Microsoft Weekly: Windows 11 is now more popular than Windows 10, and big layoffs

This week's news recap is here. Windows 11 is finally more popular than Windows 10, Microsoft fires a lot of workers and closes studios, tone-deaf communications from execs (speak to Copilot if you were fired), a single Windows 11 preview build, and more.

Quick links:

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

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.

This month marks an important milestone for Windows 11: the four-year-old operating system is finally more popular than Windows 10. StatCounter reports that the OS took over its predecessor worldwide. Windows 11 is also doing pretty well among gamers, and in June 2025, it reached a new all-time high of nearly 60%.

This week, users noticed that Microsoft was quietly installing a Windows update on systems that are running out of support. However, after the news, Microsoft posted an update to the story. The company also clarified that Windows did not lose 400 million users, as was speculated by some outlets. Coincidentally, this number matches 400 million Windows 10 PCs that cannot run Windows 11. Public Interest Research Group slammed Microsoft for lackluster support for these devices and said that one year of free security updates is not enough.

The list of known bugs in Windows 11 version 24H2 has been expanded with new details about some of the upcoming 24H2 features triggering Windows Firewall.

To finish this week's Windows section, check out this blog post describing how a 13-year-old kid helped Microsoft improve its product security. Also, check out this cool concept, which fuses the looks of Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows 10, and Windows 11 into one big and odd soup.

Windows Insider Program

Here is what Microsoft released for Windows Insiders this week:

While this week was pretty slim in terms of new builds, enthusiasts discovered some cool stuff in the latest releases. Windows 11's lock screen battery indicator is finally getting a redesign. While you can enable it right now, Microsoft confirmed that the indicator is not ready for public testing just yet.

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.

June is now behind us, and as usual, Microsoft published recaps of new features for its productivity apps, such as Teams, Excel, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and more. Other Office updates include dynamic DPI support in OneNote, which allows the app to adjust itself on the fly when you move it across monitors with different DPIs. Also, Outlook mobile received a customizable toolbar on Android and iOS, desktop Outlook is getting new PST features, Teams is getting Storyline, and Planner got a bulk editing feature.

Speaking of Teams, check out this guide that will help you avoid awkward pop-ups during screen sharing on Teams.

On the browser side, we have several big updates. Opera released version 120 with a built-in translator and much-improved Opera Pro VPN. On the mobile side, Opera 90 for Android brought a smarter Aria AI and other improvements.

If you use Microsoft Edge, check out this useful guide, which will help you tidy up your scroll bars for a better, more modern and less distracting look. Also, Microsoft recently removed Mica from the Edge browser, but you can still sort of bring it back with a special command.

Finally, Vivaldi released version 7.5, adding colorful tab stacks, reworked tab menus, and other improvements.

Here are other updates and releases you may find interesting:

• Microsoft confirmed Intune is broken.
• Microsoft released Skype for Business Server SE because Teams cannot solve one problem.
• Microsoft explained how to fix the recently broken OneDrive search.
• Office apps will soon let you request permissions for locked-in documents.

• Microsoft 365 Copilot got 6 new languages, reaching 48 total supported.

• PowerToys 0.92 was released with performance improvements, a built-in speed test, and more.

   

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

• AMD Radeon Software 25.6.3 with FSR 4 support for GTA V and Monster Hunter: Wilds.
• Nvidia 576.88 with RTX 5050 support, DLSS 4 for Mecha BREAK, and more.
• Nvidia is ending driver support for some of its most legendary graphics cards.

Reviews are in

Here is the hardware and software we reviewed this week

Robbie Khan reviewed the Mobapad Huden2, one of the first gamepads with capacitive joystick controllers. It offers fantastic performance and a great app experience, but it also has some cons, such as a high price, weak vibration, trigger quirks, and more.

Also, Robbie published a review of the Topping DX5 II, a high-spec headphones amplifier, pre-amp, and DAC, all for less than $300. Check out the full review here.

Steven Parker reviewed the REDMAGIC Astra gaming tablet. This 9-inch device has a great 165Hz OLED display, a big battery life, and good performance. The only downsides include the lack of SIM, LDAC, and a charger.

On the gaming side

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

A lot of bad news happened in the gaming side of Microsoft. The company announced a massive wave of layoffs, which primarily hit its gaming divisions. At least three games were killed, half of Turn 10 Studios sacked, and Perfect Dark completely canceled. To add insult to injury, one of Microsoft's execs said that laid-off workers should seek help from AI. Yikes!

With everything that is going on in Microsoft's gaming division, one of the former executives voiced a pretty strong opinion, claiming that the current Xbox strategy is chaotic and the entire business overall is pretty much dead.

The recently rebranded Halo Studios promises some big announcements in the series later this year. The latest monthly blog post on Halo Waypoint teased a big October reveal, a special treat for fans of the franchise.

Helldivers 2 is finally ditching its console exclusivity. The game is coming to Xbox Series X|S on August 26, and you can already preorder the game in the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft announced new games coming to Game Pass. This month, look out for Little Nightmares II, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Trials of Mana, Legend of Mana, The Ascent, Minami Lanem High on Life, and more. Some games are also leaving the service, so check out the complete list here.

Prime Gaming, another gaming service, also announced new games and bonuses for subscribers. The latest additions include Dungeon of the ENDLESS Definitive Edition, Saints Row 2, TOEM, STAR WARS: Rebellion, and more.

We are not done with gaming services just yet. Do not forget about GeForce NOW, Nvidia's cloud streaming service. It also received a batch of fresh titles, including Killing Floor 3 and Schedule I, 21 games in total.

Mojang revealed details about the next content update for Minecraft. Future releases will bring a new copper golem, copper armor, copper equipment, and other stuff. The new copper golem will help you keep your storage sorted out and well-organized. You can now check out those changes in the latest preview update for Minecraft Bedrock Edition.

Finally, here is this week's Weekend PC Game Deals issue, where you will find a new freebie from the Epic Games Store and a massive list of discounted titles across different stores.

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