Xbox PC App Aggregates Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG & More Into One Launcher

Microsoft has quietly reshaped the Xbox app on Windows 11 into an aggregated game launcher that can show and launch titles from multiple PC storefronts — Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Battle.net and more — and it now includes a dedicated “My apps” area for third‑party clients and utilities, with the features rolling out broadly after months of Insider testing. (news.xbox.com) (gamespot.com)

Background / Overview​

Microsoft introduced the idea of an aggregated gaming library in its June update messaging for Xbox Insiders, positioning the Xbox PC app not just as a Game Pass storefront but as a cross‑store hub that lists installed games from multiple launchers so players can find and start games from one central surface. That Insider preview framed the change as part of a broader push to support Windows handhelds and controller‑first experiences. (news.xbox.com)
Throughout the Insider previews the feature settled into two core pieces: an Aggregated Gaming Library that discovers and lists installed games from supported storefronts inside the Xbox app’s Library view, and My apps, a curated tab that surfaces and (in some previews) installs or launches the common storefronts, browsers and utilities players use. Press and hands‑on reports have tracked the progress from concept screenshots to the actual rollout, confirming the feature now appears on Windows 11 gaming PCs outside Insider channels. (news.xbox.com) (gamespot.com)
This is more than cosmetic: Microsoft is explicitly orienting the Xbox app toward controller‑first navigation and full‑screen use on small devices — a capability that matters for the new wave of Windows handhelds (ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X) shipping with Xbox‑tuned Windows features later this year. (news.xbox.com)

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What’s included in the update​

Aggregated Gaming Library — one list for installed titles​

• The Xbox app now scans for installed games from supported PC storefronts and surfaces them in My library and the Most recent sidebar within the app.
• Each discovered title shows an origin indicator so you can tell whether it comes from Game Pass, Steam, Epic, GOG, Battle.net or Xbox.
• The app supports toggling storefront visibility in Settings so you can hide entire stores from the aggregated view if you prefer. (news.xbox.com) (gamespot.com)

This effectively makes the Xbox app a front‑end launcher similar in concept to Playnite or GOG Galaxy: a single, searchable catalog where your installed games appear regardless of where you bought them.

My apps — curated access to storefronts and utilities​

• A new My apps tab lists commonly used clients, browsers and gaming utilities.
• For apps already installed, the Xbox app acts as a direct launcher. For non‑installed apps, Insider builds showed the Xbox app initiating download/install flows (behavior which has been inconsistent in early previews). (news.xbox.com)

The intention is convenience: on devices where switching to the desktop is awkward, My apps reduces context switches by letting you open Steam, Battle.net, a browser or a voice overlay from inside the Xbox shell.

Play history and cloud integration (coming in stages)​

• Microsoft plans a cross‑device play history that surfaces recently played and cloud‑playable titles in a “jump back in” area on Home. The company says cloud sessions and play history will follow you across PC and handheld devices in a future update. (news.xbox.com) (gamespot.com)

This aims to support the “pick up where you left off” scenario, particularly useful for switching from a desktop to a portable Xbox‑branded handheld.

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Which storefronts are supported — and what that actually means​

Multiple official and press announcements confirm the initial supported sources: Xbox library, Xbox Game Pass, Battle.net, and leading PC storefronts such as Steam, Epic Games Store and GOG. Microsoft has stated the list will expand over time, and screenshots and early hands‑on coverage have shown tiles for Steam and Game Pass in the same view. (news.xbox.com) (gamespot.com)
Important technical reality: “support” in this context is primarily an aggregated surface and launch orchestration, not a replacement of the underlying store. For many games, the Xbox app will either call the game executable directly or hand off to the original launcher where DRM or anti‑cheat requires it. That means some titles will still need their native clients running in the background — the Xbox app often acts as a convenient front door rather than a full substitution for third‑party launchers. Early press coverage and Microsoft’s own guidance highlight this handoff behavior. (theverge.com) (gamespot.com)

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Why Microsoft is doing this (strategy and immediate benefits)​

• Reduce friction for users who maintain libraries across multiple stores. Instead of switching between clients, you get a unified index and a single launching surface.
• Improve handheld UX. On small screens and controller‑first devices, jumping back to the desktop is a poor experience. The aggregated library and My apps let the Xbox full‑screen shell act more like a console UI. (news.xbox.com)
• Better discovery and session continuity. Cross‑device play history and cloud indicators are intended to make switching between devices (desktop, handheld, console) feel seamless.
• Competitive positioning. By building a cross‑store front end, Microsoft narrows the gap between the Xbox app and third‑party aggregators such as Playnite and GOG Galaxy, while also strengthening the Xbox app’s value proposition for Windows gamers.

