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All Games That Won an Award At The Game Awards 2025
Each year, the video game industry gathers to recognize the titles, studios, and creators that shaped the medium over the past twelve months. The Game Awards 2025 was no exception. This year’s ceremony highlighted not just blockbuster releases, but also the growing influence of independent studios, narrative-driven experiences, and long-term live-service games that continue to evolve years after launch.
From technical achievements in audio and accessibility to creative excellence in storytelling, art direction, and performance, the awards provided a clear snapshot of where the industry is heading. One title, in particular, dominated the conversation, while several others secured key wins that underscored their impact across different genres and platforms.
What are The Game Awards?
The Game Awards is an annual event that celebrates excellence in video game development and publishing. Launched in 2014, it serves two primary purposes: recognizing the best games and creators of the year, and providing a global stage for major announcements, trailers, and industry updates.
Winners are selected through a combination of votes from an international jury of media outlets and public fan voting, depending on the category. This hybrid approach allows the awards to balance critical evaluation with community sentiment, making the results a useful barometer of both industry recognition and player impact.
The Game Awards 2025 Categories
For 2025, awards were presented across a wide range of competitive categories, reflecting the diversity of modern gaming:
* Game of the Year
* Best Game Direction
* Best Narrative
* Best Art Direction
* Best Score and Music
* Best Audio Design
* Best Performance
* Best Action Game
* Best Action Adventure Game
* Best RPG
* Best Fighting Game
* Best Sim / Strategy Game
* Best Sports / Racing Game
* Best Multiplayer
* Best Ongoing Game
* Best Independent Game
* Best Debut Indie Game
* Best Mobile Game
* Best VR / AR Game
* Innovation in Accessibility
* Games for Impact
* Best Community Support
* Best Adaptation
* Most Anticipated Game
* Player’s Voice
All games that won an Award at The Game Awards 2025
1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (9 Awards)
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was the clear standout of The Game Awards 2025, earning more honors than any other title and firmly establishing itself as the defining game of the year. Developed by Sandfall Interactive, the game blends turn-based RPG combat with real-time mechanics, striking art direction, and a tightly written narrative that explores themes of mortality, memory, and inevitability. Its visual identity, influenced by European surrealism and Belle Époque aesthetics, helped it stand apart from more conventional role-playing releases.
Beyond its mechanics and presentation, the game was widely praised for how cohesively its systems supported its story. Strong character performances and a memorable original score reinforced its emotional tone, while confident direction kept the experience focused and deliberate. The breadth of its wins also underscored a broader industry shift, with an independent studio successfully competing across top-tier categories traditionally dominated by large publishers.
Awards won:
* Game of the Year
* Best Game Direction
* Best Narrative
* Best RPG
* Best Independent Game
* Best Debut Indie Game
* Best Art Direction
* Best Score and Music (Lorien Testard)
* Best Performance – Jennifer English
2. Counter-Strike 2 (2 Awards)
Counter-Strike 2 continued its long-standing dominance in competitive gaming by securing multiple esports-focused awards at The Game Awards 2025. As Valve’s modernized evolution of CS:GO, the game builds on a legacy that spans more than two decades, refining its core tactical shooter formula while introducing technical upgrades such as improved visuals, tick-rate-free networking, and enhanced smoke physics.
The game’s wins reflect not just its mechanical depth, but also its position as the backbone of the global esports ecosystem. Its competitive integrity, consistency, and spectator appeal remain unmatched, supporting a professional scene that rewards both individual excellence and team coordination at the highest level.
Awards won:
* Best Esports Game
* Best Esports Team – Team Vitality (Counter-Strike 2)
3. Hollow Knight: Silksong (1 Award)
Hollow Knight: Silksong secured a major genre win at The Game Awards 2025, reinforcing its position as one of the most anticipated and discussed releases of the year. Developed by Team Cherry, the game expands on the foundations of Hollow Knight while introducing faster, more aggressive combat, a stronger emphasis on mobility, and a new protagonist in Hornet. The result is a tighter, more demanding experience that rewards precision and mastery.
Its award recognition highlights how well the game balances mechanical challenge with world design and atmosphere. From intricate platforming sequences to hand-drawn environments and a distinctive musical score, Silksong demonstrates how refinement rather than reinvention can elevate a sequel into a genre leader.
Awards won:
* Best Action Adventure Game
4. Hades II (1 Award)
Hades II claimed the award for Best Action Game, continuing Supergiant Games’ reputation for tightly designed combat and strong narrative integration. As a follow-up to the original Hades, the sequel builds on the fast-paced, isometric action formula while introducing a new protagonist, expanded ability systems, and more complex enemy encounters. Combat remains the centerpiece, emphasizing responsiveness, build variety, and moment-to-moment decision-making.
The win reflects how well Hades II balances mechanical intensity with accessibility. Despite its difficulty, the game remains approachable through clear visual feedback and flexible progression systems, making it appealing to both returning players and newcomers to the genre.
Awards won:
* Best Action Game
5. Arc Raiders (1 Award)
Arc Raiders earned recognition for Best Multiplayer, reflecting how successfully it translated high-stakes cooperative and competitive play into a polished extraction shooter experience. Developed by Embark Studios, the game blends PvE and PvP elements in a shared world where players must balance looting, survival, and confrontation with both AI-controlled ARC machines and rival squads.
What set Arc Raiders apart was its emphasis on tension and decision-making rather than constant combat. Matches reward smart positioning, coordination, and knowing when to disengage, which helped the game build a dedicated multiplayer community. Its win highlights the continued evolution of the multiplayer space beyond traditional arena shooters.
Awards won:
* Best Multiplayer
6. Battlefield 6 (1 Award)
Battlefield 6 was recognized for Best Audio Design, an award that reflects the franchise’s long-standing focus on large-scale immersion. The game delivers a dense and reactive soundscape, from distant artillery and collapsing structures to the distinct report of weapons echoing across massive maps. Audio plays a functional role as well, helping players read the battlefield and react to threats beyond their immediate line of sight.
This win underscored how technical execution can meaningfully shape gameplay. In a genre where situational awareness is critical, Battlefield 6 used sound design not just for spectacle, but as a core part of the player experience.
Awards won:
* Best Audio Design
7. No Man’s Sky (1 Award)
Nearly a decade after its original release, No Man’s Sky won Best Ongoing Game, highlighting one of the most notable long-term turnarounds in modern gaming. Through years of free updates, Hello Games has continuously expanded the title with new systems, narrative content, multiplayer features, and quality-of-life improvements.
The award recognizes sustained development rather than a single release window. No Man’s Sky has become a reference point for how long-term support and community engagement can fundamentally reshape a game’s reputation and value over time.
