The Xbox PC app launches up to 60% faster in the new version Microsoft has begun rolling out to Xbox Insiders. The update also speeds up the loading of several pages and internal windows, and reorganizes the library and navigation to make it easier to access games and social options.
These are figures reported by Microsoft: results may vary depending on the computer, Internet connection, and other configuration and usage factors. The test version has been available to some Insiders since November 5; Eurogamer reported on the improvements the following day.
Faster startup and reorganized pages
According to Microsoft, app startup is up to 60% faster. The Home, Store, and Game Pass pages can load up to 50% faster, while windows that open within the app see improvements of up to 65%. HardZone and PC Gamer report the same figures and also caution that performance depends on the device and its configuration.
Microsoft did not detail the equipment used to measure those times. HardZone notes that the company did not specify which PC it used for testing, so results may vary from one computer to another. Eurogamer also cites the Internet connection and device as possible factors.
The redesign is about more than reducing wait times. Xbox Wire describes the changes as simpler navigation, updated filters, and new ways to organize games. The interface also gets revamped game cards and updated animations; Microsoft says the changes are intended to give it a cleaner look.
Search is changing, too. HardZone explains that it now brings results for games, add-ons, and people together in one place, rather than mixing results of different types. Microsoft, for its part, says the feature will make it easier to find what you are looking for.
The library adds filters and sorting options
The library adds new filters and sorting options to make it easier to find titles. According to HardZone, users will also be able to limit searches to games in that section, rather than searching all Microsoft Store content. The change targets one of the areas that publication considered most problematic because of how the catalog was organized.
Social features are moving to the main navigation. The goal is to make it more direct to access friends and options for starting conversations or joining groups. HardZone also mentions the ability to share what you are playing. Xbox Wire highlights that the new layout should make it possible to start playing or chatting with friends in fewer steps.
For anyone who wants to try the version, Windows Central outlines the process: install Xbox Insider Hub from Microsoft Store, go to «Previews», find «PC gaming», and join that preview. Once enrollment shows as active, you can check for an update to the Xbox app and Microsoft Store. HardZone says that after updating, an invitation to switch to the new interface may appear in the app; if it does not, it suggests enrolling in the Insider program through Xbox Insider Hub.
The redesign extends to web, TVs, and virtual reality
The PC app is part of a series of changes aimed at bringing Xbox experiences closer together across different devices. Microsoft is also preparing a revamped version of its web experience, with an improved library tab, more efficient use of space, and light, dark, and high-contrast visual modes, according to PC Gamer.
At the same time, Microsoft will expand access to the new cloud gaming experience through browsers. Eurogamer reports that more Xbox Insiders will receive updates about the program over the coming weeks. The company will also bring the updated experience to compatible smart TVs and virtual reality headsets.
Windows Central links these changes to the goal of making the Xbox experience more consistent across PCs, TVs, phones, the cloud, consoles, and handheld devices. The publication says the Xbox Cloud Gaming interface had already begun testing and rolling out gradually months earlier. No specific date has been given for expanding access to more browsers or devices.
Speed does not close the gap with Steam
Performance was one of the criticisms of the Xbox app for Windows, but not the only one. PC Gamer welcomes the new placement of social features, though it questions whether faster loading will convince people who already play on other platforms. The publication compares the situation with the reaction to speed improvements announced for Epic Games Store and notes that Steam's performance update could also reduce the impact of that advantage.
Windows Central points to shortcomings that remain compared with Steam: community tools, the distribution and selection of mods within the app, and search that often takes a while to reflect newly released products. It also mentions a difference in catalog between the Xbox PC store and other platforms. According to the publication, these are limitations the redesign does not address.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma called the update «a significant improvement», but acknowledged that there is still work to do:
plenty more to do.
— Asha Sharma, CEO
The new app can now be tried through Xbox Insiders. Microsoft has not said when it will reach all PC users.
Sources: Eurogamer.net, HardZone, XBOX Wire, PC Gamer, Windows Central
