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Microsoft Weekly: Performance boost for Windows and Copilot invades TVs

Catch up with this week's Microsoft stories, including big performance in Windows thanks to native NVMe support, Copilot invading TVs, and more.

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This week's news recap is here, bringing you an overview of the latest stories from the world of Microsoft. Copilot invades TVs, Windows gets a big performance boost thanks to native NVMe support,

Quick links:

  1. Windows 10 and 11
  2. Windows Insider Program
  3. Updates are available
  4. Reviews are in
  5. Gaming news
  6. 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.

It appears that no month can come by without another round of issues in the latest Patch Tuesday updates. This time, Microsoft confirmed that KB5071546, the December 2025 Security Update for Windows 10, Server 2019, and Server 2016, breaks Message Queuing (MSMQ). However, this bug was quickly resolved with the out-of-band KB5074976 update. On the bright side for Windows Server, however, Microsoft implemented native NVMe support for significant performance improvements.

Windows server

Speaking of December 2025 updates, KB5072033 for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 made Appxsvc run at startup, which could potentially cause problems with resource consumption, just like the Delivery Optimization service. We are not done with issues, though, as Google also reported a security issue, which Microsoft failed to patch in Windows 11.

Microsoft also published a support document that outlined various aspects of PC gaming, particularly hardware requirements and recommendations that will help you achieve optimal performance on your rig.

The Vapor Pink Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller

Finally, we have a recap of everything that Microsoft added to the Microsoft Store in 2025, including new features, performance improvements, and more.

Windows Insider Program

Here is what Microsoft released for Windows Insiders this week:

Builds
Canary Channel

Build 28020.1362

This update for Windows 11 version 26H1 delivered quite a lot of new features, including the full-screen Xbox experience for more devices, Click to Do improvements, Windows Studio Effects for external cameras, better dark mode for File Explorer, taskbar fixes, and more.
Dev Channel

Build 26220.7523

A massive update landed in the Dev Channel this week, bringing plenty of new features, such as the "Ask Copilot" taskbar feature, improved voice input for the on-screen keyboard, File Explorer fixes (no more flashbangs), and a lot more.
Beta Channel
Release Preview Channel

Nothing in the Release Preview this week.

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.

Some updates are available for owners of certain LG TVs, but those updates are not welcome. Users report that recent software updates introduced a Microsoft Copilot app on the home screen, which cannot be uninstalled or removed. Yikes. Speaking of Copilot, here is an overview of all the new features that Microsoft added to Microsoft 365 Copilot in November and December 2025.

This week's Microsoft 365 updates include a new feature for PowerPoint that helps with complex presentations and a useful tool for OneNote that improves typing flexibility.

Microsoft 365 app icon with Office apps arranged on the sides

Mozilla has a new CEO, Anthony Enzor-DeMeo. He offered some insights into the future of Firefox and how the company plans to implement AI as it strives to become the "world's most trusted software company."

If you feel jaded by AI and you wish to make Windows 11 as AI-free as possible, try this new third-party script that promises to clean your system of everything that Microsoft tries to shove down our throats so hard.

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

Reviews are in

Here is the hardware and software we reviewed this week

Steven Parker reviewed the GMKtec M7 Ultra, a mini PC with plenty of DDR5 memory, storage, and modern ports, all for just $470, which is a hell of an offer, given the current situation with RAM and storage prices.

gmktec m7 ultra

Robbie Khan reviewed the FiiO JT7. These affordable and well-specced planar magnetic headphones sound great, cost little, and provide good comfort when wearing, and their small price completely justifies a few small cons.

FiiO JT7

On the gaming side

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

It is the end of the year, and every service is giving its users a recap (even app launchers now do that). Steam is no exception, and you can now generate your annual replay to check the gaming highlights of the year.

Microsoft released an update for the Xbox Wireless Headset, which introduced better audio with Bluetooth LE support, shared audio, a battery indicator, and more.

Xbox Wireless Headset

Valve had some important updates this week. For one, the company discontinued the entry-level Steam Deck with an LCD display. As such, the console now costs $549 instead of $399. The 32-bit Steam client for Windows has also been discontinued, and it will stop receiving updates on January 1, 2026.

GSC Game World released a big new update for STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Called Stories Untold, the update brings a brand-new storyline with new quests, locations, characters, and more. The update arrived on all supported platforms on December 16, and you can get it now for free if you have the base game.

STALKER 2

Hollow Knight: Silksong is another game that is getting a big expansion. Team Cherry announced the Sea of Sorrow expansion that is coming sometime in 2026. It will be a free update with new areas to explore, fresh bosses to beat, and more.

NVIDIA announced new games for the GeForce NOW streaming service. The latest additions include Fallout: New Vegas, Piner, For the King II, LEGO Harry Potter Collection, and more.

geforce now

Finally, here is the latest Weekend PC Game Deals issue with plenty of holiday discounts, specials, freebies, and more. Steam is currently running its annual Winter Sale, so there are a lot of games with big discounts.

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 to extra member benefits, along with an ad-free tier option.

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