Xbox PC app launches up to 60% faster in redesign

Microsoft has unveiled a redesigned Xbox PC app that it says launches up to 60 percent faster than before. The company announced the overhaul on 5 November 2026. Xbox Insiders, the group of users who test new features early, can start testing the updated app from that day.

The new design is simpler. Microsoft has cut back the app's layout so it no longer feels like navigating with a mouse on a desktop. The aim is to make the Windows app feel more like a console. Reports say the changes follow the earlier launch of Microsoft's Xbox Ally handheld devices, which many felt needed a more console-like app to pair with them.

Microsoft is also updating Xbox Cloud Gaming, which lets users stream games over the internet. The updated interface for the web and smart TVs is set to begin arriving to users in the coming weeks. The company has not said which devices will get it first.

Reports of an earlier update

Before the announcement, reports in early October 2026 described a new Xbox PC app update with console-style features. Microsoft has now confirmed the overhaul officially. It has not yet said when the app will reach all users beyond the Insider programme, or whether the speed gains will be the same for everyone.

For readers in India, the update matters mainly for players who use Windows PCs or cloud gaming to play Xbox titles. Microsoft has not announced any price change or new fee linked to the update. Users who want to try the new app early will need to join the Xbox Insider programme.

What is not yet known is how the redesign will work across the full range of PCs and smart TVs, and when it will be available to everyone.