Just a few days after announcing the Steam Machines, Microsoft announced that it was extending to all PCs the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) upgrade that the publisher had reserved as an exclusive feature for the Xbox Rog Ally launched last month. Make no mistake, we’re not talking about a new Windows, but an update that brings a console-like interface to all Windows 11 PCs (including mobiles and desktops), smoothing access to games, reducing the use of system resources and eliminating the need for a keyboard/mouse to access your favorite titles. As you can see, the idea is to simplify the user interface, similar to the Steam Big Picture mode.
With its Xbox Full Screen Experience, Microsoft wants to get back on track.
For the time being, the function is integrated into Windows 11 Preview builds 26220.7271 in the Dev and Beta channels, and requires registration in both the Windows Insider program and Xbox Insider on PC. However, since the start of the weekend, Microsoft has begun rolling out its new Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) on Windows handheld devices (MSI, Lenovo….). It may still be considered an exclusive feature for desktop users, but it’s the sign of an imminent mass release. Initial tests of this version deployed on the new Asus handheld consoles showed a reduction in RAM consumption of 1 to 2 GB during gaming sessions. As a result, performance has been boosted, with an increase in FPS of up to 5% in demanding titles such as Red Dead Redemption 2. Interesting, but not yet enough to fully convince those who have had the chance to test it. From the many declarations on the subject, the publisher has no intention of stopping there.
On paper, Microsoft has considerable assets, it just needs to decide to seriously streamline Windows 11. As we’ve mentioned previously, comparisons between Windows 11 and Steam OS aren’t exactly flattering at the moment. But with Xbox Windows mode, users have consolidated access to all their games from different stores in a coherent environment. And this generalization of the Xbox Full Screen Experience further confirms Microsoft’s assumption that the future of Xbox will pass through Windows PCs and portable consoles, rather than through a dedicated system.