Xbox tests faster PC app and updates cloud interface

Microsoft is updating the Xbox interface on PC and for cloud gaming. Starting November 5, Xbox Insiders can test an updated PC app with shorter loading times and changes to the library, search and friends list. The redesigned web interface will also become available automatically to more players over the coming weeks. Supported TVs and VR headsets are getting an updated interface too.

Faster launch times, but no general release yet

According to Microsoft, the biggest measurable change is the speed of the Xbox PC app. The company reports improvements to both startup times and the time it takes to open pages and windows. These results come from its own tests, not independent measurements.

• Microsoft says the PC app launches up to 60% faster.
• Pages such as Home, Store and Game Pass load up to 50% faster.
• Windows within the app open up to 65% faster.

Those percentages are maximum figures. Microsoft stresses that factors including your device, internet connection, system configuration and usage affect the results. The figures also refer to navigating the app, not higher frame rates or shorter loading times within games. There is no word yet on when this version will reach all PC users.

Changes to the library, friends and search

The PC library is getting simpler navigation, updated filters and new ways to organize your collection. Friends and social features are moving into the main navigation. This lets you see what others are playing, start a conversation or create a party without first having to find a separate section.

Search brings together more types of results. You can search for games, including installed titles, as well as expansions and people. Microsoft is also updating game cards, the home screen, settings and animations. Whether the layout actually makes a large game collection easier to navigate remains to be seen in practice.

Cloud library on more screens

The redesigned web interface was previously available as a preview for Xbox Insiders. A new library tab brings together the games you can play via the cloud, including both eligible purchased titles and games you can access through Game Pass. That does not mean every game you own is automatically playable via the cloud.

You can sort and filter the library by criteria including recently played games, genre and input options. A desktop mode makes better use of the space on larger screens. Alongside light and dark modes, there are five new high-contrast options. Microsoft is also starting to roll out the updated design and navigation to cloud gaming apps on supported TVs and VR headsets; no specific list of models is provided.

What does this mean for you?

If you regularly use the Xbox app for your PC games, shorter waits and direct access to friends are the main practical improvements. Just do not expect a performance boost in the games themselves. For cloud players, the unified library looks useful for quickly checking what is available. The PC update starts as an Insider test: if you would rather avoid a test version, you will need to wait for the wider release.

Source: Xbox Wire