The August Xbox update improves navigation with controller, this is how it works

The Xbox App for Windows 11 now feels more intuitive and fluid when playing with a controller.

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The Xbox controller is, for many, the gateway to the entire gaming experience on consoles and PC. With the August update, Microsoft has taken another step in its integration with Windows 11, improving the way players navigate the official Xbox app when using a controller.

This is an improvement that doesn’t add new firmware to the device, but it does transform navigation to make it more familiar and closer to what we’re used to on console.

A more natural experience with a controller in the Xbox App

The Xbox App for PC now allows you to move around with the controller in a much more intuitive way, replicating the usual console controls:

• A to select
• B to go back
• Y to search

Additionally, the response of triggers and bumpers has been improved, making menu navigation smoother. The app also remembers where the user was thanks to improved focus memory, avoiding the need to repeat steps when returning to a section.

• Along with this, the interface has been refined with clearer indicators and more subtle animations, achieving a more fluid and polished overall feel.

A more accomplished experience:

• Controls identical to the console: buttons configured like on Xbox (A to accept, B to go back, Y to search).
• Faster navigation: triggers and bumpers respond better to move between menus.
• Focus memory: the app remembers where you were when you return to a section.
• Clearer indicators: menus with highlights and subtle animations to identify the selected option.
• Seamless transition between devices: better integration if you switch from controller to keyboard or mouse.

With these changes, Microsoft aims to make using the controller on PC as comfortable as using it on an Xbox Series, reinforcing the idea of a unified experience across platforms.