Speculation has been rife since last week that Microsoft plans to move away from the current status quo of having exclusive games for its Xbox console. In fact, rumours hinted at the Xbox going the way of the dinosaurs. However, earlier this morning, Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond and Matt Booty – three of the top execs at Xbox – took to the Xbox Podcast to set the record straight. In the podcast, Phil Spencer stresses that the information was already in the pipeline to be shared but was expedited due to the leaks last week.
There were a number of things discussed in the 23-minute episode of the podcast, but we’ve summarised everything here. So here’s what you should know:
1. Xbox Exclusives are Here to Stay… for now
Phil Spencer cut to the chase during the podcast and addressed the elephant in the room head-on. In a nutshell, Xbox exclusives are here to stay. Microsoft is not pivoting its strategy to get rid of platform exclusives. Phil Spencer stressed that exclusives remain a key component of Xbox’s go-to-market strategy. That said, he did highlight that the games market as a whole seems to be moving away from exclusive – hinting at a possible future without platform exclusives altogether. However, Matt Booty made one point very clear: GamePass will remain Xbox exclusive.
This isn’t too surprising though. We’ve seen platform exclusives slowly shift to timed exclusives. One of the most obvious examples of this is Sony itself with IPs like God of War, Final Fantasy and even Horizon making their way to the PC after a period of exclusivity.
2. Four Xbox Games are Heading to PlayStation 5 and the Nintendo Switch
With that said, four Xbox exclusives will be breaking exclusivity. These games will be heading to the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. While no specific names were given, the execs did highlight that these games are at least a year old and are – mostly – community-driven. Phil Spencer was very clear that Starfield and the upcoming Indiana Jones game will remain Xbox exclusives.
The games that are making their way to other platforms are seen as either “smaller games that were never really meant to be built as kind of platform exclusives” or “first iterations of a franchise” that would benefit from being on other platforms. It seems pretty likely that these games are likely live-service games; particularly because Phil Spencer did mention that this move would justify further investments.
3. It’s All About Growth
The decision to take these games over to other platforms lies solely in growing Microsoft’s games business. With the closure of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the company is focusing on growing the business and sustaining the double-digit revenue growth it has seen. To achieve this, the four games need to grow their player base and that is only achieved through expanding the availability of these games.
In addition to this, the move to make games more accessible is also aiming to create a larger awareness of the Xbox platform. Yes – they used the word “platform” instead of console. This is very likely how we can see the Xbox brand evolve in the future. Already, we have Xbox GamePass which covers the Xbox Console, XCloud and PC. The next generation of hardware is likely geared to take these experiences further. A cloud-based handheld Xbox anyone?
All in all, it seems like everything is still status quo at Xbox. However, it’s worth noting that the status quo at Xbox is very different than before thanks to the Activision Blizzard acquisition. The company’s growing footprint as a publisher is forcing it to grow beyond just Xbox exclusives. Studios like Activision Blizzard and Zenimax will continue to develop multi-platform games while Microsoft Game Studios continues to seek ways to grow its engaged user base.
Microsoft has shut down its Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) in a quiet update tucked away among other outdated Windows features that were recently released, listing out the many different softwares, apps, and modes being decrypted and shut down.
WMR came from Microsoft’s goal to have its own program when the AR/VR market began to be popular around 2017. HTC and Oculus (now Meta) were the reigning winners then, but Microsoft had a different vision. Instead of focusing primarily on VR immersion, WMR adopted the mixed reality concept, in which digital aspects blend seamlessly with the physical world. This vision piqued the interest of both developers and customers, promising a future in which education and entertainment could ascend higher in a more fufilling experience.
A flurry of headsets from partners such as Acer, Dell, and HP entered the market supported with WMR programs, providing a less expensive alternative to Oculus and HTC. The platform included an easy-to-use interface and access to an extensive library of VR games and experiences. They also joined the enterprise sphere, discovering uses in product design and remote collaboration.
Sadly, despite its initial promise, WMR had several difficulties. Many of these were due to technical restrictions. The virtual surroundings felt less polished and responsive when compared to competitors. The absence of standout apps and memorable experiences hindered its appeal to die-hard VR fans. While it was advertised at low prices, the quality control difficulties with its headsets impacted the user’s experience.
