Microsoft is testing a rebuilt version of the Xbox PC app Garrison, an internal codename for a faster, redesigned replacement for the current storefront and launcher. Early hands-on reports describe noticeably quicker loading, cleaner navigation, and a layout that finally treats mouse-and-keyboard and controller users as equally important.
Key takeaways
- ✓Microsoft is internally testing a rebuilt Xbox PC app codenamed Garrison
- ✓Early testers report much faster loading, even with libraries over 1,400 games
- ✓Game and store listings now share a single page, though store pages are unfinished
- ✓The app will clearly flag which titles install locally versus stream via Xbox Cloud Gaming
- ✓Garrison can reportedly be set as the default screen for Windows 11's Xbox gaming mode
The project has not been officially unveiled by Microsoft, and there is no public timeline for a wider rollout. What exists so far comes from testers who have received early builds, along with screenshots shared on social media. Still, the direction is clear enough to matter for the millions of PC players who rely on the official Xbox PC app to launch, install, and browse their games.
Table of Contents
Why Microsoft is rebuilding the Xbox PC app
The current Xbox app has a well-earned reputation for sluggishness, particularly for players with sprawling libraries or anyone trying to browse the store. Pages can take a noticeable moment to populate, and switching between sections often feels heavier than it should on modern hardware.
That performance complaint appears to be the main problem Garrison is designed to solve. Windows Central’s Jez Corden, who went hands-on with an early build, reported a substantially faster experience even when working through a library of more than 1,400 Xbox titles. He did not publish specific load time figures, so the improvement is described qualitatively rather than benchmarked, but the scale of his library gives the claim some weight.
The Verge’s Tom Warren also shared screenshots of the build on social media, noting that the design is “coming along nicely” and that performance is clearly improved over the existing app. Two independent testers reaching similar conclusions suggests the speed gains are real rather than anecdotal, even without hard numbers attached.
What’s changing in the new design
Garrison reportedly merges game listings and store listings into a single page, a structural change from the current app’s separated layout. Store pages are not fully functional yet in this early build, which is typical for software still in internal testing, but the merged approach suggests Microsoft wants fewer screens between a player and the game they are looking for.
The app is also said to more clearly distinguish between titles that install and run locally and those only playable through Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming. That distinction matters more than it might sound. As cloud-only arrangements become more common for big releases, players need an obvious signal about whether a game lives on their own hardware or depends on a stable internet connection.
Interface layouts exist for both mouse-and-keyboard and controller input, rather than forcing one control scheme to feel like an afterthought. Garrison can reportedly also be set as the default home screen when Windows 11 boots directly into its gaming mode, the feature better known as Xbox mode, which Microsoft expanded from handhelds to laptops, desktops, and tablets earlier this year.
How this fits the bigger PC gaming push
A faster, more capable Xbox PC app slots neatly into Microsoft’s broader strategy of treating Windows itself as an Xbox platform, not just a place to run a companion app. Xbox mode already blurs the line between console and PC by giving Windows devices a console-style boot experience, and a slow, clunky app undermines that pitch every time someone has to wait for their library to load.
| Area | Current Xbox app | Garrison (early build) |
|---|---|---|
| Load speed | Reported as slow with large libraries | Described as significantly faster |
| Game and store listings | Separate pages | Combined into one page |
| Local vs cloud titles | Not clearly distinguished | Clearly flagged |
| Input layouts | Primarily mouse and keyboard focused | Dedicated layouts for mouse/keyboard and controller |
| Windows 11 Xbox mode integration | Not a default home screen option | Reportedly settable as the default screen |
Competition is also a factor worth considering. Valve’s Steam client, along with rivals like the Epic Games Store, sets a high bar for how a PC storefront should feel, and the existing Xbox app has long struggled to match that baseline. A rebuild focused specifically on speed and navigation suggests Microsoft is aware of that gap and trying to close it before Xbox mode becomes a bigger part of how people use Windows gaming hardware day to day.
What players should expect next
Because Garrison remains in early internal testing, there is no confirmed release date, and Microsoft has not detailed which Windows versions or devices will get it first. Testers note the store section is incomplete, which usually means broader features are still being finalised before any public beta.
Anyone frustrated by the current app’s slow load times and clunky store browsing has reason for cautious optimism, but nothing here is locked in yet. Until Microsoft makes an official statement, the safest approach is to treat Garrison as a promising work in progress rather than an imminent update.
Frequently asked questions
What is Garrison for the Xbox PC app?
Garrison is the internal codename for a rebuilt version of the Xbox PC app that Microsoft is testing. It is designed to load faster and present games and store listings more clearly than the current version.
When will the new Xbox PC app be released?
Microsoft has not announced a release date. Garrison is still being tested internally, and features such as the store section are reportedly incomplete in current builds.
Will the new app fix slow loading times?
Early testers, including journalists who went hands-on with a build, report significantly faster performance even with libraries of over 1,400 games, though Microsoft has not published official load time figures.
Does the redesign affect Xbox Cloud Gaming?
Yes. Garrison reportedly makes it clearer which games install locally versus which can only be played through Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming, helping players know what to expect before launching a title.