From a user perspective the immediate tangible benefits are real: faster access to your installed catalog, a single search surface, origin labels, and fewer context switches.

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Technical behavior, DRM, anti‑cheat and limitations​

• The Xbox app’s aggregated library is fundamentally a discovery and orchestration layer. In many cases the app will launch the game by invoking the game’s executable or calling the original launcher to satisfy DRM and anti‑cheat requirements. This behavior has been documented in early reports and Microsoft’s own descriptions. (theverge.com)
• Some multiservice and competitive multiplayer titles may still require the native client or background services for anti‑cheat to operate correctly. Users should verify behavior for competitive play before relying on the Xbox app as their primary launcher.
• Installer and “download from My apps” flows were inconsistent in early Insider builds — testers reported at least one failed GOG Galaxy install during previews. Microsoft is iterating the installer behavior in Insider rings, but the experience may vary by app and publisher.

These constraints mean that while the Xbox app will cover a large portion of day‑to‑day launching and discovery, it won’t magically remove platform dependencies imposed by publishers or third‑party DRM/anti‑cheat systems.

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Privacy and telemetry considerations — what’s known and what’s unclear​

Microsoft has been explicit about rollout scope and user controls (you can hide storefronts), but several technical specifics are not fully transparent yet:

• It remains unclear which metadata is scanned locally versus what is uploaded to Microsoft for library aggregation.
• The retention, scope and purpose of telemetry tied to library discovery and cross‑device play history have not been published in a detailed developer or privacy spec.
• Compatibility and telemetry interactions with third‑party launchers (what information is shared and how often) are not fully disclosed in current public documentation.

Press coverage and early analysis have flagged these gaps and recommended users treat the functionality as powerful but to adopt it with eyes open until Microsoft publishes more granular developer and privacy documentation. Those same sources advise enterprise or privacy‑sensitive users to test behavior before broad deployment. (theverge.com)
Because those telemetry details are not yet fully documented, callouts in earlier reporting should be considered partially verified until Microsoft provides a comprehensive technical or privacy statement.

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The handheld angle: ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X​

Microsoft timed the Xbox app updates with the broader handheld push. ASUS and Xbox jointly announced the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X availability and positioning for October 16, 2025, and Microsoft’s Xbox Wire discussed the Aggregated Gaming Library and My apps as key features for handhelds. Those handhelds ship with a full‑screen Xbox experience on Windows 11, handheld compatibility badges, and performance optimizations designed to reduce background tasks and improve first‑play performance (features such as shader preloading were discussed in vendor materials). (news.xbox.com) (press.asus.com)
That context is important: the Xbox app is being hardened as the default launcher experience on small, controller‑first hardware where desktop interactions are less usable. For handheld buyers, the update promises genuine ergonomics and functional gains.

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Ecosystem impact: publishers, launchers and competition​

• For third‑party launchers, the Xbox app is not a replacement: purchase, update and account flows remain on the original storefronts. The Xbox app’s role is a convenience layer. (news.xbox.com)
• Aggregation increases platform convenience for players, potentially reducing friction for Game Pass discovery and cross‑store engagement.
• Competition with independent launchers (Playnite, GOG Galaxy) will intensify. Microsoft’s first‑party control over the Windows shell and Xbox app gives it distribution advantage, but independent aggregators still provide deep customization, metadata enrichment and user control that many power users prefer.
• Platform neutrality will be watched closely: Microsoft’s stated intent is openness and expansion to more stores, but long‑term behavior (search ranking, default views, featured promotions) will determine whether the Xbox app becomes a neutral aggregator or a preferential surface. Early reporting urges vigilance.

