26h2
The latest 26h2 coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
The Witcher 3’s Next Update Requires Windows 11 and an SSD—Here’s How to Prepare
CD Projekt Red’s next update for The Witcher 3 will mandate Windows 11, an SSD, and DirectX 12, dropping official support for Windows 10 and hard drives. The change is not tied to an October 2026 date but to the patch itself, meaning players on older PCs need to prepare now ahead of the 2027 Songs of the Past expansion.
Microsoft Azure Taps AMD Helios for AI Inference, Previews EPYC Venice VMs for HPC
Microsoft and AMD have deepened their partnership, with Azure set to adopt AMD Helios for AI inference and new EPYC Venice CPU-based VMs. The move gives Azure customers upcoming options for AI data prep, HPC, and inference, slated for late 2026. IT decision-makers should monitor availability and start evaluating these instances for future workloads.
Firefox vs. Twitch: Why You’re Seeing Errors 3000, 7005, and 2000 — and How to Solve Them
Twitch errors 3000, 7005, and 2000 in Firefox on Windows usually point to hardware acceleration, DRM, or network misconfigurations. This article explains each error code, shows how to isolate the cause, and provides actionable fixes from clearing site data to refreshing the browser.
Windows 11 Keeps Losing Your Phone’s Hotspot? The Real Fixes Beyond ‘Forget and Reconnect’
When your phone’s mobile data works but its hotspot shows “No Internet” on Windows 11, the problem often lies with carrier restrictions, Wi‑Fi band incompatibility, or corrupted network profiles. This guide explains why the failure occurs and provides a layered, step‑by‑step troubleshooting sequence—from forgetting the network and enabling compatibility modes to USB tethering and full network resets—so you can get back online quickly.
iOS 27 Public Beta Is Here—But If You Use Microsoft Apps on iPhone, Wait
Apple’s iOS 27 public beta, released this week, is not ready for primary iPhones—especially those used with Microsoft work apps. Incompatible third-party software can force a full device restore, and the only safe downgrade path requires a backup made before installation. IT admins and Windows users who rely on Microsoft Authenticator, Outlook, or Intune should avoid the beta or take strict precautions.
Microsoft's Recovery Remote Management: Repairing Dead Windows 11 PCs Without Reimaging
Microsoft's Recovery Remote Management preview introduces a WinRE plug-in model that lets enterprise IT remotely repair unbootable Windows 11 devices without resorting to a full rebuild. The framework underpins Quick Machine Recovery for targeted fixes and Cloud rebuild for clean reinstalls, and organizations need to set clear policies now to avoid data loss and downtime when it reaches general availability.
EU Parliament Readies Internal AI Hub to Keep Lawmakers Off Public Chatbots
The European Parliament is developing the EPGenAI Hub, a secure internal platform that would let lawmakers and staff use generative AI without sending sensitive parliamentary material to public chatbots. Expected as early as September 2026, the initiative aims to improve productivity while protecting data sovereignty and democratic integrity.
Augment CEO: Without Deep Project Context, Even the Smartest AI Coding Assistants Will Fail You
Augment CEO Scott Perneti argues that the key to reliable AI-generated code isn't just larger language models but a context-rich harness that feeds the model the right project-specific information. In an interview with Ars Technica, he details how insufficient context leads to plausible but incorrect code, why fully autonomous agents still need human oversight, and what developers should look for in coding tools to avoid costly rework and ballooning token budgets.
Windows 11 Search Overhaul Lets You Switch Off Web Results and Boost Local Discoverability
Microsoft has started rolling out a new toggle in Windows 11 Insider builds that lets users disable web and Microsoft Store suggestions in Search, delivering a local-only result list. The update also improves local result ranking, removes promotional content, and adds clearer origin labels. The change benefits users who want a distraction-free way to launch apps and find files, while IT admins gain a simpler default for managed PCs.
Riot's Status Page Should Be Your First Stop for League Login Errors, Not Windows Settings
A new Technobezz guide highlights that League of Legends login and matchmaking errors on Windows are frequently misdiagnosed. Before reinstalling the game or changing Windows settings, players should verify Riot's official service status page, read the client's specific error message, and use third-party outage reports only as corroboration. For Vanguard codes like VAN 9002, checking Windows Exploit Protection settings is a more effective fix than assuming a server outage.
Microsoft Previews AMD-Powered Azure VMs for AI and HPC, but They’re Not Ready Yet
Microsoft announced three upcoming Azure VM families—HDv2, HXv2, and ND MI455X v7—built on next-gen AMD EPYC and Instinct silicon, targeting AI pipelines, HPC simulation, and GPU inference. No launch dates or pricing are available, making the news a roadmap signal rather than a buying guide. IT teams should monitor for previews and assess future workload fit but hold off on procurement decisions.
IAKerb and LocalKDC Arrive in Windows Canary: A Practical Pilot Plan for NTLM's Demise
Microsoft's June 2, 2026 Canary preview delivers IAKerb and LocalKDC, two long-awaited features that provide Kerberos-based alternatives to NTLM fallback for domain and local-account scenarios. While not yet production-ready, the preview gives IT teams a clear pilot plan for classifying and replacing NTLM dependencies before NTLM is disabled by default in the next Windows Server release.
Mac Won’t Boot into Recovery? Here’s How to Fix It (Even If You’re a Windows User)
When macOS Recovery Mode fails, the culprit is often a mismatch between the Mac's processor and the startup method. Windows users helping with a broken Mac need to identify Apple silicon vs. Intel first, then follow targeted fixes for keyboard, network, disk repair, and firmware issues. This guide distills eight proven solutions into a clear, cross-platform rescue plan.