Besides that, some internal issues at Microsoft had a role in the flunking of WMR. The resignation of HoloLens leader Alex Kipman and, more significantly, company-wide cutbacks impacted the division in charge of WMR. As a result, updates and new features were reduced to a trickle, leaving its software stagnant.
HoloLens 2 Industrial Edition. Image Source: Microsoft
However, Microsoft’s departure from WMR does not indicate a complete withdrawal from the AR/VR market. Microsoft still has hopes for HoloLens 2 for business applications. They have added a recent free update to Windows 11 and has additional functionalities.
Furthermore, Microsoft is still pushing for VR uses, such as their Microsoft Mesh App. Their collaboration with Meta allows Quest users to use apps like Word and Excel in VR, blurring the distinction between physical and digital workspaces. It is also to be noted that their latest collaborations include Xbox Cloud Gaming, which allows gamers to access their Xbox Cloud libraries and games to their heart’s content via the Quest headsets.
It looks like Microsoft is officially removing itself from the mobile market by quietly turning off the Microsoft Store app’s main features. More specifically, Microsoft has turned off the features for Windows 10 Mobile. With this change, Windows 10 Mobile and the first wave of Windows Phones are no longer officially supported.
Users have reported that the store’s homepage isn’t working properly. In addition, the pages for downloading apps and getting updates will not load at all. This problem even affects pages with app details. While it may seem like this is out of the blue, Microsoft announced that support for Windows 10 Mobile devices would end in December 2019. This happened simultaneously with the ending of Windows Phone 8.1 support.
That said, Windows 10 Mobile does support sideloading, which allows users to install apps from places other than the Microsoft Store. It’s worth noting that some users have reported that the store starts working normally again after running the newest offline package.
Microsoft has recently made it very clear that its current strategy is to focus on AI and the PC market, not mobile platforms. However, CEO Satya Nadella recently said that ending support for Windows Phone was a mistake as the mobile device industry is constantly shifting and evolving that they may have lost a crucial bit in the technology market.
KONAMI recently kicked off the excitement for their latest football gaming update, eFootball™ 2024 at an exclusive media event in Kuala Lumpur. For those unfamiliar with this game, it is a football simulation video game that allows players to control virtual football teams and compete in various game modes. Another game that is highly popular in this category is FIFA.
KONAMI stated that the eFootball™ will begin its transition to eFootball™ 2024 (v3.0.0) update. This update, scheduled for 4 September 2023 till 7 September 2023, aims to refresh emblems, strips, and player data for Authentic Teams in accordance with licensing agreements.
Alongside these updates, they will be conducting an in-game asset and data carryover process.
Certain In-game Assets Eligible For Carryover
The assets eligible for carryover encompass eFootball™ Coins, eFootball™ Points, GP, Base Team, Nominating Contracts, Chance Deals, Contract Renewals (60 Days), Contract Renewals (10 Days), Players, Managers, Training Programs, Skill Training Programs, Objectives, and various in-game settings. eFootball™ Coins and eFootball™ Points will carry over, but be mindful of expiration, especially if your account is linked to Japan.
GP and Base Team may see changes, and players can select new Base Teams if needed. Nominating Contracts, Chance Deals, and Contracts will be carried over, but remember potential expiration. Training and Skill Training Programs, Special Strips, and Standard Player Tickets will also carry over.
Regarding your Avatar and settings, they will carry over if available in v3.0.0; otherwise, they will be reset to default. Your username, country/region, date of birth, and login bonuses will carry over. Records in your Balance Sheet will be partially reset, with only the past year’s records available. Match History will be reset entirely.
Team Playstyle Level Will Be Removed
However, there will be changes in the gameplay mechanics. Team Playstyle Level will no longer be a factor, and Abilities will not be influenced by it. Players who invested Progression Points in Team Playstyle Proficiency will see these points returned. The status of Players and Managers depends on Live Updates, with Standard Players experiencing updates to affiliations and data changes.
So, gamers, if you would like to learn more about KONAMI’s large-scale maintenance to facilitate these updates, check out more details on eFootball™ official website.
Microsoft launched their latest Xbox devices in 2020 almost alongside Sony’s PlayStation 5. Like the PlayStation 5 series too, there are two types of Xbox that you can get, one packs a physical disc reader while the other does not. They cleverly named them the Series X and Series S, the Series X is the thicker tower that packs a disc reader, while the Series S is the ‘slim’ version of the Xbox without a disc reader.
