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Xbox mode Rollin out on Windows 11 insider preview

Desus And Mero Pass GIF by Bernie Sanders
 
I guess changing the name from Full Screen Experience to Xbox Mode has brought a few onboard. Xbox = Winning!!!

For anyone using it, has it improved a lot since launch?
 
reinking said:
I guess changing the name from Full Screen Experience to Xbox Mode has brought a few onboard. Xbox = Winning!!!

For anyone using it, has it improved a lot since launch?
Click to expand...

It appears it's literally this. No access to any more games or anything cool.
 
reinking said:
I guess changing the name from Full Screen Experience to Xbox Mode has brought a few onboard. Xbox = Winning!!!

For anyone using it, has it improved a lot since launch?
Click to expand...
A LOT. It's like playing on an XBOX console.

Unbelivable but better than Steam big picture mode.
 
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I guess I'm just too used to my desktop being my main hub. I don't like big picture or the idea of Xbox Game mode. Seems kind of redundant if anything. For me, at least.
 
I'm looking forward to using it on a PC I've put in the living room so I can play my PC games on the couch as well. Just not oo keen on signing up to the Canary Insider level. I though it was meant to be rolling out proper this month, not Insider?
 
I appreciate the work MS. I was impressed with the game bar when I tried that out after years the other day.

Make it really good and people will use it.

I really don't understand how a company makes that much money and can't make their bread and butter, os actually very good.
 
If it's the same thing that have have already rolled out on handhelds, no thanks.
 
Last edited:
If Windows doesn't reboot in to a dedicated "Xbox" mode where it doesn't load all the unnecessary bollocks services and other crap it's just a pointless waste of time.
 
I tried it already and aesthetically it looks so awful compared to Steam BPM, so I just went back to that. It doesn't really feel like a proper full screen interface at all, just the existing Xbox app in full screen.
 
Last edited:
Ovek said:
If Windows doesn't reboot in to a dedicated "Xbox" mode where it doesn't load all the unnecessary bollocks services and other crap it's just a pointless waste of time.
Click to expand...
Yeah. They already introduced that one gaming mode years ago and all it does is mute notifications while gaming. So much for enhancing performance whose increase you probably only measure with infinitesimal small gains. In a lab. Not real life applications.
 
Jet Set Willy said:
I tried it already and aesthetically it looks so awful compared to Steam BPM, so I just went back to that. It doesn't really feel like a proper full screen interface at all, just the existing Xbox app in full screen.
Click to expand...
They really need to add some more micro interactions and visual flourishes imo. It does feel a bit flat at the moment.
 
Read this Microsoft fans of Xbox or whoever you are that are Loyalists and I'm not necessarily fucking fun, but like a lot of their initiatives since the early 2000s, this thing is bad. You are talking to somebody that has an Xbox Rog l i x which I really like but I hate touching windows on that thing as much as I tolerated on my desktop so far.

When you have to use an interface like this and are reminded of the constant nags of Windows kind of like multiple weights just constantly burdening you, then there is clearly some things that are wrong with this.

That's one of the things that brings me to whatever they're going to try to implement with their next console/PC. They're implementation of things gaming on Windows has mostly been a burden to the consumer. Why do you think people like me are done with Game pass and we'll just buy the games that we want to buy, like Forza horizon 6 in my case, we will buy that on steam. Price aside, nobody wants to deal with Microsoft's crap. Let's not get started on why Linux growing is a good thing for the industry.

You can't have somebody who has squandered a lot of what they have done on PC continue to set that trend. I use Windows daily I don't touch any of the other elements but most of what I have to do outside of clicking a browser or a game to open, is cumbersome. I've had to use mods and third party tools, some of which are paid, to make the experience better. That is something that Microsoft should have handled.

So when I bring it back to this Windows interface and my dealings with it on two devices, I don't want any part of this on Windows and just like copilot and a bunch of other implementations of things that I've had to buy or look for mods to eradicate, this will continue to be one of those burdens no matter how much they push for some back end benefits which are not evident at all.

That is my advice to those who haven't tried this, disable it or uninstall it and move on with your life and seriously consider, like me, installing a Linux distro just for gaming. And if you are researching things like me, I'm not some power user that does a lot of editing or things that make conflict with Linux and for just gaming, it's very very good. I don't play any games with security issues where they don't work well with Linux. Just literally the games that need some kind of proton to work, everything I played just works. Ultimately that's what I've done with my Xbox Rog is install Linux on there and I haven't booted in the windows in months. That can also be the experience on my desktop should I decide to finally just take the plunge.
 
