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3d ago

Microsoft Opens Xbox App Preview for Native Game Downloads on Windows on Arm

The limited rollout lets Insiders download select ARM64 Game Pass titles locally with future updates poised to expand compatibility beyond current emulation and anti-cheat hurdles

Xbox app on Windows
Image
A person playing a game using an Xbox controller on a Surface Pro
This is the type of error you'll see on a lot of games on Arm currently.

Overview

  • Access to native installs requires enrollment in both Windows Insider and Xbox Insider programs and Xbox app version 2508.1001.27.0 or higher
  • Only ARM64-compiled titles from the Game Pass catalog and Microsoft Store can be downloaded locally, leaving unoptimized games cloud-only
  • Microsoft’s Windows and Xbox engineering teams are working on features to improve GPU performance and enable anti-cheat services on Arm devices
  • Current Arm hardware and emulation limitations mean many games still run poorly or fail, so Xbox Cloud Gaming may remain preferable for demanding titles
  • Broader Arm-native support hinges on developer adoption of Arm builds and the arrival of next-generation Qualcomm and potential NVIDIA Arm chips