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[analog_future]

You can do all that anyway without this feature. I want steam, I just hit a button on the controller and go into big picture mode. I don't need the Xbox app unless I want to play gamepass games, which are also a click away.

Big picture mode is a vastly superior experience.

The larger plan though is running an optimized gaming-focused version of Windows that boots directly into this TV/controller-friendly interface without having to deal with mouse/keyboard/Windows stuff. This is the basis of the Xbox handheld and future Xbox consoles.

 

[clarky]

The larger plan though is running an optimized gaming-focused version of Windows that boots directly into this TV/controller-friendly interface without having to deal with mouse/keyboard/Windows stuff. This is the basis of the Xbox handheld and future Xbox consoles.

I realise that. This is a first step. I'm just saying it has a very very long way to go.

 

[nemiroff]

Thanks! This is exactly what I was wondering.

After seeing Tom Warren's video, I at least found out that Steam will run in the background. That kinda defeats the entire purpose then, is it? But I also understand why Steam would run in the background.

To be honest, Xbox is trying to solve a problem that is not really a problem. Desktop shortcuts already solve that "issue."

Desktop shortcuts have been providing an even better experience for years now. If starting a new launcher is the problem, then you don't even need to use even a single launcher with desktop shortcuts - which makes that experience far superior to this in which you have to use the Xbox launcher, at the very least.

Shortcuts are fine if all you want is to click and start. But I for one like to catch up with everything surrounding the game (updates/discussions etc) before starting the game. Which is why Steam is so much better than other launchers; Everything is so well implemented and integrated.

But anyway, Xbox has a bunch of different ways it integrates with other platforms.

When they partner with a company like Ubisoft or EA, they create a deeper integration. This often means a silent background service runs behind the scenes usually with no pop-ups when you launch a game. It also means that you can manage the installation from the Xbox App just like on the Ubisoft launcher. In those cases, it's actually a benefit to me, as I think the Ubisoft launcher is a fucking mess...

Right now, the Steam integration is just a simple shortcut that gets added automatically. It's not a huge deal (kinda useless actually), but that could change. I don't think this first version is meant to be a game-changer. It's probably just the first step toward a deeper integration like the one with Ubisoft, something with tighter ties to Xbox and a silent background service, especially considering the rumors surrounding the next Xbox.

 

[YeulEmeralda]

The main flaw to me seems that everyone is buying games from Steam and other stores are negligible. So what's the point? Valve won. Just as Microsoft won with windows.

 

[rodrigolfp]

I want steam, I just hit a button on the controller and go into big picture mode. I don't need the Xbox app unless I want to play gamepass games, which are also a click away.

Big picture mode is a vastly superior experience.

 

[clarky]

I do this on the living room PC.

 

[pudel]

The main flaw to me seems that everyone is buying games from Steam and other stores are negligible. So what's the point? Valve won. Just as Microsoft won with windows.

Yep, thats also what I dont get. The reasons people are not buying from MS store are NOT that you cannot play steam games from within the xbox app. This is just a nice to have option for some heavy gamepass user, who are too lazy to make two clicks. So I assume this is done mainly in preparation for their new "console".

 

[RickMasters]

I'm still not upgrading my ally X( I ain't had that long) but when it's able to play my Xbox backlog I'll make the upgrade


What I'm most interested in, is this feature in the next Xbox. I do like the idea of the one launcher for all my games, I suppose I'll get to try this on my current ally X at some point. But I really want this In the next console.

 

[mayham2199]

But the real problems begin when your launchers require you to login again and then start updating. The launcher mess is one of the things pushing me away from PC gaming.

Yep one of the things that pushed me away to. I did sort of resolve it by simply using Steam only but that doesn't completely solve the issue. IMO Steam\Valve is big enough where they should be saying enough with the third part launchers or somehow integrate it into Steam in a much much better way. Find out why the devs want these third party launchers so much and work with Valve to give it to them without needing a separate program.