Still not good enough. Renaming it Xbox Mode doesn't take away the existing problems.

1. It only add already installed games from other launchers to the menu.
- Means you still need to swap to Steam to install a Steam game. And while you're there, why not just start the game from Steam instead of Xbox Mode?

2. There is no game info at all for games added to the menu from other launchers. Literally nothing.
- Means you get are barebone experience, no hint what type of game it even is, no descriptions, no screens, and you can't see achievements or playtime or anything. It's just a play button and link to the other launcher.

3. The user interface is a strange mix between horizontal UI and grid. And it only list a few games for each category.
- Means you do a bunch of extra clicks and movements. You can't just flick left and right but you move around this outline box up and down between categories and icons and you have to click show all to show all. It's just not good for controller.


In the end it's not functional enough as a multi launcher frontend. It's okay if you have Gamepass and Microsoft Store games but that's about it.

For reference, no Steam Big Picture Mode isn't much better. Only upside there is that it's made for Steam where you probably have most games as a PC gamer. If you use other launchers it's a whole bunch of extra hurdles here and there to get games onto the menu.

Anybody who want the console experience on PC should give Playnite a spin. There are definitely scenarios where you get pushed out of the console experience and it takes a bit of time to customize it as you want it, but it's updated regularly and is in extremely good shape right now imo. Try it!
playnite.link

Playnite - video game library manager

Video game library manager with one simple goal: To provide a unified interface for all of your games.
playnite.link playnite.link
 
LiquidMetal14 said:
Read this Microsoft fans of Xbox or whoever you are that are Loyalists and I'm not necessarily fucking fun, but like a lot of their initiatives since the early 2000s, this thing is bad. You are talking to somebody that has an Xbox Rog l i x which I really like but I hate touching windows on that thing as much as I tolerated on my desktop so far.

When you have to use an interface like this and are reminded of the constant nags of Windows kind of like multiple weights just constantly burdening you, then there is clearly some things that are wrong with this.

That's one of the things that brings me to whatever they're going to try to implement with their next console/PC. They're implementation of things gaming on Windows has mostly been a burden to the consumer. Why do you think people like me are done with Game pass and we'll just buy the games that we want to buy, like Forza horizon 6 in my case, we will buy that on steam. Price aside, nobody wants to deal with Microsoft's crap. Let's not get started on why Linux growing is a good thing for the industry.

You can't have somebody who has squandered a lot of what they have done on PC continue to set that trend. I use Windows daily I don't touch any of the other elements but most of what I have to do outside of clicking a browser or a game to open, is cumbersome. I've had to use mods and third party tools, some of which are paid, to make the experience better. That is something that Microsoft should have handled.

So when I bring it back to this Windows interface and my dealings with it on two devices, I don't want any part of this on Windows and just like copilot and a bunch of other implementations of things that I've had to buy or look for mods to eradicate, this will continue to be one of those burdens no matter how much they push for some back end benefits which are not evident at all.

That is my advice to those who haven't tried this, disable it or uninstall it and move on with your life and seriously consider, like me, installing a Linux distro just for gaming. And if you are researching things like me, I'm not some power user that does a lot of editing or things that make conflict with Linux and for just gaming, it's very very good. I don't play any games with security issues where they don't work well with Linux. Just literally the games that need some kind of proton to work, everything I played just works. Ultimately that's what I've done with my Xbox Rog is install Linux on there and I haven't booted in the windows in months. That can also be the experience on my desktop should I decide to finally just take the plunge.
Click to expand...


So basically you haven't tried it yet and you've just made up impressions.

Fess said:
Still not good enough. Renaming it Xbox Mode doesn't take away the existing problems.

1. It only add already installed games from other launchers to the menu.
- Means you still need to swap to Steam to install a Steam game. And while you're there, why not just start the game from Steam instead of Xbox Mode?

2. There is no game info at all for games added to the menu from other launchers. Literally nothing.
- Means you get are barebone experience, no hint what type of game it even is, no descriptions, no screens, and you can't see achievements or playtime or anything. It's just a play button and link to the other launcher.

