Microsoft has begun rolling out an updated «Xbox Mode» to Windows 11 users on desktops, laptops, and tablets. The new feature, previously exclusive to handheld consoles, adapts the interface for convenient control with a gamepad and focuses the PC’s power solely on the gameplay.
Microsoft has begun rolling out an updated «Xbox Mode» to Windows 11 users on desktops, laptops, and tablets. The new feature, previously exclusive to handheld consoles, adapts the interface for convenient control with a gamepad and focuses the PC’s power solely on the gameplay.
According to the company’s official blog, the launch is taking place in stages. Users in Ukraine can already check the availability of the update in the system settings by activating the option to receive the latest updates «as soon as they become available.» This will allow you to access the functionality among the first in the current wave of deployment.
The main idea behind Xbox Mode is to be fully immersive and minimize distractions. When you enter this mode (by pressing Win + F11), the system launches an optimized full-screen interface (Full Screen Experience), identical to the one used on Xbox Series X/S consoles.
This greatly simplifies navigation: instead of small desktop elements, the gamer gets large tiles and an intuitive menu. This organization of space allows you to quickly switch between recently launched projects and a unified library, which now accumulates games from Xbox Game Pass along with those that were installed from other popular PC stores.
«Xbox Mode is another step in our broader work to make the Xbox ecosystem feel the same across all screens, giving users more freedom in choosing which device to play on,» Microsoft said.
In addition to the visual transformation, the update should bring technical optimizations. Gamers can activate Xbox Mode to auto-launch when Windows starts, which forces the system to run in an «aggressive» gaming state. In this mode, the OS prioritizes gaming performance and processes, pausing background services that are not critical.
This approach frees up CPU resources and minimizes RAM consumption, which gives a noticeable performance boost on gaming laptops and less powerful builds. At the same time, control over the PC is not lost: you can instantly return to the familiar desktop via the game bar (Win + G) or the task view menu.
Microsoft previously announced that it was dropping the Microsoft Gaming name in favor of the historic Xbox brand with a new (but nostalgic) logo. The changes are part of a new «return of Xbox» strategy being implemented by the division’s new CEO, Asha Sharma.
