Tag: Dynamic Backgrounds

Xbox October Update: ROG Xbox Ally Available Now, Handheld Compatibility Program, and More – Xbox Wire
Handheld Compatibility Program – Helping Players Play Smarter

We’ve introduced the new Handheld Compatibility Program to make it easier for you to identify which games are optimized for handheld play. This update is now visible on product detail pages across all Windows devices and featured in the handheld compatible channel on Home on supported Windows handhelds.

To support informed choices, a compatibility notification will appear before installation or purchase if a game is not currently Handheld Optimized, helping you understand how a game will play on handheld. [Back to Top]

PC Gaming Updates

Faster Downloads, Sharper Experience

We’ve rolled out updates to the Xbox PC app that improve download speeds so you can jump into your games faster. These changes are rolling out now to Xbox Insiders and will be available to all players soon.

We’ve made improvements to the download tool, allowing the app to better optimize your PC’s internet connection. That means fewer slowdowns and smarter bandwidth usage, especially on high-speed networks.

This is part of our ongoing commitment to making Xbox on PC faster, more responsive, and tuned to player feedback. We’ll continue listening to feedback and monitoring performance as the rollout expands. [Back to Top]

Xbox Console Updates

Official Clubs and Game Pass Benefits Update

Stay plugged into publisher updates and unlock more value with Game Pass. Game Hubs now include two new modules designed to keep you informed and engaged. The first provides the latest news from Official Clubs (where available), while the second highlights any Game Pass in-game benefits tied to the title. These updates have started to roll out and will soon appear alongside existing modules like Your game stats and Available add-ons, making it easier than ever for you to discover what’s new and take advantage of what’s included. [Back to Top]

In Case You Missed It

Xbox Accessories – The Outer Worlds 2 Xbox Wireless Controller and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2

Step into the sequel with gear that’s ready for the mission. The Outer Worlds 2 Xbox Wireless Controller and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 bring bold new designs inspired by The Moon Man and the galactic rifts threatening humanity’s survival. These aren’t just controllers; they’re your ultimate weapon in the Arcadia system. Available now through Xbox Design Lab, both options let players gear up with style and purpose.

Xbox Console – Dynamic Backgrounds

Battlefield 6, Keeper, The Elder Scrolls Online, and The Outer Worlds 2 all introduced new dynamic backgrounds for Xbox Series X|S consoles, allowing you to customize your console and celebrate these exciting new games. [Back to Top]

Game Additions

ROG Xbox Ally: Advanced Shader Delivery – Launch Faster, Play Smoother, Game Smarter.

We’re making your gaming experience even better with advanced shader delivery – now available for supported titles on ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X.

This new feature preloads game shaders during download, so select games launch up to 10x faster, run more smoothly, and use less battery on first play.

Today, advanced shader delivery is supported on select titles, with more coming soon. Here is the list of current supported games:
- Ark Survival Ascended
- Avowed
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Control
- Dead Island 2
- Deep Rock Galactic
- Farming Simulator 25
- Forspoken
- Final Fantasy XVI
- Forza Horizon 5
- Forza Motorsport
- Gears of War: Reloaded
- Gears Tactics
- Grounded 2
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced
- Lies of P
- Metro Exodus
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Monster Hunter Rise
- Persona 3 Reload
- Resident Evil 2 (2019)
- Resident Evil 3
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
- Sea of Thieves
- Sniper Elite: Resistance
- South of Midnight
- The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remaster
- Ninja Gaiden 4
- The Callisto Protocol
- The Outer Worlds 2
- Silent Hill f
- Keeper
- Hogwarts Legacy
Xbox Play Anywhere – Buy once, play anywhere

Over 1,000 games now support Xbox Play Anywhere, making it easier than ever to switch between PC, console, and supported handhelds, at no extra cost to you. Jump into games like Hollow Knight: Silksong and Silent Hill f now. Your progress travels with you, including saves, add-ons, and achievements. Just sign in with your Xbox account on any device and pick up right where you left off.

