The Xbox One games we're most looking forward to in 2018 (and beyond)

As we move into 2018, it's time for a look at the biggest and brightest Xbox games on the horizon.

In 2017, Microsoft launched the Xbox One X and closed the gap between itself and Sony's PlayStation 4 platform. The X is a 6TF beast that can provide higher-fidelity visuals than any other video game console on the market today, but it's no good if it doesn't have the games to showcase that power. Thankfully, there are many promising titles on the horizon.

Here's a list of some of the most promising, and most anticipated Xbox One games for 2018 and beyond.

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Get the training required to pass the CompTIA Security+ exam for just $24!

When it comes to data security, CompTIA is the golden standard of certification. If you're interested in a career in data security, you'll need to pass the Security+ (SY0-501) exam.

Learn what's needed to pass the CompTIA Security+ certification exam! Learn more

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12 days of tech tips: How to share digital Xbox One games

Deck the halls with boughs of holly! And games. Lots of games.

One of the most popular features of the Xbox One platform isn't really advertised, but for those in the know, it can be supremely useful for households with multiple consoles, and particularly if you're picking up additional Xboxes this holiday season for loved ones. 'Tis the season to share and gift, after all.

As a by-product of the Xbox One policy of allowing you to use your games anywhere by signing in to your Microsoft Account, you can share your entire Xbox One library with a friend or family member.

Your Xbox One account can be signed into two consoles at any one time, locally, and over the internet. You can be signed into two separate Xbox One consoles permanently as a result, taking advantage of the ability to use your digital Xbox licenses both locally and via a roaming profile. Using this method, you can share your game library so friends and family can play your games without purchasing additional copies — it even works for multiplayer!

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Best Racing Wheels for Xbox One of 2017

Looking for a great wheel to improve your Xbox One racing experience? Look no further.

When it comes to console racing, the Xbox One X is very well equipped with the best titles around. Whether you're a Forza fan or prefer Project Cars 2 or F! 2017, Xbox is the place to be for racing on the console.

If you're getting serious about your virtual racing, you'll probably be interested in moving away from a controller and up to a wheel. And if you're looking for the best, check out this little lot.

Best racing games for Xbox One

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How 5G and Progressive Web Apps may fix Microsoft's app gap

Surface folding device fan render, by David Breyer.

Microsoft's ambitions for Windows 10, cellular PCs and its potential folding mobile device have an undeniable Achilles Heel - the app gap. But there may be a solution on the horizon.

Microsoft's personal computing efforts are often met with legitimate criticisms about its app gap. It lacks the developer support critical to the modern app model.

The current model has shortcomings, however. As app stores grow app discoverability becomes increasingly difficult. Furthermore, the average user uses only six apps regularly, doesn't frequent app stores and rarely downloads new apps. In fact, web properties are engaged more frequently than apps.

As 5G networks, Progressive Web Apps (PWA) and processors like Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 begin to take root, some challenges of the current app model (which are problematic for all platforms) will be solved. This shift toward platform-agnostic PWAs may help Microsoft escape the app gap-imposing confines of the current app model. It will be the progressive implementation of 5G networks and modern processors, the maturation of PWAs and multi-generational waves of cellular PCs and folding-mobile devices that may help Microsoft overcome the app gap. Let's break it down.

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12 days of tech tips: Your whole family will appreciate a home media server

Make all the family happy with a home media server that provides all their holiday entertainment.

Pleasing everyone in the household is hard when it comes to music to listen to or TV and movies to watch. Everyone will have their own favorites, and everyone will want control of the remote. If you're hosting family, there's no simple solution. Or is there?

A home media server is not only a great way to enjoy your media, but it's a great way to ensure everyone can enjoy their favorite media.

You can cut the cable cord at the same time or just load up your music and video library. And there's so much you can do. Best of all, it's fairly inexpensive and easy to set up. And your family will love you for it.

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Best Racing Games for Xbox One of 2017

If you like to tear up the tarmac on your Xbox One, then you're in luck — there are some great racing games available for Microsoft's console!

Racing games aren't for everyone, but for those who love them, often little else will do. Here we're taking a look at the very best that racing fans can get their hands on for the Xbox One.

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Top 10 Xbox game soundtracks in 2017

Xbox users in 2017 have had a solid lineup of great soundtracks to enjoy during playtime, so here are our picks for the top ten best game scores.

A large contributor to enjoyment in our video games is their musical compositions. Good soundtracks can help set a mood, accompany gameplay, and amplify emotional feeling in a story, among other things. 2017's Xbox titles did not disappoint in this regard, and there's plenty of amazing scores from this year's games that you're sure to love, but there are ten soundtracks that rise above the rest.

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Let's talk about Microsoft vs. Apple and a unified app platform

Do consumers want to run apps from their iPhone or iPad on their $3,000 MacBook Pro?

