Microsoft has seemingly been working on a new Xbox app for Windows. According to Windows Central, the new app is currently undergoing internal testing and will be released to Insiders as part of a larger test run before the end of 2026. This new version of the app is slated to offer major performance improvements over the previous version, and will also include a complete UI overhaul.
The new interface is slated to be designed around being usable with multiple control schemes, be it mouse and keyboard or controllers. Interestingly, pushing further into Microsoft’s larger ambitions for PC gaming, this new version of the Xbox app also seems to include an option for users to make it their default home screen when the PC loads into Windows 11, starting the operating system’s new “Game Mode” in the process.
According to Windows Central’s Jez Corden, the performance improvements in the new Xbox app are going to be quite major, with the report noting that it was able to load a large game library with over 1,400 titles at a much quicker pace than the older version of the app. The new version also offers better indicators for which games can be installed to the system, and which are only available through Xbox Cloud Gaming.
While the app might offer improved UI and better performance, Corden also notes that there doesn’t seem to be any indication of new features, at least for now. The report also brings up the fact that the new Xbox app doesn’t really bring in any improvements to the social ecosystem built around Xbox accounts. This contrasts with Valve’s Steam, which has many features built entirely around communities.
As for when users can expect to get their hands on the app, Corden has indicated that its binaries have already been bundled with newer Windows 11 builds, which indicates that the Insider testing period is coming soon, and a full launch will arrive shortly afterwards.
Cloud streaming capabilities were added to the Xbox app for Windows back in July 2025. At the time, it looked to be part of the company’s Xbox Play Anywhere initiative, which gives users the ability to own Xbox and PC versions of a game if it is bought through Microsoft’s storefront. The ability to directly play purchased games through streaming without having to go through the entire process of downloading a potentially massive title was seen as a positive. At the time, there were also no constraints when it came to cloud gaming time.
More recently, however, Xbox has started tests for an ad-supported tier for cloud streaming, with players being limited to how long they can play before being served with advertisements. The testing began in July 2026, and not all games have been made available through it. However, major releases of the year, like Forza Horizon 6 and 007 First Light, have been made playable through the service.
In the meantime, rumors have also indicated that Game Pass might go through another shift. However, Xbox itself has said that it doesn’t have any changes to announce, at least for now.