Awards won:
* Best Ongoing Game
8. Baldur’s Gate 3 (1 Award)
Baldur’s Gate 3 received the award for Best Community Support, reflecting Larian Studios’ continued engagement with its player base well after launch. Ongoing patches, feature updates, mod support, and direct communication with the community helped maintain strong player trust and long-term interest.
Although its major award sweep occurred in previous years, this recognition highlights the importance of post-launch stewardship. Baldur’s Gate 3 remains an example of how responsiveness and transparency can extend a game’s lifecycle and cultural relevance.
Awards won:
* Best Community Support
9. Donkey Kong Bananza (1 Award)
Donkey Kong Bananza took home Best Family Game, recognizing its broad accessibility and polished platforming design. The game leans into classic Donkey Kong fundamentals, precise jumping, readable level layouts, and playful challenge, while layering in modern presentation and quality-of-life improvements that make it approachable for younger players.
The award reflects the game’s ability to appeal across age groups. It delivers enough depth to keep experienced players engaged without sacrificing the clarity and charm that define strong family-focused titles.
Awards won:
* Best Family Game
10. Doom: The Dark Ages (1 Award)
Doom: The Dark Ages was recognized for Innovation in Accessibility, highlighting how id Software expanded the franchise’s reach without compromising its fast-paced combat identity. The game introduced customizable difficulty modifiers, improved visual readability, and expanded control options, allowing more players to engage with its demanding mechanics.
This win underscores a broader industry trend toward inclusive design. Doom: The Dark Ages demonstrates that accessibility features can coexist with high-skill gameplay rather than dilute it.
Awards won:
* Innovation in Accessibility
11. Umamusume: Pretty Derby (1 Award)
Umamusume: Pretty Derby earned Best Mobile Game, reflecting its continued success in blending sports management mechanics with character-driven storytelling. The game combines racing simulations with training systems and narrative arcs, supported by high production values uncommon in mobile titles.
Its win highlights how mobile games can achieve sustained popularity through depth, polish, and consistent content updates, rather than relying solely on short-session engagement.
Awards won:
* Best Mobile Game
12. The Last of Us: Season 2 (1 Award)
The Last of Us: Season 2 won Best Adaptation, continuing the franchise’s success beyond its original medium. Building on the narrative foundation of Naughty Dog’s games, the HBO series translated its character-driven storytelling, emotional weight, and moral ambiguity into long-form television with broad critical and commercial appeal.
The award reflects how faithfully the adaptation preserved the source material’s tone while still functioning as a standalone series. Its success has further validated video games as a strong foundation for prestige television when handled with care.
Awards won:
* Best Adaptation
13. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (1 Award)
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves claimed Best Fighting Game, marking a strong return for SNK’s long-running franchise. The game modernized classic mechanics while maintaining the timing, spacing, and execution that define competitive fighting games. Its visual style and refined combat systems helped it stand out in a crowded genre.
The win highlights the continued relevance of traditional fighting game design when paired with modern production values and online infrastructure.
Awards won:
* Best Fighting Game
14. FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles (1 Award)
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles won Best Sim / Strategy Game, recognizing the enduring appeal of tactical RPG design. The remaster introduced visual enhancements, balance adjustments, and modern platform support while preserving the complex job system and politically driven narrative that defined the original.
Its award underscores how thoughtful remasters can reintroduce classic systems to new audiences without losing their original identity.
Awards won:
* Best Sim / Strategy Game
15. Mario Kart World (1 Award)
Mario Kart World earned Best Sports / Racing Game, reinforcing Nintendo’s dominance in accessible competitive design. The game expanded the series with new tracks, mechanics, and online features while retaining the straightforward controls and chaotic balance that define Mario Kart.
The award reflects the franchise’s ability to evolve incrementally while remaining one of the most widely played multiplayer experiences across age groups.
Awards won:
* Best Sports / Racing Game
16. The Midnight Walk (1 Award)
The Midnight Walk won Best VR / AR Game, highlighting how virtual reality continues to mature as a storytelling platform. The game focused on atmosphere, environmental interaction, and narrative pacing rather than technical spectacle alone, offering an experience designed specifically around immersion.
Its recognition signals growing appreciation for VR titles that prioritize design intention over novelty.
Awards won:
* Best VR / AR Game
17. Wuthering Waves (1 Award)
Wuthering Waves received the Player’s Voice award, the only category decided entirely by fan voting. The game gained a large and vocal following thanks to its fast-paced combat, open-world exploration, and ongoing content updates, particularly within the free-to-play action RPG space.
This win reflects strong community engagement and sustained player enthusiasm rather than critical jury consensus.
Awards won:
* Player’s Voice
18. Grand Theft Auto VI (1 Award)
Grand Theft Auto VI won Most Anticipated Game, an unsurprising outcome given the franchise’s cultural footprint and Rockstar Games’ long development cycle. As the first mainline GTA entry in over a decade, the game carries immense expectations around scale, technical ambition, and narrative scope. Trailers and limited previews have already fueled record-breaking engagement across social media and streaming platforms.
The award reflects anticipation rather than execution, but it also highlights how dominant legacy franchises remain in shaping industry attention. Even without a release date in sight, Grand Theft Auto VI continues to set the benchmark for hype in modern gaming.
Awards won:
* Most Anticipated Game
Final thoughts: The full winners list and what it says about 2025
Taken as a whole, The Game Awards 2025 reflected an industry increasingly shaped by strong creative direction, long-term support, and player trust. Independent development reached a new high point, live-service games continued to prove their value through sustained updates, and established franchises maintained their gravitational pull on global audiences.
For reference, here is the complete list of award categories and their respective winners from The Game Awards 2025:
* Game of the Year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
* Best Game Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
* Best Narrative: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
* Best RPG: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
* Best Independent Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
* Best Debut Indie Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
* Best Art Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
* Best Score and Music: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Lorien Testard)
* Best Performance: Jennifer English (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
* Best Esports Game: Counter-Strike 2
* Best Esports Team: Team Vitality (Counter-Strike 2)
* Best Multiplayer: Arc Raiders
* Best Action Game: Hades II
* Best Action Adventure Game: Hollow Knight: Silksong
* Best Audio Design: Battlefield 6
* Best Ongoing Game: No Man’s Sky
* Best Community Support: Baldur’s Gate 3
* Best Family Game: Donkey Kong Bananza
* Best Fighting Game: Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
* Best Sim / Strategy Game: FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles
* Best Sports / Racing Game: Mario Kart World
* Best Mobile Game: Umamusume: Pretty Derby
* Best VR / AR Game: The Midnight Walk
* Innovation in Accessibility: Doom: The Dark Ages
* Games for Impact: South of Midnight
* Best Adaptation: The Last of Us: Season 2
* Player’s Voice: Wuthering Waves
* Most Anticipated Game: Grand Theft Auto VI
From a hardware perspective, many of these award-winning titles demand capable systems, whether for high-refresh competitive play, visually dense RPGs, or large-scale multiplayer experiences. This is where pre-configured gaming systems continue to offer practical value. Acer Predator and Nitro gaming laptops and desktops available through the Acer Store are well suited for modern releases like Arc Raiders, Battlefield 6, and Hades II, offering balanced CPU and GPU configurations without the complexity of custom builds.
