Microsoft has just begun rolling out its new version of the Xbox PC application, which aggregates all your games, including those from Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG and Battle.net, into a unified library. In addition to appearing within the same library, all titles launch directly from the Xbox app, without having to manually go through each launcher. The procedure for activating the unified library is relatively straightforward: go to the Settings menu and activate the display of third-party games. The Xbox app then automatically detects installed games and lists them in your library with a dedicated thumbnail or icon.
While this update is presented as an important asset in Microsoft’s strategy of conquering Windows-based mobile consoles, it will also benefit all users who until now have used several different platforms to buy their games more cheaply. Indeed, the Xbox app now adds a “My apps” tab, allowing quick and easy access to other stores if you wish to purchase a game outside the Microsoft Store.
Xbox: from console to gaming hub?
Another evolution brought to PC by Microsoft is an “ergonomic” improvement in the use of Xbox controllers. A prolonged press on the Xbox button opens an application selector, enabling rapid switching from one software application to another. This switch, already seen in the Full Screen Experience interface of the ROG Xbox Ally, confirms the “console-like” orientation of the ecosystem. Microsoft has also indicated that, at the end of September, cloud synchronization will arrive on all your devices, enabling you to easily resume your game where you left off, on both PC and console. If you’d like to benefit from these improvements on your Windows 11 PC, all you need to do is check that you have the latest update.