Microsoft launched a compact mode for its Xbox app on Home windows final 12 months, which is designed to enhance the hand-held expertise. Whereas compact mode initially centered on UI enhancements for small screens, Microsoft is transferring on to tackling a few of the challenges of navigating across the Xbox app with a D-pad and sticks.
In a new update for Xbox Insiders immediately, Microsoft is including a brand new “Leap again in” function that permits you to shortly launch video games you’ve just lately performed on a Home windows handheld. Leap again in will record as much as 9 video games on the primary display screen of the Xbox app, and you’ll press the menu button on a controller to launch the sport straight.
It’s clever sufficient to know if you have already got a sport operating, so it’ll merely change to that occasion, and by default, it should navigate to the sport hub for a sport so you’ll be able to see which mates are taking part in, your achievements, and extra.
Microsoft can also be bettering the chums panel to make it simpler to entry with a handheld or controller. There’s now fast entry from the sidebar to a slide-out mates record that has huge buttons to faucet to hitch social gathering chats.
Whereas it’s good to see this addition, I nonetheless discover it tough to navigate across the Xbox app on a ROG Ally with out touching the display screen. Accessing the sidebar can typically be tough for those who’ve navigated down a web page, and the Xbox app appears to get caught in sure sections and forestall you from accessing the sidebar by navigating left except you’re on the high of the web page otherwise you’ve highlighted a specific factor.
Microsoft nonetheless has an extended solution to go to enhance the general handheld expertise in Home windows, however for those who’re a PC Sport Go subscriber who owns a Home windows handheld, then you definately’re getting some early enhancements forward of the Home windows crew actually focusing in on controller navigation all through the OS.