Everything indicates that Microsoft is in the last straight line to make Windows 10 version 1903, the next major feature update, quickly available to the general public. However, a few long-term bugs remain unresolved, including a compatibility issue with Fortnite’s anti-cheat software.
Microsoft is currently finalizing Windows 10 version 1903, before the new feature update can be rolled out to the general public. Insiders on the Fast Ring were offered two new builds this week and last week. No new functions were added, but build after build more bugs were flattened.
Microsoft always tries to make its feature updates coincide with a Patch Tuesday, which in this case would be the second Tuesday of April (April 9). That gives the company just under three weeks to stabilize the update. Ars Technica notes that before that, two long-term compatibility problems should be solved.
BattlEye
A first bug relates to BattlEye’s anti-cheat software, which is used by popular games like Fortnite and PUBG. Games that use the software cause a Green Screen of Death in previews of the update. The problem was first identified in build 18289, which was unloaded at the beginning of December last year. Microsoft thought the impact was big enough not to send new previews to the Slow Ring. A new build did not arrive until February, but systems that use the BattlEye software were blacklisted.
Microsoft is working with BattlEye on a solution, but no visible progress has been made yet. The problem is that BattlEye works at kernel level, making it more difficult for cheat software to pass unnoticed. Most likely, this also means that the software makes certain changes to the core of the operating system, which can cause problems when Microsoft updates the kernel.
According to Dona Sarkar, head of the Windows Insiders program, the ball is in the camp of BattlEye, which has to make its software compatible with the new Windows 10 update. At this point, Microsoft can no longer just undo its kernel changes. This would undermine and invalidate a large part of the testing process at this stage of development. On the other hand, it cannot afford to roll out an update that breaks Windows on all systems with Fortnite or PUBG installed.
Trouble-free update
The second bug has to do with Creative X-Fi sound maps, which do not work properly in combination with the update. The problems first appeared in build 18305 of mid-December. Again, Microsoft says it is working with Creative to solve the problem, but three months later there is no news of a solution.
After the problems with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, the confidence in Microsoft’s development and update process has been dented by many users. That trust needs to be rebuilt and a next feature update without problems is an important first step. If BattlEye and Creative don’t get their act together in time, Microsoft may be forced to postpone Windows 10 version 1903 or at least to blacklist on affected systems.
Related: How Microsoft test the quality of Windows updates
This news article was automatically translated from Dutch to give Techzine.eu a head start. All news articles after September 1, 2019 are written in native English and NOT translated. All our background stories are written in native English as well. For more information read our launch article.
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