Microsoft began rolling out Xbox mode to all Windows 11 PCs in April 2026, bringing a full-screen interface to the Xbox PC app that functions similarly to Steam’s Big Picture Mode.
The feature, originally introduced as the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) on Asus’ Xbox Ally devices, is now available more broadly. “Some players in select markets will be able to download the Xbox mode experience today, with availability expanding to more players in those markets over the next several weeks,” the Xbox team said. Users can access Xbox mode by installing the latest Windows 11 update.
Microsoft described the wider rollout as the product of ongoing player feedback gathered since the feature’s initial debut on Windows handhelds. “Since first introducing Xbox mode, formerly known as ‘full screen experience,’ on Windows handhelds, we’ve been listening closely to player feedback and continuing to evolve the experience across devices,” the Xbox team said. “Those learnings directly shaped Xbox mode on Windows 11 PCs.”
The mode is designed to narrow the gap between Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, offering a console-style interface on desktop hardware. Its original launch on the Xbox Ally devices was considered a beta-level experience at the time.
Alongside the Windows 11 rollout, Microsoft is also releasing improvements to the Xbox Ally X handheld, including a preview of its Auto SR upscaling technology. Xbox console owners are receiving a separate dashboard update that adds the ability to disable Quick Resume on individual games and introduces custom color options for the dashboard.
The combination of updates suggests Microsoft is pushing toward a more unified experience across its Xbox hardware and Windows platforms, though the full scope of that effort will depend on how the broader rollout proceeds in the coming weeks.
Source: The Verge