Microsoft adds new features for PC gamers
Most PC gamers often see the precision of a mouse and keyboard as an advantage over playing on a console. Besides all the arguments, there is something familiar about gaming with a controller. Some of the users do it while playing Halo Infinite on a desktop. Some people feel that they could score slightly better kill-to-death ratio using a mouse and keyboard. So they feel more comfortable using the controller. There are a lot of games that one can play better with a controller.
Microsoft adds a new game launcher for PC gamers, check more details here
Since most of the users use a controller on PC so Microsoft decided to add a new feature for the users. It’s taking a page from the Xbox Series X. According to a blog post, Windows Insiders can now test an early preview of a feature called “controller bar”. This surfaces as you press the center Xbox button on the controller. A new view of the Xbox Game Bar, controller bar shows the three most recent games you played along with the three launchers installed on your system.
A reminder of the last played games
However, it will not pick up where you left off, the new interface reminds you of the Xbox Series X game switcher. In that, you can jump quickly from one title to the next without opening a launcher or pulling out a mouse and keyboard to click on a shortcut. If you use a mouse and keyboard, the feature appears to be accessible in the Xbox Game Bar (Windows + G). You can use this feature quite often when you connect your gaming laptop to your TV to play being at your comfort zones. This would, in theory, prevent me from having to connect a wireless mouse and keyboard to navigate around Windows 11.
According to Microsoft, the controller bar opens when you pair or connect a controller to your Windows 11 PC that’s running the latest Insider Preview build in either the Dev or Beta channels. By pressing the Xbox button, you can manually activate the interface when you aren’t in a game. Microsoft specifies that the feature works by pressing the Xbox button. So it would not work with other controllers, like the PS5 DualSense. Microsoft may confirm this later.
How can one use the controller bar on PCs?
If you’re a Windows Insider and you want to give this experimental feature a shot then you have to download the latest Insider Preview Build (225xx). That should be from the Dev or Beta channels. After this, you need to download the Xbox Insider Hub from the Microsoft Store using the link.
You have to sign in to your Microsoft account using the app once it is downloaded. Then go to “Previews” and join the Windows Gaming preview after you’re signed in. Check for updates in the Microsoft Store and make sure you’re running version 5.722.5022.0 or the latest one. After all this, you need to reboot your PC and the new interface should appear after pairing with your controller.
FAQS
1. What feature is Microsoft adding?
Now, Microsoft is adding another reason to use a controller on PC, and it’s taking a page from the Xbox Series X. Windows Insiders can now test an early preview of a feature called “controller bar,” which surfaces when you press the center Xbox button on the controller. A new view of the Xbox Game Bar, controller bar shows the three most recent games you played alongside three launchers (Stream, Origin, etc.) installed on your system.
2. How can we go from one title to another?
While it won’t pick up where you left off, the new interface is reminiscent of the Xbox Series X game switcher in that you can quickly jump from one title to the next without opening a launcher or pulling out a mouse and keyboard to click on a shortcut.
For more details and updates visit themarketactivity.com.