3. The user interface is a strange mix between horizontal UI and grid. And it only list a few games for each category.
- Means you do a bunch of extra clicks and movements. You can't just flick left and right but you move around this outline box up and down between categories and icons and you have to click show all to show all. It's just not good for controller.


In the end it's not functional enough as a multi launcher frontend. It's okay if you have Gamepass and Microsoft Store games but that's about it.

For reference, no Steam Big Picture Mode isn't much better. Only upside there is that it's made for Steam where you probably have most games as a PC gamer. If you use other launchers it's a whole bunch of extra hurdles here and there to get games onto the menu.

Anybody who want the console experience on PC should give Playnite a spin. There are definitely scenarios where you get pushed out of the console experience and it takes a bit of time to customize it as you want it, but it's updated regularly and is in extremely good shape right now imo. Try it!
playnite.link

Playnite - video game library manager

Video game library manager with one simple goal: To provide a unified interface for all of your games.
playnite.link playnite.link
Click to expand...

Thanks for the hands on. I think I'll give Playnite a try, since it's a stable release. I don't believe I'd ever join an insiders track where shit is likely to be buggy.

Hopefully impressions and feedback like yours helps to improve the final version
 
Last edited:
Ozriel said:
So basically you haven't tried it yet and you've just made up impressions.
Click to expand...
I've spent more than 5 hours with it on 2 machines. It's not good and hasn't been good for me but I've put up with it long enough to share my sentiments. You like it? Good on you. It's not good.
 
LiquidMetal14 said:
Read this Microsoft fans of Xbox or whoever you are that are Loyalists and I'm not necessarily fucking fun, but like a lot of their initiatives since the early 2000s, this thing is bad. You are talking to somebody that has an Xbox Rog l i x which I really like but I hate touching windows on that thing as much as I tolerated on my desktop so far.

When you have to use an interface like this and are reminded of the constant nags of Windows kind of like multiple weights just constantly burdening you, then there is clearly some things that are wrong with this.

That's one of the things that brings me to whatever they're going to try to implement with their next console/PC. They're implementation of things gaming on Windows has mostly been a burden to the consumer. Why do you think people like me are done with Game pass and we'll just buy the games that we want to buy, like Forza horizon 6 in my case, we will buy that on steam. Price aside, nobody wants to deal with Microsoft's crap. Let's not get started on why Linux growing is a good thing for the industry.

You can't have somebody who has squandered a lot of what they have done on PC continue to set that trend. I use Windows daily I don't touch any of the other elements but most of what I have to do outside of clicking a browser or a game to open, is cumbersome. I've had to use mods and third party tools, some of which are paid, to make the experience better. That is something that Microsoft should have handled.

So when I bring it back to this Windows interface and my dealings with it on two devices, I don't want any part of this on Windows and just like copilot and a bunch of other implementations of things that I've had to buy or look for mods to eradicate, this will continue to be one of those burdens no matter how much they push for some back end benefits which are not evident at all.

That is my advice to those who haven't tried this, disable it or uninstall it and move on with your life and seriously consider, like me, installing a Linux distro just for gaming. And if you are researching things like me, I'm not some power user that does a lot of editing or things that make conflict with Linux and for just gaming, it's very very good. I don't play any games with security issues where they don't work well with Linux. Just literally the games that need some kind of proton to work, everything I played just works. Ultimately that's what I've done with my Xbox Rog is install Linux on there and I haven't booted in the windows in months. That can also be the experience on my desktop should I decide to finally just take the plunge.
Click to expand...

You say this to say no body wants to deal with it, but really it's you don't want to deal with it and that's fine. There are better stores out there and I can see why you would prefer steam if you were only on pc.

But, if you are someone who uses play anywhere or have a history of buying games on Xbox. They will be used to the store and are probably ok with it.

I use it and it's fine, even now on pc. It's not as good as steam but it's fine. Fine should be improved but it takes time. I just hope ms is throwing so much money and engineer weight as possible to make it better.

You clearly have a hatred for windows and Microsoft so it makes sense to move away from it and let others who want to use it, use it imo.
 
Seeing as i already remove anything XBOX using Winhancer plus Co pilot etc, to remove bloat from Windows 11, this will just be another thing to do aswell for me,

I'm not sure it will be that popular anyway, it's a lot cheaper to just buy an Xbox for an Xbox experience than buy a PC as an Xbox, but MS keep trying. Steam and GOG will still be dominant.
 