For students, Acer also provides an additional incentive. Eligible buyers can receive 15% off through Acer’s student discount program, making high-performance gaming hardware more accessible at a time when component prices remain volatile. For players looking to experience 2025’s best games as intended, that combination of value and performance is difficult to ignore.
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ARC Raiders Expedition 2 Guide: Is It Worth It?
ARC Raiders Expedition is an optional progression reset system that allows players to leave the Rust Belt in exchange for long-term rewards, permanent unlocks, and temporary buffs that carry into a new Raider. Instead of forcing a global wipe, Expeditions give players a limited departure window where they can choose whether to reset their progress based on how prepared they feel. By investing time and resources into building a caravan and contributing their entire stash, players can earn bonus skill points, extra storage, and account-wide advantages that stack across future Expeditions. The system is designed to respect player investment while still refreshing progression and pacing as the game evolves.
What is the Expedition
In ARC Raiders, an Expedition is an optional progression reset that allows your Raider to permanently leave the Rust Belt and begin a new journey with account-level advantages. Instead of acting as a mandatory wipe for all players, Expeditions run on a set schedule and are built around a 60-day preparation period, where you gather materials and complete a multi-stage caravan project. After the build is finished, a shorter departure window opens, and you decide whether to send your Raider out for good or hold off for a later cycle.
When you undertake an Expedition, your current Raider departs aboard the caravan you have constructed. Once the caravan leaves, most forms of character progression reset, including your level, skill tree, stash, inventory, workshop progression, and blueprints. However, certain unlocks and bonuses carry forward to your next Raider, which helps returning players restart with small but meaningful advantages. These benefits can become stronger if you continue completing Expeditions over multiple cycles, making this system a long-term progression layer rather than a one-time reset.
If you do not depart during the departure window, you are not forced into anything. Your caravan progress is preserved, and you can continue preparing and improving your stash value until a future Expedition window opens. This structure makes Expeditions more flexible than traditional wipes, since participation is based on readiness rather than a fixed, mandatory reset.
Note on Expedition cycles: Expeditions in ARC Raiders run on seasonal schedules, with requirements and rewards that may change between cycles. The information below reflects the current Expedition cycle running from December 22, 2025 to February 18, 2026, unless otherwise stated.
Current Expedition Requirements (December 22, 2025 to February 18, 2026)
Preparing for an Expedition in ARC Raiders takes place over a 60-day preparation period and is divided into six required project stages. Each stage unlocks in sequence and requires specific materials or item value contributions. All progress is account-wide, meaning any Raider can contribute toward completing the caravan.
The second Expedition cycle introduces updated material requirements while keeping the same overall structure. Players must complete all five phases before the caravan is ready to depart.
Stage 1: Foundation (1/6)
This stage focuses on building the base structure and frame of the caravan.
Required materials:
* Metal Parts x150
* Plastic Parts x200
* ARC Alloy x80
* Steel Springs x15
Stage 2: Core Systems (2/6)
This stage installs essential systems such as wiring, ventilation, and power.
Required materials:
* Durable Cloth x35
* Wires x25
* Electrical Components x20
* Cooling Coils x4
Stage 3: Framework (3/6)
This stage builds the walls and roof while defining the interior layout.
Required materials:
* Light Bulbs x4
* Batteries x30
* Shredder Gyros x10
* Exodus Module x1
Stage 4: Outfitting (4/6)
This stage adds storage, workbenches, utilities, and functional upgrades.
Required materials:
* Frequency Modulation Boxes x5
* Advanced Electrical Components x5
* Ion Sputters x3
* Leaper Pulse Units x3
Stage 5: Load Stage (5/6)
Instead of specific items, this stage requires credit value thresholds across several item categories. Any combination of items can be used as long as the total value meets the requirement.
Required item value:
* 200,000 credits worth of Combat Items
(Ammunition, Grenades, Traps, Weapons, Weapon Modifications)
* 100,000 credits worth of Survival Items
(Augments, Healing Items, Quick Use Items, Shields)
* 150,000 credits worth of Provisions
(Keys, Nature Items, Old World Items, Trinkets)
* 300,000 credits worth of Materials
(Basic Materials, Advanced Materials, Recyclables, Refined Materials, Topside Materials)
Stage 6: Departure (6/6)
Once all previous stages are complete, the caravan is ready to leave. When the Expedition departure window opens, you may choose to send your Raider beyond the Rust Belt permanently.
Key details at departure:
* All remaining items in your stash are automatically contributed to the Expedition
* Total stash value, including coins, determines bonus skill points for your next Raider
* 1,000,000 credits of value equals 1 bonus skill point
* Maximum of 5 bonus skill points
If you choose not to depart during the window, all caravan progress is preserved and carries over to the next Expedition cycle.
What are the rewards of the Expedition #2
Completing an Expedition in ARC Raiders grants a mix of permanent account unlocks and temporary gameplay buffs that apply to your next Raider. These rewards are designed to provide long-term progression without creating an overwhelming advantage, especially since each Expedition requires a full reset of character progress.
Permanent rewards
Permanent rewards are unlocked once an Expedition is completed and remain on your account for all future Raiders.
These include:
* Expedition-exclusive cosmetic items (Not yet announced)
* Expedition indicator icon
* Bonus skill points based on stash value at departure
* +12 stash slots
Bonus skill points are calculated using the total value of all items and coins in your stash at the time the departure window closes. For every 1,000,000 credits of combined value, your next Raider earns one bonus skill point, up to a maximum of five. These bonus skill points persist across future resets and stack with additional Expeditions.
Temporary buffs
In addition to permanent unlocks, each completed Expedition grants temporary account-wide buffs that apply to your next Raider. These buffs last until the next Expedition cycle unless another Expedition is completed.
Temporary buffs include:
* 10 percent reduced repair costs
* 5 percent increased experience gain
* 6 percent more materials received from Scrappy
These temporary buffs can stack up to three times if you complete Expeditions in consecutive cycles. However, if you skip an Expedition window and do not depart, all temporary buffs are lost, even though permanent rewards remain.
Overall, the reward structure encourages long-term engagement with the Expedition system while still allowing players to opt out without permanently falling behind.
What happens when you complete the Expedition
When you complete an Expedition in ARC Raiders, your current Raider permanently leaves the Rust Belt, and a new Raider is created to begin the next cycle. At this point, much of your character-specific progression is reset, while certain account-level progress and Expedition rewards carry forward. The reset is immediate and tied directly to your decision to depart during the Expedition window.
