At the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2026 held in California (USA) from March 9 to 13, Microsoft announced plans to bring the "Xbox Mode" to computers running Windows 11, and revealed initial information about the next generation game console codenamed Project Helix.
According to Microsoft, the new Xbox Mode will bring a similar experience to a game console (specialized electronic device for gaming) right on a PC.
When this mode is activated, Windows 11 will switch to a full-screen interface similar to the Xbox main screen, allowing users to navigate and launch games with a controller instead of a mouse and keyboard.
Initially, this feature was designed for Windows 11 handheld gaming devices, such as the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X model.
However, Microsoft said it will expand Xbox mode to desktops and laptops to bring a unified gaming experience on multiple devices.
In Xbox mode, the entire user's game library on PC will be displayed in a centralized interface.
It is noteworthy that the system not only displays games purchased from Microsoft stores but also includes games from many other platforms such as Steam, Epic Games or other popular online stores.
Thanks to that, gamers can access and launch the game from multiple sources in the same environment.
Microsoft also said that this mode supports the ability to run and switch between multiple games at the same time, helping players switch experiences quickly.
In addition, the company is opening Advanced Shader Delivery technology (to help optimize the distribution and loading of graphics data in the game) for all Xbox developers.
This technology allows optimization of shader download process (graphic data), thereby significantly shortening game download time.
This mechanism is similar to the optimization technique being used on console systems such as Xbox and PlayStation.
Windows 11 users can still easily exit Xbox mode to return to the normal computer environment.
According to Microsoft, this can be done by pressing the Windows key on the keyboard, accessing the desktop screen from Task View or exiting through the Game Bar settings.
Initially, the Xbox mode would be deployed in certain markets, of which the United States was the first group to be approached.
Microsoft also suggested that the company may bring classic Xbox games to PC as part of the Xbox brand's 25th anniversary celebration later this year.
Besides the software, Microsoft also revealed information about Project Helix, which is the next generation Xbox game console.
In his keynote speech at the GDC conference, Microsoft said the new hardware will bring a major leap in performance.
This promises to help games achieve realistic, vivid and smoother graphics quality compared to the current generation.
