Microsoft Preparing an XBOX App for the Next-Gen Console Experience

Microsoft is improving the Xbox app for PC, laptops, and handheld devices like the ROG Xbox Ally. The updated application is currently in beta testing and is available only to selected users. The update focuses on improving performance, introducing a full-screen mode, and bringing the PC experience closer to the console interface.

The new version of the Xbox app improves game loading, tile loading, and tab switching. These functions work better than in the current version. Microsoft is also introducing full desktop and full-screen modes, offering different ways to use the app depending on the device.

Microsoft Improves Xbox App Performance

Desktop mode works like a regular PC application, while full-screen mode offers a console-like experience. The interface looks more like an Xbox dashboard, even though it is still running on a PC. The application also responds faster than the current version, suggesting Microsoft is improving the Xbox app.

These improvements are important because Microsoft is preparing its next-generation Xbox, which is expected to use a PC-based platform. The next-generation Xbox is likely to share many features with PCs, and some of those features could be the same across both platforms. The updated application could provide an idea of what the next-generation Xbox experience will look like.

One of the main issues with the Xbox app, particularly on mobile devices, is how it handles updates. Even on the ROG Xbox Ally, the experience doesn't fully match what users get on devices like the Steam Deck. Users still have to deal with notifications, driver updates, and other tasks. Some of these processes require leaving the Xbox PC app environment and switching to the full Windows mode to install the necessary components.

Microsoft will likely make changes to ensure that the interface and system functions are designed for console gamers. Whether Microsoft releases one console or introduces two or three different models remains to be seen. However, the platform will likely be designed around console users' needs, with Microsoft handling system management.

The next-generation Xbox is expected to offer a console experience rather than running the existing Xbox PC app.

Microsoft could package driver updates for devices, APUs, CPUs, and GPUs into a single system update. This would work like existing consoles, where users periodically update the system without manually downloading and installing different drivers. This approach would make updates easier to manage, especially for users who want to play games without the extra maintenance of a Windows PC.

It is good to see Microsoft improving the Xbox app, even while it remains in beta testing. The updated interface is moving closer to the console experience, with better performance and a full-screen mode designed around the Xbox dashboard. The next step is to see how Microsoft addresses missing features, system updates, and driver management.

The updated application isn't available to everyone yet, but the improvements suggest Microsoft is working on the platform rather than leaving the existing experience unchanged. Once the beta becomes more widely available, further testing should clarify how the application performs and what features Microsoft plans to add.