Microsoft is bringing PC gaming apps and stores to its Xbox app on Windows

Microsoft has started investigating different handheld-friendly summation to its Xbox app, allowing PC gamers to rapidly instal and motorboat third-party apps similar browsers, gaming utilities, and adjacent rival storefronts. A caller “My apps” diagnostic is being tested successful the Xbox app for Windows 11, and it looks similar different mode to debar having to motorboat the main Microsoft Store oregon hunt for downloads online if you’re connected a gaming PC.

“My apps is a new tab wrong the Xbox PC app’s library that allows players to locate, view, and download third-party applications and most commonly used storefronts,” explains Devin Dhaliwal, a merchandise manager for Xbox experiences. “By consolidating gaming apps successful 1 location, this diagnostic supports the caller aggregated gaming library, making it much straightforward to find, download, and motorboat games from aggregate locations.”

Microsoft has already been adding Steam, Battle.net, Ubisoft Connect, and different PC games into to a unified room wrong its Xbox app, but this my apps presumption volition beryllium utile connected a handheld PC wherever you privation to debar utilizing the Windows desktop interface arsenic overmuch arsenic possible. “My apps enables players connected an ROG Xbox Ally or other Windows 11 handhelds to more easy navigate betwixt applications from the Xbox afloat surface experience,” says Dhaliwal.

I’ve concisely tested the My apps presumption contiguous and it lists Battle.net, Chrome, and GOG Galaxy. I person Chrome and Battle.net installed, truthful it simply launches these apps, but with GOG Galaxy it tries to download and instal the app each wrong the Xbox UI. I accidental effort due to the fact that it failed to instal during my testing, but this is simply a beta truthful determination are bound to beryllium bugs.

Microsoft is investigating this with a “tailored selection of apps” close now, and plans to grow enactment for further apps implicit time. It’s an absorbing move, peculiarly fixed Microsoft’s enactment connected merging the champion bits of Windows and Xbox together for the Xbox Ally handheld gaming PCs. Microsoft said past twelvemonth that it wanted to make the Xbox app the location of PC gaming, and it’s definite trying to marque that a reality.