Steam games come to Xbox PC app with new aggregated gaming library update

Microsoft's new Xbox app update will combine all your PC games into one aggregated library, and it's currently being tested by Xbox Insiders.

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Xbox is converging with Windows, and to streamline this union, Microsoft is making the Xbox PC app a one-stop shop for launching games. The app will now show games that are installed from other stores besides Windows and Xbox, similar to how Lenovo's Legion Space and ASUS Armoury Crate launchers operate.

This means users can browse and launch PC games from the Xbox app regardless of where they are purchased. Battle.net and Steam games libraries will show up within the Xbox app, alongside content libraries from other major PC storefronts. This is the same "Xbox experience" found in the new Xbox Ally X handheld, a device built around bringing an Xbox console UI to Windows PC handhelds.

Microsoft is referring to this feature as an aggregated games library, and Xbox Insiders will begin testing the update starting this week.

"Starting this week users enrolled in the PC Gaming Preview can get a first look at the new aggregated gaming library in the Xbox PC app for Windows 11 PCs and handheld devices.

"The feature will be available this holiday on the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, where players will see their aggregated gaming library within the new Xbox full screen experience.

• With the aggregated gaming library, players can conveniently launch games from Xbox, Game Pass, Battle.net and other leading PC storefronts from a single library within the Xbox PC app.
• When a player installs a game from a supported PC storefront, it will automatically appear in "My library" within the Xbox PC app, as well as the "Most recent" list of titles in the sidebar, making it easier than ever to jump back into your favorites.
• Support for additional PC storefronts will roll out over time.

This is just the first step in Microsoft's plan to combine Xbox and Windows.

The company has confirmed it's working closely with AMD to make special AI chips to power the next generation of Xbox console hardware. Based on Microsoft's messaging around this new Xbox console, it's believed that the system will actually be a PC that runs Windows instead of an isolated console-level OS environment.