Most forms of progression are wiped. Your player level, skill tree, stash contents, inventory items, coins, blueprints, quests, and workshop upgrades are reset. While the workshop itself remains unlocked, it returns to level one and must be rebuilt through normal gameplay. This ensures that every Expedition restart begins from a clean economic and progression baseline.
At the same time, several key elements are preserved. Unlocked maps, workshop stations, codex entries, cosmetics, trials, active leaderboards, personal event progress, and Raider deck progress all remain available. Any bonus skill points and additional stash slots earned through Expeditions are immediately applied to your new Raider, allowing you to invest in the skill tree earlier than usual.
To reduce friction during the restart, the game skips the initial onboarding sequence after your first Expedition. All maps and base workshop access are available right away, meaning you do not need to repeat early unlock steps just to regain access to core systems. While you still begin with no gear or resources, the restart is streamlined compared to a brand-new account.
In practice, completing an Expedition resets moment-to-moment progression while preserving long-term account identity. The goal is not to erase your achievements, but to let experienced players re-enter the game loop with slightly better efficiency and fewer early-game barriers.
Is it worth it?
Whether the Expedition system is worth engaging with depends heavily on how much time a player can commit to ARC Raiders. From a practical standpoint, the immediate payoff is limited. Reaching the maximum reward of five bonus skill points requires a combined stash and coin value of 5 million credits, which represents a significant time investment. For many players, that level of accumulation takes dozens of hours, especially without focusing exclusively on high-value farming.
There is also the cost of lost progression to consider. Completing an Expedition resets all blueprints, which can be a major setback for players who have already collected most or all of them. With more than 70 blueprints available and their locations based on random spawns, rebuilding that collection can take a long time. Losing access to high-tier blueprints after a reset can slow early progression and make the restart feel repetitive rather than rewarding.
For highly dedicated players, the system makes more sense. Hardcore players who regularly invest large amounts of time can benefit from stacking temporary buffs, permanent stash space, and earlier access to skill points. Over multiple Expeditions, these advantages can compound and slightly smooth out future progression cycles. For players who enjoy optimization and long-term planning, Expeditions offer a clear, if gradual, sense of account growth.
For more casual players, however, the value is less clear. The progress wipe outweighs the benefits, especially when the rewards do not meaningfully change early-game difficulty or pacing. In its current form, the Expedition system appears better suited to long-term, highly engaged players rather than those who play intermittently or prefer steady progression without resets.
Conclusion
The Expedition system in ARC Raiders is a thoughtful attempt to address long-term progression without relying on mandatory global wipes. By making resets optional and tying rewards to preparation and commitment, the developers give players control over when and how they start over. The structure respects player choice, even if the current rewards may feel modest compared to the amount of progress that is reset.
As the system evolves through future updates and balance changes, Expeditions may become more appealing, especially if rewards are expanded or blueprint progression is adjusted. For now, it remains a feature aimed primarily at the most dedicated players, while casual Raiders can safely ignore it without falling behind.
If you are planning to invest serious time into ARC Raiders, having the right hardware can make a meaningful difference. The Acer Store offers a wide range of gaming laptops and desktops, including the Predator and Nitro series, built to handle long sessions, fast load times, and demanding combat scenarios. Whether you are grinding materials or pushing into high-risk zones, upgrading your setup through the Acer Store can help you get the most out of every raid.
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Why Rising PC Hardware Prices are Pushing Gamers Toward Cloud Gaming
PC gamers are increasingly being pushed toward cloud gaming as rising GPU and RAM prices make traditional hardware upgrades harder to justify. Graphics cards that once sat within reach of mid-range buyers now sell far above their launch prices, while memory costs have climbed just as sharply. What used to be a straightforward performance upgrade has become a much larger financial decision for many players.
The impact is being felt across the entire PC gaming market. New graphics cards often cost hundreds of dollars more than their intended price points, even months after release. At the same time, RAM prices have surged across both DDR4 and DDR5, increasing the total cost of building or upgrading a system.
For gamers who planned to refresh their hardware in 2025, the upgrade path no longer feels predictable. Instead of choosing components based on performance needs, many players are now forced to weigh rising costs against how much value an upgrade actually delivers. This shift is changing how gamers approach PC hardware and opening the door to alternatives that do not rely on expensive local components.
GPU and RAM price increases are making PC upgrades unaffordable
The combined cost of graphics cards and memory has turned PC upgrades into a far more expensive decision than in previous years. High-end GPUs have moved well beyond what most gamers consider reasonable, and even mid-range cards often sell hundreds of dollars above their intended price points. At the same time, memory prices have surged across both DDR4 and DDR5, raising the baseline cost of any new build or upgrade.
Industry data illustrates how sharp the increase has been. TrendForce reports that many DDR5 memory modules have risen by 120 to 200 percent compared with early 2025 pricing. Broader DRAM pricing indexes are up nearly 50 percent year to date, while contract prices for memory chips have increased by 30 to 60 percent in a matter of months. These costs flow directly into consumer pricing, affecting prebuilt systems and individual components alike.
When expensive GPUs are paired with sharply higher RAM prices, the total cost of upgrading can quickly exceed what many gamers are willing or able to spend. For players who once upgraded every few years, the current market makes that cycle harder to sustain.
Why graphics cards and memory prices are rising at the same time
GPU and RAM prices are rising together because both markets are being shaped by the same underlying forces. The most significant of these is the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. Data centers that train and run AI models require enormous amounts of compute power and memory, especially high bandwidth memory used alongside advanced GPUs.
Both graphics processors and memory rely on limited semiconductor manufacturing capacity. As AI companies place long-term orders and pay premium prices, suppliers prioritize those customers. This shifts capacity away from consumer hardware, reducing supply for gaming GPUs and standard DRAM.
Memory manufacturers have also adopted tighter production strategies after years of oversupply. By limiting output and focusing on higher-margin products, they are able to maintain higher prices. At the same time, DDR4 is being phased out more quickly than planned, which tightens supply further for older systems.
The result is a market where GPUs and RAM are becoming more expensive in parallel, driven by shared supply constraints and rising demand from outside the gaming space.
How rising hardware costs are changing PC gamer behavior
As upgrade costs rise, many PC gamers are rethinking how they approach hardware. Instead of upgrading as soon as new components launch, players are increasingly delaying purchases, skipping generations, or deciding to run existing systems for as long as possible.
Some gamers are choosing to lower expectations, sticking with lower settings or relying on features like upscaling and frame generation to extend the life of their hardware. Others are opting out of upgrades entirely, especially when the cost of a new GPU and memory kit rivals that of a complete console or laptop.
This shift in behavior has broader implications. When upgrading feels financially risky, gamers become more open to alternatives that do not depend on owning high-end local hardware. That change in mindset is one of the reasons cloud gaming is gaining renewed attention as a potential stopgap, or even a long-term option, for some players.
