Redesigned Xbox app for PC

Microsoft is preparing a major overhaul of its Xbox app for PC. A preview version will be available to Xbox Insider members before the end of the year, and the app will be able to act as the default start screen when you start your PC.

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The overhaul comes at a crucial time for the entire Microsoft group. After testing the Bastion cloud interface over the summer, which was designed to bring the user experience on PCs closer to that of the Xbox Series X|S consoles, Microsoft is looking to address long-standing shortcomings of its Windows application. Details of how it works and the first use cases have already been revealed by Windows Central and Jez Corden.

The current version of the Xbox app on Windows often experiences noticeable lag, especially when browsing the store or loading large game libraries. The redesign focuses on responsiveness. Loading large catalogs with hundreds of titles should be significantly faster and without unnecessary waiting. The store and personal game library are no longer separated into separate tabs, but are combined into a single, more transparent whole. It is also much easier to distinguish between games installed locally on the drive and those that are exclusively available through the Xbox Cloud Gaming service.

From a user experience perspective, the introduction of native support for dual-mode controls is also important. The program is adapted for both use with a mouse and keyboard and navigation with a gamepad. Integration with the new Game Mode in Windows 11 is also planned.