Microsoft Says the Xbox PC App Now Launches Up to 60% Faster

Microsoft is trying to fix one of the most common complaints about gaming on Windows: a slow, cluttered Xbox app. In a post on Xbox Wire published November 5, Jason Beaumont, Vice President of Xbox Experiences, announced an updated Xbox PC app that Microsoft says launches up to 60% faster. The update is rolling out to Xbox Insiders first.

The performance claims

According to Microsoft, the new version of the app:

• Launches up to 60% faster
• Loads pages such as Home, Store and Game Pass up to 50% faster
• Opens in-app windows up to 65% faster

Microsoft notes that these numbers come from its own testing and that results "may vary by device, internet connection, system configuration, usage, and other factors." In other words, treat them as best-case figures until more players get the update.

What else is changing in the PC app

Speed is only part of the update. Microsoft lists several usability changes:

• A reworked Library with simpler navigation, updated filters and new ways to organize your games.
• Friends in the main navigation, so you can see what friends are playing, start a chat or join a party without digging through menus.
• Broader search that covers games, including installed titles and add-ons, as well as people.
• A cleaner look, with refreshed game cards, Home and Settings screens and new animations.

Cloud gaming on the web and other screens

The announcement also covers Xbox cloud gaming. A refreshed web experience that Insiders could preview earlier this year will roll out to more players "over the next few weeks," and anyone can try it sooner at play.xbox.com. It adds a Library tab that gathers the cloud games you can play, whether you own them or access them through Game Pass, plus a desktop mode for larger displays, dark and light themes and five new high-contrast options.

Microsoft is also starting to bring the same look and navigation to Xbox cloud gaming apps on supported TVs and VR headsets.

Why it matters for PC players

Many PC players keep several launchers installed, and the Xbox app is the gateway to PC Game Pass and Microsoft's own PC releases. A faster app with a usable Library matters most to Game Pass subscribers, who often install and remove games frequently. As IGN pointed out, the Xbox app competes directly with Steam and the Epic Games Store for space on players' PCs.

How to get it

The update is available now to members of the Xbox Insider Program, which you can join through the Xbox Insider Hub app for Windows. Microsoft hasn't given a date for the wider public rollout of the PC app changes, saying only that it will keep improving the experience based on feedback. Insiders can share feedback at aka.ms/XBOXplayervoice.