- Microsoft will bring the Xbox Full Screen Experience to all Windows 11 PCs.
- This console-like interface streamlines gaming, freeing up to 2GB of RAM by skipping the standard desktop.
- This expansion is a key defensive move against Valve’s upcoming Linux-based Steam Machine, aiming to keep Windows the primary platform for high-performance PC gaming.
Microsoft is announcing its plans to bring the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) to a wider range of Windows 11 devices, including all x86 and ARM64 PC form factors.
The announcement follows the general availability of the FSE on all Windows 11 gaming handhelds (starting on November 21, 2025), keeping the promise to unify the portable PC gaming ecosystem after the feature’s exclusive debut on the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally devices.
A Console UI, Built for PC
The Full Screen Experience transforms the traditional Windows 11 desktop into a controller-friendly, console-like interface. The primary goal is to strip away the complexities and resource overhead of a standard desktop operating system, offering a streamlined, dedicated gaming environment.
This new experience brings a few key benefits for gamers:
- Performance boost: By skipping the loading of the standard Windows Explorer shell and suppressing unnecessary background processes, Microsoft says the FSE can free up approximately 2GB of system RAM. This crucial memory saving directly translates to improved performance and smoother frame rates in games, especially on devices with limited memory.
- Universal launcher: The Full Screen Experience serves as a unified gaming hub, consolidating titles from various sources (including Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games Store, and Battle.net) into a single, easy-to-navigate library.
- Optimized for gamepad: The interface is designed from the ground up for controller navigation, mimicking the intuitive experience of an Xbox console dashboard. However, this is the Xbox app for Windows 11, not the Xbox console dashboard.
Expanding beyond handhelds
While the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) is immediately beneficial for current Windows gaming handheld devices, Microsoft is now looking to aggressively cater to the broader computer market, which might be a strategic response to Valve.
The company has officially confirmed that the FSE will soon roll out to more diverse Windows 11 PC form factors through the Windows Insider program. This strategic countermove (coming just as Valve prepares to debut its new, Linux-based Steam Machine for the living room and desktop) suggests a future in which users can bypass the clumsy Windows desktop entirely. Instead, they can choose to boot their traditional desktop rig or laptop straight into an optimized, low-overhead gaming mode, effectively turning any Windows 11 machine into an instant “Xbox PC.”
The FSE’s compatibility with both x86 (Intel and AMD) and ARM64 architectures is a crucial detail, paving the way for a consistent, high-performance gaming experience across the growing array of ARM-based PCs. Also, solidifies the Windows ecosystem and provides gamers with a native, performance-focused alternative to switching to Valve’s rival Linux platform.
What this means for PC gamers
The expansion of the Full Screen Experience marks a significant shift in Microsoft’s approach to Windows gaming, directly addressing the common critique that the desktop operating system adds unnecessary friction and performance drain to the gaming experience.
If you’re a PC gamer eager to experience this console-like mode on your non-handheld desktop or laptop, you’ll have to enroll in the Windows Insider Program and then install build 26220.7271 from the Dev or Beta Channels.
If you want to try the new feature immediately, you can enable Xbox Full Screen Experience on any gaming PC running the latest version of Windows 11. Also, recently, a community-created app appeared on GitHub that helps you turn on the feature with a single click.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of Pureinfotech in 2010. With over 22 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.
Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.
Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.
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