The increasing competition in the portable game console market has recently brought new developments. Windows-based portable computers have joined the trend, initiated by Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch.

Windows 11 to Offer Xbox Mode

Now, it has been revealed that Microsoft is working on a new feature in this area. The leaked Xbox Mode for Windows 11 completely transforms the gaming experience on handheld consoles and portable computers.

According to information obtained by DonanımHaber, this new feature, discovered in Windows 11’s 25H2 release, allows users to start their devices directly with the Xbox interface. This means that when the device boots up, the Xbox app is greeted directly instead of the traditional desktop.

This interface provides access to various game stores, such as the Microsoft Store, Steam, and Battle.net. This mode saves approximately 2GB of memory by disabling unnecessary processes like Explorer running in the background. This has a positive impact on gaming performance.

The new interface offers a more console-like experience. The task view and navigation bar allow users to quickly switch between games and easily access applications. In this mode, users who aren’t gaming can switch to the Windows desktop. However, this requires the use of a touchscreen or an external mouse and keyboard.

According to leaked information, this new feature is already enabled on existing devices like the MSI Claw and ROG Ally. Enabling this feature requires making some changes to system settings.

However, Microsoft warned users that incorrect configurations could cause system instability or require a reinstallation. Microsoft is expected to roll out this new feature globally with the ROG Xbox Ally series.