Overview
- A hands-on preview published Friday by Windows Central found the early Garrison build delivers large performance gains, including much faster loading of a 1,400-plus game library and snappier navigation.
- The redesign adopts a console-like UI and includes a revamped cloud-gaming interface codenamed Bastion to make it easier to tell which games can be downloaded and which are stream-only.
- The app now offers both controller and mouse-and-keyboard layouts, can serve as Windows 11 Game Mode’s home screen, and exposes per-game launch parameters plus Desktop and Full-Screen modes.
- Reporters emphasize the current focus is on speed and usability rather than new features, and Microsoft is expected to open testing to Xbox Insiders before a wider rollout while it continues to iterate.
- The revamp fits Xbox’s broader PC push under CEO Asha Sharma and aims to close gaps with rivals like Steam on library performance and discoverability though Steam still leads on community and developer tools.