Microsoft opens redesigned Xbox PC app to Insiders ahead of cloud gaming web rollout

Jason Beaumont, Microsoft’s vice president of Xbox experiences, said the PC app launches up to 60 percent faster. He said Home, Store and Game Pass pages load up to 50 percent faster, while in-app windows open up to 65 percent faster. Warren, who used the app for weeks, said it felt noticeably faster on a variety of his devices.

The PC redesign simplifies controller navigation and adds library filters and ways to organize installed games. Friends appear on the main page, with buttons to start a chat or join a party. Warren also found the app easier to navigate with a controller and said the search interface no longer pops up while moving between sections.

The updated Xbox Cloud Gaming web interface was scheduled to start rolling out over the following weeks, Warren reported. It has a library tab for cloud-playable games from a user’s library and Xbox Game Pass, a desktop mode for larger displays, dark and light modes, and five high-contrast options.

Beaumont said Microsoft was also rolling out updates to Xbox Cloud Gaming apps on supported TVs and VR headsets. Warren wrote that a similar design would be available there soon, though the PC, web and TV versions are not identical.