Microsoft continues to blur the lines between console and PC. A new feature has appeared in the Xbox app on computers.
As part of the preparation for the Project Helix platform, users have the ability to manually add games and applications outside the Microsoft ecosystem directly to the Xbox library. Now, through a single interface, you can launch not only projects from Game Pass, but also games from Steam, emulators, and programs like iTunes or Audacity.
The mechanics are simple: a "+" icon has appeared in the "My Library" section, which opens the add menu. The system offers installed programs, but allows you to manually specify any .exe or .cmd file.
A flexible setting has also been added: you can change names, paths, and upload your own covers so that third-party applications do not differ from the rest of the library.
The function is important for Project Helix, a platform with a hybrid interface where you can switch between "Xbox mode" and full-fledged Windows. Adding third-party applications will reduce the need to go to the desktop, simplify gamepad control, and may increase performance by reducing background load.
Microsoft hopes to turn Xbox into a universal hub for all games and applications, regardless of their source.