Apple is reportedly going to find out in late 2018 as they attempt to merge some of the app platforms from iOS to macOS. The reason is evident to anyone who tries to download apps for their MacBook, which is a store where new apps are few and far between - think Windows Phone, but in reverse.

I wrote about this topic last week and now have added a video on the topic as well. So far, many people are giving Apple the benefit of the doubt, which reveals more about Microsoft's lack of consumer confidence than Apple's prowess at succeeding where Redmond had failed.

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How to watch Blu-rays and DVDs on Xbox One

While the Xbox One S and Xbox One X come with 4K UHD Blu-ray support, it's not as straightforward as it could be to get started with Blu-ray playback.

You'd think it would be as simple as popping in the disc, but it's not since the Blu-ray functionality requires a separate app that is, for some reason, not bundled with the Xbox One.

If you're a new Xbox One owner and you're having trouble getting started, here's how to get up and running with Blu-ray on Xbox One.

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Best microSD Expansion Cards for Surface Book 2

What's the best microSD memory card for Surface Book 2? Here are our top picks.

Microsoft's sleek and powerful Surface Book series of devices let you expand its storage by using an SD card. However, standard-sized SD cards will stick out a bit, which can be an issue if you like to keep your SD card in your device most of the time.

Our intrepid Windows Central community members discovered a workaround for the problem, and we have some suggestions for microSD cards that'll work perfectly.

Your best option is to find a truncated microSD card adapter, which will mount flush in your Surface Book 2 so you have no protrusions or precious memory cards to get caught on clothing and other objects. The last thing you want is to catch the card on something and interrupt an important file transfer.

• microSD card adapters
• microSD cards

microSD card adapters

In order to use a microSD card and avoid the SD card-sticking-out issue, you'll need a microSD card adapter, one that's truncated so that you're not having the same problem.

BaseQi Ninja Stealth Drive

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Join us for the Windows Central Video Podcast today at 2:30pm ET

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Join Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden for a LIVE recording of the Windows Central Video Podcast!

Make sure you join us for the LIVE recording of the Windows Central Video Podcast, today at 2:30pm ET. For those in different time zones, here's when we'll be live: Convert your time zone here.

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The tech Team Windows Central uses every day

The Windows Central team is often asked what gear they use on a daily basis. So here we're going to talk about just that.

As we close out another year, there's been a lot of great technology that crossed our paths in 2017. Windows PCs continue to get more innovative and become more and more powerful, and choosing between them is a challenge.

We have buyer's guides galore, but ultimately, the Windows Central team is just like our readers in that we have to pick our own gear to use every day. We're often asked what we use and why, so let's end 2017 with a little insight into just that.

We narrowed it down to three categories: Our main PCs, the phones we're using, and a "wild card," for a piece of tech we're using that genuinely surprised us or makes the day go that little bit better.

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PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) Xbox One update lets you skip matchmaking for Squad mode

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) will now let Xbox One players jump into Squad mode without using matchmaking.

Since hitting the Xbox One Game Preview Program earlier in December, PUBG has seen a number of updates to smooth out the experience and bring it closer to its much more polished PC sibling.

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How to optimize Windows 10 for PC gaming performance

Windows 10 is the best OS for PC gaming. Here's how to optimize your experience.

There really is no greater place for intense gaming than a PC, and Windows 10 is Microsoft's latest OS for interactive entertainment. Out of the box, it's a great OS for playing games, but there are a few things you can do to improve the experience. Whether you're getting a new PC for Christmas or ordering a few parts to improve your game, we've got a few handy tips that can improve things.

From disabling updates to installing the latest GPU drivers, our guide will help optimize your PC for gaming. Spend less time lagging and more time fragging this holiday season!

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Microsoft now testing party chat in the Xbox beta app on iOS

Microsoft is taking party chat mobile with the Xbox beta app on iOS.

Party chat is already in testing with the Xbox beta app on Android, and now it looks like it's the iPhone's turn as well.

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Control your devices anywhere with a $40 two-pack of TP-Link Smart Plugs

Buy smart accessories smartly.

The TP-Link HS110 Smart Plug two-pack is now on sale at Amazon for just $39.99. Other than when it was $35 at B&H Photo on Black Friday, this looks to be the lowest price ever for these smart plugs. At just $5 above the Black Friday pricing, it's nothing to scoff at. A single one of these plugs is currently selling for $35 on its own, so this is a really smart way to save some cash.

These smart plugs come with energy monitoring, allowing you to track real-time and historical energy use.

Features include:

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GroupMe is now available on Xbox One

Now you can chat with your friends over GroupMe on your Xbox One.

GroupMe has already had a presence on practically every platform where it made sense, ranging from Windows 10 and HoloLens to Android, iOS, and Windows 10 Mobile.

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Best Laptop Bags of 2017

If you have a laptop there's a strong chance you'll want a good bag to carry it around in.

