Better Controls, Shared Play History: What’s New in the Xbox August Update
Better Controls, Shared Play History: What’s New in the Xbox August Update
As August winds down, Microsoft has rolled out its latest Xbox update — and it’s packed with practical upgrades that improve how you interact with your games across devices. Whether you’re on PC, console, or streaming from the cloud, this update brings meaningful tweaks that make navigation easier, history tracking seamless, and cross-platform play more flexible.
The update is now available to all Xbox users, following a successful testing phase with Xbox Insiders. Here’s what’s new.
Play History Syncs Across All Your Devices
One of the most requested features is finally here: cross-device play history. You can now see a unified timeline of the games you’ve played, no matter if you were on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or even using Xbox Cloud Gaming.
On consoles, just head to the “Play history” tile on your home screen. On the Xbox PC app, check the “Most Recent” section in the sidebar. It’s a small change that makes a big difference — especially if you switch between devices often.
Xbox PC App Gets Console-Like Navigation
Microsoft has overhauled the controller experience on the Xbox PC app, making it feel much more like using an actual Xbox console.
Now, pressing A selects, B goes back, and Y opens search — just like you’d expect on a controller. The company also improved trigger and bumper responsiveness, added faster scrolling, and enhanced focus memory so you don’t lose your place when switching between menus.
They’ve also cleaned up the visuals: focus indicators are clearer, animations are smoother, and keyboard navigation is more intuitive. If you use a handheld PC or play on a big screen with a controller, this update makes the app feel significantly more polished.
Over 1,000 Games Now Support Xbox Play Anywhere
Good news for fans of flexibility: more than 1,000 games now support Xbox Play Anywhere. That means when you buy a qualifying game, you get both the Xbox and Windows 10/11 versions — with full cross-progression and shared saves.
It’s a great deal for players who want to start on console and continue on PC, or vice versa. And Microsoft continues to expand the library, making it one of the platform’s strongest selling points.
Cloud Gaming Gets Bigger: 450+ Titles Support Streaming Your Own Games
The “Stream Your Own Game” feature, which lets you stream your personal game library to any device, now supports over 450 titles — including recent additions like Mafia: The Old Country. This means you’re no longer limited to Game Pass games when using cloud gaming.
More titles are being added regularly, giving players more freedom to play their owned games anywhere, anytime.
Retro Fans, Rejoice: New Classics Added to Antstream Arcade
Xbox and Antstream Arcade have added seven retro titles this month, bringing classic gaming vibes to modern systems:
- Caesar 3
- Climber 5
- Oystron
- Private Eye
- Shootin’ Gallery
- The Colonel’s Bequest
- Wing War
These additions expand the growing library of retro experiences available through the partnership, perfect for players who love diving into gaming history
Mouse and Keyboard Support Expands to More Console Games
Gamers who prefer precision controls will be happy to hear that mouse and keyboard support has been extended to several new titles on Xbox consoles, including:
- Grounded 2
- Heretic + Hexen
- The First Descendent
- War Thunder
- Frag Punk
- F1 Manager 2024
Plus, Grounded 2 now supports touch controls for players using Xbox Cloud Gaming on mobile or touchscreen devices — making it more accessible than ever.
What’s Coming for Xbox Insiders?
For those in the Insider program, Microsoft is testing some exciting new features:
- Gaming Copilot: An AI assistant arriving in the Game Bar, designed to help with tips, game info, and system navigation.
- Third-party storefronts on PC: Soon, you may be able to install apps like Epic Games Store directly through the Xbox PC app.
- Xbox Cloud Gaming: Moving beyond Game Pass Ultimate exclusivity — hints suggest broader access could be on the horizon.
Final Thoughts
The August Xbox update might not be flashy, but it’s packed with quality-of-life improvements that make daily use smoother and more consistent across devices. From better PC app navigation to unified play history and expanded input support, Microsoft is clearly listening to user feedback.
If you haven’t updated yet, make sure your console and PC app are up to date — you might already have access to these new features.