 

[nemiroff]

Find out why the devs want these third party launchers so much and work with Valve to give it to them without needing a separate program.

We all know why studios and publishers do it; they don't want to give Steam the 30-20%, simple as that.

 

[pudel]

Find out why the devs want these third party launchers so much and work with Valve to give it to them without needing a separate program.

Imho its mostly additional DRM and additional shops where you can spend money. Hard to talk that shit out of the companies. GOG is doing this already, but you can see not many devs/publishers have the balls to release at this glorious store.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

I'm still not upgrading my ally X( I ain't had that long) but when it's able to play my Xbox backlog I'll make the upgrade


What I'm most interested in, is this feature in the next Xbox. I do like the idea of the one launcher for all my games, I suppose I'll get to try this on my current ally X at some point. But I really want this In the next console.

That already exists. GOG, Steam, Heroic have all had one interface available for years.

 

[RickMasters]

That already exists. GOG, Steam, Heroic have all had one interface available for years.

I know……The point I'm making is you can't do it on a console, but we soon will be able to.

 

[Punished Miku]

We all know why studios and publishers do it; they don't want to give Steam the 30-20%, simple as that.

Ideally launchers could all be hidden behind a streamlined multistore UI like this and publishers could migrate everything to PC, and keep all the money for themselves. More money to the people actually making the games instead of Valve extracting 30% from an entire industry and not reinvesting any of it except for some stupid GAAS crap. It's taking 1/3rd of all the money in the PC gaming scene and lighting it on fire.

 

[mayham2199]

We all know why studios and publishers do it; they don't want to give Steam the 30-20%, simple as that.

No I mean for games that are already on Steam. Sometimes a 3rd party launcher comes up as well. I think Cp2077 does it.

 

[tr1p1ex]

So Xbox is an aggregator now?

 

[GHG]

Ideally launchers could all be hidden behind a streamlined multistore UI like this and publishers could migrate everything to PC, and keep all the money for themselves. More money to the people actually making the games instead of Valve extracting 30% from an entire industry and not reinvesting any of it except for some stupid GAAS crap. It's taking 1/3rd of all the money in the PC gaming scene and lighting it on fire.

And who exactly pays for the development, management, maintenance and customer service, etc in such a scenario?

 

[nemiroff]

No I mean for games that are already on Steam. Sometimes a 3rd party launcher comes up as well. I think Cp2077 does it.

Ah, yeah, I get what you're saying now.

Well, it's clearly a marketing tool, just like any launcher really. News, updates, promotions, merchandize, and ads for their other games. For 95% of us, it's annoying and useless, but if only a few percentages use it, it's worth it for the company.

Btw. IIRC, for Cyberpunk specifically you can add "--launcher-skip" (might also work for other games) under the properties in Steam to...skip it.

I guess the studios/publishers could make similar agreements with Steam, like MS have done with Ubi and EA to run services silently. Don't know why they apparently do not have the same agreements, does Rockstar games still show their own launchers when run from Steam?

Edit: Wait, did AC Shadows run without a launcher on Steam. There's a different integration there, right? If so, perhaps things are finally changing.

 

[Punished Miku]

And who exactly pays for the development, management, maintenance and customer service, etc in such a scenario?

Only publishers big enough to run their own store. Most indies would just have to host it somewhere else and take the cut.

 

[AtomicStarving]

Microsoft still referring to "Xbox" is one of its masks to hide the failure of Xbox as a casual platform. I've already told people... "Xbox" is bleeding at Microsoft after buying so many studios = more expenses.THEY ARE SO FUCKING DUMB WTF LOL

 

[Fess]

You can do all that anyway without this feature. I want steam, I just hit a button on the controller and go into big picture mode. I don't need the Xbox app unless I want to play gamepass games, which are also a click away.

Big picture mode is a vastly superior experience.

A click away? Come on, the experience when using Gamepass through Steam big picture mode is awful.

