Windows Weekly 953: The Casting of Frank Stallone

Is Xbox Still a Good Deal for Gamers?
Aired: October 8, 2025
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, Richard Campbell

Episode Overview

This episode dives into Microsoft’s latest Windows and Xbox news, with insider perspectives from Paul Thurrott (in Mexico City) and Richard Campbell (broadcasting from Orlando). Key topics include confusion around the Windows 11 25H2 update, significant Game Pass price hikes, new OneDrive client developments, the evolution of AI-powered browsers, and reflections on big tech’s influence. The hosts also share lively banter and practical tips, making this essential listening for anyone in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Where Is Windows 11 25H2?

• Availability Confusion: Microsoft announced 25H2, but no one seems to have received it via Windows Update. Even Paul, running multiple systems—including Insider builds—can’t get clarity.
• Paul Thurrott: “I feel like Windows is a little bit like Android... Except it's maybe even more random. But there's nothing that says 25H2 is available, but you can't get it. Here's why.” (04:48)
• Manual Installation: Users can force the update by downloading the ISO and running the installer—helpful for those ‘stuck’ on older builds.
• New Features and Blockers: Most notable new changes target power users (e.g., ability to name default user folders, Windows Hello support for external fingerprint readers). Restricting local account creation during setup is controversial but, as Paul notes, is mainly a concern for niche users.

Notable Quote

“Functionally, [25H2] is one better. Yeah, no, functionally, of course, yeah, they are identical.” — Paul Thurrott (08:27)

2. The Ongoing Debate Over Microsoft Accounts vs. Local Accounts

• Microsoft Tightening Up: Microsoft is further restricting the ability to use local accounts during setup, driving users toward Microsoft accounts.
• Paul’s Argument: It’s more secure, with better recovery options and automatic disk encryption. Workarounds (by using command line prompts) still exist, but are being closed off.
• Community Backlash: Despite the outrage, the hosts affirm that the average user probably benefits from these changes.

Notable Quote

“Why would you want anything that's tied to one piece of hardware? It's the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life.” — Paul Thurrott (15:54)

3. OneDrive Updates and the New Client

• New Features Coming: Microsoft teased a revamped OneDrive client for Windows 11, with an integrated gallery and Copilot-powered actions—coming in 2026.
• Confusion on Rollout: Despite leaks and event hype, most improvements are future-facing.
• Copilot Integration: Summaries for documents, meeting recordings, and photo analysis are in the works.
• UX Musings: Paul questions why some features (like the photo gallery) aren’t decoupled from File Explorer in favor of an app-centric approach.

4. Browser Wars & Agentic Browsers

• Browser Updates:

  • Firefox: Rolling out proper profile support.
  • Brave: Surpasses 100 million users; Paul’s "go-to" browser.
  • Arc: Atlassian’s acquisition may secure its future.
  • Kagi: Hosts appreciate its minimal AI/no-nonsense approach to web search.

• Agentic/AI Browsers: Discussion on Opera’s Neon, Comet (from Perplexity), and how modern browsers are evolving toward “agentic” actions—summarizing, comparing, automating workflows with AI models.

Notable Quote

“Everything you want to do has to begin with a hypothesis. You have to present a project to your software before it'll do anything for you.” — Richard Campbell (69:19)

5. AI, OpenAI, and the Bubble

• Massive AI Investments: OpenAI announces mega-deals with Nvidia and AMD, aiming to deploy as many as 6 gigawatts of AMD GPUs by 2030.
• Skepticism on Valuations: The hosts discuss whether this AI surge will be more like a “railroad bubble” (where infrastructure remains) or a financial bubble (where little value endures).
• Societal Impact: Sam Altman and the current wave of AI investment may lead to societal benefits, even if companies rise and fall.

Notable Quotes

“The rails are still there, even if we're not using them.” — Richard Campbell (57:17)
“This is a logical play for OpenAI. You can't just be something incorporated in other people's apps. You have to make a play for... being the platform others incorporate into.” — Richard Campbell (63:19)

6. Xbox Game Pass: Is It Still a Deal?

• Pricing Uproar: Game Pass Ultimate is jumping by 50% to $30/month in the US.
• Loss of Perks: The classic ‘day one’ perk is now only for Ultimate—lower tiers lose out. Some changes quietly remove previously generous stacking and rewards.
• Hardware Struggles: Xbox console prices have risen twice this year, possibly signaling Microsoft’s intent to focus away from hardware.
• A Gaming Value Calculation: At $360/year, most casual players might be better off buying a handful of individual games.
• Cloud Gaming & Price Hikes: Cloud streaming is being added to lower Game Pass tiers and rumors swirl about a free, ad-supported cloud tier in the future.

