Xbox tests faster apps and new cloud controls
The latest previews combine a revised PC interface with more ways to control games on televisions.
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Xbox opened a revised PC app preview to Insiders on November 5.
A quicker route to the library
Microsoft reports app startup improvements of up to 60%, based on internal testing that may vary by device and connection. Library filters, social navigation and search are being revised. The announcement also describes a refreshed web library and additional contrast options. These are rollout and preview plans, not a promise that every account already has every feature.
More ways to control cloud games
A separate November 4 announcement introduced phone controls for supported smart televisions. Players can enable Preview Features in the supported TV experience, then use a compatible Android or iOS phone through its browser when launching without a physical controller.
Xbox is also testing direct Wi-Fi cloud connections for its Nano Controller in the United States. The company says the feature can reduce input delay, but it remains an early preview with limited supported experiences. The two tests have different device and regional conditions.
For players, that distinction is more useful than treating the announcements as one universal upgrade. Check the app, television and region requirements for the feature you intend to try. A faster library interface, a phone-based controller and a direct cloud connection address different parts of starting and playing a game.
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