Microsoft is reportedly testing a major redesign of the Xbox app for Windows, with a strong focus on faster performance, simpler navigation and better support for large game libraries.
The rebuilt app is internally known as Garrison and is currently being tested in an early form. Initial impressions suggest Microsoft has made substantial progress in one of the areas where the existing Xbox PC app has received the most criticism: responsiveness.
Testing with a library containing more than 1,400 games reportedly showed noticeably faster loading and navigation than the current version.
Microsoft has not published benchmark figures, so the exact performance improvement is unclear, but multiple early testers have described the new build as significantly faster.
Xbox PC App Combines Game and Store Pages
One of the biggest interface changes is a simplified approach to game pages.
The current Xbox app separates a game's library listing from its store page, which can result in extra navigation when you want to view information, manage an installation or check purchase options.
The redesigned version combines these areas into a single interface.
| Garrison change | Expected improvement |
|---|---|
| Faster library loading | Better experience with large collections |
| Combined game and store pages | Fewer unnecessary navigation steps |
| Clearer local and cloud labels | Easier to identify installable games |
| Controller support | Better handheld and living room navigation |
| Mouse and keyboard support | Standard desktop use remains supported |
| Adaptive interface scaling | Larger controller friendly presentation |
| Gaming mode integration | Can act as the home screen in Windows 11 gaming mode |
The overall goal appears to be reducing the amount of movement between different sections of the app.
That could make browsing, purchasing and managing games feel more consistent.
Large Libraries Should Be Easier to Navigate
Performance improvements appear to be especially noticeable for accounts with very large Xbox libraries.
The current app can become slow when loading extensive collections, particularly when games from multiple generations and services are involved.
The Garrison build reportedly handles these situations much more efficiently.
Another useful change is clearer separation between games that can be installed directly on the PC and titles that are only available through Xbox Cloud Gaming.
That distinction can become confusing in large libraries, especially when older Xbox games appear alongside native PC releases and cloud enabled titles.
Making those categories easier to identify should reduce uncertainty when deciding what can actually be downloaded.
Controller Navigation Is a Bigger Focus
The redesigned app supports both mouse and keyboard controls and full controller navigation.
The interface can automatically adjust its scale when used with a controller, making elements easier to see and navigate from farther away.
That matters for handheld gaming PCs and systems designed to behave more like consoles.
Microsoft is also reportedly allowing the Xbox app to become the default home screen when entering Windows 11's new gaming focused mode.
This makes the redesign particularly relevant to devices such as the ROG Xbox Ally, where traditional desktop navigation is less convenient than a controller friendly interface.
The Overhaul Is Mainly About Speed and Usability
The current Garrison build does not appear to introduce many entirely new features.
Microsoft is primarily concentrating on performance, navigation and general usability.
That means some areas where the Xbox app still trails competing PC platforms remain largely unchanged.
Community features, developer interaction, player reviews and store discovery are still areas where Microsoft's PC gaming ecosystem offers less functionality than Steam.
The redesign therefore looks more like an effort to fix the foundations before adding larger new features.
That approach could be important because even strong new functionality would have limited value if the basic app remains slow or cumbersome to use.
Xbox Insiders Could See the New App Before 2027
Microsoft has not announced an official release date for the redesigned Xbox PC app.
However, the early build could reportedly reach Xbox Insiders within the coming weeks, potentially before the end of 2026.
The timing fits Microsoft's broader push toward PC gaming, Xbox Play Anywhere and Windows based handheld systems.
A faster and more controller friendly Xbox app could become an important part of that strategy, particularly as Microsoft tries to make Windows gaming feel less dependent on the traditional desktop.
The Garrison overhaul is still in development, so its interface and features may change before release. Based on early testing, however, the most important improvement may simply be that the Xbox PC app finally feels much faster to use.
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