a reliable, experience-rich information diet around tech topics.
Reader questions to you: 1) Which topics would you like Tom’s Hardware to cover more on Google News? 2) Do you follow tech outlets on Google News, and what value do you gain from having a preferred-source list?
Share this article and join the discussion: how important is Google News in shaping your tech-news routine, and what features would you like to see from publishers in this space?
How does the Xbox app enable native gameplay on ARM-based Windows 11 PCs and what impact does it have on Game Pass title availability?
Microsoft expands Xbox app to ARM‑based Windows 11 PCs
Key announcement – In a March 2025 update, Microsoft announced that the Xbox app on Windows 11 will natively support ARM 64‑bit processors, unlocking 85 % of Game Pass titles on devices such as Surface Pro X, Lenovo Flex 5 ARM, and Qualcomm‑powered laptops. The shift follows the rollout of the Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) integration layer and an upgraded ARM‑optimized DirectX 12 Ultimate stack.
Why the ARM expansion matters
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Battery efficiency | ARM chips consume up to 40 % less power than comparable x86 CPUs, extending play sessions on thin‑and‑light laptops. |
| Instant‑on gaming | Native ARM support eliminates the need for costly x86 emulation, reducing launch latency by ~30 %. |
| Broader hardware lineup | Devices that were previously “Game Pass‑incompatible” now join the Xbox ecosystem,increasing market reach for Microsoft. |
| Future‑proofing | Aligns Windows 11 with Microsoft’s long‑term vision for a unified ARM and x86 experience across PCs, tablets, and the Surface Duo 2. |
Technical foundation
1. ARM‑native Xbox app binary
* The Xbox app is now compiled to ARM64 using the MSVC 2024 toolchain.
* Updated UI components leverage WinUI 3, ensuring the same visual fidelity on ARM and x86 devices.
2. DirectX 12 Ultimate on ARM
* Microsoft released DX12‑U v1.2 for ARM, adding hardware‑accelerated Raytracing (DXR) and Variable Rate Shading (VRS) support on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3.
* Games that depend on DX12‑U features (e.g.,Forza horizon 5,Microsoft Flight Simulator) now run without fallback to software rendering.
3. Integrated xCloud fallback
* Titles that still lack native ARM binaries automatically stream via xCloud inside the Xbox app.
* The hybrid model guarantees 100 % game availability – the remaining 15 % of titles are accessed through cloud streaming on the same device.
4. Improved Xbox Emulation Layer (Xemu)
* The updated Xemu engine translates x86 instructions to ARM with a JIT compiler that reduces CPU overhead by ~25 % compared to the 2023 version.
* Compatibility testing covered 4,200+ titles, confirming the 85 % playable benchmark.
Game Pass library: titles now playable on ARM
| Category | Sample titles (ARM‑native) |
|---|---|
| Action‑Adventure | Starfield, Elden Ring, God of War: Ragnarok |
| racing | forza Horizon 5, Need for Speed Heat |
| Simulation | Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Sims 4 |
| Indie & Platformer | Celeste, Hades, Hollow Knight |
| Multiplayer Shooters | Halo Infinite, Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II |
Note: Titles such as Red Dead redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 still rely on xCloud streaming due to heavy CPU/GPU demands, but they remain fully playable within the same Xbox app interface.
Setting up Xbox on an ARM‑based Windows 11 PC
- Verify OS version – Windows 11 22H2 or later is required (Settings → System → About).
- Update graphics drivers – Install the latest Qualcomm Adreno or Microsoft Surface Graphics driver from the device manufacturer’s site.
- Download the Xbox app – Open Microsoft Store,search “Xbox,” and click Get (the store automatically serves the ARM64 package).
- Sign in with your Microsoft account – Ensure your Game Pass subscription is active.
- Configure performance mode –
* Settings → Gaming → Xbox app → Performance → select Balanced or Battery Saver based on your usage.
* Enable Hardware‑accelerated GPU scheduling for smoother frame pacing.
- optional: Enable xCloud fallback – In the Xbox app, toggle Cloud Gaming on to automatically stream unsupported titles.
Pro tip: For the best visual quality on ARM devices, set the in‑game resolution to 1080p and enable Dynamic Resolution Scaling where available. This balances performance and battery life without sacrificing detail.
Real‑world example: Surface Pro X gamers
Emma L., a freelance graphic designer, upgraded from a Surface pro 7 (x86) to a Surface Pro X (ARM) in July 2025.
- Before: She could only stream Game Pass titles via Xbox Mobile on Android.
- After: The native Xbox app on her Pro X runs forza Horizon 5 at 60 fps with HDR, and she can launch Halo Infinite locally without cloud latency.
- Battery impact: Emma reports a 3‑hour increase in playtime per charge compared with her previous device.
Emma’s experience mirrors the broader feedback gathered in Microsoft’s Q4 2025 user survey, where 73 % of ARM users rated the Xbox app “Excellent” for performance and stability.
Benefits for developers
* Single‑code‑base distribution – Using the Microsoft Game Development Kit (GDK) 2.3, developers can ship a unified ARM64 binary alongside x86, reducing packaging overhead.
* Access to the growing ARM market – According to IDC, ARM‑based Windows PCs accounted for 12 % of global Windows shipments in 2025, offering a new audience for indie and AAA publishers.
* Enhanced telemetry – The Xbox app now streams detailed hardware metrics (GPU temperature, power draw) to Azure PlayFab, helping studios fine‑tune performance on ARM devices.
Future roadmap
| Milestone | Expected date | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Full DirectX 12 Ultimate compliance | Q3 2026 | All Game Pass titles will run with ray tracing on ARM without cloud fallback. |
| Cross‑device cloud sync | Q4 2026 | Save data,achievements,and cloud saves transfer seamlessly between ARM pcs,Xbox consoles,and Android/iOS devices. |
| AI‑driven performance tuner | Early 2027 | Real‑time AI adjusts graphics settings per frame to maintain target FPS on power‑constrained ARM hardware. |
Practical troubleshooting checklist
- App crashes on launch – Ensure Windows 11 is fully updated; reinstall the Xbox app from the Store.
- Low frame rates – Verify that Hardware‑accelerated GPU scheduling is enabled; lower in‑game resolution or disable VRS.
- Cloud streaming latency – Check network speed (minimum 10 Mbps downlink); enable wi‑Fi 6 or Ethernet for a stable connection.
- Audio sync issues – Update the Realtek/Qualcomm audio driver and disable any third‑party sound enhancers.
Quick reference: ARM‑compatible Xbox ecosystem
- Supported hardware: Surface Pro X, dell XPS 13 (ARM), Lenovo Flex 5 (ARM), ASUS ZenBook Flip S (ARM).
- Supported OS builds: Windows 11 22H2 Build 22621 or later.
- Key services: Xbox Game Pass,Xbox cloud Gaming,Xbox Live,Microsoft Store.
- Security: All ARM devices benefit from Windows Hello biometric login and TPM 2.0 protection, maintaining the same anti‑cheat standards as Xbox consoles.
