The Xbox app on PC debuts “Ready to Start” and already allows playing while downloading

Microsoft continues to bring the console experience to the Xbox app on Windows.

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Microsoft continues to bring classic console features to its PC ecosystem. In recent hours, several users have detected that the Xbox app on PC now includes the “Ready to Start” option, an improvement that allows launching certain games before the download or installation is complete.

The novelty has been discussed by the community on Reddit and reinforces the strategy of unifying the experience between console and PC within the Xbox environment.

Xbox adds a classic console feature to PC to reduce waiting times

The “Ready to Start” function is now active in the Xbox app for PC. This option, common on Xbox consoles for years, allows launching the game when the essential files are ready, without needing to wait for the download to reach 100%.

In practice, the system usually allows access to the initial menu or limited sections of the game while the rest of the content continues to install in the background. Some users point out that its real usefulness depends a lot on the title, although the consensus is that it’s a logical step towards an Xbox app closer to the console system.

The community also interprets this function as part of a broader movement by Microsoft to unify Windows and Xbox at the experience level, with frequent requests such as the future arrival of Quick Resume on PC. For now, “Ready to Start” is already available and marks another small step forward in that convergence between platforms.