Microsoft’s Windows retailer is lastly changing into extra Steam-like for video games

Microsoft will lastly enable Windows customers to put in PC video games from the Microsoft Store or Xbox Game Pass for PC to any folder of their alternative with unrestricted entry. The transfer will enable PC players to entry the folders of video games and mod them freely, or let Windows customers transfer video games freely to any folders or drives of their alternative.

Sources acquainted with Microsoft’s plans inform The Verge that the adjustments are a part of an Xbox app replace for Windows that’s at the moment being examined internally. The Xbox app replace will lastly tackle a giant ache level of putting in video games from Xbox Game Pass for PC, the place gamers would run into points with the Microsoft Store, the restricted WindowsApps folder, or simply the lack to totally management the place video games have been put in.

While Microsoft has supported mods for sure titles within the Microsoft Store beforehand, opening up the folder entry to video games will now allow extra video games to help mods with out gamers needing to allow this in video games.

The Microsoft Store has historically restricted entry to the place video games are put in utilizing Windows-based folder permissions that make it tough to backup video games or transfer them freely. This is a headache for those who ever have to reinstall Windows and you put in video games to a secondary drive, or for those who uninstall a recreation put in from the Microsoft Store and it nonetheless makes use of up disk area.

Other PC recreation launchers like Steam or Battle.web enable gamers to backup video games and restore and confirm them. Microsoft’s new Xbox app replace consists of an choice to confirm and restore information, which is able to presumably be used to help backing up video games. There are additionally new choices to browse to the place information are put in, change the drive the place video games are put in, and decide customized folders for installs.

We requested Microsoft about its inner take a look at of this up to date Xbox app, and surprisingly the corporate confirmed its extra open method to putting in PC video games from the Microsoft Store.

“With great PC games like Back 4 Blood, Age of Empires IV, Forza Horizon 5, and Halo Infinite on day one with Game Pass, we wanted to provide players with more options to customize their experience in the Xbox app,” says a Jason Beaumont, accomplice director of experiences at Xbox. “We’ll continue to share updates as we launch additional features.”

The Xbox app replace is at the moment being examined internally at Microsoft, and the corporate hasn’t publicly detailed these new set up options simply but. We’re anticipating the up to date app to seem quickly, notably as Microsoft is on the brink of launch a free-to-play model of Halo Infinite multiplayer on December eighth.