Microsoft

Psychonauts 2 is ready — and it's here. Tell that to someone from the late ‘00s and they likely wouldn't believe you. The original Psychonauts, released in 2005 on the original Xbox, PlayStation 2 and PC, had a tortured development process. Though it had Grim Fandango and Full Throttle director Tim Schafer at the helm, it was the first game for his new studio Double Fine. That resulted in all sorts of problems, resulting in Microsoft pulling an exclusivity deal midway through production. Double Fine found a new partner and Psychonauts released to critical acclaim, but it found few buyers, forcing its new publisher to exit the video game industry altogether. No wonder then that Schafer struggled to get Psychonauts 2 off the ground — and that it's had its own share of setbacks.

The Microsoft Surface Pro tablet is now iconic, with a design that hasn't changed much since the very first model came out. It was meant to show off all the touch-friendly features of Windows, and kick off a whole new generation of ultraportable, compact PCs. The Surface line of hardware is unapologetically premium; meant to act as “halo” devices for Windows itself. By controlling the hardware as well as software, Microsoft can try to approach the level of integration that makes Apple's Macs stand out. Interestingly, few other companies seem to think there's much demand for Windows-based tablets with detachable keyboards.

Microsoft made its foray into the “personal computer” market back in 2012 with the launch of the original Surface — notwithstanding the tabletop computer with the same name that the company showcased at CES 2008. The first Surface was a Windows RT device designed to compete with Apple's iPad at the top end of the tablet market.