Microsoft offers first look at new universal gaming library for Xbox PC app

As part of the recent announcement of the ROG Xbox Ally, one of the biggest unique-selling-points for the upcoming handheld from Microsoft is its supposed tight integration between hardware and software – with Microsoft promising that players won’t be tied down to a single digital storefront. In aid of this effort, the company has now begun to detail its upcoming ‘Aggregated Gaming Library’ feature.

Taking to the Xbox Wire Blog, Manisha Oza – Product Manager for the Xbox Platform – wrote: “Hey Xbox Insiders, starting this week users enrolled in the PC Gaming Preview can get a first look at the new aggregated gaming library in the Xbox PC app for Windows 11 PCs and handheld devices.”

As stated, the feature is set to fully roll out later this year alongside the ROG Xbox Ally’s official launch. That said, an early form of this new library is being made available, with the team explaining:

“With the aggregated gaming library, players can conveniently launch games from Xbox, Game Pass, Battle.net and other leading PC storefronts from a single library within the Xbox PC app. Whether you’re on a Windows PC or a handheld device, your Xbox library, hundreds of Game Pass titles, and all your installed games from leading PC storefronts will now be at your fingertips.”

Offering slightly more information, Microsoft claims that any newly installed games should “automatically appear in ‘My library’ within the Xbox PC app, as well as the ‘Most recent’ list of titles in the sidebar.”

Of course, this will be far from the first attempt at collating PC users’ libraries, with the likes of GOG having such a feature for many years.

That said, in looking at how the Steam Deck handles storefronts other than Steam (aka not the best), Microsoft could have something quite neat on their hands – assuming it is as seamless as they claim.

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KitGuru says: What do you think of Microsoft’s handheld plans? Will the streamlined version of Windows be enough of a USP? Let us know down below.

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