Gaming on your Windows PC or gaming handheld could soon feel a lot more like firing up an Xbox. Recent clues hidden within the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview hint at Microsoft’s plans to introduce a dedicated Xbox interface designed to bring console-like simplicity directly to PCs.
An insider on BlueSky named XenoPanther discovered references to an “Xbox UI” hidden within Windows 11’s latest build, suggesting users may soon be able to boot directly into a full-screen gaming experience. Specifically, the references found by XenoPanther, discovered in a “Gaming_GamingPosture_ChooseHomeApp” area, include options to boot into a full screen experience at the device’s startup, and “Choose your full screen experience”.
This new mode, potentially accessible through an “Xbox Game Services” app, could transform the standard Windows desktop into a more streamlined, gamepad-friendly environment better suited for playing on the go.
If it comes to fruition, this change could signal a change for PC gamers who have long struggled with Windows’ controller-based navigation. A dedicated Xbox UI could take away many of the frustrations associated with gaming on a traditional desktop and instead offer a more intuitive, console-like experience with gamepad control integrated from the beginning.
The potential Xbox interface aligns perfectly with Microsoft’s broader vision of unifying the Xbox and Windows ecosystems—an ambition championed by Xbox head Phil Spencer. By creating a familiar console-like experience on PCs, Microsoft could significantly enhance accessibility to services such as Xbox Game Pass, making them even more appealing to gamers.
Although Microsoft has yet to officially announce these plans, the timing is strategic, especially as competition heats up from alternatives like Valve’s Steam Deck and SteamOS. With handhelds like the Asus’s ROG Ally handheld becoming increasingly popular, Windows 11 could position itself as the ultimate hybrid platform. There’s no confirmation on if or when these changes will come to pass, but it’s looking increasingly more likely.
Imagine tapping a Zelda icon on your iPhone and jumping straight into Hyrule. A new open-source project called nxnative makes that possible by repackaging Switch games you’ve bought into apps for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with no emulator in the middle.
Why does this run so well on Apple devices?
The Call of Duty franchise has held a special place in my heart ever since I played my first Black Ops game back in 2010. That game's campaign was something else, with twists and turns that culminated in a mind-blowing finale. We can all admit that compared to those older campaigns, the recent CODs have been lackluster at best, and a complete and utter disappointment at worst. The reboot of Modern Warfare did give me some hope, as the first two installments were actually quite good, but the third game left such a bad taste in my mouth that I wasn’t exactly expecting much from Modern Warfare 4.
After recently finishing the campaign, I can say that this installment is nothing like the recent releases and instead feels closer to the franchise’s roots. For the first time in a long while, the campaign comes across as well-crafted rather than rushed to hit a release date. It arrives three years after MW3, and you can see exactly where all that time went. It seems the studio finally made listening to player feedback a priority.
Epic Games has just announced the 2026 Epic AI MegaJam, which is looking to see how much game development can be squeezed into a very short window. This is running from November 12 through November 15.
Participants can work alone or in teams of up to five people, build in Unreal Engine or Unreal Editor for Fortnite, and bring along “as many AI agents as you want.” Epic explicitly encourages coding agents, AI-generated assets, audio tools, writing tools, and other AI systems. The official event page literally says "Vibe your way to $50k.”