Notable Quotes

“The most desirable Game Pass subscription is now 50% more expensive... The problem is for a gamer, this thing like Game Pass to me used to be like a no-brainer. Now you have to do some hard math.” — Paul Thurrott (85:03)
“Part of this feels like the Xbox division has been told to pay their way. You're not AI—you need to pay your way. Do what you gotta do.” — Richard Campbell (89:24)

Notable Moments & Banter

• Healthy Skepticism About Big Tech: The hosts argue that “big” tech companies wield too much power, especially when every brand—be it cookies or cloud services—funnels back to a handful of conglomerates (113:33).
• Digital Privacy and Anonymity: The loss of anonymous app publishing (especially with recent Google Play policy changes) sparks debate over the risks for whistleblowers and dissidents (106:05–106:58).
• The Philosophy of “Acting Locally”: Leo offers early morning reflections on how small actions can aggregate to meaningful societal change, quoting Margaret Mead ("Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. It's the only thing that ever has.") (46:48).

Useful Timestamps

• 25H2 Rollout Confusion & Tips: 04:06–10:11
• Local vs. Microsoft Accounts Debate: 14:42–18:17
• OneDrive New Client & AI Features: 33:11–36:17
• Browser Multiverse & AI Search: 38:14–44:41
• OpenAI’s Mega Partnerships & The AI Bubble: 53:15–61:14
• Xbox Game Pass Overhaul: 78:20–95:47
• Privacy, App Store Lockdown, and Anonymity: 104:05–110:07
• Whiskey Segment (Weller & Pappy Legends): 138:00–154:10

Back of the Book

Paul’s Tip of the Week

• Upgrading to Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware: Use the ISO, mount, and start from the command line with “/product server” to bypass hardware checks.
  [125:57]

App Pick

• Opera Neon:
  • Agentic AI-powered browser (paid, but robust), offers unique workflow features (“cards”) and improved cross-tab context for summarization, coding, and shopping.
  • Early assessment: Possibly the best of its kind, but evaluate quickly—as features are evolving fast. [131:36]

Richard’s Whiskey Corner

• Weller & Pappy—A Tangled Bourbon Legacy:
  • Traces the intricate history of Weller, Stitzel, Van Winkle, and Buffalo Trace.
  • Weller 12 Year is highlighted as a more accessible alternative to the coveted (and costly) Pappy Van Winkle. [138:00]

Memorable Quotes

• "Five is a bigger number than four, Leo, and I don't know why this doesn't get enough press.” (Paul Thurrott, 08:27)
• “There is no room for your local. It's ridiculous. Why would you want anything that's tied to one piece of hardware? It's the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life.” (Paul Thurrott, 15:54)
• “If you're concerned about this and Windows is your thing, you're going to be retired before you have to worry about this.” (Paul Thurrott, 23:41)
• “Functionally, [25H2] is one better. Yeah, no, functionally, of course, yeah, they are identical.” (Paul Thurrott, 08:27)
• “The most desirable Game Pass subscription is now 50% more expensive... The problem is for a gamer, this thing like Game Pass to me used to be like a no-brainer. Now you have to do some hard math.” (Paul Thurrott, 85:03)
• “This is a logical play for OpenAI. You can't just be something incorporated in other people's apps. You have to make a play for... being the platform others incorporate into.” (Richard Campbell, 63:19)
• “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. It's the only thing that ever has.” (Richard Campbell/Leo Laporte, 46:56)

Episode Tone

Candid, irreverent, and insightful. A mixture of tech skepticism, humor, and deep practical advice. The hosts balance playful banter (e.g. donuts, broken goblets, and “big cookie” conspiracies) with sharp analysis of Microsoft’s direction and the shifting landscape of tech.

Summary in a Nutshell

This episode of Windows Weekly covers the muddled rollout of Windows 11 25H2, why the future may be Microsoft account-only, the coming wave of OneDrive and AI enhancements, how Game Pass feels less like a “slam dunk,” and offers a thoughtful takedown of big tech’s slow march to consumer lock-in. The hosts don’t just deliver news—they help listeners think through why these changes matter, and how to navigate Microsoft's ever-evolving world.