LiquidMetal14 said:
Read this Microsoft fans of Xbox or whoever you are that are Loyalists and I'm not necessarily fucking fun, but like a lot of their initiatives since the early 2000s, this thing is bad. You are talking to somebody that has an Xbox Rog l i x which I really like but I hate touching windows on that thing as much as I tolerated on my desktop so far.

When you have to use an interface like this and are reminded of the constant nags of Windows kind of like multiple weights just constantly burdening you, then there is clearly some things that are wrong with this.

That's one of the things that brings me to whatever they're going to try to implement with their next console/PC. They're implementation of things gaming on Windows has mostly been a burden to the consumer. Why do you think people like me are done with Game pass and we'll just buy the games that we want to buy, like Forza horizon 6 in my case, we will buy that on steam. Price aside, nobody wants to deal with Microsoft's crap. Let's not get started on why Linux growing is a good thing for the industry.

You can't have somebody who has squandered a lot of what they have done on PC continue to set that trend. I use Windows daily I don't touch any of the other elements but most of what I have to do outside of clicking a browser or a game to open, is cumbersome. I've had to use mods and third party tools, some of which are paid, to make the experience better. That is something that Microsoft should have handled.

So when I bring it back to this Windows interface and my dealings with it on two devices, I don't want any part of this on Windows and just like copilot and a bunch of other implementations of things that I've had to buy or look for mods to eradicate, this will continue to be one of those burdens no matter how much they push for some back end benefits which are not evident at all.

That is my advice to those who haven't tried this, disable it or uninstall it and move on with your life and seriously consider, like me, installing a Linux distro just for gaming. And if you are researching things like me, I'm not some power user that does a lot of editing or things that make conflict with Linux and for just gaming, it's very very good. I don't play any games with security issues where they don't work well with Linux. Just literally the games that need some kind of proton to work, everything I played just works. Ultimately that's what I've done with my Xbox Rog is install Linux on there and I haven't booted in the windows in months. That can also be the experience on my desktop should I decide to finally just take the plunge.
Click to expand...
Never forget, you are still playing Windows games, you will always be playing Windows games. Windows games will always be with you.

Fess said:
Still not good enough. Renaming it Xbox Mode doesn't take away the existing problems.

1. It only add already installed games from other launchers to the menu.
- Means you still need to swap to Steam to install a Steam game. And while you're there, why not just start the game from Steam instead of Xbox Mode?

2. There is no game info at all for games added to the menu from other launchers. Literally nothing.
- Means you get are barebone experience, no hint what type of game it even is, no descriptions, no screens, and you can't see achievements or playtime or anything. It's just a play button and link to the other launcher.

3. The user interface is a strange mix between horizontal UI and grid. And it only list a few games for each category.
- Means you do a bunch of extra clicks and movements. You can't just flick left and right but you move around this outline box up and down between categories and icons and you have to click show all to show all. It's just not good for controller.


In the end it's not functional enough as a multi launcher frontend. It's okay if you have Gamepass and Microsoft Store games but that's about it.

For reference, no Steam Big Picture Mode isn't much better. Only upside there is that it's made for Steam where you probably have most games as a PC gamer. If you use other launchers it's a whole bunch of extra hurdles here and there to get games onto the menu.

Anybody who want the console experience on PC should give Playnite a spin. There are definitely scenarios where you get pushed out of the console experience and it takes a bit of time to customize it as you want it, but it's updated regularly and is in extremely good shape right now imo. Try it!
playnite.link

Playnite - video game library manager

Video game library manager with one simple goal: To provide a unified interface for all of your games.
playnite.link playnite.link
Click to expand...
What are your thoughts on this?

 
DenchDeckard said:
You say this to say no body wants to deal with it, but really it's you don't want to deal with it and that's fine. There are better stores out there and I can see why you would prefer steam if you were only on pc.

But, if you are someone who uses play anywhere or have a history of buying games on Xbox. They will be used to the store and are probably ok with it.

I use it and it's fine, even now on pc. It's not as good as steam but it's fine. Fine should be improved but it takes time. I just hope ms is throwing so much money and engineer weight as possible to make it better.

