Microsoft is combining its Game Pass, Xbox mobile apps: What this means for players

Xbox app update: Microsoft has announced major changes to its Xbox mobile app. The company has announced that it is combining its Xbox mobile app with the separate Xbox Game Pass app. Once the transition is over, all the features of the company's Xbox Game Pass app will be available in the Xbox app. Additionally, the Xbox Game Pass app will stop supporting new downloads starting November 2024.

However, there's a caveat. Not all Xbox mobile app users will be able to use the features offered by the combined app right away. Microsoft said that the updated Xbox mobile app will be available for Xbox beta members on mobile, that is, the Xbox Android app and the Xbox iOS app. The company will roll out these changes to all users in the coming days.

So, what will change in the Xbox mobile app?

Microsoft said that all the Xbox mobile app features will still be available in the updated app. Additionally, it will also support the features offered by the Xbox Game Pass app. This means that players will be able to stay connected with their friends, receives updates and notifications for various games, share captures and clips from a game on various social media platforms and install new games on their gaming consoles remotely.

In addition to this, players will be able to manage their membership and access the entire Game Pass catalogue -- features that it will borrow from the Xbox Game Pass app -- in the updated Xbox mobile app.

Additionally, the Game Pass Ultimate members will be able to view and claim their gaming perks, and stream select games through Xbox Cloud Gaming on their iOS or Android devices using a supported browser.

Separately, Microsoft has announced that it is bringing its Game Bar Compact Mode to all PC players on Windows. This feature was rolled out to Xbox Insiders in August this year and now the company is making this feature available generally.

"With Compact Mode enabled, access to widgets and navigation is simplified to ensure you can get to the content you want as easily as possible on smaller screens," Microsoft wrote in its post.

"Compact Mode is also optimized to navigate with a controller, and you can quickly switch between widgets with left and right bumpers," the company added.