Microsoft Weekly: new Surface, Windows 11 26H2, and more by Taras Buria This week's news recap is here, with Microsoft announcing Windows 11 version 26H2, launching new Surface devices powered by Snapdragon X2 processors, GTA VI preorder date and cover art, fresh Windows 11 preview builds, a quirky phone-sized e-reader with a physical dial, and more. Quick links: Windows 10 and 11 Windows Insider Program Updates are available Reviews are in Gaming news Great deals to check Windows 11 and Windows 10 Here, we talk about everything happening around Microsoft's latest operating system in the Stable channel and preview builds: new features, removed features, controversies, bugs, interesting findings, and more. And, of course, you may find a word or two about older versions. Windows 11 version 26H2 is now official. Alongside Windows 11's new preview builds released this week, Microsoft confirmed version 26H2, which is coming later this year as an enablement package based on the same platform as versions 24H2 and 25H2. A newly published blog post details what IT admins should do to prepare for the upcoming launch. Next, we have new Windows 11 bugs. Users report that this month's security updates for Windows 11 cause all sorts of issues, including BitLocker bugs, OneDrive issues, black screens of death, and third-party integration in Office apps. Microsoft has not confirmed those yet, but it acknowledged other issues with its operating system. What Microsoft has confirmed is a bug where Recycle Bin delete prompts display internal file names instead of actual ones, and a year-old Windows JScript compatibility bug caused by security-focused engine changes. Moving to more positive news, Microsoft and Adobe are working on improving Windows performance in popular creative apps like Photoshop. Thanks to SPGO optimizations, users can expect up to 20% better performance. Finally, we have a few useful articles that can help you recover your PC or make it perform better. For one, we published a guide detailing what to do if your computer cannot boot after a clean Windows 11 install. There are two important steps you can try to get your system back to working in no time. Additionally, there is a more detailed guide on various CPU performance modes that could notably improve performance. Windows Insider Program Here is what Microsoft released for Windows Insiders this week: Builds Canary Channel Builds 28120.2315 and 29613.1000 These two builds include a new built-in audio driver, improvements to audio Settings, and more. Dev Channel Builds 26300.8697 and 26220.8690 Not much is available here. Some File Explorer improvements, Start menu enhancements, bug fixes, and more. However, build 26300.8697 is now officially marked as version 26H2. Updates are available This section covers software, firmware, and other notable updates (released and coming soon) delivering new features, security fixes, improvements, patches, and more from Microsoft and third parties. This week, Microsoft announced its newest Surface devices powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X2 processors. There is the 12th-gen Surface Pro and the 8th-gen Surface Laptop. Both devices feature little to no visual differences compared to their predecessors from 2024, and most changes hide inside, including a better processor, faster graphics, enhanced NPUs, and more. The Surface Laptop also received a new haptic trackpad. Mozilla is currently working on a major Firefox redesign, and earlier this week, it published a roadmap of upcoming features and highlights of the upcoming "Project Nova" rework. Files, one of the best file managers for Windows 10 and 11, has been updated in the Preview channel with a long-requested feature. Tree View is finally available in version 4.1.4, allowing you to quickly browse deeply nested folders without leaving the main view. In addition, the update improved the Windows Fonts folder, allowing you to preview each font without opening the default viewer. Rufus, another useful Windows 11 utility, also received a notable update. Version 4.15 arrived as beta with important fixes for silent Windows 11 installation. It also includes patches for ARM-based Windows PCs, OneDrive removal improvements, and more. Here are other updates and releases you may find interesting: Microsoft faces shareholder lawsuit over masking AI costs and slowing Azure growth Microsoft now allows you to tweak Visual Studio to new extremes Microsoft brings Planner Agent to all Microsoft 365 Copilot users Microsoft fixes one of Excel Copilot's most frustrating limitations Microsoft will finally let you sign in to Edge with a Google account Here are the latest drivers and firmware updates released this week: NVIDIA 610.62 with support for Empulse and