Windows 10 Will Come With Candy Crush Saga Pre-Installed

With regard to the game Candy Crush Saga, there are two main types of people: those who are seriously into it, and those who are super annoyed by it.

So, this is about to be good or bad news, depending on which camp you fall into. Microsoft on Thursday announced that the next version of Windows will come with King's Candy Crush Saga automatically installed.

The game will come pre-installed for those who upgrade to or download Windows 10 during the launch, Microsoft said. It will also include cross-play options for your iOS and Android devices, for those who want to crush candy across platforms.

Plus, in addition to Candy Crush Saga, "other popular and awesome King game titles will be available for Windows 10" over time, Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc wrote in a blog post.

The move comes after Candy Crush Saga first arrived on Windows Phone back in December. The app is available for free in the Windows Phone store with in-app purchase options for serious candy crushers.

"I've spent countless hours of fun matching candies," LeBlanc admitted. "I'm really looking to playing Candy Crush Saga and King's other game titles on Windows 10."

Perhaps even more exciting, LeBlanc also confirmed that Hearts and Minesweeper are poised to make a comeback in Windows 10 alongside Solitaire, which we already knew about. Those who are part of the Windows Insider Program can check out a preview of the new Solitaire collection that's included in the latest build of the Windows 10 Insider Preview (Build 10074).

Meanwhile, Microsoft this week outlined the various Windows 10 versions coming this summer. Specifically, there will be Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro, as well as Windows 10 Mobile. Business customers will also have Windows 10 Enterprise, Education, and Mobile Enterprise.

All versions will be free upgrades for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 users who make the switch in the first year after launch. Redmond has not released details about pricing after that one-year period.

Microsoft has not yet revealed a set launch date for Windows 10, saying only that it will arrive this summer. AMD's CEO said recently that the OS would arrive at the end of July, and we were expecting a date at Microsoft's Build conference last month, but nothing was announced.

For more, check out PCMag's full review of Candy Crush Saga (for iPhone) in which we classify the game as a "blissfully casual one-thumbed time waster carefully calculated to suck you in along with some of your cash."

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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