Microsoft Weekly: Windows 11 26H1 Release News and Halo Updates

Welcome to this week’s comprehensive news roundup, featuring vital updates on Microsoft Windows 11 and 10, insights from the Windows Insider Program, gaming news, reviews, and much more.

Here’s a quick navigation guide for your convenience:

Windows 10 and 11 Updates
Windows Insider Program Insights
Latest Software Updates
Recent Reviews
Gaming Highlights

Windows 10 and 11 Updates

This section delves into recent developments across Microsoft’s operating systems, encompassing new features, removed functionalities, existing bugs, and community discussions. Significant emphasis is placed on the latest updates from the stable and insider preview channels.

Microsoft has officially unveiled its Windows 11 version 26H1, derived from its update code. This release is anticipated to leverage advancements in select hardware, potentially including Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 and Nvidia’s forthcoming processors.

In contrast, Windows 10’s user base is steadily declining, notably among gamers. As reported in November 2025, Valve’s survey indicated that only 31.14% of participants still utilized Windows 10, a drop of 3.94 points within just one month. Meanwhile, Windows 11’s adoption rose to 63.57%, marking a significant increase.

With the latest Windows 11 version 25H2, Microsoft has discontinued the use of NTLM and Kerberos for device authentication with duplicate security identifiers. Users are encouraged to proactively manage bugs as these can severely affect system performance. Notably, the Known Issue Rollback feature remains a critical tool for users to address recent glitches.

Bug in Windows 11 Task Manager with duplicated processes

Furthermore, discussions have emerged concerning File Explorer’s efficiency. Users can significantly enhance performance by disabling certain non-essential features, as Microsoft continues to refine the user interface of WinUI-based applications.

Interestingly, Microsoft erroneously labeled some Windows 10 systems in the ESU program as unsupported this week but promptly clarified the error. Security updates for these devices will persist.

Windows Insider Program Insights

This week’s highlights from the Windows Insider Program include:

Builds Overview
Canary Channel	Build 27982: Introduced customizations for the lock screen and widgets. Build 28000: This marks the inaugural preview release of Windows 11 version 26H1, along with bug fixes.
Dev Channel	Build 26220.7070: Enhanced Windows Recovery, redesigned Windows Widgets UI, and numerous bug fixes were implemented. A minor update to ‘test pipelines’ did not necessitate a system restart.
Beta Channel
Release Preview Channel	No new updates were released in this channel this week.

Latest Software Updates

This section captures the latest significant software and firmware updates from Microsoft and third-party vendors, including new features, security enhancements, and more.

Microsoft Edge has enhanced its built-in password manager, now capable of storing and syncing passkeys across devices, bolstering security for users—albeit currently limited to the Windows platform.

Additionally, Microsoft is discontinuing certain features in Excel and has extended an apology for previously miscommunicated pricing on Microsoft 365 subscriptions, offering affected users refunds.

Other noteworthy updates and announcements include:

Deprecation of SmartScreen for Internet Explorer and IE Mode on Windows 11.
Microsoft has entered a $9.7 billion agreement to secure AI computing power.
Investment of $7.9 billion in AI and cloud infrastructure in the UAE by 2029.
Mustafa Suleyman from Microsoft asserts that AI lacks consciousness.
A collaboration between Microsoft and NVIDIA to assist UK-based AI initiatives.
Implementation of anonymous concern reporting for Microsoft employees.
Upcoming significant changes to Configuration Manager.
Introduction of the MAI-Image-1 AI image generator model on Bing.

Check out the latest drivers and firmware updates released this week:

Nvidia 581.80, compatible with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Anno 177. Note: Avoid the 580 driver branch if playing older Forza titles, as it may disrupt gameplay.

Recent Reviews

This week, our review focus included an intriguing product, the iContact Pro 4K webcam, designed with an innovative retractable arm to address a common webcam challenge.

Additionally, Steven Parker evaluated the MINIX ER937-AI, a compact PC featuring Windows Hello and powered by an AMD processor, boasting impressive performance under $920. However, it does come with a couple of downsides, such as a subpar SSD and the absence of a card reader.

Gaming Highlights

In the gaming world, “Halo Infinite”has reached its conclusion as developers pivot away from this title to concentrate on upcoming projects. It has received its final update and will no longer be supported.

In response to users finding multiplayer competition in “Battlefield 6″overwhelming, Battlefield Studios has launched a “Relaxed Mode.”This new mode provides players with XP while predominantly featuring bot opponents.

The gaming lineup on Xbox Game Pass is expanding, with new titles such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Dead Static Drive, and others joining the roster.

Nvidia’s GeForce NOW service also welcomes new titles, expanding its offerings with games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and others.

Deals and Freebies

Don’t miss this week’s PC Game Deals for discounts across various platforms and titles.

Additional gaming news highlights include:

Valve is rolling out wider Steam store pages, with future modifications focused on the front page.

Each week we explore a variety of hardware and software deals. Here are some ongoing discounts you may find appealing:

40-inch Samsung Odyssey G7 G75F 180Hz Monitor – $749.99 | 38% off
Razer Blade 14 Black, Ryzen AI 9 365, RTX 5070, 32GB RAM – $1, 799 | 14% off
34-inch Dell 34 Plus Curved Monitor – $329.99 | 21% off
The Pixel 10 lineup – 25% off
Microsoft Surface Pro Keyboard for the Surface Pro 12-inch | 20% off
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB – $899.99 | 31% off
ASRock Challenger Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB – $599.99 | 7% off
27-inch LG 27GX704A-B Ultragear QHD monitor – $499.99