These are the games added to the Xbox Play Anywhere collection in September:
- Agatha Christie – Death on the Nile
- Alphadia III
- Baki Hanma: Blood Arena
- Bio Block
- Bratz Rhythm & Style
- Brews & Bastards
- Car Mechanic Shop Simulator
- Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3
- Dead Reset
- Deep Rock Galactic Survivor
- DeTechtive 2112
- Detective Dotson
- Double Dangerous
- Dragon Ruins
- DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready to Party
- Echoes of Light: Child of the Balance
- Echoes of the Plum Grove
- Firefighting Simulator Ignite
- Formula Legends
- Full Throttle Parking
- Giant Rush
- Green Soldiers Heroes: Extreme Bikers
- Hanoi Puzzles: Flip Match
- Heian City Story
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Hot Stakes Casino – American Roulette
- Hotel Barcelona
- Ink Enigma: Hidden Object Challenges
- Kairobotica
- Karma: The Dark WorldMeow Moments: Celebrating Beats & Books
- Moon Mystery
- My Horse Stories
- Nachtmahr
- Napoleon Maiden Episode.1 A maiden without the word impossible
- NBA Bounce
- Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny
- Not Not 2 – A Brain Challenge
- Otherwar
- Overpowered 1 – Mars Infestation
- Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven
- Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
- Scar-Lead Salvation
- Silent Hill f
- Skyline Bowling
- Slime Rancher 2
- Sokocat: Islands – Remastered
- Spot Challenge 3D
- SpotCat vs The Cheddar Mafia In Asia
- Stylist Girl
- Sworn
- Theme Park Jam
- Totally Normal Journey: The Interactive Musical
- Train Sim World 6
- Wander Stars
Check out the full list of available games that players can enjoy anywhere.

Stream your own game – Over 1000+ games

We’re continuing to grow the Stream your own game collection in Xbox Cloud Gaming. Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members can now stream from a library of 1000+ games they own, across supported devices. That includes titles like ARC Raiders and Jurassic World Evolution 3.

More games, more flexibility, and more ways to play – wherever you may be.

Recently added:
- ARC Raiders
- Children of Morta
- Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Anniversary Edition
- Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition
- Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location
- Jurassic World Evolution 3
- King of Meat
- Pinball FX3
- SongPop Party
- Syberia – The World Before
- Talisman: Digital Edition
- The Jackbox Party Pack 9
- Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines 2
- XIII
- …and many more!
Check out the full list of cloud-playable games available to stream on supported devices here. For more information on Stream your own game, learn more here. [Back to Top]

More games added to Retro Classics

Great games deserve to stick around, and we’re making sure they do. Xbox and Antstream Arcade are bringing retro favorites to modern devices with Retro Classics available on Game Pass, so players can keep enjoying the classics. With over 1 million players already diving into Retro Classics, here’s a look at the titles that have been recently added to Retro Classics.
- BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk’s Inception (Amiga)
- BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk’s Revenge (DOS)
- Ice Hockey
- Moonsweeper
Game Pass members can join weekly tournaments like the Maze Reaper tournament happening now, take on community challenges and enjoy a growing library of Activision and Blizzard games with the Retro Classics collection set to expand to more than 100 titles over time. Click here for more information on Retro Classics.

Xbox adds mouse and keyboard and touch controls for more games

Xbox supports the use of wired USB mice and keyboards for navigation in select games and apps, as well as across Xbox and Windows devices.

For players enjoying Xbox games on mobile, Xbox touch controls deliver a controller-free experience for hundreds of titles. Today, there are 130+ games with mouse and keyboard support active on cloud and 230+ games with touch controls available on cloud, giving you more ways to play than ever before.

Some games even provide custom control overlays or render their own touch layouts, creating a tailored experience for each title’s unique gameplay. Learn how to set up and customize your touch controls here. [Back to Top]

Here are the latest titles added this month:

Mouse and keyboard:
- ABRISS – build to destroy
- Astro Miner
- Biz Builder Delux
- Chess Royal
- Cozy Designer
- CyberTD
- Dolmenjord – Viking Islands
- Dragon Takers
- Dream Town Island
- Dungeon Village 2
- Eldgear
- Elemental War Clash
- Forest Golf Planner
- GRAPPIN
- Hatsune Miku – The Planet of Wonder and Fragments of Wishes
- HexaScape: Cyber Defense
- Last Escape: Dead Complex
- Mayhem Heroes
- Meow Moments: Celebrating Geeks & Athletes
- Midnight Remastered
- Narcissus
- Penguin’s Road
- Pocket Harvest
- Pocket League Story
- Post Trama
- Roofcats Band – Suika Style
- Pool Slide Story
- Snooker Blitz
- SokoNature
- Spot Challenge Vol. 1
- The Thaumaturge
- To the Sky
Touch:
- Keeper
- Immortals of Aveum
- Tales of Kenzera: ZAU
For support on setting up devices, see here for more details.

