Windows Game Bar gets design tweaks for better handheld gaming

Windows is the de facto home of PC gaming, but it’s a rather awkward fit for a slew of new Steam Deck-inspired handhelds. That’s why the prospect of third-party handhelds running SteamOS is so tantalizing. But it looks like Microsoft is ready to defend its position, with new tweaks to the Game Bar that make it easier to use on said handhelds.

That’s the subtext, if not the direct message, in the latest official Xbox Wire blog post. The Game Bar app—an overlay meant to enhance your game experience and deliver some on-the-fly statistical data—has a new look now. It’s a little more muted and easier on the eyes, with faster access to tools like the Capture and Performance widgets. You can also navigate the Widget Store to download new tools much more easily with a controller, whether it’s separate or part of your device.

The goal here is “ensuring a smoother experience when using Compact Mode on PCs and Windows Handhelds.” (Note the direct shout-out and brand-approved capitalization.) When I tried out Compact Mode on my desktop, it gave me definite Steam Big Picture mode vibes, complete with a much bigger font and interface. It looks goofy on a 32-inch monitor, but it’s easy to see how it would work better on a little 7-inch screen.

In other Xbox-slash-PC gaming news, Microsoft has announced new support for more games you can stream via Game Pass if you own a copy, notably highlighted by the new Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The latest blockbuster in Ubisoft’s long-running series isn’t on Game Pass—at least not yet—but if you buy the game, you can use Game Pass to stream it from the cloud. A nice perk. There are now over 50 titles with this distinction, and more coming soon.

Microsoft

Microsoft is also leveraging its position as a mega-publisher to try and convince free-to-play gamers that Game Pass is worth the upgrade. If you subscribe, you’ll get extra goodies in already-free games like League of Legends, Overwatch 2, and Call of Duty: Warzone.