Key Takeaways
- Microsoft announced new, more compact Surface Pro (12-inch) and Surface Laptop (13-inch) models featuring Snapdragon X Plus chips.
- The $999 base models for the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 were discontinued alongside the new launches.
- Windows 11 is receiving AI enhancements, including updates for Copilot PCs, Paint, Photos, Snipping Tool, and Notepad.
- Leaked FCC images suggest an ASUS-made gaming handheld, possibly developed with Xbox (Project Kennan), is on the way.
- Game developer Pocketpair removed the ability to glide on Pals in Palworld due to legal pressure from Nintendo.
- A Microsoft job listing hints at the possible return of the popular Xbox backward compatibility program for game preservation.
Microsoft made several headlines this week with updates across its Surface, Windows, and Xbox divisions.
New hardware arrived in the form of the Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch. These devices boast more compact designs compared to their larger siblings.
The Surface Pro 12-inch is notably thin at 7.8mm and operates without a fan, much like the earlier Surface Pro X.
Both the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop run on Snapdragon X Plus processors. Initial hands-on reports, like those from Windows Central, suggest impressive performance from this chip, although full reviews are pending.
However, the excitement was tempered by Microsoft’s decision to stop selling the $999 versions of the older Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 models, possibly to steer buyers toward the new devices.
Microsoft also previewed upcoming AI features for Windows 11. So-called “Copilot PCs” will get enhanced AI capabilities, like an agent to help find settings and new actions for Copilot.
Standard Windows 11 users aren’t left out, with apps like Photos, Paint, and Snipping Tool getting AI-powered upgrades such as image relighting, object selection, and smarter screen capture adjustment.
File Explorer and Notepad are also set to receive AI functions, while Notepad will gain some welcome basic text formatting tools.
In the gaming sphere, images surfaced from an FCC filing that likely show the rumored Xbox handheld, known as Project Kennan. This device is a collaboration between ASUS and Microsoft’s Xbox team.
The leaked images reveal a black handheld with a dedicated Xbox button and controller layout, expected to run Windows 11. More information might be revealed at the Computex event in May 2025.
Meanwhile, the developers of the hit game Palworld had to make another change due to their ongoing legal dispute with Nintendo. A recent patch removed the ability for players to glide using their Pals.
This follows earlier removals of certain animations in the game, highlighting the impact of Nintendo’s legal actions, as noted by Windows Central.
On a more positive note for Xbox fans, speculation about the return of the backward compatibility program reignited after a Microsoft job listing surfaced.
The listing seeks engineers for “Game Preservation,” suggesting the program that brought classic games to modern Xbox consoles with performance boosts might be making a comeback after ending in 2021.