Laptop computers are made to be portable, and that means you might need some protection while you're on the go. Whether you're spending a little on a cheap machine or throwing all your cash at a premium device, you want to look after it. After all, you're probably going to keep it for a fair amount of time, longer than you might a smartphone. Let's jump right in and take a look at some of the best laptop bags on the market.

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Chime in: What's the best Windows tablet for a non-techie?

iPads are popular Christmas gifts, combining high-quality design with a simplistic iOS-based user experience. But what about Windows tablets?

Surface tablets are gorgeous and powerful, but you typically want to get a keyboard and a stylus to get the most out of them, and even then, not everybody is a creative type who needs the full power of inking. They're also expensive.

For casual tablet-style computing, Windows 10 Mobile would have been an ideal OS for such devices, but alas, we all know what happened there. Windows 10 S is still in its infancy, and ARM-based Windows PCs haven't yet evolved into products that might rival iPads for casual use.

At least while we wait for the near-mythical "Surface Phone" foldable device to emerge from obscurity, what Windows tablets, if any, do you think are worth recommending? Forum user kdk24z wants to know.

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TV, music, movies, and books we're into this week

We're taking it easy this week with some great movies, music, and books.

The new year is just around the corner, and you might have some extra time off to enjoy yourself. In that case, you're probably looking for some great tunes, a quality movie, or a real page turner. Need a suggestion or two? Here's what Team Windows Central is watching.

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What should Microsoft name its rumored folding Surface?

Microsoft device patents and other sources have revealed what we have long suspected: Microsoft appears to be working on a foldable mobile device. But what will it be called if it makes it to market?

Hopeful and former Windows phone users have long enjoyed the Live-tiled Windows phone UI and Microsoft's ecosystem.

Sadly, Windows phones have been a persistent consumer failure. Still, Microsoft's Surface brand defined a category and inspired an industry of OEM support for 2-in-1 PCs and has inspired fans to grasp onto "Surface" as Microsoft's solution to its smartphone woes. Hence, hopeful fans have dubbed Microsoft's elusive mobile device the "Surface Phone." But since the device isn't a phone, that name won't work.

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Why PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) is so damn addictive

Is PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) more rewarding or infuriating? Either way, this popular game is about more than winning.

I am terrible at PUBG. Absolutely appalling, both on PC and Xbox. I don't get "chicken dinners," I have the aim of a potato, and more than any other game in 2017, this thing causes me to rage, swear and throw my controller.

So why on earth would I, like millions of others, keep on playing it when frankly, in most games I'd have given up by now and moved on? What is it about PUBG that sucks you back in?

There are a couple of things that I can think of.

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Kodi team details Xbox One alpha launch and limitations

A surprise end of year treat for Kodi fans was the launch of the long-awaited Xbox One version in alpha. Today, the developers have detailed what we can expect.

We knew it was coming, but that it was pushed out now is certainly a surprise. The Kodi team has released its first alpha client of v18 Leia in UWP form to the Xbox One and it's available to download right now for anyone.

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Using Xbox One online: Networking tips, fix lag, improve download speeds, and more

Is an Xbox One download grinding to a halt? Can't connect to your favorite multiplayer game? Here are some networking tips for Xbox One users.

Today's video game consoles are quickly shifting over to online-centric experiences, with digital distribution, multiplayer and content expansion packs being the norm for big budget titles. With this new-found focus, getting the best connectivity hugely enhances your Xbox One experience. Here are some in-depth tips to improve your console's networking setup.

• Reduce Xbox One data use
• Fix slow download speeds over Xbox Live
• Fix multiplayer lag over Xbox Live

Getting an Xbox One online

Before getting underway with improving your console's connectivity, you'll first need to make sure your console is correctly connected. The Xbox One supports both wired and wireless connections, with a relatively streamlined setup process.

Wired connections almost always offer the best speeds and stability, with a direct line to your console. While wireless can still provide adequate download and upload speeds, a wired connection is unmatched, especially over distance. By going wireless, you'll be getting the benefits of convenience, without a physical cable between your router and console.

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Surprise! Leading media center solution Kodi has arrived on Xbox One

Kodi is a popular media center solution for PCs and other devices, and it's finally available on Xbox One.

Kodi began life as Xbox Media Center (XBMC), owing its roots to the original Xbox console. It has evolved a great deal since then, becoming a favorite for cord-cutters and media enthusiasts everywhere.

Kodi appeared on Xbox One today as part of what appears to be a soft-launch or alpha phase (thanks for the tip, Ross!), supporting what appears to be, a full raft of features from the Windows 10 Store version, including all those pesky add-ons everybody except the entertainment industry loves. It also means that Xbox potentially now has TV DVR finally, after being promised and then cancelled by Microsoft previously.

You can grab Kodi on the Xbox app store simply by searching for "Kodi" or by hitting the link below. For a full and comprehensive guide about what it is, how it works, and why you need it in your life, hit the links below. We'll take a more comprehensive look at Kodi on Xbox in the near future.

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