Obviously, the prices are different too. The Series X, packing a disc reader, larger internal real estate, and probably more efficient cooling, is the more expensive one. The Series S is the budget option of the two and only comes with 500GB of space. No matter, you still get all the power of the latest Xbox in a more compact and affordable body. You just need to buy games digitally and pick and choose what to install in your Xbox. You can even upgrade your 500GB SSD to 1TB SSD if you really want, but it might take some know how to do and you now have an extra 500GB SSD that you might not have a use for. The Xbox Series S also only comes in one colour option, white; boring.
Source: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
While it did not make that much sense buying the Series S before, it might make a whole lot more sense today, after Microsoft’s Xbox Games Showcase. They just announced the Xbox Series S Carbon Black edition, which will be available alongside the old one in white. While it now looks way cooler in its black guise, it is not just a cosmetic upgrade that we are getting with the new Xbox. You now get the option to buy the budget Xbox in Carbon Black with a 1TB SSD inside the console out-of-the-box too. Of course, it comes with a bump in price too over the regular Xbox Series S, a US$ 50 price bump to be exact to make it now worth US$ 349.99 (MYR 1,617*) for one.
This good news does come with a caveat though. The US$ 349.99 Xbox Series S Carbon Black edition will not be available immediately. It is only available later in the year in September 2023 in global markets. The pre-order has already started for the Carbon Black edition in available markets. Malaysia does not technically support the Xbox officially yet, but we do have the Xbox Game Pass which will also be supported on NVIDIA’s GeForce Now streaming service. More on the Xbox Series S Carbon Black can be found on their website.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.62 as of 12/06/2023 on xe.com
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the way we work.” This phrase is undoubtedly something that we’ve become so familiar with over the past few years. However, we’ve yet to see the impact of AI outside manufacturing and data science – that is – until now. With generative AI taking centre stage thanks to services like OpenAI’s ChatGP, that phrase couldn’t be more relevant. AI is taking the leap from automation to contextual intelligence which will benefit more people across more industries.
In the time since the pandemic, we’ve seen a revolution in the digitization of work. A large portion of workers – like ourselves – are still finding themselves working remotely to be more productive and reduce time wasted in commutes. In fact, Microsoft’s 2021 and 2022 Work Trend Index drew sharp focus on the subject. This year, the conversation is turning towards Generative AI and its role in leapfrogging work to the next level.
A Digital Leap with A Heavy Digital Debt
Speaking of the digitization of work, the recent digital leap – while a long time coming – has resulted in workers accumulating digital debt. What exactly is this? It’s that backlog of emails, that information dump, the work chats and even those meetings and their minutes that continue to pile up even as we work through them. While the digital leap we just experienced has been amazing for work and interpersonal communication, we’re finding it harder to cope with the sheer volume of information and communication we generate.
In fact, Microsoft’s Work Trend Index found that 2 full work days are spent simply dealing with emails and inefficient meetings. This is exacerbated by the fact that we’re in 3 times more meetings at work since the pandemic. Leadership in organisations have also taken notice. They note that workers are spending too much time with their noses to the grindstone and not enough time innovating. This has created an increase in productivity but a lag in results. 77% of Malaysian respondents in Microsoft’s survey noted that they don’t have enough time and energy to get work done. This isn’t surprising given that we’re dealing with a continually growing digital debt.
“As work evolves with AI, leaders and employees alike are looking at how technology can help them be more productive in their workplace. With AI, there is now an opportunity for us to reimagine the way we work and collaborate in the workplace of the future.”
AI and, in particular, generative AI like ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot are part of the solution in dealing with this digital debt. They will help workers and leaders discern signals from the immense volume of noise. Relevant information can be distilled from data both internally and on the open web in seconds saving hours of work. What’s more, AI like Copilot will be able to help create effective meetings and eventually create a leap in innovation thanks to the offloading of menial tasks to these AI. In tandem with this, leaders and employees may shift to a more asynchronous form of communication allowing for more effective communications and meetings overall.
AI Isn’t Here to Replace, It’s Here to Augment
With the increased adoption of AI in work, many of us are feeling the pinch of possibly being replaced by a soul-less tool. 62% of the respondents to Microsoft’s Work Trend Index in Malaysia share this concern. While this may be true in essence, what we will expect to see in the coming years is the integration of AI into our work to lessen repetitive work. Perhaps, this will mean that some of our job roles will change.