various fixes. Reviews are in Here is the hardware and software we reviewed this week Earlier this week, we reviewed the DuRoBo Krono, a portable, phone-sized e-reader with some interesting physical controls. This device has an Apple Watch-like dial for page turning, frontlight adjustment, and more. Software is simple and no-nonsense, but it also lacks some useful features and customization. Overall, the device proved interesting, but not flawless. On the gaming side Learn about upcoming game releases, Xbox rumors, new hardware, software updates, freebies, deals, discounts, and more. Forza Horizon 6 received two big updates this week. Alongside the Series 2 content update, developers pushed plenty of bug fixes and balancing tweaks. However, they also had to acknowledge the Eliminator CR-farming exploit and shut down the online mode temporarily. Luckily, only a few days later, another fix arrived, which re-enabled Eliminator and patched the exploit. Microsoft announced new games for Game Pass subscribers. Those include EA Sports FC 26, Junkster, Call of Duty: Vanguard, Abyssus, RV There Yet?, and more. Some existing games are leaving the catalog, so be sure to check out the full list here. New games are also available for GeForce NOW subscribers, and they include Embers of the Uncrowned Demo, Aphelion, Megastore Simulator, OPERATOR, Citizen Sleeper, and more. Rockstart Games had plenty of GTA-related news this week. For one, the company gave GTA V players another free update. Those still playing the game on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are no longer required to pay $40 to upgrade to the latest-gen version. More importantly, Rockstar Games revealed the GTA VI cover art and announced the preorder date. The Epic Games Store is giving away two games: Citizen Sleeper and Roboeat. These two titles are up for grabs until next Thursday, but if they are not up to your taste, you can always check out the latest Weekend PC Game Deal issue, which is usually full of discounts and specials that let you save a lot of money on new games. Great deals to check Every week, we cover many deals on different hardware and software. The following discounts are still available, so check them out. You might find something you want or need. GEEKOM X16 Pro at GEEKOM - $1,119.67 | 17% off Acer 4K Webcam for PC/Mac with All-Metal Unibody Sculpted - $59.99 | 14% off Samsung 990 PRO SSD 2TB - $369.99 | 42% off Nothing Ear Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth - $73.15 | 51% off PowerColor Reaper AMD Radeon RX 9070 16GB - $579.99 | 17% off This link will take you to other issues of the Microsoft Weekly series. You can also support Neowin by registering for a free member account or subscribing for extra member benefits, along with an ad-free tier option.

...and the problems continue.

Weekend PC Game Deals: Cyberpunk 2077, Split Fiction, Sonic Racing, and more by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Weekend PC Game Deals is where the hottest gaming deals from all over the internet are gathered into one place every week for your consumption. So kick back, relax, and hold on to your wallets. The Epic Games store brought along two games from wildly different genres this week for PC gamers to claim. Robobeat is a rhythm-based action game that lets you become a bounty hunter that can wall run, slide, and bunny hop around his opponents. All you have to do is stick to the beat for the built-in or custom songs. Next, Citizen Sleeper is a sci-fi RPG adventure taking place in a ruined space station. It uses tabletop RPG-inspired elements like dice rolls and timers to change up how players approach its activities, factions, and storylines. The Citizen Sleeper and Robobeat giveaways end on June 25. On the same day, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 and Voidwrought will become the next freebies. The bundle space expanded with two more collections from Humble this week too. The June 2unes bundle is up first, carrying plenty of rhythm games. This carries Kill the Music and Rhythm Witch in the $5 starting tier, followed by Trombone Champ, Spin Rhythm XD, and Thumper in the $7 tier. Paying at least $12 gets you the complete bundle, which adds on Kalpa: Cosmic Symphony, Everhood 2, NOISZ, and Sixtar Gate: StarTrail. The next bundle is for virtual reality fans. This carries Among Us 3D: VR and Zero Caliber VR for $10. The next tier brings in Tactical Assault VR, Ancient Dungeon, and Arizona Sunshine Remake for $15. VTOL VR, Zero Caliber 2 Remastered, Metro Awakening, and Thief VR land to finish things off for $18. Free Events It's a big week for free event fans, as Valve kicked off another one of its Next Fest events. This one carries thousands of gameplay slices from upcoming