Windows 10: Microsoft details new features in Xbox app

Microsoft made a ton of announcements at E3 earlier this month, including the launch of game streaming from the Xbox One to a Windows PC, for those signed up to its Xbox Preview program. Today, it's revealed more improvements for gamers on Windows 10.

Major Nelson (aka Microsoft's Larry Hyrb) today announced a range of new features for the Xbox app on Windows 10:

My Games – As you install games from the Windows Store, they will appear in your My Games list. Additionally, you can manually add games to your collection by selecting My games > Add a game from your PC. Also, there is now a Featured games section on the home screen, below your Recently played list.

Game hubs – You can now launch a local PC game from its game hub, view details about the game in the Windows Store, and find and follow People to Watch for a given game. Additionally, for Xbox One games, you can now choose Play from console to initiate a game streaming session from a game hub page.

Share with your friends – You can share your achievements to your Activity feed and Showcase just like you do on Xbox One. You can also share your Xbox One Game clips or Screenshots listed under Game DVR > Shared to your Activity Feed and Showcase.

Xbox avatars – We renamed the Avatars app on Windows 10 to Xbox Avatars and the layout and iconography have been updated to final designs. In this month’s preview, there is a “Take a photo” feature so you can pose your avatar and snap a photo.

Xbox account – In preview, you can sign in to Xbox on Windows 10 with any account, and create a new Xbox account if you do not already have one.

You'll need to have the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview, build 10158, installed on your PC; once installed, the Xbox on Windows 10 app will be updated to the latest preview release, bringing it up to version number 6.6.27004.00000 or higher.

Xbox One owners can look forward to even more news in the next few weeks - Microsoft today confirmed that it will hold its Gamescom press conference on August 4, promising to "share some exciting announcements" at the event.

Source: Major Nelson / Microsoft