The updated Xbox PC app is now available, bringing with it a new ‘compact mode’ that’s perfect for handheld PCs such as the Legion Go.
Microsoft’s updated Xbox PC app has a new ‘compact mode’, designed specifically with handheld gaming PCs in mind.
This new portable-friendly update has been in testing for some time, but is now finally available to everyone. The ‘compact mode’ introduces several user interface changes and minor quality-of-life improvements to the Xbox PC app, hopefully making for a better all-around experience on Windows-powered portables such as the ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go.
A November blog post on the official Xbox Wire website detailed various new Xbox updates and changes, including this newly released ‘compact mode’. The post explained that the new mode “will help make your gaming experience more intuitive on smaller screens”.
The most notable change is that in this new ‘compact mode’ the sidebar collapses down from its usual view to one of just icons — allowing for much more horizontal space when browsing and using the app. It’s a small change but a welcome one for making the app experience feel more native on these handheld devices.
To try this new ‘compact mode’, you need to turn it on — to do so you’ll need to tap on your Xbox profile in the top-left corner of the app and then hit the toggle on for ‘Compact mode’. Microsoft shared that they are working with device makers (such as ASUS) to ensure that this new mode is turned on by default in the future.
We’ve taken it for a spin on the ROG Ally, and sure enough, ‘compact mode’ feels like a step in the right direction. Good stuff.