Users of Windows 10, or at least the latest version of the operating system, can now install the beta version of Microsoft's new Xbox app. You can retrieve the newly revised app by visiting the Microsoft Store. However, as stated, you must be running the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, otherwise you will not be able to install it. The app was released just before the start of the Microsoft Xbox E3 2019 conference, which also revealed that the Xbox Game Pass for PC subscription service is now available in beta and can be accessed through the Windows 10 Xbox app. . The general idea is that the new Xbox app is a hub for your PC games, making it easy to buy from the Microsoft store, and to install and manage your Xbox Game Pass titles, assuming you're a subscriber. . . Many social features are also integrated, including text and voice chat with Xbox friends, and you can also see what games your friends are playing. Also, the app has a new and smart aesthetic, and it looks very tasty.
Chat with your Xbox friends from your PC (Image credit: Microsoft)
More in the pipeline
This is just a starting point. Therefore, we can expect additional features. Also, remember that this is still beta software, you might find an odd wrinkle or two. At E3 2019, Microsoft also announced a price for Xbox Game Pass, with a subscription costing either €5 or €4 (roughly AU$8) per month. Again, the service is currently in beta, with a full release expected by the end of the year. Additionally, Microsoft revealed that the Halo: Master Chief Collection was included in Xbox Game Pass, as well as several other titles, including Metro Exodus (so no longer an Epic exclusive, as previously planned), Hollow Knight and Borderlands: Handsome Collection. . You may have noticed that last month Microsoft was busy beefing up the Xbox Game Bar with several new social features, and this is all part of the aforementioned willingness to emphasize the importance of PC gamers to the game. 39; company. E3 2019 is the biggest gaming event of the year. TechRadar reports live from Los Angeles, bringing you the biggest announcements of the week, the game's epic trailers to the shocking release date. Follow our expert analysis of the speeches and what we see at E3. via neowin