Why cloud gaming is becoming a practical alternative for some PC gamers
As the cost of upgrading PC hardware rises, cloud gaming has started to look more appealing to a segment of the PC gaming audience. Cloud services remove the need to buy expensive graphics cards or large amounts of system memory by running games on remote servers instead of local machines.
For gamers who primarily play popular live-service titles, single-player games, or back-catalog releases, cloud gaming can meet performance needs without the upfront cost of a full upgrade. A monthly subscription often costs less than the price difference between current GPU generations, especially when memory prices are factored in.
Cloud gaming also offers flexibility. Games can be played across multiple devices, including older PCs, laptops, tablets, and even smartphones. For players who value convenience or who are unwilling to commit thousands of dollars to new hardware, this model is increasingly attractive.
Credible cloud gaming services PC gamers can use today
Several cloud gaming platforms now offer reliable access to PC and console games, each with different strengths and trade-offs.
* GeForce NOW allows users to stream PC games they already own on platforms like Steam and Epic Games Store. It offers strong performance, high resolutions, and support for modern features such as ray tracing, though queues and subscription tiers can affect availability.
* Xbox Cloud Gaming is included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and provides access to a large rotating library of console titles. It works well for casual play and cross-platform access, though it does not replace full PC ownership for modding or competitive gaming.
* PlayStation Plus Premium offers cloud streaming for select PlayStation titles. It is primarily aimed at console players rather than PC gamers, but it remains an option for accessing exclusives without owning a PlayStation console.
* Boosteroid focuses on PC game streaming and supports many popular titles. Availability varies by region, and performance depends heavily on proximity to its data centers.
* Shadow provides users with a full remote Windows PC. This option offers the most flexibility, including modding and productivity tasks, but it is also the most expensive and depends heavily on stable, high-speed internet.
Each service addresses different needs, and none fully replaces a high-end local PC. However, for gamers squeezed by rising hardware costs, these platforms offer viable ways to keep playing without upgrading.
Why rising hardware costs may permanently change how PC gamers play
Cloud gaming is not replacing traditional PC gaming overnight, but rising GPU and RAM prices are accelerating a shift that was already underway. As hardware upgrades become more expensive and less predictable, more gamers are questioning whether local ownership still offers enough value to justify the cost.
For many players, the issue is not performance alone. It is about flexibility, timing, and return on investment. Spending thousands of dollars on a PC upgrade makes less sense when cloud services can deliver acceptable performance for a monthly fee, especially for those with reliable internet access. This is particularly true for gamers who play a smaller number of titles or who prioritize convenience over maximum visual fidelity.
That said, cloud gaming remains a compromise. Latency, image compression, and reliance on server availability still limit its appeal for competitive and enthusiast players. Local hardware continues to offer unmatched responsiveness, control, and ownership. For gamers who still want a dedicated PC experience, buying from established vendors with strong value propositions matters more than ever.
This is where options like the Acer Store become relevant. Acer’s gaming laptops and desktops offer a more predictable way to enter or upgrade within the PC ecosystem, especially during periods of market volatility. For students, the Acer Store’s 15% student discount can significantly reduce the cost of entry, making local gaming hardware more accessible despite broader pricing pressures.
If current trends persist, cloud gaming is likely to remain a growing alternative rather than a full replacement. Instead of one dominant path, PC gaming may split into two clear directions: premium local hardware for those who value ownership and performance, and cloud-based access for players prioritizing affordability and convenience. Rising hardware prices are not just changing what gamers buy, but how they choose to play.
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All Traps in ARC Raiders Ranked
ARC Raiders traps are deployable tools that can control space, punish aggressive pushes, and protect valuable loot, but not all traps are equally effective in real combat situations. Traps in ARC Raiders fall into two main categories, laser-based grenade traps and proximity-triggered mines, each with different strengths, weaknesses, and use cases against both Raiders and ARC enemies. While some traps function mainly as alarms or area denial, others can directly decide fights through crowd control or raw damage. Understanding how these traps work and which ones are actually worth bringing into a raid can make a meaningful difference in both survival and efficiency.
Laser traps vs. mines
Traps in ARC Raiders are divided into two main types: laser-based grenade traps and proximity-triggered mines. While both can be effective in the right situation, mines are generally more reliable and impactful than laser traps in most real gameplay scenarios.
Laser traps use a visible red trip wire that detonates a grenade when something passes through it. This makes them easy to identify, especially in enclosed spaces or darker environments. In addition to the laser itself, these traps emit a distinct beeping sound, which further alerts players to their presence. Because of this, laser traps are rarely triggered by experienced Raiders unless they are distracted, panicked, or intentionally setting them off. The visibility also makes them easier to avoid, disarm, or play around once detected.
Mines, on the other hand, are much more subtle. They sit low to the ground, do not project a visible laser, and are often difficult to notice during active movement or combat. This makes them far more likely to trigger unintentionally, especially during chases, rotations, or tight fights around cover. Mines also tend to provide more immediate value by dealing damage, stunning, knocking back, or heavily disrupting movement, rather than simply revealing a player’s position.
Another advantage of mines is flexibility. They can be placed quickly, even while sliding or retreating, and can be picked back up if repositioning is needed. Mines also do not interfere with the user’s own movement in the same way gas or smoke-based laser traps can, which reduces the risk of self-inflicted disadvantages during a fight.
Because of their lower visibility, stronger effects, and ease of use, mines are generally the superior choice for area control, ambush setups, and defensive play. Laser traps still have niche uses as alarms or utility tools, but when ranking overall effectiveness, mines consistently outperform laser-based traps.
All Traps in ARC Raiders Ranked
1. Gas Grenade Trap (Worst)
The Gas Grenade Trap is the weakest trap in ARC Raiders and is generally not worth crafting or relying on. It uses a visible laser trip wire and emits a beeping sound, which makes it easy to spot and avoid. On top of that, it requires extra crafting materials, since it consumes both a gas grenade and a wire, making it more expensive than its effectiveness justifies.
When triggered, the trap releases a gas cloud that rapidly drains stamina. While this can function as basic area denial or a warning system, it rarely leads to a meaningful combat advantage. Players caught in the gas are not immobilized and can simply move out of the cloud with little consequence. The gas is also thinner than a standard smoke grenade, which means targets inside it can still be shot with relative ease.
Compared to the Gas Mine, this version is strictly worse. It is louder, more obvious, more costly to craft, and easier to play around. The only real use case is as a low-pressure alarm if you happen to find one in the field, but even then, there are better and cheaper alternatives. As a result, the Gas Grenade Trap sits firmly at the bottom of the rankings.
