Microsoft’s highly anticipated full-screen Xbox experience, initially designed for the ROG Xbox Ally, has unexpectedly leaked and is now installable on a wide range of Windows-based handheld gaming PCs. This leak allows users to access the new interface before its official release, offering a glimpse into Microsoft’s efforts to streamline Windows for portable gaming.
Key Takeaways
- The "Full screen experience" mode, intended for the ROG Xbox Ally, has been made available for all Windows 11 handhelds.
- Installation requires the Windows 11 25H2 update and involves registry tweaks using tools like ViVeTool.
- Early testers report potential performance and battery life improvements, though compatibility issues may arise.
- The mode aims to provide a more console-like, gamepad-friendly interface, consolidating games from various launchers.
Early Access and Installation
Despite being slated for an official release later, the new Xbox full-screen experience for handhelds has been made accessible through a leak. Users can install it by joining the Windows Insider program to obtain the 25H2 update for Windows 11. For those who cannot find the option in settings, third-party tools like ViVeTool can be used to enable the feature, often requiring a few registry edits. This process allows users to experience the new mode on devices like the Lenovo Legion Go and other Windows handhelds.
User Experience and Performance
Early reports suggest that the new mode offers a more intuitive, gamepad-centric interface, similar to SteamOS or the Nintendo Switch UI. It consolidates games from various PC storefronts, including Steam, Epic Games, and GOG, into a single, streamlined launcher. Some users have noted potential performance gains and improved battery life, attributed to the mode’s optimization of background processes and startup applications. However, some users have also encountered issues, such as controls not working or the mode not fully integrating with specific hardware, indicating that further updates or optimizations may be necessary.
Microsoft’s Handheld Strategy
This leak highlights Microsoft’s commitment to improving the Windows experience for handheld gaming PCs, a market that has seen significant growth with devices like the Steam Deck. The full-screen Xbox experience is designed to address the shortcomings of Windows 11 on smaller screens and gamepad-centric devices. While initially exclusive to the ROG Xbox Ally, its early availability on other platforms suggests a broader strategy to support the burgeoning handheld PC gaming ecosystem.
Sources
- You can install the new Xbox Full screen experience mode for Windows on handhelds but whether it will work is
another question entirely, PC Gamer. - Microsoft’s new handheld gaming mode, exclusive to ROG Xbox Ally, has just leaked for every handheld running
Windows 11 — all you need is the 25H2 update and a few registry tweaks, Tom’s Hardware. - Oops! Microsoft’s Xbox Mode For ROG Ally Just Leaked For All Gaming Handhelds, HotHardware.
- We ran the new Windows 11 Xbox Mode on the old ROG Ally, Windows Central.
