Microsoft just revealed some cool upgrades for Xbox‘s UI and the Xbox app on phones and computers.
Now you can pre-load games and updates on your Xbox using the mobile app, though they haven’t told us when this feature will be available. But something is already here: Game Bar Compact Mode! It’s perfect for smaller screens and makes navigating the Xbox app super easy. You can even exit games quickly with it.
“With Compact Mode enabled, access to widgets and navigation is simplified to ensure you can get to the content you want as easily as possible on smaller screens,” says a recent Xbox blog post. This mode is also designed for use with a controller, making it simple to switch between widgets.
Another new thing coming soon for PC gamers is an easier way to find and install game add-ons and DLCs.
“Now you can view and install all add-ons related to the game that you are installing, regardless of when you acquired them or if they were part of the same bundle,” Microsoft’s blog says. This means you won’t have to dig around the app to find all the extra content for your games.
The Xbox mobile app is also getting a makeover, letting you manage your Game Pass subscription directly from the app. Before, you had to use a separate app for Game Pass stuff, which was kind of weird.
Fans love it when apps get easier to use!
Starting this week, Xbox beta members will see these updates first, but everyone else should get them soon. Microsoft says they’ll stop supporting new downloads of the separate Game Pass app in November. “Starting this week, we’re streamlining the mobile app experience by moving features from the separate Xbox Game Pass app into the Xbox app,” the blog explains. So now, everything you need will be in one place!
With the new app, you can check out the whole Game Pass library. If you have Game Pass Ultimate, you can even get perks and livestream some games on your iPhone or Android.
Console players also get a nice surprise: the ability to pre-download games and updates. Just go to “My Games & Apps,” then “Manage,” and “Updates” to see what’s available to pre-download. Some of your favorite games like Sea of Thieves and Minecraft support this already.
But wait, there’s more! Xbox’s latest update will now notify you when games on your wish list are released, added to Game Pass, or available for Free Play Days. If you don’t want these alerts, you can turn them off in your settings.
For more details on these updates, check out the official Xbox blog and more info on Game Bar Compact Mode.
