Microsoft Lets Windows Insiders Play With a New Game Controller Bar
Microsoft is preparing to introduce a new game controller bar for Windows 11, and Windows Insiders can play around with a preview version right now.
As the Windows blog reveals, the controller bar is described as a "new view of Xbox Game Bar" and exists to make using a game controller and launching games to play in Windows 11 as easy as possible.
With Windows Insider Preview Build 225xx installed from either the Dev or Beta Channels, pairing or connecting a controller with Windows 11 will see the controller bar pop up automatically. The bar includes icons for games you've played recently (up to three games) and all installed games.
If you're playing a game and using an Xbox controller, pressing the Xbox button will display the bar. It looks as though pressing the Windows key + G will also display the bar. However, as this is just a preview, Microsoft warns that some third-party games may not appear in the recently played list, or they could appear as duplicates.
If you're a Windows Insider who wants to experiment with the controller bar, ensure you are running Build 225xx, then download and install the Xbox Insider Hub, login using your Microsoft account, and navigate to "Previews" to join the Windows Gaming preview. Then check for updates in the Microsoft Store, reboot your PC, and the controller bar should be available to use the next time you plug in a controller.
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