An in-depth look at the new Windows 10 Xbox app

For years, users have been mocking Microsoft's half-hearted efforts at creating a PC gaming store for its Windows platform (myself included). Finally, Microsoft reacted. Say hi to the new Xbox app for Windows x, simply called "Xbox" correct now, it incorporates Xbox Game Pass for PC, and (near) the entire catalog of core PC titles offered via Microsoft'southward ain store.

It's very early days, still in a beta phase, just it'south already far superior to the regular Windows x Microsoft Store for browsing PC games and is well worth trying out if you're on the May 2022 Windows 10 (1903) update or above. You lot can grab it in the Microsoft Store hither, or bundled with an update assistant for Windows 10 here.

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Xbox Game Pass for PC

Endless fun

Microsoft'due south high-value PC game subscription service provides some unprecendented value for those looking to try out new games.

Navigation and signing in

Signing in is directly forward. You but click on the avatar icon in the top right and click sign in. You will be prompted for your Microsoft Business relationship, which can be created for costless over here.

Once you're signed in, there's a multifariousness of new options available to you lot, beyond the top of the screen and down the left side.

New options include:

Game Pass is a subscription service, currently priced at $5 during the beta, giving you access to over a hundred PC games for Windows 10. This section showcases the catalog.
Social is where y'all can add friends, ship letters, or start voice chats.
Shop catalogs everything Microsoft has on auction from a PC gaming perspective.
The left bar is where your games live, for launching and uninstalling.
The search bar on the acme right is for quickly finding games either in the store or in Game Pass.
The notification bell gives y'all a history of all your recent notifications on Xbox Alive.
The profile button gives quick access to settings, your library, code redemption, and your online status.

The Xbox app is missing a few noteworthy sections correct now, such as Xbox Clubs and other social features similar the social feed from the Xbox app, but these aspects volition likely go far in future updates.

Game Pass for PC

The first section that loads upward is Xbox Game Pass for PC, which showcases the library of games bachelor as role of the subscription. Signing upwardly for Xbox Game Pass for PC costs $5 during the beta stage, with an introductory toll of $ane for the beginning month. You can sign upwards on Microsoft's website.

Once your subscription is active, yous gain firsthand access to the total library of Xbox Game Pass PC titles. The available games rotate in and out on a monthly footing, depending on the contractual terms reached between Microsoft and its partners. Some games remain for months, while others exit much more quickly. Microsoft'south ain games, however, are permanent fixtures every bit role of the subscription, arguably making information technology worth while. Forza, Halo, Gears of State of war, and other major Microsoft franchises are all part of the program, with future titles like The Outer Worlds, Wasteland 3, and Bleeding Edge all confirmed to be joining the party likewise.

Finding games to play on Game Pass is as simple as scrolling downward on the page. Microsoft surfaces some of its own recommendations, but at the bottom you tin sort by catagory, browse the entire list, or simply pick a game entirely at random.

Related: Total listing of Xbox Game Pass PC games
Related: Best games in Game Pass for PC

Social features

The social features available in the new Xbox app are relatively bare bones correct now, with simplified profiles, missing Xbox Clubs, and no social feed. Notwithstanding, the features that are bachelor piece of work very well and showcase Microsoft's efforts to speed upwardly its Xbox Live messaging system, which has historically been relatively slow.

The search bar at the top of the friends list allows yous to chop-chop and hands search your current friends listing and will dynamically expand across your friends listing if the system detects you lot're actually trying to add together someone new, similarly to Skype. Next to the search box is a button for creating new message groups.

Below the search box are two tabs for your friends list and active chats. At the lesser is Microsoft'due south new "Message Request" section, which is an attempt to combat spammers. If someone from outside your friends list messages you lot, the messages will stop upward in this overflow section instead.

Once you're in an active chat, it's simple to turn the conversation into a voice entrance hall past clicking on the headset icon on the display. New command sections will open upward below using your Windows 10 accent colour (scarlet for me), giving you command over your microphone settings, likewise as the ability to go out the chat. You can correct click on a bulletin to delete individual notes and click on the elipses (...) menu to remove the chat entirely, shift it back to Message Requests, or mute information technology for the time being.

Xbox PC store and settings

The new Xbox PC store as part of this app is a huge jump in quality from the Microsoft Store itself, ditching casual mobile games in favor of core PC titles. From hither, it's easy to browse the full catalog of PC titles Microsoft offers. Each listing shows details on PC specs, screenshots and trailers, live Mixer streams of the game, and posts from developers who are using the Official Xbox Clubs organization to offer updates near their games. The arrangement also offers user reviews, only they currently lack some of the additional context provided by Steam reviews, though it can still be a useful tool to learn more nigh a game from people who own it.

Thankfully, the new PC store too offers the power to select a storage device before committing to a download, something the main Microsoft Store historically struggled with. One time your game is installed, information technology'll announced on the left side bar, with a right click menu for uninstallation.

If you lot click on your profile flick at the top of the app, you tin can proceeds admission to code redemption, the ability to prepare your online status, your game library, and the primary settings page. The options available as of this writing are a little on the thin side, only all of the of import things are on offer.

Some of the settings you tin can manipulate are as follows:

Business relationship gives you access to your guild history, your subscription condition, the ability to log in to another account, and change your gamertag.
General lets you make up one's mind whether to launch at startup, set up groundwork processing, change default installation location, and access offline gaming permissions.
Notifications lets y'all configure how and when notifications are received.
Sound allows you to set a push button to talk key, change your microphone and speaker devices, and tailor the sound mix.

That's pretty much it (so far)

Even in its early beta state, the new Xbox app for Windows x is a huge step up compared to the Microsoft Shop, which lacks design consistency and decent curation. The team at Xbox has been dilligent in responding to user feedback and adding new features, so expect to see more than from this service relatively chop-chop.

If yous want to try the app for yourself, y'all demand to exist running the May 2022 Windows 10 update at the very to the lowest degree (Build 1903). You can then download it from here.

Over a hundred PC games

Xbox Game Pass for PC

Smashing value

Over a hundred PC games for a low monthly fee, what's non to honey?

Cheap PC accessories we love

Take a gander at these awesome PC accessories, all of which will enhance your Windows experience.

Anker iv port USB 3.0 hub ($10 at Amazon)

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Ikea Fixa Cable Management System ($11 at Amazon)

This IKEA cable direction kit is your ticket to a make clean setup. It'southward elementary and functional.

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This clever little accessory has powerful magnets on the rear to make it stick to any of the metal panels on your PC case or annihilation else. It's not bad for hanging accessories similar headsets.

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