🛠 Microsoft has introduced Project Zenith, a Windows 11 experience built for developer class devices with 64 GB or more of unified memory and more than 250 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The company says the goal is to give developers a ready to code setup with less distraction and faster access to essential tools.

Project Zenith comes with preinstalled development tools, including Windows Terminal and Visual Studio Code pinned to the taskbar. Microsoft also preconfigures Windows settings for coding, such as showing file extensions, hidden files, and full file paths in File Explorer. It also enables long path support and turns off some interface clutter.

The platform adds deeper WSL container integration and supports local AI workloads, including 30B plus parameter models run locally and unmetered. Microsoft says Project Zenith will debut on AMD Ryzen AI Halo devices, with more OEM and silicon partner systems coming later.

🎮 Microsoft will introduce monthly Xbox Cloud Gaming limits in November, ending unlimited access for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. The new caps vary by plan. Essential will include 5 hours a month, Premium will include 10 hours, and Ultimate will include 15 hours. Microsoft will also let users buy extra cloud gaming time through the Xbox Store.

The company said the add on hours will not expire, and players will not need an Xbox Game Pass subscription to use them. Users will be able to launch supported games from their own libraries in the cloud. Microsoft has not yet shared pricing for the extra time packages.

The change affects players who use Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox One consoles, laptops, tablets, and other devices with limited hardware power. Microsoft said it expects about 4% of Game Pass subscribers to feel the impact. The company said rising cloud gaming costs led to the change and that it will share more details in November.