We’re already seeing a large portion of workers and leaders willing to offload and delegate work to AI to lessen workloads. A whopping 84% of respondents indicated such. These tasks can be administrative, analytical or even creative. Yes, while it is concerning that even creative tasks can be offloaded to AI, there’s an evolution of work that will be spurred by this which will, hopefully, spur an increase in innovative work and boost productivity. This is where most Malaysian managers find the most value in AI.
However, what will develop is an AI-employee alliance in which work is completed through a complementary pair of AI insight and employee ingenuity. This will necessitate employees and workers to have an aptitude for using AI. While it’s still early days when it comes to discerning skills that are AI-specific in the workforce, Microsoft has identified some key competencies that will be crucial for workers. 90% of leaders already anticipate this need.
A Need for AI Skills to Empower a Better Copilot
That said, employees will need to develop core competencies that will empower them to leverage AI as an integral tool for productivity. While digital skills still remain a pain point for employers, already 76% of Malaysians feel they are ill-equipped when it comes to AI skills.
The need to use and familiarise yourself with AI tools like ChatGPT cannot be overemphasized at this point. It’s no longer a question of “if” but one of “when” generative AI will make its way into your workflow. Getting to know how to prompt Generative AI tools to get the right outcome will be one of the key competencies of the AI revolution. However, it will also be crucial to understand that these AI tools are simply that – tools to get the work done. They are copilots, not autopilots when it comes to getting work done.
Source: Facebook
“There is a need for a skilled workforce to reap the benefits of AI-powered technology and solutions. Human-AI collaboration is going to be critical as we shift from AI on autopilot to AI as our copilot. The most pressing opportunity and responsibility for every leader is to understand how to leverage AI to remove the drudgery of work, unleash creativity, and build AI aptitude,”
Industry leaders like Microsoft are already incorporating AI such as GPT and DALL-E into their offerings. With the recent announcement of Windows getting Bing’s GPT-enabled assistant, it comes as no surprise that Microsoft is also integrating its aptly named ‘Copilot’ into more products. In fact, their integrations are already being tested by some 600 enterprise customers including the likes of Chevron and Goodyear. Products like Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Viva will be benefiting most from this integration.
Copilot is already incorporated in products like Outlook, OneNote, Viva Learning, Whiteboard and PowerPoint. In Whiteboard, Copilot will enable more creative and effective meetings and brainstorms on Microsoft Teams. You will be able to prompt Copilot to generate and organise ideas, create designs and even summarize Whiteboard content. In OneNote, Copilot will be able to use prompts to draft plans, generate ideas, create lists and even organize information for easier reference. In apps like Outlook and Viva Learning, natural language will be used to customise learning journeys and empower better writing through tips and suggestions as well as designing learning paths for desired outcomes. PowerPoint will be getting a DALL-E infusion which will allow images to be customised to complete presentations.
As is already evident, the AI revolution is picking up steam. AI is quickly going to spur an evolution of work which will put its role in automation to shame. It will find a space nestled in the day-to-day workings of many industries. Workers like us will need to adopt, adapt and integrate generative AI in a way and at a scale that has not been seen before to accomplish more with less hassle.
It is official, E3 2023 has been cancelled. There are plenty of speculations to the real reason to the cancellation. IGN reported that the organisation behind E3 has cited that companies interested in E3 and supposed to attend the conference were not ready and will not be ready to showcase their games in the committed timeline.
While E3 2023 was something gamers was looking forward to, the same cannot be said about the gaming industry as a whole. Ubisoft very recently announced that they will not be attending E3 2023 and will host their own hybrid event instead. Nintendo and many other developers have also not expressed interest or even committed to attending E3 2023. In this case, many speculates that the lack of interest in the conference is the main contributing factor for the cancellation.
E3 used to be the biggest platform for the gaming industry to make their announcements and demos for their upcoming games. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit though, E3 took a hit too. They had to cancel their E3 conference in 2020 forcing the gaming industry to make their announcements on their own and leverage streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Ever since that first cancellation, E3 has not been physically held until they scheduled their June 2023 date, which has since been cancelled too: another year without E3.