You can start already installed and added games, one click. But that's it. Well I actually couldn't start Diablo IV at all but maybe that was a unique issue.

Can't add new games without going into desktop mode and start digging through files, have fun doing that with your controller.

And no external launcher data is pulled in so you just see a gray box and the file name. Everything is called gamelaunchhelper.exe unless you pull out a keyboard. No art, game info, playtime, screens, achievements, anything.

They also place the games outside your regular list in a non-Steam category.

The assumption, at least for me, was that Microsoft would do something better than that.

One list with everything, art pulled in automatically, playtime logged, screens, achievements, everything done with a controller-only UI, install directly through the Xbox App. Etc.

 

[Pop]

Here comes Xbox trying to latch on to success again

 

[clarky]

A click away? Come on, the experience when using Gamepass through Steam big picture mode is awful.

You can start already installed and added games, one click. But that's it. Well I actually couldn't start Diablo IV at all but maybe that was a unique issue.

Can't add new games without going into desktop mode and start digging through files, have fun doing that with your controller.

And no external launcher data is pulled in so you just see a gray box and the file name. Everything is called gamelaunchhelper.exe unless you pull out a keyboard. No art, game info, playtime, screens, achievements, anything.

They also place the games outside your regular list in a non-Steam category.

The assumption, at least for me, was that Microsoft would do something better than that.

One list with everything, art pulled in automatically, playtime logged, screens, achievements, everything done with a controller-only UI, install directly through the Xbox App. Etc.

Who said I was accessing gamepass though Steam did I miss something?

 

[Bonfires Down]

Only publishers big enough to run their own store. Most indies would just have to host it somewhere else and take the cut.

He is asking who pays for the maintenance of the multistore UI. The answer is Microsoft would. Because they want you to stay on Windows.

It's hardly something new. They have been developing stuff like DirectX and XInput without charging for it for a long time.

 

[Punished Miku]

He is asking who pays for the maintenance of the multistore UI. The answer is Microsoft would. Because they want you to stay on Windows.

It's hardly something new. They have been developing stuff like DirectX and XInput without charging for it for a long time.

Well any store can, not just MS. There are a few options already from what I understand, including GOG.

 

[nemiroff]

Microsoft still referring to "Xbox" is one of its masks to hide the failure of Xbox as a casual platform. I've already told people... "Xbox" is bleeding at Microsoft after buying so many studios = more expenses.THEY ARE SO FUCKING DUMB WTF LOL

What the fuck are you talking about, how is this even a part of this topic.

Here comes Xbox trying to latch on to success again

Man, I try to put some effort to write some content into my posts, and then two seconds after, comes these low-iq "gems".

 

[Fess]

Who said I was accessing gamepass though Steam did I miss something?

What are you doing then? One click away you said. Are you using compact mode Xbox app? If so then how do you start/install Steam games?

I boot into Steam big picture mode. Probably tried every multi launcher solution out there. Nothing feels as good as Steam big picture mode in usage. But Steam is awful for games in other launchers. Playnite is the closest to what I want. But it feels cheap. And last time I tried I couldn't get playtime data, same issue as Gamepass games in Steam. But could at least list uninstalled games.

 

[clarky]

What are you doing then? One click away you said. Are you using compact mode Xbox app? If so then how do you start/install Steam games?

I boot into Steam big picture mode. Probably tried every multi launcher solution out there. Nothing feels as good as Steam big picture mode in usage. But Steam is awful for games in other launchers. Playnite is the closest to what I want. But it feels cheap. And last time I tried I couldn't get playtime data, same issue as Gamepass games in Steam. But could at least list uninstalled games.

One click brings up big picture. The other the xbox app. I never said I was using one exclusively.

I just hit a button on the controller and go into big picture mode I don't need the Xbox app unless I want to play gamepass games, which are also a click away.

Edit : Ah I see where you/me might have got our wires crossed as I mentioned the living room PC boots into big picture mode.

