2021 was a massive year for news, including new hardware, major software updates, and one of the best years for gaming that Microsoft has seen in a long time. Here at Windows Central, we published well over 1,000 news pieces this year, including Microsoft announcing Windows 11, the launch of new Surface hardware, and the release of Halo Infinite. From insider scoops to product launches, here are the biggest news stories from 2021 related to Windows, Xbox, and all things Microsoft.

A brand new version of Windows
Windows 11 Start Surfacepro Lighting
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

For years, it was thought that Windows 10 would be the final version of Windows. That turned out to not be the case, as Microsoft released Windows 11 in October 2021. The new operating system builds on Windows 10 in several ways, including supporting all apps from its predecessor. Windows 11 modernized several elements of the OS, including the Start menu, icons, and the Taskbar.

This move toward simplicity has been met with mixed reactions. While Windows 11 trimmed down some of the complexities of the OS interface, it lacks some of the features seen in Windows 10. Additionally, the Start menu and Taskbar ran into criticism. Many have looked for the best apps to customize Windows 11 to restore both the look of previous versions of Windows and lost functionality.

Windows 11 ran into issues before it launched. A confusing set of minimum requirements and mixed signals from Microsoft's tool for checking eligibility made it difficult to tell if some systems would be able to upgrade to Windows 11 at all. The requirement of having TPM 2.0 was the limiting factor for many computers. As a result of this confusion, the Windows userbase was split to a certain point. While tech-savvy folks know about the limitations and how to work around them, some general consumers are still confused about why their PC hasn't seen the option to update.

https://www.windowscentral.com/biggest-microsoft-news-stories-2021