Microsoft tests compact Xbox game bar for Windows, optimized for handhelds & controllers
Microsoft is currently testing a new compact version of its Xbox Game Bar for Windows 11, targeting Xbox Insiders. This update is specifically optimized for smaller screens, Windows-powered handhelds, and controller-based PC gameplay. The compact mode simplifies access to widgets and navigation, allowing users to switch between widgets using the left and right bumpers (LB/RB) on their controllers.
Key features include a home widget that displays recent or running games, enabling users to quit games directly. The new mode also integrates controller functionality with widget options and the widget store. Interested users can sign up as Xbox Insiders to test this feature and enable it under settings.
This update follows recent improvements to the Xbox app on Windows, which added a compact mode and better navigation and game-launching features for controllers last year. For devices like the Asus ROG Ally, this new update should be highly beneficial and might signal the company's rumored Xbox handheld console.