Microsoft seems to have finally realised that there is competition in the gaming space, recently confirming that it is working on a handheld gaming console and now addressing its lacking Xbox app experience across a variety of gaming platforms. In an update rolling out to the Xbox App for Windows, Microsoft has finally implemented its new Home experience and its handheld-friendly Compact mode, which seems to take strong inspiration from the likes of Valve's Steam Deck.
The biggest changes come from the new Home layout and the new Compact mode, which now has what Microsoft is calling "Jump Back In." A new ribbon of recent games, similar to the Steam Deck's SteamOS — and Steam Big Picture, for that matter — Recent Games section, now appears in the top half of the Xbox App for Windows when Compact mode is activated. In theory, this should make jumping back into your most recent games far easier on a handheld device, like the Asus ROG Ally (curr. $499 on Best Buy).
The new compact Home UI for the Xbox app for Windows features a neat column of icons and shortcuts on 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 right in the Home UI, again taking a feature right out of the SteamOS play book.
The new Home experience brings together the latest and greatest content from Game Pass and Store in one convenient place. You’ll also have access to the latest games, news, curated recommendations, free-to-play content, and deals.
Valve also recently made some waves with new SteamOS software updates that introduced improved compatibility with the Asus ROG Ally's display and button configurations. Valve has already said that SteamOS will eventually be available as a downloadable ISO for other AMD-powered gaming systems and handheld PCs, which currently mostly run on Windows — an OS that is often criticised for its poor handheld optimisations. Microsoft's handheld-focussed 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 November Xbox App update notes, including a new friend request feature and an AI-powered search, here.