In a community update video today, Microsoft announced that new features are coming to its Xbox for PC app in an upcoming update. “With great PC games like Back 4 Blood, Age of Empires IV, Forza Horizon 5, and Halo Infinite on day one with Game Pass, we wanted to provide players with more options to customize their experience in the Xbox app,” says a Jason Beaumont, partner director of experiences at Xbox, told The Verge. “We’ll continue to share updates as we launch additional features.”

In terms of customization, this update will let players select the installation folder, as well as enable them to access local files and subsequently freely mod their games installed via the Xbox for PC app. This update will also include a cloud gaming tab, allow players to find upcoming games easier and have access to faster and more reliable downloads. You can find more details in the official PC community update video below:

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[the_randomizer]

Why did it take so long?

 

[The Real Jdbye]

"enable them to access local files"
This is a bigger deal than you might think. Previously the entire WindowsApps directory was unreadable. Memory editing of the processes was also probably out of the question. That makes it impossible for the Steam Overlay to work, which also means you can't use a Steam Controller with Game Pass games without janky workarounds to emulate a system wide XInput controller using the Steam Controller. And it also means Remote Play won't work as that relies on the overlay both for capture and for controlling.
That doesn't mean those things will automatically work now, as UWP apps work differently from regular win32 programs, but I expect Steam to add support.

This may also open the door for being able to play Xbox Game Pass games on Linux, something that was previously impossible. Which is a bigger deal with the Steam Deck right around the corner, Although there is no way to even get WPF (the successor to WinForms) to work on Linux currently and I think UWP apps use a similar code base and it seems everyone decided it was too much work and not worth the hassle even trying to implement WPF. So getting UWP apps running might be a tall order.

 

[Kioku]

It's about time. Glad they're finally catching on.

 

[Dominator211]

Now all we need is achievements for EA Pass games. But that's a long shot

 

[Plazorn]

Xbox has been the only company that allows homebrew on their newer systems, now this? It is like they are making it hackable so they don't have to deal with hackers.

 

[chrisrlink]

Xbox has been the only company that allows homebrew on their newer systems, now this? It is like they are making it hackable so they don't have to deal with hackers.

whatever works to prevent hacking their consoles/enabling piracy seems to be working so far

 

[Gamer4Ever]

and can copy/migrate games to another system like steam too?!

 

[subcon959]

Finally, it's been such a pain not having access to game files.

 

[ZeroFX]

So finally it won't be a Xbox emulator anymore.

 

[XDel]

Everything old is new again except now you will own nothing and depend for everything.

 

[Xzi]

Everything old is new again except now you will own nothing and depend for everything.

Pretty sure everybody is already aware they don't own the games included with a subscription service like Game Pass. That said, this will make cracking those games a lot easier for anybody who is so inclined, assuming they don't use Denuvo.

 

[Spider_Man]

So basically microsoft announce its pc app to play console version will allow them to do exactly the same as they can with the pc version of the game.

Not exactly news to announce your basically providing a striped back windows os as a console os and have a pc app to do what pc gamers have already been doing for decades.

Do we buy an xbox to play weaker pc ports to use pc app to allow us to use pc high resolution texture/model mods or do we just go for what weve already been doing.

 

[ut2k4master]

So basically microsoft announce its pc app to play console version will allow them to do exactly the same as they can with the pc version of the game.

Not exactly news to announce your basically providing a striped back windows os as a console os and have a pc app to do what pc gamers have already been doing for decades.

Do we buy an xbox to play weaker pc ports to use pc app to allow us to use pc high resolution texture/model mods or do we just go for what weve already been doing.

what?

 

[SG854]

Sorry to keep you waiting

 

[LightBeam]

So games on the game pass on PC will stop being so freaking weird ? I sure hope so because I don't see the point in any of that
It took time but at least there's improvement and that's very cool. I've been subscribed on the gamepass not for a long time but the Xbox App has already been such a pain in the ass, cool to see it's being improved

 

[xatzimi]

"enable them to access local files"
This is a bigger deal than you might think. Previously the entire WindowsApps directory was unreadable.

Is this new feature only available on Windows 11 or did they make this change to 10 as well?

 

[Viri]

Xbox has been the only company that allows homebrew on their newer systems, now this? It is like they are making it hackable so they don't have to deal with hackers.

Best way to defeat the hackers is to give them what they want, Homebrew. And best way to defeat Xbox pirates is to give them a very good deal, Xbox Gamepass. If the pirates still want to pirate, they can just do it on PC.

 

[Plazorn]

Best way to defeat the hackers is to give them what they want, Homebrew. And best way to defeat Xbox pirates is to give them a very good deal, Xbox Gamepass. If the pirates still want to pirate, they can just do it on PC.

Exactly, I believe it’s a very unique approach to this problem.

 

[Nerdtendo]

The best way to counter piracy is to offer a service better than free games

This is only a good thing! Gg Microsoft