Microsoft's 2022 New Year's resolution should be fixing the Xbox app on PC

Xbox Game Pass PC Source: Matt Brownish | Windows Central

Microsoft's manufacture-dominating Xbox Game Pass service has given the Xbox platform a huge advantage over the past couple of years, cartoon countless fans into the Xbox ecosystem with its gargantuan all-you-can-eat game cafe and an affordable monthly toll. As part of the visitor's effort to directly branch out into the PC gaming space, Microsoft has also launched PC Game Laissez passer, a PC version of Game Pass that offers the aforementioned benefits for people that prefer to play games on Windows.

Unfortunately, different the Xbox Game Pass experience on console, the PC Game Pass experience was very disappointing for quite some time. PC Game Pass just wasn't skilful enough, as users were forced to bargain with UWP app commitment issues that broke game installations, dependency on the tedious, glitchy Windows 10 version of the Microsoft Store, an Xbox app that wasn't much better, and exceptionally poor modernistic back up.

The inflow of Windows eleven fixed a lot of these problems, and Microsoft too made the wise decision to motility everything to the Xbox app on PC instead of splitting the PC Game Pass experience between it and the Microsoft Store ane. However, there's however one glaring flaw that Microsoft hasn't addressed: the quality of the Xbox app on PC.

Xbox App on PC Source: Windows Central Data in each tab of the Xbox App ofttimes takes a painfully long time to load.

In my feel, the biggest issue with the Xbox app is that it can often be incredibly deadening and buggy to utilise. Information technology's improve than the Microsoft Store was in Windows 10, but it's even so far from being in an acceptable country. Buttons for installing or updating my games often merely don't work, forcing me to relaunch the app. Video game box art on the storefront sometimes won't load at all, making it impossible to come across what games I'1000 looking at. I've even had the app not evidence me an option to update my games despite the programmer releasing a patch, preventing me from accessing official issues fixes (this locks y'all out of playing multiplayer games completely).

These are just my issues though. Other users have reported issues like game libraries not displaying correctly, preloaded games not launching properly one time they release, and the app hogging a significant corporeality of system resources. Overall, the state of the app is but unacceptable.

The Xbox app is slow, unreliable, and lacks the utility that PC gamers have come up to expect.

The app's organization filters too either don't make sense or work correctly. For example, why are there tags for "Xbox 1 10 Enhanced" and "Optimized for Xbox Series X|Southward" games on PC? Why does the storefront but prove me ane game when I select the "120 FPS" tag, despite the fact that a big portion of the PC Game Pass library supports that framerate? Why doesn't "Cloud enabled" show me popular titles available through Xbox Cloud Gaming like Halo Infinite and Sea of Thieves? Compared to the reliable and accurate filters on Steam, the Xbox app'due south are atrocious.

Compared to other PC storefronts, the Xbox app is also lacking on the quality-of-life forepart. You lot tin't organize your installed games into custom collections or move your game installations to a different folder or drive, and there's no manner to meet your playtime or bank check out what the latest patch notes for recent updates. The Social tab of the app is lacking, too, equally it only shows you your friends listing and recent posts fabricated by friends without giving you a fashion to create and engage with groups and communities like you lot can on Xbox.

Xbox App on PC Source: Windows Central

At the terminate of the day, there's no getting effectually it: The Xbox app is ho-hum, unreliable, and lacks the utility that PC gamers take come up to expect. That's disappointing, as the potential of PC Game Pass is huge and shouldn't be held dorsum past frustrating stability issues and absent features. There's no doubt in my mind that PC Game Pass would be significantly more pop than it is correct now if the Xbox app user feel wasn't then flawed.

If Microsoft wants PC Game Pass and its overall push button into the PC gaming infinite to grow and succeed like Xbox Game Laissez passer did, it needs to address the Xbox app's numerous shortcomings in 2022 — sooner rather than later on. It'south crucial that Microsoft offers robust software that makes playing and engaging with the best PC games easy and frustration-free, and right now, the Xbox app just isn't cutting it.

Growing lineup

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3 Month Subscription

Everything you lot demand

Xbox Game Pass gives you admission to over 200 games for one monthly fee. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also adds PC Game Pass too as Xbox Live Gold to the packet so you tin can play online with your friends. Y'all besides become admission to EA Play.

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Larn more.

Where are all the guns in Dying Light 2?

Shooty bang bang

Where are all the guns in Dying Light two?

It's by design, sure, but there'southward a distinct lack of firearms in Dying Light 2. For better or worse, modern medieval Villedor is a place to build your ain weapons. But what happened to the guns and ammo and might it ever make a improvement?

I like 'em big ... I like 'em chunky

These are the best gaming mice for folks with large hands

A neat gaming mouse is of import for anyone looking to get into PC gaming. However, if yous have big easily, you may struggle to find a mouse that feels comfortable for you. Thankfully, there are plenty of plus-sized mouse options on the marketplace.