Microsoft started rolling out a redesigned Xbox app for PC to Xbox Insiders on November 5, 2026, one that the company says launches up to 60% faster than the old version.
The overhaul targets the app’s most common complaint: sluggishness. In its announcement on Xbox Wire, Microsoft says sections such as Home, Store and Game Pass appear up to 50% sooner than before, and windows inside the app pop open as much as 65% faster. The company cautions that it measured those gains itself and that real-world results depend on the device, connection and setup. “Starting today, XBOX Insiders can try an updated XBOX PC app that launches up to 60% faster and makes it easier to find games, connect with friends, and play,” the post reads.
What changes in the app
Friends and social features move into the main navigation, with quick buttons to start a chat or join a party. Search now covers games, installed titles, add-ons, and people, and the library gains updated filters and organization options. Beyond navigation, the refresh continues Microsoft’s push to put Xbox in front of players on every screen it can reach, after it dropped the Game Pass requirement for cloud play earlier this year.
Jason Beaumont, VP of Xbox Experiences, said the update came straight from player feedback. “We’ve heard where the experience could be better. There’s more to do, and your feedback will continue to shape what comes next,” he said in the announcement.
Cloud gaming gets the same look
The same design language is spreading beyond the PC. A refreshed Xbox Cloud Gaming web experience rolls out automatically to more players over the next few weeks, and anyone can try it early at play.xbox.com. Microsoft says a similar look is coming to Xbox Cloud Gaming apps on supported smart TVs and VR headsets, with designs customized for each device rather than identical across screens.
The web refresh adds a Library tab that gathers cloud-playable owned games and Game Pass titles, browsable by recently played, genre, and input options. It also adds a desktop mode for larger displays, dark and light modes, and five new high-contrast options for different visual needs.
The refreshed web experience had been available to Insiders as a preview earlier in 2026. The PC app itself is expected to reach all players soon if Insider testing goes well; Microsoft has not announced a firm date for the broad rollout.
