WW 952: You Can See the Edges of the Bubble - Windows 11, version 25H2 Is Weirdly Identical

Oct 1, 2025

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Windows 11 version 25H2 is here, but blink and you might miss the difference from last year! Also, Microsoft just hiked Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $30/month and is leaving gamers everywhere weighing their subscriptions—and their loyalty.

25H2 is here?!

Microsoft announced that 25H2 is GA! But where is it?
And what is it? Microsoft has a list of "new" features

More Windows 11

Microsoft delivers the 24H2 Week D update in Week E
No, it's not the preview version of 25H2 for some reason
But it is a massive update. And it is essentially 25H2
Pavan Davuluri was promoted to president and his first change was to bring Windows engineering back in-house and out of Azure
Dev and Beta: Minor changes to File Explorer, Quick settings, Get Started
Photos app is getting AI-based categories
Windows 10 Extended Security Updates to be free-free in the EU

Snapdragon X2

It's real and it's really better than almost anything out there. The bad news: Not until next year
Hardware prototypes point the way for device makers
Arm is the epiphany we need for everything to just work
Also, apparently Qualcomm still makes phone chips
Qualcomm declares "total litigation victory" against Arm Holdings. More like Harm Holdings, ammmi right?

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella steps aside to focus on engineering
Microsoft enters a new era for Copilot/AI
"More Copilot" is the new "more cowbell"
Microsoft 365 Premium is the AI-powered subscription you were looking for, Copilot Pro is out
This maps neatly to the three app structure model and to Paul's "I will not pay for AI" thing
Tied to this, Microsoft also announced inside app vibe working updates across Office apps
Is this also tied to low uptick on paid AI? Report claims just 8 million seats for Microsoft 365 Copilot
Stevie Bathiche came to Hawaii to talk about the importance of NPUs and on-device AI
"Directive AI, 80 TOPS NPUs enable concurrent AI, AI agents are the "outside app" structure, Orchestration is evolving
Copilot users can talk to a cartoon now

Xbox and gaming

Major revamp to Xbox Game Pass with some good and some bad
Xbox Cloud Gaming is out of beta after what feels like 17 years, now on all Game Pass tiers
Game Pass Ultimate gets big price hike but also some improvements
Game Pass Premium replaces Standard
Game Pass Essential replaces Core
Amazon Luna got a big update too
You can preorder a ROG Xbox Ally Gaming handheld now
And Microsoft announces how it will handle compatibility
Costco drops Xbox consoles
Flight Simulator 2024 is coming to P5 in 2025
EA goes private for $55 billion

Tips and picks

Tip of the week: Videogames are getting expensive
App pick of the week: Proton Mail
RunAs Radio this week: HaveIBeenPwned with Troy Hunt
Brown liquor pick of the week: Compass Box Vellichor

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

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