The new Xbox Controller Bar is being tested by Windows 11 and Xbox Insiders
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Key notes
- You might think that Windows 11 Build 22616 only focused on the taskbar and existent bugs.
- However, Microsoft also slipped an exciting new gaming feature in the latest preview build.
- The Xbox Controller Bar will thus make it much easier to access available games on your PC.
As you already know by now, The Redmond tech company has just released a brand new Insider Preview Build to both the Dev and Beta Channels.
But there’s something about Build 22616 that many of you gamers might not already be aware of, so we’re going to show you exactly what it is.
Microsoft is actually testing Controller Bar, which is a new feature for the Xbox Game Bar for the Windows operating system.
And, as an answer to the question what does it do, this feature allows quick access to games and game launchers that have been recently played or accessed.
Access your games more easily with this new feature
We’ve all been using the Xbox Game bar for quite some time now so it’s safe to say everyone is familiar with it and what it does.
It has undergone several revisions and tweaks since its introduction and will soon receive a new feature called Xbox Controller Bar.
Just to prove how serious they are about this, Microsoft has already made it available in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview build 22616.
As you would have imagined, this feature is specifically aimed specifically at PC Gamers that use the Xbox controller to play games on their computer.
As we mentioned above, this is now available to both Windows and Xbox Insiders for testing, so you can get hands-on with it if you want.
To simplify this, the Controller Bar is basically tied with the Xbox button on the game controller and is supposed to simplify access to gaming-related functions.
In order to be able to use it, the feature will require an Xbox controller that’s already paired with your Windows PC.
If you are playing a game, the Xbox button will bring up the full Xbox Game Bar, which obviously gives access to all the installed widgets.
We don’t have an exact rollout ETA, but since it’s being tested by Insiders, it shouldn’t take long until we see it released to the Stable Channel as well.
What are your thoughts on this new gaming feature for Windows 11? Share your opinions with us in the comments section below.
