- Microsoft has finally started rolling out Xbox mode for Windows 11 desktop PC users
- Microsoft has also made the Auto SR upgrade available for Asus ROG Xbox Ally X Xbox Insiders
- The release comes amid Valve’s updates to SteamOS in preparation for the Steam Machine.
Microsoft is just getting started with its plans to revitalize gaming for both desktop and laptop PC users, with the Windows K2 project set to improve the operating system, but that’s not all.
Xbox Mode is now rolling out to desktop PCs, as Microsoft announced via Xbox Wire in the latest Windows update on April 30. This is what some Windows 11 users may have known as the Full Screen Experience, which has been available since November 2025 for Xbox Insiders.
It’s also worth noting that Microsoft is also introducing its new Auto SR preview for Asus ROG Xbox Ally X Xbox Insiders, which is a new addition to Xbox Mode that can be enabled through the Game Bar. Auto SR serves as Microsoft’s upscaling version (similar to Nvidia’s DLSS or AMD’s FSR), rendering games at lower internal resolutions to improve frame rates and upscaling them for sharper image quality.
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Most importantly, however, Xbox Mode is effectively the equivalent of Microsoft’s SteamOS, allowing players to launch and play games in a menu, while also disabling unnecessary background processes to provide more RAM for games. It’s a hands-on version of Windows 11 that streamlines the gaming experience, as Microsoft continues its efforts to further optimize the operating system for gamers.
Once fully implemented, users can enable Xbox Mode by entering Settings > Games > Full screen experience and set the launch app to ‘Xbox’, and this should enable Xbox mode, which can be toggled via the game bar or task view.
There’s no word yet on Auto SR coming to desktop PCs, specifically because it’s designed for gaming on the Ally X base, but it’s too early to rule out the possibility of it becoming a go-to for desktop PC gamers.
The time is right for Microsoft to make this move, as Valve’s SteamOS is about to see significant improvements for more desktop PCs via updates to the upcoming Steam Machine, and while there’s still a long way to go before Xbox Mode can compete, it’s ideal for users like me who aren’t quite ready to make the full switch to Linux.
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