Help Shape the Future of Xbox

Stay tuned to Xbox Wire for future updates and the latest and greatest Xbox news. For support related to Xbox updates, visit the official Xbox Support site.

We love hearing from the community, whether it’s a new feature idea or feedback on something we can improve upon. Xbox is always evolving, and your input helps shape what’s next. If you’d like to help create the future of Xbox and get early access to new features, join the Xbox Insider Program today by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One or Windows PC. [Back to Top]

Happy gaming!

Editor’s Note (October 30): We’ve clarified in the Faster Downloads, Sharper Experience section that the download speeds update for the Xbox app for PC is only rolling out for Xbox Insiders for now. We also corrected the Forza Motorsport game title listed in the Advanced Shader Delivery section.
Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor

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October 30, 2025
Xbox August Update: Cross-Device Play History, Controller Updates, and More – Xbox Wire

As part of our continuing effort at Xbox to deliver more meaningful and fun gaming moments, however you play, we’re bringing some exciting improvements across devices in this month’s update. Soon, you will be able to more easily sync your gameplay with cross-device play history, along with cloud-playable games now appearing in your play history. With the new My apps tab in the Xbox PC app, you can quickly launch your favorite apps or games from multiple storefronts. Gaming Copilot (Beta) for Game Bar on Windows 11 is now in preview and is designed to be your gaming sidekick. And controller navigation through the Xbox PC app just got a whole lot smoother. Read more about the new features below, including new gaming additions for Xbox Play Anywhere, Stream your own game, Retro Classics, and more.

Here’s what’s new:

Cross-Device and Cloud-Playable Play History Now Rolling Out

Last month we announced the preview for cross-device play history and cloud-playable games, making it easier than ever to keep playing your games across Xbox, wherever you are. What started with Xbox Insiders is now rolling out and will soon be available to everyone.

Your play history will now sync across devices, showing up on console and in the Xbox PC app. So, whether you’re switching screens from one room to the next or picking up where you left off at a friend’s house, your recently played games are right there so you can jump back in.

You’ll also start seeing cloud-playable games show up in your history. That means every cloud-enabled title, from original Xbox classics to Xbox Series X|S exclusives, is now in one place whether you own it or play through Xbox Game Pass. It’s a simpler, more connected way to find and get into cloud gaming.

There are multiple entry points to continue playing your current games. On console, check out the Play history tile on the Home page, and on the Xbox PC app, you can find your Play history under the Most Recent section in the sidebar menu as well as the Play history tab in My Library.

PC Gaming Updates

Bring Everything Together with My apps – Available to Xbox Insiders

We’re continuing to evolve the Xbox on PC experience, and we’ve rolled out My apps to Xbox Insiders, a new tab in the Xbox PC app that makes it easier to get to the apps you use most. With My apps, Xbox Insiders enrolled in the PC Gaming Preview can now quickly launch key apps and storefronts, like browsers, utilities, and game launchers, right from the library. No more bouncing between desktop windows; everything’s in one spot and ready to go.

This builds on our work with the aggregated gaming library, making it easier to find, download, and launch your games from multiple storefronts directly from the Xbox PC app. Whether you’re on a Windows 11 PC or a handheld device, My apps help streamline your setup so you can spend more time playing and less time searching.

We’re starting with a curated set of apps and will expand support over time. Learn more about My apps in the full article here.

Gaming Copilot (Beta) on Game Bar – In Preview to Xbox Insiders

Gaming Copilot (Beta) is now available in Game Bar on Windows 11 for Xbox Insiders enrolled in the PC Gaming Preview. It’s built to be your go-to sidekick, helping you get past tough spots so you can stay focused on what matters: playing the games you love.

Whether you’re looking for tips, stuck on a boss, or just want to get into the action faster, Gaming Copilot (Beta) is here to make things smoother and more personal. It’s smart, helpful when you need it, and stays out of the way when you don’t.

Want to dig in? Check out the Xbox Insiders article for more on how to get started.

Controller Navigation in the Xbox PC App Just Got a Lot Smarter

The Xbox PC app now makes it easier to move between controller, keyboard, and touch – no matter how you play. We’ve added smart updates for controller and keyboard users that make navigation feel more intuitive and console-like: A to select, B to go back, Y to search. You’ll notice smoother trigger and bumper behavior, faster scrolling, and smarter focus memory between pages. Keyboard navigation also got a boost.