That is not my main PC and not what I was referring to originally.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

I know……The point I'm making is you can't do it on a console, but we soon will be able to.

What console? Xbox Series X won't be doing it.

 

[Damageinc103]

What console? Xbox Series X won't be doing it.

The next xbox and probably the handheld which will be a big deal.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

The next xbox and probably the handheld which will be a big deal.

Ah..."next gen console". You mean the windows machine with the Xbox labelling.

 

[Fess]

One click brings up big picture. The other the xbox app. I never said I was using one exclusively.

Edit : Ah I see where you/me might have got our wires crossed as I mentioned the living room PC boots into big picture mode.

That is not my main PC and not what I was referring to originally.

Yeah okay I'm just going by living room PC gaming here. In desktop mode there is no problem.

For what it's worth I've tried the new Xbox App now.

Impressions. Steam focused,m.

The positives:
+ Steam games are added automatically. No manual operations needed.
+ Library art is added automatically.
+ One click See in Steam takes you directly into the game details within Steam.

The negatives:
- Some games don't have any library art.
- All Steam games icons are very low res, looks ugly compared to Xbox games.
- No playtime shown, no screen shots, no game descriptions, no achievements.
- Games not installed don't show up.

 

[Pedro Motta]

When you though they wouldn't get any dumber, they go and do this.

 

[Edgelord79]

I will still install Steam.

 

[GHG]

Only publishers big enough to run their own store. Most indies would just have to host it somewhere else and take the cut.

What you stated real as if you thought the unified launcher should be the only thing that exists, without the individual stores existing in the background.

The best thing would actually be to have all PC games exist across all storefronts, and that way consumers get to decide how they want to access their games. That's pretty much already the case though anyway.

 

[Damageinc103]

Ah..."next gen console". You mean the windows machine with the Xbox labelling.

The system where every pc gamer with under probably a 4080 will be able to upgrade their system by just buying a xbox and will have everygame they have on a closed system that doesnt ask you to upgrade your anti virus.

And get to play PS5 games on also so 3 systems in one box but somehow that is a negative to some fuktards…..because those console gamers dont want their pc games to mix with their console games……

 

[JohnnyFootball]

The system where every pc gamer with under probably a 4080 will be able to upgrade their system by just buying a xbox and will have everygame they have on a closed system that doesnt ask you to upgrade your anti virus.

And get to play PS5 games on also so 3 systems in one box but somehow that is a negative to some fuktards…..because those console gamers dont want their pc games to mix with their console games……

Where is this fantasyland version of Microsoft headquartered?

 

[Fess]

The best thing would actually be to have all PC games exist across all storefronts, and that way consumers get to decide how they want to access their games.

Convenient for consumers but it would quickly end up as a closed garden with no competition and be completely controlled by the biggest store/launcher since the most popular store would get all sales and wipe out the rest.

It's already close with Steam swallowing such a big chunk of game sales.

That's pretty much already the case though anyway.

It's close for the absolute biggest publisher titles. But I have like 150 games only available on GOG, Epic have exclusives too, Sony have their games exclusively on Steam, and Microsoft/Ubisoft/EA have their games on Steam but you only get the "free" subscription version through their individual launchers.

 

[Fess]

This is frustrating tbh. I don't understand what's the problem. Why can't anyone do this thing right??

It's been done for ages for emulation. Scraping disks of games, info text, screens, art, controller UI, launch with one click.

I just want someone to correctly combine all games in one list in a great frontend. With a good big screen controller mode. Is that really asking too much?

GOG Galaxy can combine launcher games, art is right, looks good, but have no big screen mode, I couldn't get Steam integration working either, seem to have broken after an update. Close but no cigar.

Xbox App have a big screen mode and Gamepass is obviously done right but Steam game info is just an empty page and library art is low res. And no installs. No cigar there either.