That is not to say that the gaming industry is asleep and is facing difficulties though. Ubisoft announced that they are holding a separate event on their own. We expect more announcements from Sony’s PlayStation camp and even Microsoft’s Xbox camp. We are expecting Nintendo to make some sort of announcement in June about upcoming games. Ubisoft and Microsoft have, in fact, announced that they are holding their own announcement event also in June 2023.
This year’s E3 cancellation raised some questions for the gaming industry. Firstly, is E3 coming back for 2024? Secondly, is E3 even relevant anymore?
To the first question, the people behind the scenes have reported that they are still “committed to provide an industry platform for marketing and convening”. The answer vaguely says that E3 is looking to come back in 2024, but is also filled with plenty of uncertainty. Us gamers obviously hopes that E3 makes a come back in 2024 in some capacity.
To the second question, there are a few things to think about. Larger developers like Sony’s PlayStation Studios, Microsoft’s Xbox, Ubisoft, Nintendo, and even Epic Games have realised that they do not really need to rely on E3 to make their own announcements. They also have enough funding to manage and create their own announcement events without constraining to space and tight schedules. Instead of announcing everything within a specified time frame, they can even space their announcements out. While having to learn to leverage online platforms for their announcements, they perhaps learned that they can hit a larger audience at a lower cost cap too. In that case, it is perhaps a more sensible platform to leverage on than having a physical presence in E3.
There is a lot of unknown for E3 in the coming years. The only thing we know is that they will not make a 2023 comeback. At the same time, we think that E3 might still have a place in the gaming industry since Gamescom and the Summer Game Fest will still be happening as scheduled. For now, we can only hope that the people behind E3 have not given up just yet.
Microsoft’s Xbox is not technically officially supported in Malaysia. That also means that it is not technically officially on sale in the region. That does not mean that the Microsoft made console cannot be found in Malaysia. You still can get your hands on one from retailers across the nation. Because it is not officially supported here, you do have to register yourself as an Xbox user from Singapore.
If you do have an Xbox at home, you might be pleased to know that the next update for your gaming console might save you some money from your electricity bill in the coming months. The update is really meant to be Microsoft’s big effort in reducing carbon footprints and emissions across their hardware and even software. It is in-line with their goal of achieving carbon negativity, water positive, and zero-waste company by 2030.
They say that the next update makes the Xbox a little more carbon aware. That means that your console will now only push updates and software updates at optimized times in the day. Optimized as in it only runs at a time when the Xbox can use the least amount of non-renewable energy, or when renewable energy becomes more abundant, whatever that means.
How it does that is quite clever, to be fair. When plugged in and connected to the internet, the Xbox will have access to the regional carbon intensity data. Whether the data includes Malaysia or not has not been revealed. With that data though, the Xbox will schedule its various downloads and updates at specific times where carbon emissions are lowest. Instead of a programmed schedule for your updates (2.00 a.m. – 6.00 a.m. by default), your console only wakes up at specific times where your local energy grid is at its most carbon efficient state and turns back off again after those specified times.
Source: Xbox
The update will also bring a more energy efficient mode to the Xbox when it is not in use. They dub it the energy saving mode. Instead of the Xbox going to sleep, it goes to Shutdown automatically. They say that other than slower booth times, it will not affect performances, gameplay, or its automatic updates. It just sort of turns off the Xbox until you switch it on, or when it wants to update. They say that Shutdown power mode will reduce the console’s power consumption by over 20 folds compared to the regular Sleep option. Reduced power consumption not only means lower carbon emissions, it also means you pay less for your electricity. Sleep is still an optional power mode for your console, you just need to dig deeper into the settings to make it an available power option by default.
Source: Xbox
You still get a lot of control over your Xbox though. If you want your console to just power up and get into your games immediately, you can adjust its ‘Active Hours’. It allows you to still have your console to go into Sleep mode immediately, but only at selected times. Outside of those selected ‘Active Hours’ your Xbox goes into Shutdown mode automatically to draw less than 1W of power.
The carbon awareness update for your Xbox will be available soon. The power saving modes is only available for Xbox Insider members though, oddly enough. Then again, being an Xbox Insider might give you early access to plenty of things too, which could be a big appeal in itself. More information can be found in their news blog.
