Microsoft Weekly: Financial Highlights, Windows Updates, and Gaming News

In this week’s edition of Microsoft Weekly, we’re diving into several critical topics including Microsoft’s recent financial performance, the repeated delays of the Recall feature, new statistics on Windows 10 and 11 adoption, updates for consumers, and emerging bugs. Let’s explore these updates and more in detail.

Table of Contents

1. Windows 10 and 11 Updates
2. Windows Insider Program Updates
3. Recent Updates Overview
4. Latest Gaming News

Latest Financial Developments

Microsoft disclosed its latest financial results this week, reporting a remarkable revenue of over $65.5 billion. Their operational income reached $24.7 billion, translating to $3.30 in earnings per share. According to the company’s CFO, this robust performance reflects “strong execution by our sales teams and partners,”ensuring a promising start to the fiscal year.

Windows 10 and 11 Updates

This section covers the most recent developments concerning the latest Windows operating systems, including significant features, removals, and notable bugs. We will also touch upon older versions that still receive support.

The main highlight this week was another announcement regarding the Recall feature, which has been delayed once again. Initial plans aimed for a public launch in June, extended to October, and now look towards December for a testing phase with Windows Insiders on Copilot Plus PCs. Microsoft stated:

“To ensure a secure and trusted experience with Recall, we’re taking additional time for refinements before previewing it with Windows Insiders.”This signifies their commitment to delivering a quality product.

In another crucial update, Microsoft announced the pricing for continued support of Windows 10 security updates beyond its scheduled end-of-life in October 2025. Consumers face a fee of $30 for a year’s worth of additional updates, in contrast to enterprises that benefit from a three-year Extended Security Program.

Current Bugs and Fixes

Microsoft has also acknowledged several bugs affecting its operating systems. Notably, a recent issue had Windows 10 apps failing to launch from non-administrator accounts, affecting applications like Quick Assist and Microsoft Teams. Fortunately, this problem has been addressed through the Known Issue Rollback feature.

Conversely, Windows 11 24H2 is still facing issues with Task Manager incorrectly displaying zero running applications and background processes. Additionally, users of Windows 10 connecting to Azure Virtual Desktop are currently experiencing connectivity problems following recent updates.

Adoption Statistics

According to Statcounter, Windows 11’s market share is on the rise, now representing over 35.5% of the Windows ecosystem, with a notable monthly increase of 2.13 points. This growth is echoed in Valve’s Steam Hardware and Software Survey, indicating nearly 52% of Steam users operate on Windows 11.

Windows Insider Program Updates

In the latest round of Insider releases, here’s what Microsoft has made available for testing:

Noteworthy is the recent unintended rollout of a Super Resolution feature to standard PCs, which has since been corrected. Additionally, the previously available Phone Link app feature for unlinking devices has been removed, with no information given on the reason behind its omission.

Recent Updates Overview

This section highlights key software, firmware, and updates aimed at improving functionality and security from Microsoft and third-party developers.

November began with the announcement of the Microsoft Store Awards 2024, recognizing fourteen standout applications across various categories. Microsoft Teams is also undergoing enhancements with a new chat and channel interface, while Outlook is improving privacy features in its latest mobile update.

In browser updates, Mozilla has launched Firefox 132 with enhanced DRM support for 4K video streaming, and Google Chrome has introduced new performance controls aimed at streamlining user experience. Meanwhile, Microsoft Edge continues to receive patches to resolve various stability issues and improve security.

Latest Gaming Developments

On the gaming front, reports reveal the technical challenges that halted the port of Halo 5 to PC, as confirmed by a former 343 Industries developer. Halo Studios is set to release new Halo 2 maps and a third-person Firefight mode in Halo Infinite on November 5th, commemorating the 20-year anniversary of the original Halo 2.

Treyarch has announced an extensive Season 1 update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, launching on November 14, featuring new game modes and maps. Additionally, Forza Horizon 5 will introduce several new Porsche vehicles and Halo-themed content as part of its latest update.

Freebies and Promotions

This week, players can take advantage of the Steam Halloween Sale, offering significant discounts on a variety of horror-themed games. Epic Games Store is providing free downloads of Ghostwire: Tokyo, while GOG is giving away the classic point-and-click adventure game Return of the Phantom.

Current Deals

Here are some of the best hardware deals available this week:

• Lenovo Legion Go – $499 (29% off)
• ASUS ROG Strix Scope RX TKL Wireless Gaming Keyboard – $119.99 (29% off)
• Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Headphones – $199 (43% off)
• Razer Kraken V3X Gaming Headset – $72 (28% off)

For ongoing updates on hardware and software promotions, be sure to check our site regularly.