2. Gas Mine
The Gas Mine is a clear step up from the Gas Grenade Trap, but it still ranks near the bottom due to its limited impact in combat. Unlike laser-based traps, it does not project a visible trip wire or emit a loud warning sound, making it much harder to notice, especially in bright outdoor areas. This gives it some value as a subtle alarm rather than a true offensive tool.
When triggered, the Gas Mine releases a stamina-draining gas cloud similar to the grenade version. The effect activates quickly, but players can still escape the cloud without being immobilized. The smoke is not dense enough to fully obscure vision, which means opponents can often disengage safely or even return fire while retreating. As a result, it rarely leads to a confirmed kill or decisive advantage.
The Gas Mine works best as a low-cost warning system to cover your back while looting or holding a position. However, its usefulness drops sharply in direct PvP situations, where pushing through your own gas can be just as punishing as it is for the enemy. It has situational value, but compared to higher-tier traps, its influence on fights is minimal, placing it near the bottom of the rankings.
3. Lure Grenade Trap
The Lure Grenade Trap occupies the lower end of the rankings because its effect is highly situational and generally outclassed by its throwable counterpart. Like other laser-based traps, it relies on a visible red trip wire and an audible warning, which makes it difficult to trigger against experienced players without deliberate setup or luck. It also requires a lure grenade and a wire to craft, increasing its cost for limited payoff.
When activated, the trap detonates a lure grenade that redirects nearby ARC units toward the trigger point. This can be useful for protecting your back while looting or distracting ARC enemies away from your position. However, against players, its impact is minimal. Raiders can easily avoid the trigger or step back once it activates, and it does nothing to directly slow, damage, or control them.
In most cases, the regular throwable lure grenade is the better option. It is cheaper, more flexible, and can be placed exactly where you need it in the moment, rather than relying on an opponent to walk into a trap. Because the trap version is harder to use effectively and offers little advantage over existing alternatives, it earns a low ranking despite having a narrow utility role.
4. Pulse Mine
The Pulse Mine is the first trap on this list that begins to offer real combat value, though it still falls short of being consistently fight-deciding. When triggered, it knocks targets back and briefly forces them into a downed or recovery animation. This disruption can create an opening, but the effect is short and requires you to be nearby to fully capitalize on it.
One of the Pulse Mine’s strengths is its subtlety. It lacks a visible laser and is relatively easy to miss, making it more reliable than most grenade traps. It also produces a loud activation sound, clearly signaling that someone has triggered it. In certain setups, such as near ledges, ziplines, or elevated platforms, the knockback can force enemies into bad positions or even cause them to fall, which gives the mine situational upside.
That said, the Pulse Mine has limitations. The knockback can shift enemy hitboxes in awkward ways, often making clean headshots harder to land. It can also affect the user if placed too close, and if you are not in position when it triggers, the advantage is quickly lost. As a result, it functions best as a disruptive alarm with some combat utility rather than a reliable kill tool, keeping it in the lower-middle tier of traps.
5. Smoke Grenade Trap
The Smoke Grenade Trap sits in the middle of the rankings because it functions well as an alarm and utility tool, but rarely as a direct combat winner. Like all laser-based traps, it suffers from high visibility due to the red trip wire and audible beeping, which makes it difficult to trigger unintentionally against aware players. However, when it does activate, its effect is immediately obvious and disruptive.
Once triggered, the trap releases a large smoke cloud that lasts a long time. This makes it effective at revealing enemy movement, forcing hesitation, and temporarily blocking sightlines. In many cases, players will instinctively back away from the smoke, which can buy you time to reposition, reload, or disengage. The long duration also makes it a reliable early warning system when protecting your back during looting.
That said, it is still more expensive and less flexible than a standard smoke grenade, since it requires a wire to craft and has a trigger delay. While you can intentionally set it off yourself for emergency cover, it is slower and less reliable than throwing a smoke directly. The Smoke Grenade Trap is useful when found and can serve multiple purposes, but its visibility and cost prevent it from ranking higher.
6. Explosive Mine
The Explosive Mine is where traps in ARC Raiders start to have a clear and reliable impact on fights. When triggered, it pops up and detonates, dealing a solid burst of damage in an area. While the raw damage is not high enough to instantly down a healthy Raider on its own, it is more than enough to swing an engagement by putting the target at a health disadvantage.
One of the Explosive Mine’s biggest strengths is consistency. Even if you are not close enough to immediately capitalize on the trigger, the mine still delivers value through guaranteed damage and a loud, unmistakable explosion that tells you exactly where contact occurred. This makes it effective as both a damage source and an alarm, unlike traps that rely purely on crowd control or visibility disruption.
The Explosive Mine also works against both Raiders and ARC enemies, which gives it broader utility than many lower-ranked traps. While it lacks the hard crowd control of higher-tier options, the combination of damage, reliability, and low visibility makes it a strong all-purpose choice. It does not usually decide fights on its own, but it consistently puts you in a better position when engagements begin.
7. Blaze Grenade Trap
The Blaze Grenade Trap ranks high because of how punishing it is when it actually triggers. When activated, it detonates a Blaze Grenade, spreading fire that deals sustained damage to both health and shields. This ticking damage immediately puts pressure on the target and makes it difficult for them to stay in the fight without disengaging.
Its main weakness is visibility. As a laser-based trap, it suffers from the same issues as other grenade traps, including the obvious red trip wire and audible beeping. Experienced players can often spot and avoid it, which limits how often it triggers in real PvP scenarios. Because of this, its effectiveness depends heavily on placement and player awareness.
When it does work, however, the payoff is strong. The fire damage is effective against both Raiders and ARC enemies, and the explosion serves as a clear alert that someone has entered the area. While balance changes have reduced how dominant Blaze effects once were, the Blaze Grenade Trap remains one of the most dangerous laser traps available, earning it a high ranking despite its visibility drawbacks.
8. Deadline
The Deadline ranks just below the Jolt Mine due to its incredible power paired with lower reliability. Unlike other mines, Deadline does not trigger on proximity. Instead, it detonates after a fixed six-second timer once placed, which makes it far less consistent against Raiders.
In PvP, Deadline can be used as a bait tool by planting it and retreating, hoping an enemy chases into the blast radius. While this can work, it is situational and dependent on opponent behavior rather than guaranteed activation. As a result, it is not a dependable defensive trap in player-versus-player encounters.
Where Deadline truly shines is against large ARC enemies. Its massive area-of-effect damage can instantly kill or severely weaken high-tier ARC units, making it the best single-use explosive for hunting Bastions and other large threats. Skilled players can safely place Deadlines using vertical movement, ziplines, or snap hooks, often planting one or two without taking self-damage.
Despite its cost and limited availability, Deadline frequently pays for itself when used correctly against ARC enemies. It remains one of the most powerful tools in the game, but because it lacks the reliability and immediate control of the Jolt Mine, it takes second place overall.
