Microsoft has started rolling out a redesigned Xbox PC app to Xbox Insiders, promising a much faster start and a simpler layout for Windows players.

The update was announced on Xbox Wire on 5 November under the title "A Faster, Simpler Xbox Experience Is Coming to PC, Web and Cloud". Xbox Insiders can try the new app from today, while other players will have to wait: Microsoft has not given a date for a general release.

The headline figure is speed. Microsoft says the app now launches up to 60% faster, while Home, Store and Game Pass pages load up to 50% faster and in-app windows open up to 65% faster. Those numbers come from Microsoft's own testing, and the company notes that results may vary by device, internet connection, system configuration and usage. They describe how quickly the app itself responds, not how fast games run.

What has changed

Speed is only part of the update. The Library has been simplified, with updated filters and new ways to organise a game collection, aimed at players with large libraries. Friends and social features now sit in the main navigation, making it easier to see what friends are playing, start a chat or join a party.

Search has also been rebuilt to cover more of Xbox from one place, returning results across games, installed titles, downloadable add-ons and people. The app has a cleaner look too, with refreshed game cards, Home and Settings pages and new animations.

Xbox chief Asha Sharma shared a side-by-side demonstration of the new app's responsiveness on X as the rollout began. The overhaul had been tested behind the scenes in October, when early impressions pointed to substantially improved responsiveness when browsing large game libraries.

Web, cloud, TV and VR too

The same announcement covers more than the PC app. Microsoft is bringing its refreshed Xbox cloud gaming experience on the web to more players over the coming weeks, with a single Library tab for cloud-playable games, whether owned or accessed through Game Pass. The web update adds a desktop mode for larger screens, dark and light themes, and five high-contrast options.

Microsoft is also beginning to bring the refreshed look and navigation to its cloud gaming apps on supported televisions and VR headsets, aiming for a consistent experience wherever players sign in.

Players who want to try the new PC app early can join the Xbox Insider Program through the Xbox Insider Hub on Windows. For everyone else, the wait continues, with no confirmed date for the wider rollout.