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Practical guidance for users and administrators​

• Opt in via the Xbox app if you want the unified library, and use Settings > Library & Extensions to hide storefronts you don’t want surfaced.
• Test launching your most used competitive titles through the Xbox app to ensure anti‑cheat behaves as expected before relying on it in ranked play.
• If privacy is a concern, audit Xbox app settings and wait for Microsoft’s detailed telemetry documentation before broadly enabling cross‑device features in managed environments.
• For handheld buyers, verify which games display Handheld Optimized and Mostly Compatible badges, and test first‑play behavior for titles that may require native clients. (news.xbox.com) (news.xbox.com)

These steps let players enjoy convenience while limiting exposure to potential interoperability or privacy surprises.

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Strengths: what Microsoft gets right​

• High convenience: A single catalog is meaningfully better than bouncing between launchers for most users.
• Controller and handheld focus: The design choices align with real ergonomic needs for portable, controller‑first hardware.
• Incremental rollout via Insiders: Microsoft’s staged approach allows real‑world telemetry and feedback before full deployment.
• User controls: The ability to hide storefronts mitigates some concerns for users who want limited aggregation. (news.xbox.com)

For mainstream gamers and handheld adopters, the aggregated library transforms the Xbox app into an immediately useful daily driver.

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Risks and unanswered questions​

• Telemetry and privacy transparency: Without a comprehensive technical disclosure, it’s unclear what data Microsoft collects during storefront scans and cross‑device syncing.
• Anti‑cheat and DRM complexity: Games that require background services or the original launcher may not benefit from a seamless one‑click experience; behavior will vary title‑by‑title.
• Installer reliability: Early Insider reports show inconsistent install/download flows when using My apps; reliability needs improvement before casual users adopt it as the default installer.
• Platform dynamics: There’s a long‑term competitive concern over whether Microsoft will preserve neutrality or use the app to favor its own offerings. Press and community coverage highlight this as an area to watch.

Microsoft has acknowledged some of these limits and is iterating in the Insider program, but the company has not yet published a detailed compatibility matrix covering anti‑cheat, DRM and telemetry contracts with third‑party stores.

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How this compares to existing aggregators​

Independent aggregators like Playnite and GOG Galaxy already offer deep aggregation, metadata customization, and offline metadata control. Microsoft’s Xbox app closes the convenience gap and adds first‑party integration with Windows and a console‑style full‑screen shell — a distinct advantage for handhelds and for users who prefer a polished, integrated UI.
However, power users who prioritize local metadata ownership, plugin ecosystems, or scriptable workflows may still prefer Playnite or GOG Galaxy until Microsoft expands controls and publishes more detailed privacy/telemetry documentation.

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Final assessment​

The Xbox app’s aggregated library and My apps represent a meaningful, pragmatic improvement to PC gaming ergonomics on Windows 11. For most players — especially those who move between desktop and handheld form factors — the update reduces friction, centralizes discovery, and makes the Xbox full‑screen experience a legitimate daily launcher.
That convenience comes with caveats: integration is intentionally shallow for now (visual aggregation and launch orchestration), installer flows are still maturing, and critical questions about telemetry and anti‑cheat compatibility remain open. The real test will be execution over the coming months as the feature moves from Insider previews into wider availability and as Microsoft provides the technical and privacy details enterprise and privacy‑conscious users require. (gamespot.com)
For most gamers the best immediate approach is pragmatic: try the aggregated library, evaluate how it handles your most used titles (especially competitive multiplayer), and use the visibility controls in Settings. If Microsoft follows through on transparency and fixes early installer issues, the Xbox app could genuinely become the one‑stop launcher Microsoft envisions — but adoption should proceed with measured testing and care.

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Microsoft’s updates are rolling out now: Insiders tested the features in mid‑2025 and the company signaled broader availability to Windows 11 users alongside the handheld launch cycle later in the year. The ROG Xbox Ally devices will carry the same Xbox full‑screen experience and are scheduled to be available on October 16, 2025, strengthening the practical case for a single, controller‑centric launcher on Windows handhelds. (news.xbox.com) (news.xbox.com)

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Source: PCGamesN This new Windows 11 update turns the Xbox app into an all-in-one game launcher