9. Jolt Mine (Best Overall Trap)
The Jolt Mine is the most effective and reliable trap in ARC Raiders, especially in PvP situations. When triggered, it emits a loud explosion and applies a strong stun that locks the target in place for roughly two seconds. During this window, the affected Raider cannot move, creating an immediate and often fight-ending opportunity for follow-up damage.
What makes the Jolt Mine stand out is consistency. Unlike laser traps, it is subtle and difficult to spot, and unlike timed explosives, it does not rely on prediction or baiting. If a Raider steps on it, the effect is guaranteed. Even arriving late to the trigger can still result in a kill, since the stun duration is long enough to capitalize on from nearby positions.
The Jolt Mine also excels at area control. Placing one in a doorway, stairwell, or behind you while looting can completely shut down aggressive pushes. Its crowd control has situational value against ARC enemies as well, further increasing its versatility. Because it can directly decide fights with minimal setup or risk, the Jolt Mine earns the top spot.
Conclusion
Traps in ARC Raiders offer a wide range of tactical options, but their effectiveness varies greatly depending on visibility, reliability, and how consistently they influence real combat situations. Mines clearly outperform laser-based traps due to their subtlety and immediate impact, with the Jolt Mine standing out as the most reliable choice for controlling space and deciding PvP engagements. While tools like Deadline excel in specific scenarios, especially against large ARC enemies, most players will benefit more from traps that deliver guaranteed results with minimal setup.
As the game continues to evolve, trap balance may shift, but understanding which options provide real value can save both time and resources. Choosing the right traps can make the difference between securing an extraction and losing everything in a single mistake.
If you are investing serious time into ARC Raiders, running the game on dependable hardware matters. The Acer Store offers a wide selection of gaming laptops and desktops, including the Predator and Nitro series, designed for smooth performance, fast load times, and long play sessions. Whether you are locking down choke points with mines or taking on high-tier ARC threats, upgrading through the Acer Store helps ensure your setup keeps up with every raid.
For more Arc Raiders tips, guides, and detailed breakdowns, be sure to check out our other articles below:
* How to Level Fast in Arc Raiders: Best EXP Methods
* Arc Raiders Enemy Guide: All ARC Enemies, Weakpoints, Loot, and XP
* Best Skills to Upgrade in Arc Raiders
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Disable These Built in Windows 11 Functions to Improve Security and Performance
Disabling certain built-in Windows features can improve your security, reduce data collection, and boost overall system performance. Windows 11 includes many background functions that personalise your experience, track activity, and index content, often using more resources than necessary. By turning off the features you do not need, you can keep your device faster, quieter, and more private. This guide explains which settings to review and how each change helps you get more control over your PC.
1. How to reduce Windows 11 telemetry
Windows 11 does not allow you to completely disable telemetry, but you can limit it significantly by adjusting the Diagnostics & feedback settings.
In Settings → Privacy & security → Diagnostics & feedback, turn off the following:
* Under Diagnostic data: Turn Send optional diagnostic data Off to stop Windows from sending extra information such as app usage and enhanced error reports.
* Under Improve inking and typing: Turn Send optional inking and typing diagnostic data Off, which prevents Windows from collecting details about how you type or use a stylus.
* Under View diagnostic data: Turn Diagnostic Data Viewer Off so Windows does not store diagnostic logs locally (this feature can use up to 1GB of storage).
* Delete diagnostic data: Click Delete to remove any diagnostic information your device has already collected.
* Feedback frequency: Set Windows should ask for my feedback to Never so Windows stops prompting you and sending extra contextual data along with those requests.
These settings will help minimize Microsoft’s data collection and reduce background telemetry on your device.
Once you’ve limited the diagnostic data Windows collects, you can take things a step further by turning off the advertising and recommendation features that also rely on your personal usage data.
Disable advertising ID, personalized tips, and product recommendations
* In Settings, go to Privacy & security → Recommendations & offers.
* Turn Off:* Personalized offers
* Allow websites to access my language list
* Improve Start and search results
* Show notification in Settings (required notifications will be shown even if this setting is off)
* Recommendations and offers in Settings
* Advertising ID
Disabling these features helps reduce data collection, prevents personalized tracking, and minimizes distractions from unwanted notifications or suggestions. It’s a quick way to enhance your privacy and streamline your Windows experience.
2. Turn off auto-connect for Wi-Fi networks
Windows 11 will automatically reconnect to Wi-Fi networks you’ve used before, even if they are slow, insecure, or not the one you prefer. Turning off auto-connect helps prevent your device from joining unwanted networks and reduces background data activity.
To disable auto-connect for a specific Wi-Fi network:
* Click the Wi-Fi icon on the taskbar.
* Click the arrow next to your Wi-Fi name to open the full list of available networks.
* Find the network you are currently using and click Properties.
* Turn Connect automatically when in range Off.
This stops Windows from reconnecting to the network without your approval.
To remove auto-connect networks you no longer use:
* In Settings, go to Network & internet → Wi-Fi.
* Click Manage known networks.
* Choose the network you don’t want to auto-join.
* Turn Connect automatically Off, or click Forget to completely remove it.
This prevents Windows from silently reconnecting to old cafés, airports, hotels, or public hotspots.
3. Turn off Network Discovery
Network Discovery allows your computer to be visible to other devices on the same Wi-Fi network. While this is useful at home for printers or file sharing, it is unnecessary on most networks and increases how much information your device broadcasts. Turning it off helps reduce background network chatter and prevents your PC from being discoverable on public or shared Wi-Fi.
To turn off Network Discovery:
* Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I.
* Go to Network & internet → Advanced network settings.
* Under More settings, click Advanced sharing settings.
* Expand Private networks and turn Network discovery Off. This hides your device from other users on your home network unless you specifically need sharing features.
* Expand Public networks and make sure Network discovery is also Off.
This is the most important one — it prevents your laptop from being visible in places like cafés, hotels, airports, and coworking spaces.
Disabling Network Discovery limits how much your computer announces itself to others and reduces unnecessary network traffic. It’s a simple way to improve privacy and lower your exposure on shared or public Wi-Fi.
4. Turn off Location access
Windows uses your device’s location for apps, advertising, recommendations, and system features like Weather or Find My Device. If you don’t need these services, turning off Location reduces background data sharing and keeps your movements more private.
To turn off Location in Windows 11:
* Open Settings with Windows key + I.
* Go to Privacy & security → Location.
* Turn Location services Off. This stops Windows and most apps from accessing your device’s location. Turning this Off will also turn off Let apps access your location.
* If you decide to keep Location services On. Under Let apps access your location, you can pick and choose to turn Off apps that you don’t want tracking you. This ensures individual apps can’t request or use your location in the background.
* Under Default location, click Set default and choose None (or leave it unset). This prevents Windows from guessing a fallback location.
Turning off Location prevents Windows and apps from tracking where you are or when you move between places. It’s one of the most effective ways to reduce background data collection and improve your overall privacy.
