Microsoft is reportedly preparing a major overhaul of its XBOX PC app, with a redesigned interface and substantial performance improvements aimed at addressing some of the longstanding complaints surrounding the company’s gaming ecosystem on Windows.
According to a new report from <a href="https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/hands-on-xboxs-brand-new-pc-app-offers-big-performance-improvements” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>Windows Central, Microsoft is internally testing a rebuilt version of the XBOX PC app, codenamed Garrison. The publication’s Jez Corden managed to get his hands on an early build, sharing a video demonstration highlighting the improvements.
The most immediately noticeable change is reportedly a substantial boost in responsiveness, particularly when navigating large game libraries. Corden, whose XBOX library contains more than 1,400 titles, observed significantly faster loading times compared to the existing application.
While no precise performance benchmarks were provided, the improvements appear promising for PC gamers who have long criticized the XBOX app for its sluggish navigation, slow library loading, and occasionally cumbersome interface.
Beyond performance, Microsoft has also streamlined the application’s navigation and overall design. Previously, the XBOX app maintained separate pages for game listings and their corresponding store pages. The redesigned version consolidates both into a single interface, reducing unnecessary navigation and making it easier to browse games, manage purchases, and access additional information.
Meanwhile, The Verge’s Tom Warren has also shared some screenshots of the redesigned XBOX PC app, offering another look at its refreshed interface. Warren remarked that the new design is “coming along nicely” and confirmed that performance is “definitely better”than the current version, further corroborating Windows Central’s early impressions. The screenshots also highlight Microsoft’s efforts to deliver a cleaner, more streamlined gaming experience on Windows.
Another welcome improvement is clearer differentiation between games that can be installed locally and those available exclusively throughXBOX Cloud Gaming. This should help eliminate some confusion when browsing large libraries containing titles from multiple XBOX generations.
The new app also supports both mouse-and-keyboard and controller-based navigation, with an interface that automatically adjusts its scaling for controller use. Furthermore, users can configure it as their default home screen when entering Windows 11’s new gaming-focused mode, making it particularly suitable for handheld gaming PCs such as the ROG XBOX Ally.
However, this is still an early build, and the overhaul currently focuses primarily on performance and usability rather than introducing substantial new functionality. Features such as community tools, developer interaction, user reviews, and improved store discovery remain areas where Microsoft’s offering continues to trail Valve’s Steam.
As for availability, Microsoft has yet to announce an official release date, although Corden believes the redesigned XBOX PC app could reach Xbox Insiders in the coming weeks, potentially before the end of 2026.
Considering Microsoft’s renewed emphasis on PC gaming, XBOX Play Anywhere, and handheld gaming devices, the Garrison overhaul could represent a meaningful step toward making the XBOX app a more competitive PC gaming platform. Whether it can eventually challenge Steam’s considerably richer ecosystem, however, remains to be seen.
About the author: Sebastian Castellanos is a data scientist by education and training. He’s also deeply passionate about PC gaming hardware and software. He has recently started writing technical articles and guides on Wccftech about PC hardware, games and mods.
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