Microsoft Weekly: useful PowerToys modules, Microsoft Store updates, and video gen in Bing

This week's news recap is here, bringing you the latest stories from the Microsoft world, including useful PowerToys modules, fresh Windows 11 preview builds, AI video generation in Bing, Office updates, gaming news, and more.

Quick links:

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

This week's Windows 11 section kicks off with some stats. StatCounter published its monthly report, showing that Windows 11 slowed its climb a little bit in May 2025. On the gaming side, however, things are much better, with Windows 11 occupying the majority of PCs on Steam.

Now, here are some Windows updates you might have missed. Windows 11 versions 23H2 and 22H2 received KB5062170, a small emergency patch that resolved errors when installing recent updates. The patch is available only through the Microsoft Update Catalog, and the company recommends installing it only if your system experiences the 0xc0000098 code when installing the May 2025 security update.

Finally, Microsoft released a new Defender update for Windows 11 and 10 installations, fresh recovery updates, and a script for recovering the inetpub folder, which showed up unannounced on systems in April.

As Windows 10 is getting closer to the end of support, more companies are urging users to switch. AMD, Dell, and ASUS all urge users to prepare for the "mandatory Windows 11 upgrade," while other companies shamelessly poach Windows 10 users, luring them to Linux.

To finish this week's Windows section, here is an ancient CD-burning app that made a surprising 64-bit comeback and now works on modern operating systems, including Windows 11.

Windows Insider Program

Here is what Microsoft released for Windows Insiders this week:

Besides new builds, Microsoft announced a new update for the Windows Photos app, which is now available to Windows Insiders in all channels. The update introduces AI-powered light controls (Relight), which let you place and control up to three light sources on your photo, and AI-powered search with natural language support.

Updates are available

This section covers software, firmware, and other notable updates (released and coming soon) from Microsoft and third parties, delivering new features, security fixes, improvements, patches, and more.

Microsoft announced a batch of new features for the Microsoft Store. The app is getting an improved Home page with personalized recommendations based on your recent activities, region, and deals. Search now considers additional information when ranking apps in the results, and a Copilot button lets you ask AI about a certain app. Microsoft also brags about significant performance improvements under the hood.

This week, we had plenty of various Office updates. Microsoft 365, for one, is getting significant changes to its update channels beginning July 2025. Rollback support will be expanded to two months, the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview) is being deprecated, and the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel will be supported for eight months instead of the current 14.

Microsoft also announced the general availability of the new Message Trace in the Exchange Admin Center in Exchange Online, some big updates for the new Outlook for Windows in the June 2025 update, and acknowledged a few issues with Outlook after a recent Calendar feature upgrade. Teams is also getting a "major" change for third-party app settings, and Word is getting SharePoint eSignature support.

Bing received a surprising update this week. OpenAI's Sora video generator is now available for free in Bing Video Creator. Now, you do not have to pay for an OpenAI subscription to generate short videos using AI. Way to boost Bing stats, Microsoft!

PowerToys Run, a useful and convenient launcher for Windows 10 and 11, recently received three new third-party modules that let you test your internet speed, download videos from hundreds of websites, and check out word definitions, usage, synonyms, and more.

Microsoft announced some long-requested changes for Microsoft Edge, but only for those living in the EEA region. Windows will no longer annoy you with setting Edge as your default browser, and Windows Widgets will respect your default browser. Also, Microsoft will let you uninstall the Microsoft Store app, and Windows Search will be able to use other search providers.

Speaking of browsers, Microsoft published a blog post that explained why Edge is a faster and smarter alternative to Chrome. If you are picking between the two, the article might help you make the choice (Google has an answer to that with its own article explaining that Chrome is now faster than ever). Also, the company released Edge 138 in the Beta Channel, bringing some important changes and new features, such as a new (sort of new) media control center, AI-powered history search, and more.

Here are other updates and releases you may find interesting:

• Microsoft expanded LinkedIn's CEO role to manage Office apps.
• Microsoft announced the general availability of two new reasoning AI agents: Research and Analyst.
• Microsoft and Crowdstrike announced a partnership on threat actor naming.
• Microsoft will invest $400 million in Switzerland to bolster cloud and AI infrastructure.
• The annual Build conference is moving away from Seattle.

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

• Intel 32.0.101.6876 non-WHQL with support for four new games and a single fix for intermittent display artifacts.
• Nvidia 576.66 Hotfix with patches for FC 25 crashes, video bugs in browsers, and more. In addition to that, Nvidia released a new version of the Nvidia App, which introduced a light theme (and automatic theme switching), support for more games, and some bug fixes.
• AMD Software Pro Edition 25 Q2 with support for Windows Server 2025, new Ryzen processors, and a few fixes.
• AMD Radeon Software 25.6.1 with the RX 9060 XT support and FSR 4 support for more games.

On the gaming side

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

Hello Games continues relentlessly improving No Man's Sky. The game's latest update, "Beacon," was announced this week. It offers space explorers overhauled settlements, player overseer duties, and much more. The update is now available on all supported platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2.

The Witcher 4 from CD Projekt RED might be a few years away. Still, at the State of Unreal 2025 keynote, the developers revealed a tech demo showcasing the capabilities of Unreal Engine 5 on the base PlayStation 5, which managed to pull it off at a solid 60 FPS.

Nvidia announced new games that are now available in the GeForce NOW cloud streaming service (you have to own them to play them). The latest drop is a massive one: 25 new games, including FBC: Firebreak, Dune: Awakening, 7 Days to Die, DREADZONE, and more.

Game Pass is also getting new games, and the first drop in June is also a pretty big one. You will soon get access to Kingdom: Two Crowns, EA Sports FC 25, FBC: Firebreak, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, The Alters, and more. Some games are leaving the service, so check out the full list here.

Xbox Games Showcase 2025 is happening today. With the show kicking off in just a few hours, check out our recap of what to expect at the show and how to watch it.

On the hardware side, we have a new Xbox Storage Expansion Card from Seagate. At a whopping $429.99 price tag, the new card offers an immense amount of space for your games, doubling that of the previously biggest expansion card. Now, you can get an Xbox Storage Expansion Card with 4TB. By the way, it costs as much as the 1TB Xbox Series S.

Deals and freebies

If you are looking for some new games at lower prices, check out this week's Weekend PC Game Deals, which covers multiple specials and discounts, including some freebies, such as Deathloop from the Epic Games Store.

Other gaming news includes the following:

• Ubisoft is skipping its Forward game showcase for the first time since 2020.

• Valve released a new beta version of Steam for Linux to address sluggish update installations.

• Elden Ring Nighteign received its first update with reduced difficulty for solo runs.

• The Expanse TV show is getting a narrative-driven sci-fi action RPG.

• Black Myth: Wukong is coming to Xbox in August.

• Atomic Heart is getting a sequel and an MMO RPG spin-off.

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.

• Crucial X10 8TB Portable SSD - $439.99 | 44% off

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M4 chip - $849 | 15% off

• 4TB WD_BLACK SN7100 PCIe Gen4 Solid-State Drive - $249.99 | 16% off

• SAMSUNG Q-Series Soundbar HW-Q900F - $997.99 | 29% off

• KEF Q Concerto Meta Three-Way Bookshelf Speaker - $1,199.99 | 14% off

This link will take you to other issues of the Microsoft Weekly series. You can also support Neowin by registering a free member account or subscribing for extra member benefits, along with an ad-free tier option.