Xbox says its PC app can launch up to 60% faster, but the redesign is in preview
Microsoft is testing a redesigned Xbox PC app that it says can launch up to 60% faster. The changes also put friends in the main navigation and rework the game library, but the PC app update is starting with Xbox Insiders.
That preview status matters if the app looks unchanged on your PC. Microsoft’s speed figures come from its own testing, and the company says the results can vary with the device, connection, system configuration and usage. See the official announcement.
The redesign is part of a broader refresh across Xbox on PC, the web and supported cloud-gaming apps on TVs and VR headsets. Those versions are not all rolling out on the same schedule.
Image: Microsoft / Xbox
What is changing in the PC app
Microsoft says the updated app makes the library easier to navigate, with revised filters and new ways to organize games. Search is intended to cover more of Xbox in one place, including games, add-ons and people.
Friends and social features move into the main navigation, making chats and parties easier to reach. Game cards, Home, settings and animations are also being refreshed.
In Microsoft’s tests, the Home, Store and Game Pass pages loaded up to 50% faster, while in-app windows opened up to 65% faster. These are company measurements, not results we have independently tested, and they describe maximum improvements rather than a promise for every PC.
Image: Microsoft / Xbox
The web rollout has a different timetable
The refreshed cloud-gaming web experience is being expanded to more players over the following weeks. It brings a library tab for playable cloud games, desktop layout improvements and additional high-contrast options.
Image: Microsoft / Xbox
For the PC app, interested users can join the Xbox Insider Program and use the Insider Hub. Preview features can change before a wider release, so anyone who wants a stable experience can wait for Microsoft’s broader rollout.