5. Disable Windows Search (optional)
Windows Search constantly indexes your files in the background to make search results appear faster. This feature can be helpful, but it also creates steady disk activity, sends some usage data to Microsoft, and increases overall background processes. Turning it off can reduce telemetry, lower CPU usage, and improve privacy, especially if you do not rely on the search bar often.
To turn off Windows Search indexing:
* Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
* Go to Privacy and security → Search.
* Under Find my files, choose Classic instead of Enhanced. This limits indexing to a few basic folders and stops Windows from scanning your entire PC.
* Scroll down to Exclude folders from enhanced search. Click Add an excluded folder and add any folders you do not want Windows to index.
The more you exclude, the less background indexing occurs.
* To completely disable indexing:* Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
* Scroll down and find Windows Search.
* Double-click it, set Startup type to Disabled, then click Stop.
This turns off the indexing service and prevents it from starting in the future.
Disabling Windows Search reduces how much your system scans, indexes, and reports usage patterns in the background. If you rarely use Windows Search, this adjustment can noticeably lower background activity and help limit telemetry.
6. Turn off Windows Recall (only available on Copilot+ PCs)
Windows Recall is not available on most Windows 11 devices. It only runs on specific hardware called Copilot+ PCs, which include a powerful neural processing unit and meet strict system requirements. If your device is not a Copilot+ PC, Recall will not appear in your settings and you can skip this section.
If you do have a Copilot+ PC and choose to opt in, Recall takes regular screenshots of your activity and stores them locally on your device. Turning it off prevents new snapshots from being saved and removes any existing ones.
Recall is only available if your computer meets all of these requirements:
* You must be using a Copilot+ PC
* The device must meet the Secured-core standard
* A 40 TOPS NPU
* 16 GB RAM or more
* 8 logical processors
* 256 GB storage (with at least 50 GB free to enable snapshots)
* Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security enabled
* Device Encryption or BitLocker turned on
If any of these are missing, Recall will not appear.
How to turn off Windows Recall
If Recall is enabled on your device, you can turn it off in Settings.
* Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
* Go to Privacy and security → Recall and snapshots.
* Turn Save snapshots Off.
This stops Windows from taking new screenshots of your activity.
* Scroll down to Delete snapshots.
* Select Delete all to remove everything that has already been captured.
* If Recall appears on your taskbar, turn Open Recall Off in taskbar settings to hide the shortcut.
How to completely remove Recall (only on Copilot+ PCs)
If you prefer to disable the feature entirely:
* In the taskbar search box, type Turn Windows features on or off.
* Open the Windows Features window.
* Uncheck Recall.
* Restart your PC.
Any saved snapshots will be deleted automatically.
Turning off Recall prevents Windows from capturing your screen activity, reduces background processing, and ensures no snapshots are stored on your device. This is a strong privacy improvement if you use a Copilot+ PC.
Conclusion
Disabling the built-in Windows features covered in this guide is a simple way to improve both your security and your system’s performance. By reducing unnecessary data collection, limiting background activity, and turning off features you do not actually need, your PC becomes faster, quieter, and more private. These adjustments do not break core Windows functions. Instead, they help you run a cleaner setup that protects your information and keeps your device focused on the tasks that matter most.
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Acer Swift Air 16: Acer's Latest Ultra Lightweight Laptop
Here we are introducing Acer’s latest lightweight laptop, the Acer Swift Air 16, and its features and specifications. Weighing under 1 kg (2.20 lbs), this laptop may be ultralight, but it can still pack a performance punch. Its premium magnesium-aluminum alloy body delivers consistent durability and strength for daily use, while the AMD Ryzen™ AI 7 350 processor and NPU handle complex tasks with ease. Users will benefit from a more responsive device, longer battery life, and a whole range of AI-powered features to boost productivity and creativity.
Features
The Acer Swift Air 16 is packed full of nifty features to make your life easier. It is a Copilot+ PC, which are known for being the fastest and smartest Windows PCs on the market. Let’s take a look at some of the Acer Swift Air 16’s features in more detail.
Copilot
Microsoft Copilot is a conversational AI assistant that streamlines workflows and enhances productivity by automating monotonous tasks and analyzing data. It makes intelligent suggestions to help users finish tasks quickly and boosts efficiency for content creation, data analysis, and communication. Copilot is also useful for creating documents, tracking tasks and schedules, and summarizing lengthy emails, so users can free up time to focus on other, more pressing tasks.
Cocreator turns ideas into art
Have you ever had a brilliant design in mind but not been able to put pen to paper? Cocreator can help! With Cocreator, everybody has the chance to be an artist by simply describing or drawing an image with text or image prompts. Cocreator will then generate an image based on those prompts in Microsoft Paint. To try it yourself, follow these instructions:
* Open Microsoft Paint
* Select the Cocreator icon on the tool bar
* Enter a prompt in the box (be as descriptive as you can for best results)
* Start drawing on the canvas with your mouse or stylus
* An AI-generated artpiece will appear in the side bar based on your prompt and sketch
* Click the generated image to apply it to the Paint canvas to continue editing or save
Subtitles in real-time
Keep up to speed with meetings and conversations with real-time subtitles during video calls or movies. Live Captions can translate subtitles from over 40 languages into English in real time, which is great during global meetings.
Enhanced video call quality
Windows Studio Effects instantly enhances lighting conditions, blurs the background, and removes noise and distractions for higher quality video calls without shelling out for expensive lenses or additional lights. It also allows automatic framing to keep you front and center during calls, and adjusts your gaze to simulate eye contact to make online conversations more engaging.
Crystal-clear display
The AMOLED display delivers stunning visuals, true-to-life blacks and beautifully vibrant colors that bring images to life. Each pixel lights up individually, ensuring enhanced vibrance, along with fast refresh rates and a widescreen display resolution.
Specifications
* Operating System: Windows 11 Home
* Processor Type: AMD Ryzen™ AI 7 350 processor
* RAM: 32 GB of DDR5
* NPU AI performance: 50 TOPS
* Display Screen Technology: AMOLED 3 K / WUXGA up to 120Hz / IPS display up to 60Hz
* Ports: 2 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A, HDMI, 1 x headphone jack
* Thickness: 16.6 mm (0.64 inches)
* Weight: < 1 kg (2.20 lbs)
Acer Swift Air 16: the verdict
The Acer Swift range offers some of the best lightweight laptops around. Weighing less than 1 kg, the Acer Swift Air 16 is ultralight but packed full of handy features to optimize your workflow, including AI capabilities with Copilot+. It is impressively fast and has 32 GB RAM for multitasking, running applications, and handling data. The Acer Swift Air 16 is not yet available for purchase in the United States, but check the Acer store soon for a release date, and don’t forget to grab your 15% student discount for extra savings.
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