Native Xbox Gaming on Windows on Arm Now Available

Key Takeaways

1. A new Xbox app version allows Arm-based Windows devices to download and play games directly, moving beyond previous streaming limitations.
2. Prior to this update, the app had limited functionality, primarily offering game streaming and cloud access via the Microsoft Store.
3. Microsoft plans to enhance the app’s compatibility for Arm devices in the coming months, potentially increasing their appeal to gamers.
4. Hardware advancements for Windows on Arm are underway, including the Asus Vivobook 14 with an 8-core Snapdragon X Plus and Nvidia’s rumored gaming-friendly Arm-based SoC, the N1X.
5. Access to the updated Xbox app requires users to be part of the Xbox Insider and Windows Insider programs, with downloads available through the Insider Hub.

A new version of the Xbox app has been released for Arm-based Windows devices. One of the major features of this update is that it enables compatible Arm PCs to download and play games directly on their systems. Previously, these devices could only access games through other platforms like Steam.

Previous Capabilities

Before this update, the Xbox app on Windows for Arm had limited gaming functionality. It did provide users with the option to stream games. Moreover, the official Microsoft Store enforced similar limitations, permitting cloud streaming for most games only.

Future Features

Microsoft has indicated plans to enhance the app further to improve game compatibility on Arm-based Windows devices. This additional support is anticipated to be introduced in the next few months, which could make Arm Windows PCs a more attractive option for gamers.

Hardware Developments

In light of this, Microsoft may be signaling a significant advancement in hardware for Windows on Arm devices, such as the Asus Vivobook 14 equipped with an 8-core Snapdragon X Plus, currently priced at $656.99 on Amazon. Nvidia is reportedly developing an Arm-based SoC, which appeared on Geekbench under the name N1X. Compared to existing Arm solutions, this rumored chip is said to be more gaming-friendly, boasting the same CUDA core count as the RTX 5070 desktop graphics card.

As for the CPU in the Nvidia N1X SoC, it’s claimed to be competitive. However, since the firmware and drivers are still in the early phases, the CPU performance isn’t expected to surpass the leading offerings from Intel and AMD right now.

Now, regarding the updated app that permits native gaming, users must be part of the Xbox Insider and Windows Insider programs to access it. The app can be downloaded via the Insider Hub, located under the “Previews” tab.

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