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Microsoft has begun showing advertisements on the Windows 10 lock screen. The company telegraphed this move most a year ago, simply has avoided actually pushing content until now. The ads in question are for Ascension of the Tomb Raider, which launched in January for the PC and concluding fall for the Xbox One and Xbox 360.

The good news is that Rise of the Tomb Raider is at least considered to be a practiced game, then it'south not as if Microsoft is pushing lousy titles at people. Still, the move will raise hackles on multiple sides. Users generally won't similar having their lock screens turned into advertisements, while companies similar Valve will come across this every bit Microsoft'southward endeavour to push the Windows Store every bit a gaming destination. Valve'due south Steam OS was driven by these concerns; if Microsoft doubles down on using the Windows Store for game content, Valve might reply by pouring more than effort into its own culling Bone initiative.

If y'all don't desire your lock screen used to sell yous stuff, you can change it. Get to Settings, Personalization, and then Lock Screen. There's a box that reads "Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen." Given the fact that no Windows 10 arrangement we've used has ever displayed anything we'd classify as fun facts, tips, tricks, or "more," it'southward prophylactic to say you won't be missing anything.

Why buying games from the Windows Store is a bad idea

Microsoft has said it wants to arrive piece of cake for gamers to cross-buy games for both the Xbox One and PC, simply there are some significant limitations to buying titles from the Windows Shop. Full credit for digging this upwardly goes to HowToGeek, which laid out the differences in a recent post.

The long and short of it is this: If yous buy a title in the Windows Store, you don't become SLI or Crossfire support, Five-Sync is ever locked on, and borderless fullscreen mode is mandated. Borderless fullscreen makes certain that Alt-Tab ever works properly, only in that location's often a performance penalty associated with this mode. Windows Store apps likewise don't allow modding and will only piece of work on Windows 10, even if the game otherwise supports Windows 7 and eight if distributed via other methods.

Every gamer will evaluate these restrictions differently, simply as far every bit I'grand concerned, modding is what makes the PC platform superior to other systems. I'm not sure why modding would exist locked downwards if the Xbox One volition also support PC mods (and the Fallout devs have said information technology would). For now, I'd recommend shutting the Windows game ads off and planning to buy titles from stores that allow you to employ them more than flexibly.