For years, PC gamers have dealt with a fragmented digital landscape. Your games might be split across half a dozen different launchers—Steam, the Epic Games Store, Battle.net, EA Play, and more. Microsoft is now making a bold move to solve this “launcher fatigue” by transforming its Xbox app on PC into a centralized hub for nearly all of your games, regardless of where you bought them.
What’s Changing in the Xbox App?
Announced via the official Xbox Wire blog, a new feature is rolling out that allows the Xbox app to automatically detect and aggregate games from other PC storefronts into a single, unified library. According to Microsoft, this will include games from “Xbox, Game Pass, Battle.net and other leading PC storefronts.”
While Steam and the Epic Games Store weren’t mentioned by name, the phrase “leading PC storefronts” strongly implies their inclusion.
The key features of this update are:
- Unified Library: All your installed PC games, whether from Game Pass or another launcher, will appear together in your “My Library” tab within the Xbox app.
- Direct Launching: You can launch any game directly from the Xbox app, streamlining the process of jumping into a game.
It is important to note a key limitation: the Xbox app will act as a universal launcher, not a universal installer. You will still need the original launchers (like Steam or Battle.net) installed for game updates and management, but for day-to-day playing, you can live entirely within the Xbox interface.
The Strategic Play: More Than Just a Feature
This update is far more than a simple quality-of-life improvement; it’s a major strategic play by Microsoft to make its ecosystem the gravitational center of PC gaming.
- The Handheld Connection: This software update lays crucial groundwork for the growing market of Windows-based gaming handhelds, like the recently announced ASUS ROG Ally X. For these devices to succeed against competitors like the Steam Deck, they need a seamless, console-like software experience. A unified launcher that brings all games into one Xbox-branded hub is a critical step in providing that cohesive user interface.
- Fighting Launcher Fatigue: Instead of trying to force users away from other stores, Microsoft is taking a different approach: convenience. By solving one of the biggest pain points for PC gamers, Microsoft makes its own app the most convenient and appealing place to start a gaming session.
- Ecosystem “Gravity”: When the Xbox app becomes the default “home” for a PC gamer, they are constantly engaged with the Xbox ecosystem. This proximity makes them more likely to browse Game Pass, check out Microsoft Store sales, and interact with friends on the Xbox network, even if they are about to launch a game purchased from a competitor.
What’s Next?
This feature is currently rolling out to members of the Xbox Insider Program for testing and will likely become available to all users of the Xbox PC app later this year.
While third-party universal launchers like GOG Galaxy and Playnite have offered similar functionality for years, having this feature natively integrated by a platform holder as large as Microsoft is a game-changer. It signals a strategic shift from direct competition to a more absorptive approach, aiming to make the entire PC gaming landscape feel like it runs through an Xbox hub. This seemingly small update could have major implications for how millions of players manage and access their game libraries in the near future.