Microsoft Tests Xbox App with Battle.net Integration — New Update Aggregates Third-Party Game Libraries

Hey, so I stumbled across this bit about Microsoft and what they’re doing with gaming on PCs, and I kind of got lost thinking about how things were with games back in the day. You know, when you’d have CDs scattered everywhere, and you’d always lose the one you needed. I mean, seriously, how did we even manage back then?

Anyway, Microsoft is trying something cool (or maybe they’re just desperate to keep us hooked) by testing out this new thing where all your games show up together on the Xbox app. Like, imagine having all your stuff in one place without the whole treasure hunt vibe. Wild, right? This week, they’re letting some Xbox Insiders try it out first. Those folks get all the fun new toys before we do — lucky them. And it seems like it’s coming to these ROG Xbox handheld gadgets, you know, the ones that sound super fancy and elite.

So, there’s this idea of putting all installed games from different stores into one hub. Right now, it’s only a few libraries like Battle.net, EA, and Riot Games—like that’s it for now. Microsoft is mumbling about adding more, so here’s hoping they rope in Steam and the rest soon. Fingers crossed.

Think of it as giving PC gamers that same tidy library feel that console folks get. But hey, there’s GoG Galaxy that sort of does that already. Still, the Xbox app is glued into Windows 11, so it’s like having your cake and eating it too. Maybe not the best analogy, but you get it.

And get this—the whole thing is part of Microsoft’s big plan to make Xbox more of a “service-y” thing? Like, rather than just about those chunky consoles. They kicked this off with Game Pass that’s all about sharing the love between Xbox and PC. Now, we’re checking out these new handheld PCs with Xbox vibes. Might be them giving a polite wave to old-school handhelds they didn’t bother with themselves.

Ah, but they didn’t spill the beans on when everyone gets this feature. It’s starting with those ROG Ally gadgets around the holidays. So, maybe, just maybe, we see it everywhere by the end of next year or something. Waiting is a drag, right?

Oh, and by the way, if you want to keep up with this sort of news, Tom’s Hardware is on Google News—just saying.

And why is it that newsletters always say they have the “best news”? Like, who decides that?