indie games The promotion is set to run until June 22. Standard free events are also ongoing this weekend. This includes the sci-fi grand strategy experience Stellaris from Paradox and the hit SEGA management game Two Point Museum. Asymmetric multiplayer horror title Dead by Daylight and the hit mech shooter MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries are also free-to-play over the weekend. Big Deals The Steam Summer Sale is a week away from launch, but there are plenty of publishers already putting their wares on sale to prepare for the event. Here's our hand-picked big deals list for this weekend: Battlefield 6 – $34.99 on Steam Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds – $34.99 on Steam Split Fiction – $32.49 on Steam Arma Reforger – $27.99 on Steam Sniper Elite: Resistance – $24.99 on Steam DayZ – $22.49 on Steam Two Point Museum – $20.09 on Steam Atomfall – $19.99 on Steam No More Room in Hell 2 – $19.49 on Steam Cyberpunk 2077 – $17.99 on Steam Sonic Frontiers – $17.99 on Steam Dinkum – $15.99 on Steam Stellaris – $14.99 on Steam Hi-Fi RUSH – $14.99 on Steam My Little Puppy – $14.99 on Steam FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE – $14.99 on Steam SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS – $14.99 on Steam EA SPORTS FC 26 – $13.99 on Steam STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor – $13.99 on Steam FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE – $13.99 on Steam FINAL FANTASY XV – $13.99 on Steam It Takes Two – $11.99 on Steam FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster – $11.99 on Steam Axiom Verge 2 – $9.99 on Steam [REDACTED] – $9.99 on Steam Sniper Elite 5 – $9.99 on Steam Holdfast: Nations At War – $9.99 on Steam Arma 3 – $8.99 on Steam The Callisto Protocol – $8.99 on Steam A Way Out – $8.99 on Steam LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII – $7.99 on Steam MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries – $7.49 on Steam Slackers - Carts of Glory – $7.14 on Steam MIMESIS – $6.99 on Steam Need for Speed Unbound – $6.99 on Steam FINAL FANTASY XIII – $6.39 on Steam Sniper Elite 4 – $5.99 on Steam Tyranny – $5.99 on Steam Immortals of Aveum – $5.99 on Steam Far Cry 3 – $4.99 on Steam Zombie Army 4: Dead War – $4.99 on Steam Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Collection – $4.99 on Steam Mass Effect Legendary Edition – $4.79 on Steam Titanfall 2 – $4.49 on Steam SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition – $3.99 on Steam Far Cry 3 - Blood Dragon – $3.74 on Steam Wreckfest – $2.99 on Steam Crime Boss: Rockay City – $1.99 on Steam theHunter: Call of the Wild – $1.99 on Steam The Saboteur – $1.99 on Steam Battlefield 1 – $1.99 on Steam Sonic Mania – $1.99 on Steam Golf With Your Friends – $1.49 on Steam Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri Planetary Pack – $0.99 on Steam Dungeon Keeper 2 – $0.99 on Steam Populous: The Beginning – $0.99 on Steam Citizen Sleeper – $0 on Epic Store ROBOBEAT – $0 on Epic Store DRM-free Specials The DRM-free store GOG has already kicked off its own summer sale. Here are some highlights: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl - $41.99 on GOG Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - $41.99 on GOG Cronos: The New Dawn - $35.99 on GOG SILENT HILL 2 - $34.99 on GOG SILENT HILL f - $34.99 on GOG Kingdom Come: Deliverance II - $29.99 on GOG MENACE - $29.99 on GOG Cairn - $23.99 on GOG Frostpunk 2 - $22.49 on GOG The Alters - $20.99 on GOG Resident Evil Classic Bundle - $20.99 on GOG System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster - $17.99 on GOG Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden - $16.99 on GOG Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered - $16.25 on GOG METAL EDEN - $15.99 on GOG REPLACED - $15.99 on GOG Hollow Knight: Silksong - $14.99 on GOG Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft - $11.99 on GOG Chants of Sennaar - $11.99 on GOG Alpha Protocol - $9.99 on GOG DREDGE - $9.99 on GOG Crow Country - $9.99 on GOG Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Anniversary Edition - $2.99 on GOG Keep in mind that availability and pricing for some deals could vary depending on the region. That's it for our pick of this weekend's PC game deals, and hopefully, some of you have enough self-restraint not to keep adding to your ever-growing backlogs. As always, there are an enormous number of other deals ready and waiting all over the interwebs, as well as on services you may already subscribe to if you comb through them, so keep your eyes open for those, and have a great weekend.

Lilly-Livered American Media Are Scared

Really? Despite the memory price rises, nothing can kill it? I thought something would.