Xbox says its PC app now launches up to 60% faster, and the library is getting easier to navigate
Microsoft is testing a faster Xbox app for Windows, with a redesigned library, easier access to friends and a search box that can look across games and people. The update is available to Xbox Insiders first, so it is not an immediate rollout to every PC player.
The biggest number in Microsoft's announcement concerns startup: the company says the updated app can launch up to 60% faster in its testing. It also claims Home, Store and Game Pass pages can load up to 50% faster, while windows opened inside the app can appear up to 65% faster.
Those are upper-bound results from Microsoft's own tests, not a promise that an individual PC will hit the same improvement. Microsoft says the result can vary with the device, connection, configuration and usage. Still, quicker access to a game library is a useful change for an app people often open just to start playing.
Image: Microsoft / Xbox
Friends move into the main navigation
The changes go beyond loading times. The library is getting simpler navigation, updated filters and new ways to organize games, according to Microsoft. The company has not specified every filter or offered a complete list of sorting options for the PC app in its announcement.
Friends and social features are also moving into the main navigation. The idea is to make it easier to see what friends are playing, start a chat or join a party without digging through the interface. Search is being expanded too: Microsoft says one search can return games, including installed titles and add-ons, as well as people.
Game cards, the Home and Settings pages, and animations are getting a refreshed look. Microsoft's image of the new app shows the library, Game Pass and Store alongside a friends list, though individual layouts and access may change during testing.
Image: Microsoft / Xbox
Who can try the update?
Microsoft says Xbox Insiders will start seeing the improvements; it has not announced a date when the revised PC app will reach everyone. An Insider test can change before a wider release, and Microsoft's “up to” figures should not be read as benchmarks for all configurations.
Players interested in testing can get the Xbox Insider Hub for Windows and check the program's available previews. Participation and availability depend on the preview offered to an account; installing the Hub alone does not guarantee the update appears immediately.
The PC app is only one part of the announcement. Microsoft says its refreshed cloud gaming website will expand automatically to more players over the next few weeks, with a library tab for cloud-playable games and a layout that makes better use of larger screens. It is also updating cloud gaming apps on supported televisions and VR headsets. Those web and cloud changes are separate from the Windows app test.