Playnite get a lot of it right, best one for me. Big screen mode is good. But it feels cheap and don't pull in playtime. They actually start a playtime counter on their own which is completely bizarre. I have 700 hours on Elden Ring, Playnite show like 2 hours because that's all I've played through that launcher. So stupid. Nope, no cigar.

I googled and saw that you can use Emulation Station to launch regular PC games, it's the frontend used in Retropie.
Anybody tried that?
I assume it would just scrape the disk from already installed games though. I need to be able to log in with all my accounts to just have a full dump of my owned games in one list, with an install functionality.

 

[mayham2199]

This is frustrating tbh. I don't understand what's the problem. Why can't anyone do this thing right??

It's been done for ages for emulation. Scraping disks of games, info text, screens, art, controller UI, launch with one click.

I just want someone to correctly combine all games in one list in a great frontend. With a good big screen controller mode. Is that really asking too much?

GOG Galaxy can combine launcher games, art is right, looks good, but have no big screen mode, I couldn't get Steam integration working either, seem to have broken after an update. Close but no cigar.

Xbox App have a big screen mode and Gamepass is obviously done right but Steam game info is just an empty page and library art is low res. And no installs. No cigar there either.

Playnite get a lot of it right, best one for me. Big screen mode is good. But it feels cheap and don't pull in playtime. They actually start a playtime counter on their own which is completely bizarre. I have 700 hours on Elden Ring, Playnite show like 2 hours because that's all I've played through that launcher. So stupid. Nope, no cigar.

I googled and saw that you can use Emulation Station to launch regular PC games, it's the frontend used in Retropie.
Anybody tried that?
I assume it would just scrape the disk from already installed games though. I need to be able to log in with all my accounts to just have a full dump of my owned games in one list, with an install functionality.

apparently playnite can pull playtime from steam

 

[Fess]

apparently playnite can pull playtime from steam

Oh there is a setting for that?
Right now I only see the Playnite playtime.
But the data is there, pretty sure it lists recently played games correctly, shows Stellar Blade and Hollow Knight first which is what I'm currently playing.

 

[djjinx2]

This is frustrating tbh. I don't understand what's the problem. Why can't anyone do this thing right??

It's been done for ages for emulation. Scraping disks of games, info text, screens, art, controller UI, launch with one click.

I just want someone to correctly combine all games in one list in a great frontend. With a good big screen controller mode. Is that really asking too much?

GOG Galaxy can combine launcher games, art is right, looks good, but have no big screen mode, I couldn't get Steam integration working either, seem to have broken after an update. Close but no cigar.

Xbox App have a big screen mode and Gamepass is obviously done right but Steam game info is just an empty page and library art is low res. And no installs. No cigar there either.

Playnite get a lot of it right, best one for me. Big screen mode is good. But it feels cheap and don't pull in playtime. They actually start a playtime counter on their own which is completely bizarre. I have 700 hours on Elden Ring, Playnite show like 2 hours because that's all I've played through that launcher. So stupid. Nope, no cigar.

I googled and saw that you can use Emulation Station to launch regular PC games, it's the frontend used in Retropie.
Anybody tried that?
I assume it would just scrape the disk from already installed games though. I need to be able to log in with all my accounts to just have a full dump of my owned games in one list, with an install functionality.

Launchbox (Bigbox mode)?

 

[Fess]

Launchbox (Bigbox mode)?

LaunchBox Frontend for Emulation, DOSBox, and Arcade Cabinets, Portable Games Launcher and Database

LaunchBox is a portable, box-art-based games database and launcher for DOSBox, emulators, arcade cabinets, and PC Games. Download it free!

www.launchbox-app.com

Sounds awesome, Will try asap!

 

[Crayon]

people are super sure PS will not block games into this app. and while it doesn't make sense to block them.... these devices are an Xbox and marketed in that way.... so, if Sony block them will make sense as well. i guess this will show how evil, arrogant and violent Sony really is.

