Katarzyna Petru
Microsoft has just officially confirmed what has been unofficially announced for several weeks. Xbox is beginning to strongly connect the worlds of consoles and PCs – specifically, the stores that players use on different platforms. The update announced for June is the first step towards full integration of libraries from Xbox, Steam, Battle.net, and other places from which we download games daily.
At the centre of this movement is of course the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally and its more powerful brother ROG Xbox Ally X. Microsoft is clearly sending a signal – it wants portable gaming on Xbox to be as flexible as it is on PC. And that means one thing: a shared library, a common interface, one launcher.
One library, many sources
The new version of the Xbox app on Windows will allow players to browse and launch games from various stores in one place. Games from Game Pass, Steam, Battle.net, Ubisoft Connect, and others will be visible together – in the "My Library" tab in the Xbox PC app. Importantly, titles installed outside of Game Pass will also be automatically detected and added to the list.
Microsoft announces that this is just the beginning – over time, support for additional stores will be introduced. The whole experience is designed to be convenient, clear, and above all, cohesive – regardless of whether the player is using a traditional PC or a portable ROG Xbox Ally.
Copilot for Gaming – a new player on the team
As part of the same update, Microsoft is introducing the Copilot for Gaming feature (currently in beta version). This tool, powered by artificial intelligence, is designed to assist players during challenging moments, answer questions about gameplay, and suggest the best strategies. The solution will be available on mobile devices and is set to serve as an assistant for anyone who gets stuck in a mission, cannot remember the controls, or simply wants to know more about a particular game.
What does it mean for players – on console and PC?
Microsoft clearly shows that it is moving towards a single, cohesive platform where gaming is meant to be convenient regardless of the hardware. Both Xbox console users and PC gamers will benefit from this change.
There will be more personalisation options on consoles. Players will be able to customise the appearance of the main menu – hide system applications, pin favourite games and limit the number of visible tiles. This is a step towards a simpler, more personalised user experience. Additionally, a special "Benefits" tab will make it easier to receive bonuses, DLC, or rewards as part of the Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscriptions. On top of that, there are Game Centres, where one can check statistics, achievements, and see who among our friends is currently playing.
On PC and portable devices like the ROG Xbox Ally, the new Xbox PC library gathers games from various platforms – Game Pass, Steam, Battle.net, and others – in one place. This means greater convenience and no need to juggle launchers. A game installed from any store will appear in the Xbox library, ready to be launched instantly.
In short: players gain more control, better organisation, and access to their games regardless of the source or platform. Microsoft is uniting what was previously separated – giving players a real choice in how and where they want to play.
