Photonic Inc. and Microsoft Collaborate on Quantum Resource Estimation

thequantuminsider.com Sep 23, 2026

Photonic Inc. and Microsoft Collaborate on Quantum Resource Estimation

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 23, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Photonic Inc. and Microsoft have joined forces to refine quantum resource estimation for large‑scale, distributed quantum computers. The partnership leverages Microsoft’s open‑source Quantum Resource Estimator (QRE) and Photonic’s SHYPS quantum low‑density parity‑check (QLDPC) codes to assess how architecture, networking, and error‑correction choices affect physical qubit counts, runtime, and system overhead. The collaboration aims to provide developers and enterprises with clearer metrics for scaling quantum algorithms across interconnected systems.

💡 Why It Matters

· By quantifying the true resource demands of future fault‑tolerant quantum machines, the partnership equips the industry with actionable data to design cost‑effective, high‑connectivity architectures that can deliver practical applications sooner.

Read full article on thequantuminsider.com

Xbox Mythic Achievement Will Be Microsoft’s Version of a Platinum Trophy —…

Microsoft is set to launch Xbox Mythic Achievements, a new system mirroring PlayStation’s platinum trophies that reward players for 100% game completion. An Xbox PC app update revealed the 15‑second, grandiose unlock sound, which has been leaked by user Klobrille. Mythic Achievements will mark full Gamerscore attainment, echoing the original Xbox 360 achievements that pioneered console reward systems. The feature’s release date remains unannounced, but the leak suggests it will arrive soon across the Xbox ecosystem.

💡 The introduction of Mythic Achievements signals Microsoft’s commitment to competitive parity with Sony’s trophy system, potentially reshaping how players pursue completionist goals and showcase mastery on the platform.

blogs.microsoft.com · Sep 23

Disrupting EvilTokens: Taking down an AI-powered cybercrime platform

Microsoft announced the takedown of EvilTokens, an AI‑driven cybercrime platform that automated the full fraud pipeline from email compromise to financial theft. Launched in February 2026, the service sold access to compromised inboxes for a $1,500 initiation fee and $500 monthly, using a chatbot to scan victims’ mail, map organizational roles, pinpoint “money movers,” and draft convincing impersonation messages. Within months it breached more than 12,000 inboxes across over 10,000 organizations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, India and France, affecting sectors from finance to healthcare. Microsoft, in partnership with law‑enforcement and hosting providers, seized 50 websites, disabled 150 domains, and supported the arrest of two suspects in the UK. The operation highlighted how AI can lower the expertise barrier for sophisticated fraud.

💡 EvilTokens proves that AI can turn routine credential theft into a turnkey financial‑fraud service, dramatically expanding the pool of capable attackers.

thehackernews.com · Sep 23

SharePoint Flaw Initially Listed as Spoofing by Microsoft Enables Authenticated RCE

Microsoft originally labeled CVE‑2026‑65660, a SharePoint Server flaw affecting 2016, 2019 and Subscription Edition, as a spoofing issue with a CVSS of 6.5. Viettel Cyber Security researcher Dinh Ho Anh Khoa later revealed the vulnerability permits authenticated remote code execution, raising the NVD score to 8.8. The bug resides in the SafeControls check of the ToolPane component, where unescaped quotes allow injection of arbitrary .NET classes that are loaded via XamlServices.Parse(), enabling code execution. Patches released on August 11 disable the vulnerable function, and a June 9 fix removes a related authentication bypass that could be chained for pre‑authentication exploits. No public exploits have been observed. Organizations that have not applied the update remain exposed, and flaw also impacts SharePoint 2013 installations.

💡 The reclassification reveals a critical gap in Microsoft’s vulnerability communication, forcing admins to reassess patch priorities for legacy SharePoint deployments.

eurogamer.net · Sep 23

Second wave of Xbox cuts reported to be happening this week, with…

Xbox is preparing a second round of layoffs this week, according to an exclusive report by The Information. The unnamed source says Microsoft will consolidate “several” studios, though specific units were not identified. This follows the July restructuring that cut 1,600 jobs across the Xbox portfolio and led to the sale or spin‑off of studios such as Ninja Theory, Undead Labs and Arkane Lyon. CEO Asha Sharma’s “reset” plan aims to refocus the gaming division on flagship franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, even as those very studios—Bethesda, Zenimax Online, and id Software—were among the most affected in the first wave. Morale at Xbox is reported to be low, and the upcoming cuts could deepen internal uncertainty.

💡 The timing suggests Microsoft is accelerating its profit‑driven overhaul, forcing remaining talent to confront a rapidly shrinking development base while the company doubles down on a handful of high‑profile IPs.

gamesradar.com · Sep 23

Xbox announces a further 268 layoffs as Ninja Theory and Arkane remain…

Xbox announced a further 268 layoffs, bringing the company to roughly three‑quarters of its planned 3,200‑job reduction through FY27. Chief content officer Matt Booty said the cuts target Halo Studios, other first‑party studios, and Xbox Game Studios (XGS) management and central functions. The move follows a July round that cut 1,600 roles after CEO Asha Sharma launched the “most significant restructure in Xbox history” to restore growth and profitability. Recent studio changes include the separation of Compulsion Games and Double Fine, Undead Labs’ transition to a new publisher, and the collapse of two deals with Ninja Theory, prompting consultation on a possible closure. Arkane’s fate remains under consultation, while Obsidian now reports to Bethesda for a new Fallout title. The layoffs underscore Xbox’s ongoing “Reset” strategy.

💡 The cuts tighten Xbox’s focus on core franchises and could reshape its first‑party portfolio, influencing the future of high‑profile titles like Halo, Senua, and Marvel’s Blade.

windowslatest.com · Sep 23

Developers are still rejecting Windows, poll finds, even as Microsoft rebuilds Windows…

Microsoft spent 2026 adding developer‑friendly features to Windows 11, including faster WSL, built‑in Linux containers, Coreutils and a one‑command “Windows Developer Configurations” setup. Yet a recent poll by Gergely Orosz of The Pragmatic Engineer, posted on X, received about 4,000 responses and showed macOS at 61.6%, Linux 24.2% and Windows only 12.8%. A similar LinkedIn poll of 6,000 voters produced comparable results. Orosz notes the sample reflects startup and Big‑Tech developers, not the broader community. By contrast, the 2025 Stack Overflow survey, with tens of thousands of respondents, still lists Windows as the primary OS for 49.5% of professionals. The discrepancy suggests Windows remains dominant overall but is losing favor among the most visible tech talent in hiring decisions today.

💡 Developers prioritize Unix‑like environments for tooling and deployment, leaving Microsoft with a slim chance to reclaim the most influential segment of the developer ecosystem.