You clearly have a hatred for windows and Microsoft so it makes sense to move away from it and let others who want to use it, use it imo.
Click to expand...
If I had true hatret in my heart I would henceforth plead in the year of our Lord betwixt us that I would never use proper grammar and ever never forger ever I'm sorry Ms. Jackson never ever buy a Microsoft product. I support them more than I do Sony and Nintendo with my dollars.

At this rate they're a means to an end because we've had no choice. And therein lies the kicker. We've had no choice. Until more recent developments. Microsoft has had more than enough of a monopoly to, as they say in Lake Titicaca, shit or get off the pot.
 
The cut on hardware resources is real? If is, I can see people creating scripts to turn the PC on Xbox mode automatically and making things easier
 
BlackTron said:
The Xbox app was already on PC and it plays the same games. You may be able to launch the game with a controller instead of a mouse now. After launching Xbox Mode with a mouse, of course.

Game changer, I guess.
Click to expand...
The Game changer part isn't what's available, the game changer part is what's coming. Advanced Shader Delivery, AutoSR, Quick Resume. Plus the Xbox Mode isn't in its final form yet. It's just a placeholder.
deriks said:
The cut on hardware resources is real? If is, I can see people creating scripts to turn the PC on Xbox mode automatically and making things easier
Click to expand...
Yes.
 
Tobimacoss said:
The Game changer part isn't what's available, the game changer part is what's coming. Advanced Shader Delivery, AutoSR, Quick Resume. Plus the Xbox Mode isn't in its final form yet. It's just a placeholder.

Yes.
Click to expand...

Hope these things make a difference, but right now they don't so "game changer" seems like a strange hands-on impression.
 
Tobimacoss said:
Remind me when was last time Linux got a native port? Even MacOS got a native Crimson Desert port.
Click to expand...

You really need to get over the fact that tech like Proton and Wine has allowed gamers to use other operating systems than Windows.

Edit: And the fact that you regularly shill for MS cloud gaming pretty much negates the fake concern over "native ports' my man
 
Last edited:
LiquidMetal14 said:
Read this Microsoft fans of Xbox or whoever you are that are Loyalists and I'm not necessarily fucking fun, but like a lot of their initiatives since the early 2000s, this thing is bad. You are talking to somebody that has an Xbox Rog l i x which I really like but I hate touching windows on that thing as much as I tolerated on my desktop so far.

When you have to use an interface like this and are reminded of the constant nags of Windows kind of like multiple weights just constantly burdening you, then there is clearly some things that are wrong with this.

That's one of the things that brings me to whatever they're going to try to implement with their next console/PC. They're implementation of things gaming on Windows has mostly been a burden to the consumer. Why do you think people like me are done with Game pass and we'll just buy the games that we want to buy, like Forza horizon 6 in my case, we will buy that on steam. Price aside, nobody wants to deal with Microsoft's crap. Let's not get started on why Linux growing is a good thing for the industry.

You can't have somebody who has squandered a lot of what they have done on PC continue to set that trend. I use Windows daily I don't touch any of the other elements but most of what I have to do outside of clicking a browser or a game to open, is cumbersome. I've had to use mods and third party tools, some of which are paid, to make the experience better. That is something that Microsoft should have handled.

So when I bring it back to this Windows interface and my dealings with it on two devices, I don't want any part of this on Windows and just like copilot and a bunch of other implementations of things that I've had to buy or look for mods to eradicate, this will continue to be one of those burdens no matter how much they push for some back end benefits which are not evident at all.

That is my advice to those who haven't tried this, disable it or uninstall it and move on with your life and seriously consider, like me, installing a Linux distro just for gaming. And if you are researching things like me, I'm not some power user that does a lot of editing or things that make conflict with Linux and for just gaming, it's very very good. I don't play any games with security issues where they don't work well with Linux. Just literally the games that need some kind of proton to work, everything I played just works. Ultimately that's what I've done with my Xbox Rog is install Linux on there and I haven't booted in the windows in months. That can also be the experience on my desktop should I decide to finally just take the plunge.
Click to expand...

And this is why I said Linux gamers are the most annoying in the other thread.
 
So aside from the UI stuff, is there supposed to be any meaningful performance benefits here and now? If I'm playing a game on Steam and I start using this new Xbox Mode thing, am I going to get a better frame rate?
 
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