Microsoft Redesigns Xbox PC App With 60 Percent Speed Boost

Microsoft has released a redesigned Xbox PC app that launches up to 60 percent faster than the previous version. The update is part of a wider overhaul that also refreshes the Xbox Cloud Gaming experience on the web and smart TVs. Xbox Insider members can begin testing the new PC application immediately, while the cloud gaming updates will reach general players over the next few weeks.

Jason Beaumont, vice president of Xbox experiences, stated that the app now opens significantly quicker. He noted that core pages such as Home, Store, and Game Pass load up to 50 percent faster. In-app windows also open up to 65 percent faster than in the old software.

The company introduced these changes after facing criticism that the PC app did not feel like a console on Windows. That gap became more apparent after Microsoft launched its Xbox Ally handheld devices last year. The new design simplifies navigation so that using a controller does not require clicking through menus built for a mouse. The library section now includes updated filters and better tools for organizing installed games.

Social features have been reworked to make friends appear directly on the main page. Users can now start a chat or join a party with quick buttons. Microsoft also refreshed the game card interface and the home and settings sections. Animations were revised to mimic the feel of an Xbox dashboard. The result blends native and web elements to make the app feel less like a standard webpage.

Testing by The Verge found the new app to be noticeably faster across various devices. It is also far easier to navigate with a controller. The search interface no longer pops up automatically when users switch between sections. However, the redesign makes the Game Bar on handhelds look outdated by comparison. Microsoft is planning updates to the Game Bar in coming months to align it visually with the new PC app.

The new look is also arriving on Xbox Cloud Gaming. Beaumont said the refreshed web experience is rolling out to more players. Updates are also coming to Xbox Cloud Gaming apps on supported TVs and VR headsets. On the web, a new library tab shows cloud games from a player's collection and the Xbox Game Pass catalog. A desktop mode is included for larger monitors, and users can choose between dark and light themes. Five new high-contrast options are available to strengthen accessibility.

Similar interfaces will reach smart TVs and VR headsets soon. Microsoft stressed that the designs are tailored to each device rather than being identical. Beaumont said playing on a PC, TV, or VR headset is different and needs to work well for the specific screen. He added that the basics should feel familiar wherever a player is located, including finding games and getting into them quickly.