Visually, things are cleaner. Focus indicators are clearer, animations are subtle but purposeful, and everything feels more polished. It’s all about making the experience feel familiar, responsive, and just better.

In Case You Missed It

Xbox Consoles – Dynamic Backgrounds

Gears of War: Reloaded, Grounded 2, Madden NFL 26, Ninja Gaiden 4, and Sea of Thieves all introduced new dynamic backgrounds for Xbox Series X|S consoles, allowing players to customize their consoles to match exciting new games.

Game Additions

Xbox Play Anywhere – Buy once, play anywhere

Over 1,000 games now support Xbox Play Anywhere, making it easier than ever to switch between PC, console, and supported handhelds, at no extra cost to you. Your progress travels with you, including saves, add-ons, and achievements. Just sign in with your Xbox account on any device and pick up right where you left off.

These are the games added to the Xbox Play Anywhere collection in July:

Abiotic Factor

Aquapark io

Back to the Dawn

Bad End Theater

Crowd City

Dead of Darkness

EDENS ZERO

Golf Guys

Grounded 2

Hatsune Miku Logic Paint S+

Maiden Cops

Mecha BREAK

Minami Lane

My Friendly Neighborhood

No Heroes Here 2

Novel Rogue

RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business

Sand Legends

Spell Disk

The Last Camp

The Wandering Village

Tiny Pixels Vol. 2 – Stormy Knights

Wheel World

Check out the full list of available games that players can enjoy anywhere.

Stream your own game – Over 450+ games

We’re continuing to grow the Stream your own game collection in Xbox Cloud Gaming. Game Pass Ultimate members can now stream from a library of 450+ games they own, across supported devices. That includes titles like GRADIUS ORIGINS and Mafia: The Old Country.

More games, more flexibility, and more ways to play – wherever you may be.

Recently added:

A Short Hike

Bugsnax

DC League of Super Pets: The Adventures of Krypto and Ace

Don’t Starve

Everspace

Evil Genius 2: World Domination

Gradius Origins

Let’s Build a Zoo

Library of Ruina

Mafia: The Old Country

Scorn

Somerville

…and many more!

Check out the full list of cloud-playable games available to stream on supported devices here. For more information, learn more here.

More games added to Retro Classics

Great games deserve to stick around, and we’re making sure they do. Xbox and Antstream Arcade are bringing retro favorites to modern devices through Game Pass, so players can keep enjoying the classics. With over 1 million players already diving into Retro Classics, here’s a look at the latest and upcoming titles.

Caesar 3

Climber 5

Oystron

Private Eye

Shootin’ Gallery

The Colonel’s Bequest

Wing War

Game Pass subscribers can keep an eye out for new weekly tournaments, community challenges and more games added from Activision and Blizzard, expanding the Retro Classics collection to more than 100+ titles over time. Click here for more information on Retro Classics.

Xbox adds mouse and keyboard and touch controls for more games

Xbox supports the use of wired USB mice and keyboards for navigation in select games and apps, and for getting around on Xbox and Windows devices.

In addition, for Xbox players enjoying games on their mobile devices, Xbox touch controls are available for select games, allowing you to experience a different way to play – by touch and without a controller. Some games render their own controls in-game or supply custom control overlays, providing a more tailored experience for each game’s unique gameplay. Learn more about how you can set up and tailor your game’s touch controls here.

Here are the latest titles added this month:

Mouse and keyboard:

Barbie Project Friendship

F1 Manager 2023

F1 Manager 2024

Frag Punk

Grounded 2

Heretic + Hexen

Mecha BREAK

Paw Patrol Grand Prix

The First Descendent

Ultimate Chicken Horse

Ultimate Custom Night

War Thunder

Touch:

For support on setting up devices, see here for more details.

Help Shape the Future of Xbox

Stay tuned to Xbox Wire for future updates and the latest and greatest Xbox news. For support related to Xbox updates, visit the official Xbox Support site.

We love hearing from the community, whether it’s a new feature idea or feedback on something we can improve upon. Xbox is always evolving, and your input helps shape what’s next. If you’d like to help create the future of Xbox and get early access to new features, join the Xbox Insider Program today by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One or Windows PC.

Happy gaming!

Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor

Source link

August 28, 2025