The full screen Xbox experience available on all portable devices with Windows 11

Xbox activates its full-screen mode on all handhelds with Windows 11.

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The update had been awaited for weeks, and it’s now official: as of yesterday, all portable devices with Windows 11 can access the Xbox full-screen experience, the same one that debuted on the ROG Xbox Ally and transforms any handheld into an environment much closer to a portable console. This is a significant step in Microsoft’s strategy to unify the Xbox experience within the PC ecosystem.

This mode replaces the traditional Windows interface with an optimized environment that prioritizes performance and eliminates unnecessary processes. When starting the device, users access the Xbox app in full screen directly, with smooth navigation, clear sections, and a design intended to be controlled only with a controller or integrated controls.

The console experience, now on any Windows 11 portable device

• The update is available as of Friday, November 21, for all hybrids and gaming portables with Windows 11, as long as they have the latest system version installed. The change not only improves navigation but also frees up memory by preventing Windows from loading unnecessary desktop elements during gaming sessions.

Xbox highlights that this mode allows access from a single place to titles from Steam, Battle.net, Microsoft Store, and other digital stores, bringing the user’s content together in a single app that acts as a gaming hub. The support includes features already known to console players, such as Xbox Play Anywhere, cross-save, and quick access to the Xbox Game Pass catalog and Xbox Cloud Gaming games.

Internal testing continues to advance, and Microsoft is already working to bring Xbox FSE to more Windows 11 PC configurations within the Xbox Insider program. The intention is clear: to make this mode a standard for any PC player who wants a more direct, clean, and fast experience, both on handhelds and traditional equipment.