News: 0180955418

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Microsoft's 'Xbox Mode' Is Coming To Every Windows 11 PC (theverge.com)

(Wednesday March 11, 2026 @06:00PM (BeauHD) from the ready-for-Project-Helix dept.)


In April, Microsoft will be [1]rolling out a full-screen "Xbox mode" to all Windows 11 PCs , including laptops, desktops, and tablets. The move follows last week's confirmation of its [2]next-generation Xbox console , known internally as Project Helix, which will be capable of running both Xbox titles and PC games. The Verge reports:

> Technically, you've been able to try the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) in preview since November 2025, if you were part of both the Windows Insider and Xbox Insider Programs. But it needed work, as well as a better name. When Microsoft originally shipped it on the Asus-designed Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X handhelds, we were clear: it didn't meaningfully turn a PC experience into an easy-to-use Xbox one. But if Microsoft is putting its full weight behind PC as the future of Xbox gaming, perhaps that will change change.



[1] https://www.theverge.com/games/892875/microsoft-xbox-mode-windows-11-gdc

[2] https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/03/05/2240225/microsoft-confirms-project-helix-a-next-gen-xbox-that-can-run-pc-games



Necessary Questions (Score:3)

by El Fantasmo ( 1057616 )

Obligatory questions to Microsoft, in this order:

How can I stop it from happening?

How can I remove it?

How can I disable it?

How Can I turn it off ?

Re: (Score:3)

by UnknowingFool ( 672806 )

Microsoft's Answer: "You own nothing and will like it."

Re: (Score:2)

by Stolovaya ( 1019922 )

I'm not sure I can blame you for asking these questions, it is Microsoft, but I think you're overthinking it.

This just sounds like Microsoft's version of Valve's "Big Picture Mode". For those unaware, it turns the normal PC UI into an UI that more mimics a console with a focus on controllers.

Re: (Score:2)

by UnknowingFool ( 672806 )

Well if it is like every other MS feature I don't want: 1) it will turn itself on for no reason 2) it will share every detail with MS. 3) I can't get rid of it even though I have no use for it. 4) Even if I can find a way to remove it, the next patch will reinstall it.

As a basis for comparison, Xbox for Gaming does all of that on Windows 10.

What even is it? (Score:2)

by sound+vision ( 884283 )

My conception of an ideal "Xbox Mode" is one that erases Windows from the disk. Since we know it isn't that, what even is it?

Drilling through multiple levels of articles revealed a bunch of developer and ML stuff that is irrelevant to users, but also this:

*Tweaks to DirectStorage involving compression of game assets

*Tweaks to shader compilation (downloading pre-compiled shaders for specific supported devices)

It sounds like a way to lock developers into the new "Xbox" ecosystem that they're creating. If they

Reversal of Fortunes (Score:2)

by SeaFox ( 739806 )

So we went from "the next Xbox will be able to play PC games" to "the PC will soon be able to play Xbox games"?

Obligatory ...The Verge SUCKS (Score:1)

by Anonymous Coward

As above ^^^^^^

The Verge SUCKS

Cool but (Score:2)

by jrnvk ( 4197967 )

You just know a Patch Tuesday in the near future is going to turn this on by accidentâ¦

Full screen xbox mode? (Score:2)

by SoCalChris ( 573049 )

Isn't that just pressing the F11 key?

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