Xbox has two changes in testing this week, and they point the same way: less waiting and fewer things to plug in. The Xbox PC app is getting a faster, simpler redesign in the Insider program, and Xbox Cloud Gaming is previewing a way to use your phone as a controller on a smart TV. Both come with caveats, so here is what is live, who can try it and what Microsoft has not said.
The Xbox PC app preview
According to a November 5 Xbox Wire post from Jason Beaumont, VP of Xbox Experiences, the new PC app is available to Xbox Insiders starting that day. Microsoft claims launch is up to 60 percent faster, the Home, Store and Game Pass pages load up to 50 percent faster, and in-app windows open up to 65 percent faster. Those numbers come from Microsoft’s own testing and the company notes results will vary by device, connection and configuration, so treat them as best-case figures.
The bigger day-to-day change may be organization. The Library gets simpler navigation, updated filters and new ways to sort games. Friends and social features move into the main navigation, so you can see what people are playing, start a chat or join a party without digging. Search now covers games, including installed titles and add-ons, and people from a single box. Game cards, Home, Settings and animations are also refreshed.
Early impressions are mixed but positive. Pure Xbox ran a first-look piece on November 6 calling the update impressive while noting a few teething problems, which is normal for an Insider build.
The web and cloud refresh
The same post describes a refreshed Xbox web experience for cloud gaming. It is rolling out to more players automatically over the next few weeks, and anyone who wants it sooner can go to play.xbox.com. A new Library tab lists the games you can play in the cloud, whether you own them or get them through Game Pass, and you can sort and filter by recently played, genre, input options and more. Desktop mode makes better use of large screens, and there are dark and light themes plus five new high-contrast options.
Microsoft also says the refreshed look and navigation are beginning to reach cloud gaming apps on supported TVs and VR headsets. It does not name devices or give timing.
Phone as controller, and a Wi-Fi controller
A November 4 Xbox Wire post covers two cloud previews. The first lets you use a supported Android or iOS phone as a controller on a supported smart TV. The controls open in the phone’s browser, and some games get tailored layouts. To try it, switch on Preview Features under Settings > Account in the latest supported TV app; when you start a game with no controller connected, you will be offered the phone option. Microsoft says anyone on a supported TV in a country where Xbox Cloud Gaming is available can use it.
The second is cloud connect for the Xbox Nano Controller, available to players in the U.S. only. Instead of pairing to the TV over Bluetooth, the controller joins your Wi-Fi and talks directly to the cloud server running the game, which Microsoft says may reduce input latency. It works on supported smart TVs and the web, not every cloud experience yet, and setup runs through the Xbox beta app on Android or the Xbox Accessories app on PC, where Insider enrollment is required.
What Microsoft has not said
There is no general release date for the new PC app and no system requirements. The post names no supported TV or VR models. Neither cloud preview comes with an end date or a stated cost, and the phone-controller post does not say whether Insider enrollment is required. If you are curious, you can join through the Xbox Insider Hub, but remember that Insider builds can be rough.
If cloud play is part of how you get through your backlog, it is also worth checking what is leaving the service soon. Our list of the 14 games leaving Game Pass on November 10 and 15 and our roundup of the November Game Pass lineup cover that.
Bottom Line
These are preview features with vendor-supplied speed claims, so wait for independent timing before expecting a transformed app. The ideas are sound, though: a quicker launcher, one search box and a phone that doubles as a controller remove real friction. Try the web refresh now if you play in the browser, and give the PC build a few weeks unless you enjoy being an Insider.
FAQ
Can I try the new Xbox PC app now?
Yes, if you are in the Xbox Insider Program. Microsoft says the changes became available to Insiders on November 5, 2026, and gave no date for everyone else.
Do I need a controller to use Xbox Cloud Gaming on a smart TV?
Not during the new preview. On a supported TV you can turn on Preview Features under Settings > Account and use a supported Android or iOS phone as the controller when no physical controller is connected.
Is cloud connect for the Xbox Nano Controller available outside the U.S.?
Not yet. Microsoft lists it as a U.S.-only preview that works on supported smart TVs and the web, and it does not work with every cloud gaming experience.
Featured image: Photo by Kamil Switalski on Unsplash (generic stock photo of a game controller).
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts below.