Microsoft Weekly: Xbox layoffs, upcoming Windows 11 changes, new Assassin's Creed, and more

This week's issue of Microsoft Weekly talks about Xbox layoffs, upcoming changes in Windows, fixed bugs, Assassin's Creed IV: BF Resynced, and more.

This week's news recap is here, with Microsoft shaking up the gaming world with the biggest round of layoffs in Xbox history. We also talk about the upcoming changes across the Windows ecosystem, security, AI's increasing role in Microsoft's internal mechanisms, 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.

Microsoft is constantly encouraging its customers to use AI wherever and whenever possible. But the company itself is also implementing more AI systems internally, especially in security systems and vulnerability detection. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri detailed how Microsoft is implementing a new AI agentic scanning harness, MDASH, into its own development pipeline to catch bugs faster and surface only high-confidence findings to engineers.

Speaking of security, Kaspersky found a phishing campaign that abused Microsoft's device login flow. Attackers convinced victims to copy a real Microsoft one-time code and paste it into Microsoft's own sign-in page. Using this process, threat actors were able to gain access to victim’s accounts.

The company also published a plain explainer of its update types, Patch Tuesday, optional preview updates, and out-of-band releases, for anyone confused by the terminology. Additionally, Microsoft also proposed a new update strategy to admins and users, which should help deliver safer Windows updates.

Microsoft also finally fixed a bug that broke core Windows 11 UI components, including the Start menu, Search, Settings, Taskbar, and File Explorer, on certain provisioned PCs. The bug had been present since July 2025, and the fix comes as part of the June 23 C-release update (KB5095093), rolling out gradually ahead of full availability next Patch Tuesday.

Windows Insider Program

Here is what Microsoft released for Windows Insiders this week:

	Builds
Experimental Channel	26300.8772 for Windows 11 26H2 and 28120.2387 for 26H1
Beta Channel	28020.2380 for the 26H1 and 26220.8764 for standard Beta testers

Builds for the Experimental channels brought in a few notable additions. Windows Insiders in these channels can now adjust the position and size of the taskbar. On top of that, there's the new Cloud Rebuild feature that allows you to reinstall Windows along with all your existing drivers, so you don't have to chase them manually.

Windows 11 taskbar position

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.

Microsoft confirmed that Windows 11 26H2 will enable the Windows Backup for Organizations app by default. The app will also be renamed to "Windows settings backup and restore." For anyone unfamiliar, this is an official Microsoft application designed to help organizations and enterprises backup and upgrade their systems.

PowerToys and Light Switch icons on a plain blue background with a light beam coming from the top

Microsoft is also considering redesigning PowerToys' Awake utility, with a streamlined flyout for its sleep-prevention modes and support for custom durations instead of just presets.

Here are other updates and releases you may find interesting:

Here are the latest drivers and firmware updates released this week:

NVIDIA Game Ready Driver 610.74 improves DLSS in three titles but doesn't fix any reported gaming bugs.
The non-WHQL Intel graphics driver 32.0.101.8861 is bringing better support for some of the high-profile titles coming soon to PC.

Reviews are in

Here is the hardware and software we reviewed this week

Steven Parker was busy doing reviews this week. Steven started the week by reviewing Honor Watch 6, a budget-friendly smartwatch with decent features and amazing battery life. Check out the full review here.

And if you need to expand the storage space of your gaming console or a workstation, and we all do at some point, check out Steven's Lexar Play SSD review. It's a blazing fast SSD that shines when you put games on it, and comes in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB variants.

On the gaming side

Learn about upcoming game releases, Xbox rumors, new hardware, software updates, freebies, deals, discounts, and more.

Microsoft shook up the gaming community when it announced the biggest restructure in Xbox history, affecting 3,200 staff. About 1,600 are being let go today, with the rest rolling out through FY2027.

id Software, developer of the popular Doom franchise, was said to be hit hard, with roughly half its Texas team let go. However, amidst the spreading rumors, the studio released an official statement, in which it said that the team has remained large enough to support game and engine development despite the layoffs.

Assassins Creed Black Flag Resynced screenshot

This week also brings the highly anticipated Resynced version of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Ubisoft has breathed new life into one of the most popular games of the AC franchise, much to the players’ delight, as the game sold over two million copies in just a few days. Our Pulashti did a detailed review of the game, so check it out to learn more about the reborn Black Flag.

Deals and freebies

Other gaming news includes the following:

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.

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.