WW 972: I'm A Tolkien Scholar - Phil Spencer & Sarah Bond Depart Xbox

WW 972: I'm A Tolkien Scholar - Phil Spencer & Sarah Bond Depart Xbox

Author: TWiT February 25, 2026 Duration: 2:27:57

Just last week, we asked about Phil Spencer and why he's been so quiet lately. Now we know why! Also, OneDrive for the Mac is finally going to look like it belongs on the Mac. And Google Chrome finally picks up a split view like the rest of the planet, plus a few other new features.

PHIL SPENCER OUT AT XBOX

  • Phil Spencer has retired from Microsoft and his heir-apparent, Sarah Bond, left Microsoft as well
  • Report details the Xbox reorg
  • Ex-Xbox executive issues an old guy shouting at sky assessment
  • New Microsoft Gaming CEO discusses "return to Xbox"
  • Hot-take: This person seems unqualified to run Xbox/MS Gaming, but let's give her a chance
  • Alternative hot-take: She is literally here to wind down this business, which makes no sense... unless there's a spin-off

Windows

  • WSJ report sheds some light, and adds a lot of confusion, to Nvidia's Windows PC plans
  • Week D arrived on time this month
  • Preview of March Patch Tuesday updates
  • Network speed test, pan and tilt in Camera settings, sysmon, RSAT improvements, Quick Machine Recovery improvements, WEBP background image support, Emoji 16.0
  • And you thought the Canary channel was weird already
  • New builds for Canary, Dev, and Beta. Canary gets features we already saw elsewhere, Dev and Beta get context menu, settings, and Taskbar improvements
  • Paul has published (an incomplete version of) De-Enshittify Windows 11
  • De-enshittifying Copilot and AI is doable but not yet automated
  • What about the alternatives?
  • Next step: Security and Apps chapters
  • HP revenues up 6.9 percent to $14.4 billion but RAM warning is more dire than expected
  • Apple to add multitouch to MacBook Pro lineup in late 2026. Oh the irony

AI

  • Xbox February update brings 1440p streaming to Xbox consoles, updates for Xbox ROG Ally, more
  • Xbox app is delivering post-game recaps on Windows 11 for Insiders
  • EA had the most game downloads on PC and console in 2025, thanks to having the three most popular AAA games of the year (BF6, EA Sports FC 25, and EA Sports FC 26). Microsoft was number two, followed by Take-Two, Ubisoft, and Sony. Fortnite is somehow still the biggest game overall on console, and Counter-Strike 2 (!!!!) is the biggest on PC. 20 million Fortnite players on PS, 15 million on Xbox

Tips and picks

  • Tip of the week: OneDrive for the Mac
  • App pick of the week: Google Chrome
  • RunAs Radio this week: SaaS on Multiple Clouds with Steve Buchanan
  • Brown liquor pick of the week: Sons of Vancouver Wheated Rye Whisky

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.

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsors:


For anyone following the vast and often intricate ecosystem of Microsoft, Windows Weekly (Video) offers a consistently insightful look behind the curtain. Hosted by Leo Laporte of TWiT, the conversation is driven by veteran Microsoft insiders Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell, whose combined expertise provides context that goes far beyond surface-level news. While the name suggests a focus on the operating system, this podcast truly serves as a comprehensive analysis of the entire company, from its consumer-facing products like Xbox and Surface to its massive enterprise cloud services and ambitious AI initiatives. Each episode feels like a detailed briefing, unpacking the strategies, successes, and stumbles of the tech giant. The video format adds a valuable layer, allowing you to see the hosts' reactions and follow along with screen shares when they delve into technical previews or software updates. You'll hear informed speculation, historical perspective, and critical debate about Microsoft's direction, making it an essential resource for IT professionals, developers, and dedicated enthusiasts who want to understand not just what is happening, but why. This is the kind of deep dive that turns complex topics into engaging discussion, offering the only Microsoft analysis you'll likely need. For those who prefer an uninterrupted experience, ad-free audio and video feeds are available through Club TWiT.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 10

Windows Weekly (Video)
Podcast Episodes
WW 978: Pre-Peated - "Copilot Is for Entertainment Purposes Only" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:19:19
Julia Liuson is leaving Microsoft. Liuson joined Microsoft in 1992, the same year as CEO Satya Nadella (she worked on Access at first). She helped build the first version of Visual Studio and was the first female corpora…
WW 976: Full Thurrottle - Microsoft's Plan To Save Windows in 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:16:31
In 2015, Satya Nadella said that he wanted users to love Windows. But Microsoft has only enshittified Windows more aggressively since then. Paul wrote a book. And now Microsoft says it's changed, baby, and it's serious t…
WW 974: DIY Crocs - Project Helix Details From GDC 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:46:57
From bug-busting AI that's transforming Firefox to personal coding breakthroughs, the team breaks down how practical applications are cutting through skepticism and reshaping developer workflows. Plus, hear why lighter P…
WW 971: Texas English - Where Does Xbox Go Next? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:03:32
Microsoft might finally give power users what they've been demanding: the ability to move the Windows 11 taskbar wherever they want. Plus, 3 major new chapters in Paul's next book, and a strange pick that solves his big…