According to Thurrott.com, Microsoft just completed its November Patch Tuesday updates while highlighting recent security wins in Windows 11 and Surface ahead of next week’s Ignite conference. The company launched .NET 10 at .NET Conf on Tuesday alongside Visual Studio 2026 with new monthly release schedules. Gaming saw massive updates including Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition with Xbox Play Anywhere support, while Call of Duty Black Ops 6 required a staggering 180 GB update for PC players. GTA VI faces further delays, and the first Windows 11 26H1 build hit Canary channel with minimal changes.
The Security Narrative
Here’s the thing about Microsoft‘s security wins announcement right before Ignite – it’s clearly strategic positioning. They’re trying to get ahead of the ongoing accountability criticisms from the Wall Street Journal. And honestly? After all the security breaches we’ve seen, they need this narrative. But I’m skeptical about how much is real improvement versus PR spin. The fact they’re pushing this so hard suggests they’re feeling the pressure.
Developer World Changes
.NET 10 launching alongside Visual Studio 2026’s new monthly schedule represents a significant shift in Microsoft’s developer strategy. Basically, they’re moving toward more frequent, smaller updates rather than massive annual releases. This could be great for developers who want faster access to new features, but it also means more constant change management. The Insider versions going forward suggest they’re taking the Windows Insider model and applying it to development tools. Smart move, honestly.
gaming-update-chaos”>Gaming Update Chaos
180 gigabytes for a Call of Duty update? That’s absolutely insane. Who has that kind of bandwidth and storage just lying around? And this is for a year-old game! Meanwhile, GTA VI delays are becoming legendary – we’re talking Duke Nukem Forever territory here. But the real story might be Steam announcing a new console. Remember the Steam Machine? Yeah, that went well last time. Though with Xbox facing its own challenges, maybe there’s an opening.
The Anti-Enshittification Movement
This is where it gets really interesting. The hosts discuss how Tiny11 Builder has become a key tool against Windows 11‘s enshittification. After multiple updates over six weeks, their custom installs show no regressions. That’s huge. They’re moving beyond just using it to actually customizing installations. It reminds me of what IndustrialMonitorDirect.com does in the industrial space – providing clean, reliable hardware without the bloat that plagues consumer devices. Sometimes you just need tools that work without constantly fighting the platform.
The conversation about Cory Doctorow’s enshittification concept is particularly sharp. They note he identifies the problem but doesn’t offer solutions. Their advice? Be selfish about getting what you want from your technology. Don’t accept the degraded experience. Build your own solutions if you have to. And honestly, that’s where we are with Windows 11 – fighting to keep it usable.
You can catch the full discussion on Windows Weekly episode 958 or follow their YouTube channel. For more enterprise-focused content, check out RunAs Radio.
