Microsoft’s Ambitious Plan to Make the Xbox App the Center of PC Gaming

Xbox App the Center of PC Gaming

In a move set to reshape the landscape of PC gaming, Microsoft is rolling out a significant update to its Xbox app on Windows. Hundreds of new PC games are being introduced to the app, along with a redesigned home experience, in what is the next step in its strategy to make the Xbox app the central hub for all things PC gaming. This is all part of a larger plan to open up the Xbox ecosystem and make life easier for gamers, whether or not the games in question are part of Xbox Game Pass.

The new update adds over 400 PC titles that were previously unavailable via the Xbox app. These include a range of titles from international studios, including Japanese developers Kemco and Kairosoft, and indies like The Invincible from Double 11. Perhaps most excitingly, more than 100 of these new titles are optimized for Xbox Play Anywhere, which means players can buy once and play on both their Xbox console and PC. In addition, cross-play between Xbox console versions and PC versions is supported for these games, provided the game developers enable it.

Chris Charla, general manager of content curation and programs at Xbox, said, “Earlier this summer, we began working with partners to bring all PC games with Xbox features into the Xbox app. We’re super excited to see what Xbox games come to Windows PC from game creators in the future and to welcome nearly 400 titles that previously weren’t discoverable or purchasable in the Xbox app.

The new additions and features reflect Microsoft’s continued push to bring even more PC games into its ecosystem, making the Xbox app an essential platform for all sorts of PC gamers, from subscribers of Xbox Game Pass to non-subscribers. This is part of a bigger effort by Microsoft to ease the user experience across devices, making the Xbox ecosystem as accessible as possible.

Solving the Xbox App’s Biggest Problem

Poor discoverability of the Xbox app has been one of the most widespread complaints concerning the Xbox in recent years. For most of its users, discovering whether certain games support Xbox Play Anywhere or some other titles available only in the Microsoft Store but were not offered through the Xbox application was no easy task. This update addresses the issue head-on and, with its smoother interface, opens up to its users the whole perspective for games offered in the whole Xbox ecosystem.

The majority of Xbox Play Anywhere titles could not easily be found within the app until this update, thus annoying users who never knew what game to play on both the Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. Well, a dedicated community, called XboxEra, of ardent Xbox fans had taken the initiative of compiling such lists of missing games fair warning of the lapses within the Xbox app. It seems Microsoft has been taking that feedback to heart because it’s worked hard to address this problem and it’s now much easier to see more of those cross-platform, Play Anywhere games right in the app.

As part of the refresh, Microsoft is also making it easier for players to easily swap between playing games on the Xbox console and PC. This means universal Xbox ownership wherein, once paid for, a game can be played on both. Cloud saves also allow players to easily transfer their progress between devices. It’s a key selling point for Microsoft: the unified experience that comes with the service encourages users to stay within its ecosystem even if they own multiple devices or prefer gaming on different platforms.

Competing with Steam and Epic Games Store

The million-dollar question remains: Will this ambitious project of Microsoft finally see the Xbox app pose as a strong competitor against leading PC gaming platforms such as Steam, Epic Games Store, and itch.io? As of now, the Xbox app supports a vast majority of the games on the Microsoft Store and Xbox Game Pass; however, several top-notch games for PC are still missing, particularly those featuring cross-play. That is a huge obstacle for Microsoft in trying to make the Xbox app the home for PC gaming.

The main competitors for the Xbox app, including Steam and the Epic Games Store, are far ahead when it comes to the library of games, community features, or overall infrastructure. For example, Steam has a massive library of titles in almost every genre, while Epic Games Store has managed to establish quite a loyal following by hosting some highly popular exclusive titles and handing out regular discounts. The Xbox app has gotten much better, but it will still have to overcome its uphill struggle to try to convince gamers to switch to another platform when their favorite games are offered somewhere else.

But Microsoft has also shown in the past that it will buck tradition if it suits the company’s needs, and its moves to shave its cut from 30 percent to 12 percent for developers publishing on its Windows-based store could be a harbinger of things to come. It means Microsoft is trying to attract more developers to bring their games onto the Xbox ecosystem by offering a more developer-friendly platform with lower fees, and this could be a gateway to the Xbox app becoming a more significant player in the PC gaming space.

Now, the question is whether Microsoft will make that bold step to include games from other platforms, such as Steam, Epic Games Store, and itch.io, into the Xbox app. While the company has yet to say anything official about it, this is an option that could greatly expand the app’s offerings and make it a more compelling option for gamers. For now, Microsoft is focusing on growing its library and working with developers to bring more PC games to the app, but it’s not ruling out future collaborations with other platforms.

A New Home for PC Gaming

In addition to the hundreds of new games, Microsoft is also launching a redesigned home UI for the Xbox app on Windows. It provides featured content from PC Game Pass and the Microsoft Store, allowing users to find and take advantage of new games. Other new features include an in-app section called “jump back in” for players to jump directly to the recently played game functionality currently available on Xbox consoles.

These changes come at a time when handheld gaming is on the rise, with the likes of Steam Deck and Razer Edge making pretty big splashes. Microsoft has been steadily investing in enhancing the Xbox app’s handheld features to make sure its ecosystem stays competitive as more gamers turn to portable devices for their gaming needs. With Game Pass and cloud gaming, gamers can enjoy seamless gaming on the go, too, further setting Microsoft in place within the shifting landscape of PC gaming.

Looking Ahead to 2024

The new update to the Xbox app is only the beginning of what will be a very interesting year for PC gaming at the hands of Microsoft. With more games, a new design, and an even greater dedication to making the Xbox app the place for PC gaming, Microsoft is setting the stage for a whole new era of gaming on Windows PCs. As the company continues to work closely with game developers and partners, it will be interesting to see how its vision for the future of PC gaming unfolds.

Microsoft teases that it will have more to share about its Xbox app plans at the Game Developers Conference in March 2024. Fans and developers alike will be watching closely to see if the company takes bold new steps to compete with established platforms like Steam and Epic Games Store. With hundreds of new games, a revamped user interface, and a focus on cross-platform play, Microsoft is making a strong push to position the Xbox app as the go-to destination for all PC gamers. As the year progresses, it will be exciting to see how the Xbox app evolves and what new features and games Microsoft will bring to its ecosystem.

Conclusion

You also get the sense of the kind of vision Microsoft seems to have for the new application at the heart of PC gaming in every respect. A strong statement to that, coupled with hundreds of new titles, a revamped user interface, and cross-platform capability emphasis, means the company doesn’t just stay put-it spreads on further. While it faces tough competition from established platforms like Steam and Epic Games Store, the new features of the Xbox app and its growing library of games are a signal that Microsoft is serious about reshaping the future of PC gaming. And as the company continues to fine-tune its approach, the Xbox app could well become the go-to destination for gamers on Windows PCs.

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