The mega merger between Microsoft and video game publisher Activision-Blizzard may be under threat by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Microsoft plans to acquire Activision-Blizzard in a $69 billion merger. Image source: True Achievements
As first reported by Politico, their sources have stated that the FTC is ““likely to file an antitrust lawsuit to block Microsoft’s $69 billion takeover of video game giant Activision Blizzard.” The FTC has concerns on the deal, primarily due to the large sum involved in the merger between these tech giants. FTC Chairperson Lina Khan has called for scrutiny on the impact of the deal on workers.
At the moment, there is no official word on a lawsuit against the merger, Politico themselves report that it is not guaranteed. Currently, investigations are ongoing, with major steps already completed such as depositions by CEO’s Satya Nadella (Microsoft) and Bobby Kotick (Activision). If the FTC decides to move forward with a case, it could come as early as December.
Why could the merger be controversial?
FTC Chairman Lina Khan is opposed to the merger, scrutinizing its impact on the market and workers. Image source: Getty Images via New York Post
There is precedence in this matter as the FTC has previously stopped the merger of book publishers Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster for a more modest fee of $2.2 billion. In that case, the ruling stated that the merger had the potential to be anticompetitive, which can affect both authors and indirectly, consumers. A similar scenario could occur in the tech giants merger, where there is less competition among game publishers which could promote less lucrative publishing deals for game developers.
As discussed by Kotaku, Microsoft has come under fire from its many competitors due to the merger. Sony has publicly stated their belief that the deal will harm their ability to compete, reduce the choice of games and less choice for developers to publish games. Sony may also be concerned for the Activision published Call of Duty series being withheld from the PlayStation with this deal, considering it is not made available to other subscription services yet. Google has raised their own concerns, arguing that Microsoft has already intentionally degraded the quality of the Game Pass subscription when used with the Chrome operating system, and has further incentive to steer sales away from Google with the Activision merger.
Rift in the FTC paves way for the merger
Recently, the New York Post reported that the four-member FTC panel of commissioners are split over the decision to oppose the merger. Reports stated that at least one commissioner has taken a “sympathetic view” to Microsoft, and potentially open to a settlement. If the rift persists, there is a possibility that no lawsuit will be filed and the merger will go ahead.
Given Activision-Blizzard’s recent fall from grace with their fans, most gamers would certainly rejoice for the merger with Microsoft, at least from a gaming perspective. However, would this merger really change the landscape of gaming for the worse in the long term? That remains to be seen.
Microsoft is ushering in the “new era of computing” for Windows PC by unveiling the latest iterations of Surface devices.
The Surface Pro 9, available for pre-order Nov 8th in, new Sapphire (top) and Forest (bottom) colors.
Surface Pro 9 with Intel and SQ®3 platform choice, two new colors and pre-order goodies
From 8th November to 28th November 2022, the Surface Pro 9 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia. Microsoft has also announced two new color variants, Sapphire and Forest, for more variety. To sweeten the deal, a Surface Pro Signature keyboard and other free gifts (worth up to RM1288) will be given along with every pre-order. Every purchase of the Surface Pro 9, pre-order or otherwise, will receive a one-month subscription to Microsoft 365.
The Surface Pro 9 now comes with two platform choices. There is the Intel Evo platform powered by the 12th Gen Intel® Core processor with Thunderbolt™ 4. The other is the Microsoft SQ®3 platform powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon with 5G connectivity, exclusive for Surface for Business users.
Both Intel and Qualcomm variants of the Surface Pro 9 will share the same build quality and core features. This includes the 13.3-inch PixelSense Display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and Microsoft’s custom G6 chip that enhances the inking experience with tactile feedback. The Surface Pro 9 comes with options of Intel i5, i7 or SQ®3 processors, 8GB or 16GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB and 512GB of storage, with prices starting at RM5299.
New line of Surface Laptop 5 now with Thunderbolt 4 and more pre-order goodies
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 now with Thunderbolt™ 4
Microsoft also unveiled the new range of Surface Laptop 5, available for pre-order from 8th November 2022 in Malaysia. All pre-orders will receive a free Microsoft Arc Mouse and other free gifts (worth up to RM998). All purchases of the Surface Laptop 5 will receive a a one-month subscription to Microsoft 365 as well.
With prices starting from RM5299, the Surface Laptop 5 comes in 13.5-inch and 15-inch variants. Variants have options of 12th Gen Intel i5 and i7 processors, 8GB or 16GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of SSD storage. All Surface Laptop 5 comes with the signature 3:2 PixelSense display and now with Thunderbolt™ 4 to further boost productivity.
