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Xbox says its Windows PC app now starts up to 60% faster
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
New coverage confirms that Xbox has started rolling out an update to its Windows PC app, which the company says makes it up to 60% faster. The change cuts startup time and may help Xbox compete more closely with Steam and the Epic Games Store for PC users.
CEO Asha Sharma announced the rollout on 5 November, calling it a meaningful improvement while saying more work remains. A demonstration showed the app starting in about 5.2 seconds, down from more than 15 seconds; the article compares this with recent estimates of 5.23 to seven seconds for Steam and 5.47 seconds for Epic, while noting that results depend on testing conditions.
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In short
- Xbox is rolling out a faster Windows PC app.
- Startup fell from over 15 seconds to about 5.2.
- The company says further improvements are planned.
How this story developed
- 49 minutes ago Further coverage reiterated the rollout and said the 5.2-second result is broadly comparable with cited Steam and Epic launch estimates, while stressing that timings vary with testing conditions.
- 1 hour ago Xbox began rolling out a Windows PC app update that it says cuts startup time by up to 60%, with a demonstration showing a launch in about 5.2 seconds instead of more than 15.
Full account
Xbox says an update to its Windows PC app can cut start-up time by as much as 60 per cent. The revised version is available now to Xbox Insiders, with a wider release planned for a later date. Xbox chief executive Asha Sharma announced the changes on 5 November, describing the speed boost as a meaningful improvement while acknowledging there is more work to do.
Microsoft’s figures cover more than launching the app: it says the Home, Store and Game Pass pages can load up to 50 per cent faster, while in-app windows can open up to 65 per cent faster. The update also revises the Library with new filters and organisation options, brings friends and social features into the main navigation, and improves search across games, add-ons and people.
One report highlights a demonstration in which start-up takes about 5.2 seconds, compared with more than 15 seconds previously. It sets that result alongside reported launch times for Steam and the Epic Games Store, while cautioning that such comparisons depend on testing conditions. Microsoft’s stated improvement is based on its own testing; the reports do not establish that users will see the same results on every PC.
The announcement also coincides with changes to Xbox cloud gaming. Xbox is expanding a refreshed browser experience, adding a Library tab for games available to play in the cloud and a desktop mode designed for larger screens. It says the updated look and navigation are also planned for supported TV and virtual-reality apps. The broader cloud update comes as Game Pass subscribers face monthly playtime limits introduced this month, with allowances varying by subscription tier.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
The first report centres on the launch-time demonstration and compares the result with Steam and Epic, while the second gives Microsoft’s broader performance figures and details changes to the Library, social navigation and search.
The second report says the updated PC app is currently available to Xbox Insiders and will reach everyone later; the first focuses on the announced rollout and does not give that access detail.
The second report covers the cloud gaming redesign and Game Pass cloud-play limits. Those topics are not addressed in the first report.
The first report’s comparison with other launchers relies on reported timings and notes that results may reflect ideal conditions. The second provides no competitor comparison.
Coverage · 2 sources
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Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by GamesRadar+ as “After Steam and Epic Launcher upgrade their startup times, Xbox PC app becomes “up to 60% faster””.