Microsoft has introduced a collection of modifications and quality-of-life enhancements to each Xbox’s UI and the Xbox app on cellular units and PC. The replace contains the power to pre-load video games and recreation updates on Xbox consoles through the cellular app, though Microsoft hasn’t but introduced a particular date when this characteristic will go reside.
One characteristic has already gone reside, nonetheless: Game Bar Compact Mode. Optimized for smaller screens, Game Bar Compact Modes permits customers to extra simply navigate the Xbox app on cellular or handheld Home windows units. It will also be used to quickly exit a recreation that is at the moment working.
“With Compact Mode enabled, entry to widgets and navigation is simplified to make sure you may get to the content material you need as simply as doable on smaller screens,” defined a recent Xbox blog post asserting the contents of the September replace. “Compact Mode can be optimized to navigate with a controller, and you may rapidly swap between widgets with left and proper bumpers.”
On the “coming quickly” record is one other characteristic for PC customers, which can permit them to extra simply peruse and set up DLC and different recreation add-ons.
“Now you may view and set up all add-ons associated to the sport that you’re putting in, no matter if you acquired them or in the event that they had been a part of the identical bundle,” Microsoft’s weblog publish says of the upcoming characteristic. “This helps you see all content material associated to the sport you’re putting in at a look, as an alternative of getting to navigate the app to see and set up the totally different add-ons or content material tied to the sport you need to play.”
Xbox’s cellular app can be getting a facelift through an replace that can permit customers to handle their Game Go subscription proper from the app. Previously, Microsoft oddly separated Xbox Game Go content material into its personal app moderately than throughout the Xbox cellular app.
In accordance with Microsoft, gamers can count on the cellular app’s replace to start rolling out this week–but just for Xbox beta members. Microsoft additionally introduced that, because of the modifications, new downloads of the Xbox Game Go app will now not be supported as of November, suggesting non-beta members could acquire entry to the brand new and improved app across the identical time.
“Beginning this week, we’re streamlining the cellular app expertise by transferring options from the separate Xbox Game Go app into the Xbox app,” the weblog publish explains. “These updates will probably be out there for Xbox beta members on cellular and will probably be coming to everybody quickly. As a part of these modifications, we’ll now not help new downloads of the Xbox Game Go app, beginning in November. Key features–like the power to discover Game Go and handle your membership–will now be present in one place with the Xbox app on cellular.”
The brand new app will even permit customers to browse your entire Game Go catalogue, and Game Go Final members will be capable to declare their perks by way of the app and even livestream “choose video games” through Xbox Cloud Gaming on iOS or Android units.
September’s replace has a deal with for console customers, too: the power to pre-download video games and recreation updates in order that they’re able to go as quickly as a recreation launches or an replace goes reside. Just like the PC app’s new Game Bar Compact Mode, this new characteristic is already reside on Xbox consoles, and will be accessed by choosing “My Video games & Apps,” then “Handle,” then “Updates,” which can take gamers to a web page displaying all at the moment out there pre-downloads.
“This [pre-download] characteristic is supported by a few of your favourite video games now, together with Sea of Thieves, Minecraft, Cassette Beasts–and count on many extra titles to help it quickly,” the weblog publish reads.
However Xbox’s September replace has one closing deal with for console customers: notifications which can be genuinely helpful.
“With the brand new replace, when a recreation in your want record is launched, enters the Game Go library, or turns into out there as a part of a Free Play Day promotion, you’ll now obtain console notifications.”
For customers who–for no matter reason–don’t want to be alerted to an opportunity to play wishlisted video games without spending a dime, these notifications will be toggled off within the console’s person settings menu.
For extra info on Xbox’s September replace, try the official Xbox blog, which additionally features a web page devoted to details regarding the new Game Bar Compact Mode.