Xbox App Gains Steam-Like Feature to Add Any PC Game

Microsoft is giving PC gamers a feature they have wanted for years. The Xbox app on PC now allows you to manually add almost any game or application to your library. This update means you no longer have to jump between different launchers or dig through your Windows files to find your favorite software.

It is taking a page out of Steam’s playbook

If you use Steam, you probably know about the option to add non-Steam games. Microsoft is doing this for Xbox apps. You can now browse your computer for any .exe or .cmd file and pin it straight to your Xbox library.

This update gives you plenty of control over how things look. Once you add a program, you can customize the name, change the artwork, and even tweak the launch arguments. Whether you are setting up a custom desktop rig or checking out the recent Xbox app on ARM-based Windows 11 PCs update, you can keep all your software organized in one spot. 

People are already using it to launch tools like iTunes, Audacity, and Photoshop alternatives right from the Xbox interface.

It is a major win for handhelds and the future

For regular desktop users, this is a nice convenience. For people using handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally, it is a massive upgrade. Handheld gamers get the best performance when they stay inside the full-screen Xbox app. Dropping into standard Windows 11 mode can be clunky and annoying. Now, you can launch emulators, modding tools, or rival storefronts without ever leaving the Xbox dashboard.

This move also makes sense for Microsoft’s upcoming hardware. Rumors suggest the next console, codenamed Project Helix, will blend console and PC gaming. Letting users manually add their own PC files points to a much more open ecosystem. Along with the recent Xbox Game Pass update that adds 45 new titles to the “Stream Your Own Game” feature, Microsoft is clearly giving players more ways to access their content.

Here’s how to add any game or app

Adding your own software to the Xbox app is simple. Just follow these quick steps:

• Open the Xbox PC app on your computer.
• Navigate to the “My Library” section.
• Look for the small “+” icon in the top right corner and click it.
• Pick an app from the suggested drop-down list or click the browse button to manually find your .exe or .cmd file.

Right now, this feature is rolling out to users in the preview ring. Microsoft is testing it to make sure everything works smoothly. If no major bugs pop up, it should go live for everyone on PC soon.