Microsoft’s first commercial Windows 11 features Master Chief blasting stuff

Microsoft today launches its first ad campaign for Windows 11. The 60-second TV ad is set to “All Starts Now” by Odessa and introduces the new Microsoft Store, the world’s master chief. Halo, Microsoft Teams, and more.

Explaining what a new version of Windows will bring to consumers is never easy, and Microsoft has taken a similar approach to its first Xbox Series X commercial. An actress walks through app walls and selects Xbox Game Pass, which triggers the appearance of Master Chief and the explosion of a Halo banshee from heaven.

Image: Microsoft

Bloom’s new default wallpaper in Windows 11 also appears, alongside the built-in Microsoft Teams experience. Microsoft’s ad focuses less on Windows 11 features, and more on making the operating system appear … pretty. I think that’s largely the point, however. Microsoft has spent a lot of time tweaking the design and visuals of Windows 11, in an effort to simplify its operating system. The tagline for this ad is “brings you closer to what you love,” presumably by removing some of the clutter that exists in Windows today.

Microsoft now plans to launch Windows 11 on October 5, with new partner devices and even its own Surface hardware. Microsoft will be hosting a separate Surface event on September 22, where we expect to see a new Surface Go 3, Surface Pro 8, Surface Pro X, and a new Surface Book-like device all ready for Windows 11.