Microsoft Weekly: discover useful PowerToys modules, new Microsoft Store updates, and Bing video generation features

Welcome to this week’s roundup, where we delve into the latest developments in the Microsoft ecosystem. This edition features news on practical PowerToys modules, new Windows 11 preview builds, innovations in AI video generation with Bing, updates on Office, gaming headlines, and much more!

Quick Links:

Windows 10 and 11 Updates
Windows Insider Program Insights
Available Updates
Gaming News Highlights

Windows 10 and 11 Updates

In the realm of Microsoft’s operating systems, we bring you the latest updates regarding Windows 10 and 11. This includes new features, removals, notable bugs, and various findings. We will also touch on updates for older Windows versions.

Starting with some statistics, StatCounter’s latest report indicates a slight slowdown in Windows 11’s adoption in May 2025. However, it’s worth mentioning that Windows 11 is still the preferred operating system for the majority of PCs running on Steam.

This week, several critical updates rolled out for Windows 11. Versions 23H2 and 22H2 received a minor emergency patch, KB5062170, aimed at fixing errors encountered during the installation of recent updates. Note that this patch is exclusively available through the Microsoft Update Catalog, recommended for those facing the 0xc0000098 error code while installing the May 2025 security update.

Additionally, Microsoft issued a new Defender update for Windows 10 and 11, along with new recovery updates. A helpful script for addressing previously unexpected inetpub folder issues, which surfaced in April, was also included.

As support for Windows 10 nears its end, companies like AMD, Dell, and ASUS are actively encouraging users to prepare for the “mandatory Windows 11 upgrade.”Interestingly, some organizations are enticing Windows 10 users to transition to Linux.

To conclude this section, a nostalgic CD-burning application has made a surprising revival, now functioning seamlessly on both modern Windows operating systems and Windows 11.

Windows Insider Program Insights

This week, Microsoft provided several updates for Windows Insiders across various channels:

Windows Insider Builds
Canary Channel	Build 27871 This Canary build introduced enhancements to the Start menu, including additional Phone Link features, minor taskbar adjustments, and a range of bug fixes to enhance overall system performance.
Dev Channel	Build 26200.5622 (KB5058512) This iteration showcased new Click to Do functionalities, a dedicated Quick Machine recovery settings section, optimizations for Windows Widgets, and better overall navigation with the addition of a “Your Device Info”card within the Settings app.
Beta Channel	Build 26120.4230 (KB5058506) This build bears a close resemblance to the Dev Channel’s 26200.5622 build.
Release Preview Channel	No updates in the Release Preview Channel this week.

In addition to the new builds, Microsoft launched an update for the Windows Photos app, now accessible to Insiders in all channels. This update features AI-driven lighting controls (Relight), allowing users to manage up to three light sources per photo, and includes an AI-enhanced search capability with natural language support.

Available Updates

Here we discuss various software, firmware, and other notable updates—both launched and upcoming—from Microsoft and third-party vendors. These updates focus on new features, security enhancements, and general improvements.

This week, Microsoft presented a variety of new features for the Microsoft Store, including a revamped Home page that offers personalized recommendations aligned with users’ activities, geographical location, and ongoing deals. Search functionality has been improved to incorporate additional information for better app rankings, and an AI Copilot button has been introduced for app inquiries.

Microsoft 365 is set to undergo significant modifications in its update channels starting July 2025, with an extended rollback support period of two months. The Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview) will be discontinued, while the standard Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel will now support a timeframe of eight months instead of fourteen.

Other noteworthy updates include the rollout of the Message Trace feature in the Exchange Admin Center within Exchange Online, major enhancements to the new Outlook for Windows, and adjustments to the Teams settings affecting third-party applications. Moreover, Word will gain support for SharePoint eSignatures.

In a surprise move, Bing has integrated OpenAI’s Sora video generation tool into Bing Video Creator, making it available for free—eliminating the need for an OpenAI subscription for AI-based video creation.

PowerToys Run, a highly convenient launcher for Windows 10 and 11 users, has been updated with three new third-party modules. These enhancements allow users to test their internet speed, download videos from numerous websites, and access definitions, synonyms, and usage examples.

Microsoft Edge is also set to receive highly requested updates, particularly for EEA region users. Key features include the removal of prompts for setting Edge as the default browser, Windows Widgets supporting default browser settings, the option to uninstall the Microsoft Store app, and compatibility with alternative search engines for Windows Search.

Furthermore, Microsoft elucidated Edge’s position as a faster and smarter alternative to Chrome in a recent blog post. If you’re weighing the choice between these two browsers, it could prove helpful. Google has countered with their claims of Chrome’s speed superiority.

Here are additional updates and announcements that may pique your interest:

LinkedIn’s CEO role now spans the management of Office applications.
Introduction of two new reasoning AI agents: Research and Analyst, now generally available.
Microsoft teams up with Crowdstrike to advance threat actor naming conventions.
A $400 million investment from Microsoft to enhance cloud and AI infrastructure in Switzerland.
The annual Build conference will relocate from Seattle.

Noteworthy drivers and firmware updates released this week include:

Intel: 32.0.101.6876 non-WHQL, adding support for four new games and fixing display artifacts.
Nvidia: 576.66 Hotfix, addressing FC 25 crashes and browser video issues, alongside a revamped Nvidia App with a light theme.
AMD: Software Pro Edition 25 Q2, introducing support for new Ryzen processors and Windows Server 2025.
AMD Radeon: Software 25.6.1, now compatible with RX 9060 XT and FSR 4 titles.

Gaming News Highlights

Hello Games continues to enhance No Man’s Sky with the latest update, “Beacon, ”which revamps settlements and adds new player dynamics. The update is now live across all supported platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2.

While The Witcher 4 from CD Projekt RED is still a few years out, the company’s recent tech demo displayed the power of Unreal Engine 5 on the PlayStation 5, consistently performing at 60 FPS.

Nvidia has announced an extensive addition of 25 new games now available in its GeForce NOW cloud streaming service, including FBC: Firebreak, Dune: Awakening, and 7 Days to Die.

The Xbox Game Pass is also set to expand with new titles, such as Kingdom: Two Crowns, EA Sports FC 25, and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, hitting the platform in early June.

Exciting news from the gaming industry includes the ongoing Xbox Games Showcase 2025.

In hardware, Seagate just launched a new Xbox Storage Expansion Card with a staggering 4TB capacity, priced at $429.99—doubling the storage space of the previous largest card and humorously costing the same as a 1TB Xbox Series S.

Deals and Freebies

If you’re on the lookout for new games at discounted rates, be sure to explore this week’s Weekend PC Game Deals, which include special offers and freebies, such as Deathloop available through the Epic Games Store.

Additional news in the gaming sphere includes:

Ubisoft has opted not to hold its Forward gaming showcase for the first time since 2020.
Valve has released a beta version of Steam for Linux to resolve sluggish update installations.
Elden Ring Nighteign has received a difficulty adjustment for single-player scenarios.
A narrative-driven sci-fi action RPG based on The Expanse TV show is in the works.
Black Myth: Wukong is slated for an August release on Xbox.
Atomic Heart is set to receive both a sequel and an MMO RPG spin-off.

We continue to share updates on hardware and software discounts weekly. Here are some ongoing offers you might find appealing: