Microsoft’s new “compact mode” that makes the Xbox PC app a little easier to use on handheld gaming PCs is now available. The company had been testing the compact mode, but thanks to an update to the Xbox PC app, you can now try it for yourself, according to an Xbox Wire blog post.
The Xbox app has a new compact mode for Windows handhelds
Microsoft’s compact mode is now available in the Xbox PC app.
Jay Peters is a news editor covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme.
The big change for compact mode is that the sidebar collapses down into icons, meaning that the sidebar takes up less real estate. The new mode should work well with devices like Asus’ ROG Ally and Lenovo’s Legion Go, and Microsoft says that it’s working with Asus and “other manufacturers” to “ensure that Compact mode is enabled by default on your handheld devices.”
The Xbox PC app will also now only show unread notifications when you look at the notification drop-down and is getting a “Gaming Services Repair Tool” to help you troubleshoot issues. There are a few improvements for Xbox consoles, too, including the ability to pick a specific Japanese keyboard layout.
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