Blocking them now would not be a great look. They should have thought about that when they started porting their games for extra pocket money. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. The problem is already there, this just shines a light on it. The only thing they could do is stop porting future games and start rebuilding an exclusive catalog all over again.

 

[Astray]

Blocking them now would not be a great look. They should have thought about that when they started porting their games for extra pocket money. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. The problem is already there, this just shines a light on it. The only thing they could do is stop porting future games and start rebuilding an exclusive catalog all over again.

Sony probably can block if they lean-in and put resources, but imo they're actually better served by not blocking.

Think of it like this:

Store A and B were in competition, Store B is on the verge of collapse but still has a minority of ardent fans that won't buy store-exclusive items from Store A, so they snuck through the backdoor, paid for the products and put them in Store B bags before walking out and claiming that they bought them in Store B and how now Store A has no recourse.

Does Store A really need to care about those Store B bags when they're getting paid?

 

[GHG]

Convenient for consumers but it would quickly end up as a closed garden with no competition and be completely controlled by the biggest store/launcher since the most popular store would get all sales and wipe out the rest.

It's already close with Steam swallowing such a big chunk of game sales.

You clearly don't know what a closed garden is then.

There's nothing stopping all the other companies who manage the various other launchers from equalling or surpassing Steam when it comes to feature-set, pricing and customer service standards. Instead they decide to focus on other things, many of which actually piss people off. It's not Steam's fault that so many of these other participants can't see the forest for the trees.

LaunchBox Frontend for Emulation, DOSBox, and Arcade Cabinets, Portable Games Launcher and Database

LaunchBox is a portable, box-art-based games database and launcher for DOSBox, emulators, arcade cabinets, and PC Games. Download it free!

www.launchbox-app.com

Sounds awesome, Will try asap!

Post in thread 'A dedicated Windows gaming PC'

Mar 21, 2025

GitHub - jazir555/GamesDows: Windows boots straight into Steam Big Picture or Playnite without displaying any Explorer UI elements. GamesDows is intended to emulate Steam OS's "Game Mode" as closely as possible.

Windows boots straight into Steam Big Picture or Playnite without displaying any Explorer UI elements. GamesDows is intended to emulate Steam OS's "Game Mode" as closely as possible. ...

github.com

This is the one.

Alternatively you can use BigBox (which is launchbox's premium version which includes a controller interface) and then import all you steam games.

That way you can easily have games from anywhere (including emulation) all in one easy to navigate interface.



This is currently my favourite all in one interface because of the box art feature and how beautiful it looks in general.

• GHG

• 

 

[Gamezone]

This would be great if I somehow could earn Xbox achievements by playing games on other launchers, but it's just a launcher for a launcher for another launcher at worst, so it's easily a hard pass.

 

[Crayon]

Sony probably can block if they lean-in and put resources, but imo they're actually better served by not blocking.

Think of it like this:

Store A and B were in competition, Store B is on the verge of collapse but still has a minority of ardent fans that won't buy store-exclusive items from Store A, so they snuck through the backdoor, paid for the products and put them in Store B bags before walking out and claiming that they bought them in Store B and how now Store A has no recourse.

Does Store A really need to care about those Store B bags when they're getting paid?

That seems like it would also map to steam being store b instead of MS. Except that steam is very successful. This is just a link to steam, after all. Only now it's being taken advantage of for marketing. You'll be hearing that Sony games are 'on xbox's for a long time and it will be kinda-sorta true.

 

[Gamezone]

Sony probably can block if they lean-in and put resources, but imo they're actually better served by not blocking.

Think of it like this:

Store A and B were in competition, Store B is on the verge of collapse but still has a minority of ardent fans that won't buy store-exclusive items from Store A, so they snuck through the backdoor, paid for the products and put them in Store B bags before walking out and claiming that they bought them in Store B and how now Store A has no recourse.

Does Store A really need to care about those Store B bags when they're getting paid?

Block a shortcut?

 

[graywolf323]

Destin is now pushing the BS that you can play PlayStation games on 'Xbox'