Microsoft enhances Xbox app for Windows handheld gaming PCs with compact mode

Microsoft is taking steps to improve the gaming experience on handheld devices and smaller screens with updates to its Xbox app on Windows 11.

The company recently released a test version of the Xbox app that introduces a new "compact mode," a user interface change designed to improve the app experience on devices with limited screen space.

Compact mode is specifically designed for handheld computers and small screens, although it is available for screens of any size. This setting is especially useful for devices like the ROG Ally, which has a compact 7-inch display.

Earlier this year, leaked concepts of a "Windows handheld mode" from a Microsoft hackathon project hinted at various improvements, including a floating taskbar, an enhanced game launcher, and changes to the Xbox app. While these were prototypes developed before devices like the ROG Ally and Lenovo's Legion Go were announced, they confirmed Microsoft's interest in handheld gaming.

These latest improvements to the Xbox app, while relatively minor, hint at the possibility of more significant improvements in the future.