Microsoft Weekly: Important Gaming News, Browser Updates, and Highlights

This Week’s Tech News Roundup

This week’s recap in the tech world presents a mixed bag of news. While there’s disappointing news for those aiming to purchase a new Xbox or playing Steam games on 32-bit Windows 10, Windows Insiders have some exciting updates to look forward to, alongside significant browser enhancements.

Microsoft Windows Updates
Windows Insider Program News
Latest Software Updates
Recent Reviews
Gaming News and Developments

Microsoft Windows Operating Systems

This section highlights the latest happenings around Microsoft’s flagship operating systems: Windows 10 and Windows 11. From newly launched features to resolved issues, we cover it all. Recent updates include a fix for a bug affecting apps’ responsiveness during camera use, as well as lifting upgrade restrictions for users transitioning to Windows 11 version 24H2.

In preparation for the June 2026 expiration of the original Secure Boot certificates—crucial for Windows 11 hardware—Microsoft has released an informative FAQ for users unsure about renewing their security certificates. Notably, those who let Microsoft handle updates do not need to take any action.

As Windows 10 nears the end of its support lifecycle, Microsoft has shared insights into the progress of its Windows on ARM initiative, showcasing a variety of popular apps now available on Copilot+ PCs. However, recent statistics indicate that users are not flocking to Linux as an alternative just yet.

For those seeking a more integrated search experience, Google has launched a new Windows app that combines Google Search with local search functionalities, available for download as part of the Search Lab initiative. Additionally, the Backup app for both Windows 10 and 11 is gaining support for Intune.

Windows Insider Program Updates

This week brought several new builds for Windows Insiders:

Insider Builds Overview
Canary Channel	Build 27950: This update incorporates minor fixes but no significant new features.
Dev Channel	Build 26220.6690: Key enhancements include Click to Do for on-screen text translation and a dedicated taskbar button for screen sharing.
Beta Channel	Build 26120.6690: Mirrors updates introduced in the Dev Channel.
Release Preview Channel	Build 26200.6718: Fixes related to media, performance, and battery issues. Build 22631.5984: Addresses problems from the prior update.	Build 19045.6390: Focuses on resolving earlier update complications.

Intriguingly, upcoming preview builds contain several hidden features. Notable among these is a new ‘Keyboard’ section in the Settings app that integrates options from the legacy Control Panel—potentially reducing the need to access older Windows settings. Other updated apps include Paint, which now supports project file saving, Notepad with AI processing capabilities on Copilot+ PCs, and enhancements in the Snipping Tool allowing pre-screenshot annotations.

Software and Firmware Updates

This segment highlights key updates from Microsoft and partner companies that introduce new features, security enhancements, and patches.

An exciting development includes the rollout of Copilot Chat across Microsoft 365 applications, such as Word and Excel, enabling users to interactively assist with document and spreadsheet management.

Office users should take note: both Office 2016 and Office 2019 will soon reach end-of-support status on October 14, 2025. Microsoft is encouraging those users to consider upgrading to newer alternatives, emphasizing their modern Outlook app as a replacement.

Browser updates also made headlines. The latest version of Firefox (143), and its follow-up maintenance release (143.0.1), introduced features like the ability to run sites as UI-less applications and integrated Copilot support. Vivaldi’s version 7.6 update notably enhances its customization options and tab management features, while Google Chrome unveiled what is believed to be its most extensive update yet, introducing new AI capabilities among various other enhancements.

Latest Hardware and Software Reviews

This week’s reviews spotlight a range of products:

Robbie Khan explored three headphone options catering to different budgets, ranging from $649 to $4, 500. Interested readers can find the details in his review.

Steven Parker took a closer look at the REDMAGIC 10S Pro, a powerful gaming smartphone noted for its impressive specs, albeit with some minor issues.

Pulasthi Ariyasinghe reviewed the early-access release of Endless Legend 2, a strategy game that looks to enhance gameplay with innovative twists in its mid-to-late game experiences.

Recent Developments in Gaming

In a surprising move, Microsoft has raised the prices of its Xbox consoles again. The Xbox Series S is now priced at $399.99, while the high-end Xbox Series X with 2TB of storage jumps to $799.99.

The Xbox app on PC has also been updated to function as a universal launcher for games across various platforms, including Steam and Epic Games Store, streamlining the user experience on devices such as the ASUS Xbox ROG Ally.

Additionally, Game Pass subscribers have new titles to enjoy, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Frostpunk 2, although several games will be leaving the catalog at the end of this month.

In another noteworthy announcement, Valve will discontinue support for Steam on 32-bit Windows 10 installations come January 1, 2026, urging users to transition to 64-bit systems for continued support.

The gaming community also received exciting news from Electronic Arts regarding optimizations for Battlefield 6 on the Xbox Series S, emphasizing that working with lower-spec systems can drive performance improvements for higher-end devices.

Deals and Freebies

Gamers looking for freebies can grab Samorost 2 and Project Winter from the Epic Games Store, available until next Thursday. In addition, be sure to check this week’s Weekend PC Game Deals article for potential markdowns on PC titles.

Here’s a brief roundup of other gaming-related announcements:

Grounded 2 has unveiled a test environment for players to trial new features.
A new campaign for Age of Empires II: DE titled “Chronicles: Alexander the Great”has been announced.
The upcoming remake of Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag is set to focus heavily on RPG-style gameplay.