Microsoft has announced a new round of performance and interface updates for the Xbox PC app, with changes beginning to roll out to Xbox Insider users. Microsoft states that app launch speeds can improve by up to 60%, though specific launch times or test data have not yet been released.
According to Microsoft's data, loading speeds for pages such as the Home screen, Store, and Game Pass can improve by up to 50%, while in-app window opening speeds can increase by up to 65%. These percentages are performance claims provided by Microsoft and not independent benchmark results.
The new game library simplifies navigation and updates filters and content organization methods. New game library tabs centrally display games owned by the player or accessible via Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming, supporting sorting and filtering by recently played, genre, and input method. The search scope has also been expanded to include games, installed titles, add-ons, and users.
Friends and social features are now integrated into the main navigation, allowing users to directly see what friends are playing, start chats, or join parties. Game cards, the Home screen, settings, and animations have also been adjusted, with the interface offering dark mode, light mode, and five new high-contrast schemes.
For PCs and large monitors, Desktop Mode will improve interface space utilization. This adjustment is part of the Xbox PC client experience update, primarily focusing on app launches, game discovery, cloud content management, and social features.