Windows 11 update is great news for PC gamers who use an Xbox controller

Windows 11 has a brand new preview construct which brings in a wise function for individuals who prefer to use their Xbox controller to play video games on the PC.

The new preview construct 22616 (for the dev and beta channels) is principally all a couple of bunch of minor adjustments and fixes, with one main addition that’s focused at gamers within the type of a brand new controller bar.

Said controller bar supplies a compact view of the Xbox Game Bar and lets you simply entry your most just lately performed video games – the final three you’ve run are current on the bar – or certainly just lately used launchers. So, if you wish to hearth up Steam once more, for instance, that potential is only a button press away.

The controller bar will be invoked by hitting the Xbox button in your controller, and testers will see it seem the primary time they join an Xbox controller to their Windows 11 PC (in the event that they’re within the dev or beta channels working this newest construct, after all – and it's essential to even be working model 5.722.5022.0 or higher of Xbox Game Bar; jump over to the Microsoft Store to examine for updates).

If you’re enjoying a recreation and also you press the Xbox button, this can convey up the Xbox Game Bar that you just’re used to seeing in-recreation.

Microsoft has full directions of the right way to rise up and working with this controller bar in construct 22616 for those who’re caught in any manner.

Analysis: Get your suggestions in – and take a look at the necessary fixes right here, too

The new controller bar is in early preview, after all, so at this level anybody diving in with the function can count on some bugginess. Indeed, Microsoft observes there are some video games which can not present up within the just lately performed listing of video games – and also you may see flaws the place some titles seem twice – and as ever, be happy to report something going awry within the Feedback Hub (below Gaming > Xbox Game Bar).

Suggestions for enchancment will clearly be welcome, little question, and one we’ve already seen aired online is the potential addition of a low battery warning to the controller bar, to let you realize once you’re at risk of working out of juice.

We additionally talked about that construct 22616 delivers a good outdated dollop of fixes, and there are answers for some annoying points right here, together with a giant shift with the system tray, with the adjustments introduced in with construct 22581 having been ditched. Microsoft says the system tray – and the ‘Show hidden icons’ flyout, which had gone lacking for some testers – has been reverted to work because it did when Windows 11 first got here out.

Some experiences on Reddit (corresponding to this one) appear to counsel that this new construct additionally fixes a problematic error code some people have been working up towards, stopping them from putting in contemporary preview variations of Windows 11 – however there are additionally individuals saying this gremlin is nonetheless round.