XBOX Begins Rolling Out a Faster, More Familiar PC, Web and Cloud Experience

A faster PC app with navigation and social tools moved forward

The main navigation now brings Friends and social features closer at hand, allowing players to see what friends are playing, start a chat or join a party. Search has also expanded to cover games—including installed titles and add-ons—as well as people, while refreshed game cards, Home, Settings and animations give the app a cleaner appearance.

The Library is also getting simpler navigation, updated filters and new organization options intended to make it easier to browse a player’s collection and find something to play.

The refreshed web experience expands beyond its Insider preview

XBOX previously invited Insiders to preview a refreshed way to play XBOX cloud gaming on the web earlier this year. The automatic rollout to more players will take place over the next few weeks, although players can try it sooner through play.xbox.com.

A new Library tab centralizes cloud-playable games regardless of whether the player owns the title or accesses it through XBOX Game Pass. Players can browse, sort and filter those games by recently played, genre, input options and other criteria. Desktop mode is intended to make better use of PCs and larger displays, while dark and light modes join five new high-contrast options designed for different visual needs and preferences.

The same design is moving to TVs and VR

The updated look and navigation are beginning to arrive in XBOX cloud gaming apps on supported TVs and VR headsets. Xbox says the goal is to make the core actions familiar across PC, TV and VR: finding games, understanding what is playable and entering a game quickly.

Xbox acknowledges that the refreshed experience still has room to improve. Player feedback will continue to guide future changes, and Insiders can share their reactions through the XBOX Player Voice page.