As a long-time gamer and tech enthusiast who has dabbled in various platforms over the years, I must say that my recent experiences with the Xbox ecosystem have left me feeling somewhat frustrated. It seems that the Xbox platform team is spread far too thin, leaving some crucial aspects of the user experience lagging behind their competitors.
On both Windows 10 and 11, the Xbox app serves as the primary gateway to Microsoft’s gaming world on computers. It consolidates various services such as Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and PC games from the Microsoft Store into one convenient location. Yet, it has also been a topic of frequent criticism.
I feel like I’ve been bashing Microsoft’s Xbox app for years at this point, although I have to give credit where it’s due. Microsoft has stuck with the app and improved it immeasurably since its initial launch, deprecating the old Windows 8 Xbox app of yore. Inexplicably, though, some features that were present in the old Windows 8 app are still missing from the new Xbox app, which is as baffling as it is frustrating.
Microsoft has recently refreshed its app with changes to the home screen, emphasizing games not included in the PC Game Pass and improving speed performance. Additionally, the app has received updates to enhance usability on portable PC devices such as the ASUS ROG Ally. However, the slow pace of updates has resurfaced as a topic due to the immense popularity of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which is available on PC Game Pass. As a result, an influx of new users are finding that the app doesn’t offer a top-notch experience.
As Xbox expands its reach beyond just consoles, it can no longer tolerate delivering subpar experiences when competing against platforms solely dedicated to one mode. Microsoft risks becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none in an era where consumers have an unprecedented number of options for spending their money.
A variety of small annoyances and crucial missing features
The problems encountered with the Xbox app for PC span from minor to significant, although the significant issues have significantly decreased compared to its earlier versions. Nowadays, it no longer crashes, freezes, or grapples with stuck downloads as it used to. However, there remains a set of annoyances that should be absent in today’s tech landscape (2024).
I find the library setup on Xbox less appealing due to the prominent and spacious “Play Later” banner that seems unnecessary if one doesn’t intend to use it. A more straightforward approach could be to allow users to pin games to the top of the list, eliminating the need for a large empty section that dominates half the screen by default. While it’s possible Microsoft has data showing widespread appreciation for this feature, I personally doubt it. It would certainly enhance user experience if there was an option to remove it.
In simpler terms, the library section isn’t particularly useful because it includes games from Xbox Game Pass as if they were yours. Since most games on the app belong to Game Pass, finding games that you actually own outright can be challenging.
Differentiation and sorting games are a general issue within the app. It’s an absolute nightmare trying to figure out which games actually sport cross-progression features, for example. Microsoft previously used the branding “Xbox Play Anywhere” for titles that were buy once, play anywhere, complete with cloud saves across Xbox, PC, and soon, mobile via cloud too. However, games that do support some form of cross-progression are often missing the tag. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, for example, does support cross-progression, but there’s absolutely no mention of it whatsoever on the Xbox app itself.
A persistent issue with Xbox involves the management (or rather, the lack thereof) of cloud saves. As Microsoft transitions towards a multi-platform era, your save files will become pivotal to your gaming experience, rather than the device you’re playing on. This month, Microsoft intends to allow you to play games you own through the cloud, regardless of whether they are part of Xbox Game Pass or not. However, users who try this new feature may soon encounter a frustrating experience.
On services like Steam and others, a visual signifier shows when a cloud save has been completely updated. Unfortunately, Xbox does not offer such a feature. You won’t find a cloud sync icon on PC, console, or Xbox platforms. I’ve encountered this problem myself numerous times, and it’s important to note that some games’ auto-save mechanisms can potentially result in data loss in specific situations.
In simpler terms, there are several minor annoyances scattered across the Xbox app that seem more like cosmetic issues rather than significant problems. For instance, when you first run a game, the permission flow feels redundant and seems specific to the Microsoft Store system. I’ve intentionally installed and launched the game myself, so why is Microsoft requesting my permission? Additionally, it seems odd that Microsoft labels my game as an “app,” which is usually associated with mobile games of little value.
Discussing why developers choose to work with Microsoft’s PC store isn’t our focus right now. However, I believe that the absence of social features might be contributing to the problem.
A dire lack of social features, for customers and devs
Previously, I’ve expressed concerns over the uneven social interaction on Xbox, as services such as Xbox Clubs and ‘Looking for Group’ are available in some regions but not others. Unfortunately, these features seem to have been neglected for quite some time, with no updates for a considerable period.
Nonetheless, certain essential aspects of the Xbox’s social interaction platform are lagging significantly, requiring substantial improvement for both users and developers.
One game I’ve enjoyed recently is Frostpunk 2, although it runs pretty poorly on my gaming PC. I’ve been patiently waiting for optimization updates to come through to see if my experience improves. However, since I’ve been playing the Microsoft Store version, there are no such notifications to speak of.
As an ardent fan, I can’t help but admire how seamlessly 11 bit Studios communicates with their player community directly on Frostpunk 2’s Steam page. Here, we get a glimpse into the game’s evolving development process through engaging blog posts and timely notifications about upcoming updates and improvements. It’s a delightful experience that I’ve grown accustomed to on my Xbox console via Xbox Clubs. Yet, it’s puzzling why this feature hasn’t been extended to PC users through the Microsoft Store. I can’t help but wonder why Xbox dashboard updates from developers are commonplace on consoles but not on PC.
Previously, Xbox Clubs were supported via the Windows 8.1 Xbox app, alongside several other features that are now absent from the updated app. For instance, managing your Xbox cloud clips isn’t possible directly within the app; instead, you must resort to using the mobile app or external websites like XboxDVR.com. Additionally, changing your display picture on the Windows 11 Xbox app is not an option, as you are directed to set up a network-attached storage device on your Xbox or use the Xbox app on Android and iOS devices instead. It’s hard to understand why these fundamental features, which many PC users would expect, aren’t available in this app.
On the Xbox network, the social aspects tend to operate relatively slowly compared to competitors such as Steam or Discord. This includes loading messages, group chats, and other features at a much less responsive pace. Despite noticeable improvements over time, it’s surprising that Microsoft hasn’t yet made a concerted effort to optimize a top-notch social network across their Xbox lineup, considering the importance of social interaction in gaming today.
In essence, I believe the slow frequency of updates for the Xbox app suggests a platform team that’s overstretched and lacking resources.
The Xbox platform team is clearly spread far, far too thin
The range of devices supported by the Xbox platform has expanded to include PCs and mobiles, making it clear that the team responsible for this platform is stretched thin. In my opinion, no single gaming platform owned by Microsoft is receiving as much investment as it needs, considering that Microsoft is now competing on all fronts with its “Xbox in every corner” strategy.
If Microsoft focuses on multiple aspects of the Xbox experience, rather than specializing in one platform like its competitors do, it might struggle to keep up with each of them equally. The social interaction on Xbox is less engaging compared to Discord. Its PC gaming experience lags behind Steam. The user interface on Xbox console is inferior to PlayStation. Moreover, it can’t challenge Apple or Google in mobile gaming due to the restrictive nature of their platforms. However, where Xbox excels is in value. Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass are undeniably the best deals in the gaming industry. Although the Xbox app is improving, I feel it should have reached a stronger position by now, especially considering the growing number of users joining the service after years of waiting.
It appears that Microsoft has put a substantial amount of resources into Xbox and its PC gaming platform; however, it remains unclear if this level of investment aligns with their grander aspirations at present.
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2024-11-04 19:39