Microsoft to Merge Xbox and Game Pass Apps on iOS and Android, Rolls Out New Features on PC, Consoles

Microsoft stated Wednesday that it will be merging options from the Xbox Game Pass app to the Xbox app on cell platforms this week. The new streamlined Xbox app with Game Pass options can be out there on iOS, Android and iPadOS. Microsoft will even halt all downloads of the Xbox Game Pass app from November. Additionally, the corporate introduced a couple of different Xbox-related options for PC and consoles, together with Game Bar Compact Mode and enhancements to the Xbox app on PC.

Xbox App to Get Game Pass Features

Features of the Xbox Game Pass app can be mixed with the Xbox app as a part of an replace out there for Xbox beta members on cell this week. The new all-in-one Xbox app can be out there to all customers quickly. Starting November, Microsoft will now not help new downloads of the Xbox Game Pass app.

Some of the options coming to the Xbox app will embody the power to discover Microsoft’s recreation subscription service and handle your membership. “You’ll be able to browse the full Game Pass catalog to find your favorite games and stay in the loop with alerts for new games coming to the service,” the corporate stated in an Xbox Wire publish Wednesday.

Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will even be capable of view and declare their perks, and stream choose video games by way of Xbox Cloud Gaming on iOS or Android.

The common options of the Xbox app will stay the identical for all customers, together with its social options, updates on video games, occasion chat whereas gaming, the power to verify achievements and remotely putting in video games in your console, and extra.

Xbox Updates on PC

As a part of its September replace, Microsoft additionally confirmed that Game Bar Compact Mode, first introduced in August, was now out there for all PC gamers. Initially out there to Xbox Insiders, the brand new mode optimizes Xbox Game Bar for smaller screens and Windows-based gaming handhelds.

Game Bar lets gamers on Windows view lately performed video games, entry recreation launchers, seize gameplay footage and extra. The Compact Mode brings simplified entry to Game Bar widgets on smaller screens. A brand new function in Game Bar Compact Mode now permits customers to give up a recreation instantly from the Home widget.

To activate Game Bar Compact Mode, customers can head to Game Bar Settings and swap on the Compact Mode toggle discovered within the General tab.

Users can view and handle add-ons at one place
Photo Credit: Microsoft

The Xbox mum or dad additionally rolled out an replace to the Xbox app on PC that improves the sport administration expertise on the app. Users can now view and set up associated add-ons for a recreation, whereas putting in that title, as an alternative of looking for out there add-ons on the app. Users can even handle add-ons or further content material for a recreation by right-clicking on an put in title, deciding on “Manage,” and heading to the “Add-ons” part.

Improved Game Management on Xbox Consoles

On Xbox consoles, gamers can now pre-download recreation updates and begin enjoying as quickly because the replace is stay. This may be finished by heading to My Games & Apps on an Xbox console, then deciding on Manage, after which Updates. Here, customers will be capable of see all out there pre-downloads for his or her video games. This function is at the moment supported by choose video games and can be out there for extra titles later.

Finally, Xbox customers will now get notified when a want listed recreation is launched, joins Game Pass, or turns into out there as a part of a Free Play Day promotion.