Microsoft seems to have finally realized that there is competition in the gaming space, recently confirming that it is working on a handheld gaming console and now addressing the lack of Xbox app experience on a variety of gaming platforms. In an update to the Xbox app for Windows, Microsoft has finally rolled out its new Home experience and compact mode tailored to handheld consoles, which appears to take heavy inspiration from Steam Valve deck.
The biggest changes are the new Home layout and the new Compact mode, which now features what Microsoft calls “Jump Back In.” A new Recent Games ribbon, similar to the Recent Games section of Steam Deck ( SteamOS and Steam Big Picture, for that matter), now appears in the top half of the Xbox app for Windows when Compact mode is enabled. In theory, this should make it easier to return to your most recent games on a portable device, like the Asus ROG Ally (currently $499 at Best Buy).
The Xbox app for Windows’ new compact Home UI interface includes a column of icons and shortcuts along the left edge of the screen, which should make navigating the interface much more accessible on a small screen. The update also adds news and recommended content from Game Pass and the Xbox Store directly to the Home interface, repeating a feature from the SteamOS playbook.
The new Home experience brings together the latest and greatest content from Game Pass and the Store in one convenient place. You will also have access to the latest games, news, recommendations, free-to-play content and offers.
Valve has also been making waves recently with new SteamOS software updates that improve compatibility with the Asus ROG Ally’s screen and buttons. Valve has previously stated that SteamOS will eventually be available as a downloadable ISO file for other AMD-powered gaming systems and handhelds, which currently run Windows, an operating system often criticized for its poor optimizations for PCs. pocket. Microsoft’s handheld-focused updates effectively mean that Valve and Microsoft are in a head-to-head race, with the finish line being a widely downloadable handheld operating system.
Read the full notes on the Xbox app’s November update, which includes a new friend request feature and AI-powered search, at https://news.xbox .com/en-us/2024/11/14/xbox-update-november-friend-requests/.
