The updated Xbox PC app promises 60% faster load times and simpler access to games, but CEO Asha Sharma says much more remains to be done.

Microsoft Makes Xbox PC App Boot 60% Faster for Insiders

Background: Earlier PC changes set the stage

The Xbox PC app has carried a weak reputation in recent years, and Microsoft now says the updated version is much faster and easier to use. Earlier this year, Microsoft already added a batch of classic games to PC for the first time, with Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge and Fuzion Frenzy leading that group. Mythic Achievements, the Platinum Trophy equivalent, also became available to all Xbox players. Those moves show the company has been expanding Xbox PC content and achievement features alongside the app itself.

Development: Insiders test speed and navigation changes

Starting today, Xbox Insiders can try the updated Xbox PC app. Microsoft reports a 60% faster app boot, up to 50% faster launches for several pages, and up to 65% faster opening of in-app windows. Performance can still depend on setup, internet connection, device, and other conditions. For users, that means shorter waits before the app opens, pages appear, or windows appear.

Xbox Wire says the update also brings simpler navigation, updated filters, and new ways to organise games. Microsoft says search should make it easier to find what users want, and refreshed game cards and animations should create a cleaner look and feel. Social features have moved into the main navigation menu, helping players start games or chats with friends more quickly.

Latest progress: Cloud access expands while the storefront gap remains

Microsoft says the revamped cloud gaming setup will reach more people through web browsers, and more Xbox Insiders should hear about the program over the next few weeks. The updated experience should also make it easier to find and play games, with new light and dark modes. Supported smart TVs and virtual reality headsets will receive the updated cloud experience too.

Even so, the Xbox PC app still lacks many features that make Steam the go-to place for buying PC games. CEO Asha Sharma called the update "a meaningful improvement," but said there is still "plenty more to do." The release therefore looks like a focused upgrade to speed and usability rather than a finished substitute for Steam.

Current stage: Phased Insider rollout and wider device tests

The Xbox PC app is now in an early rollout stage: Insiders can test the faster launch times, revised navigation, cleaner game cards, and expanded cloud experience. The 60%, 50%, and 65% speed claims are the main numbers to watch, while the next few weeks will reveal how broadly the browser, smart TV, virtual reality, and Insider access spread. The immediate reader impact is a quicker and easier app for existing Xbox users, with further work still expected before it can compete more fully with Steam.