The compact Xbox Game Bar is fine, but I hope it’s not a Windows handheld bandage

HardwareHandheldsThe compact Xbox Game Bar is fine, but I hope it’s not a Windows handheld bandageWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. HardwareHandheldsThe compact Xbox Game Bar is fine, but I hope it’s not a Windows handheld bandageWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) I’ve been waiting forMicrosoftto weigh in with a Windows gaming handheld solution for a while, and it arguably just took its first steps with the new compact Game Bar. Available to members of the company’s Xbox Insider program, the latest update aims to make the PC overlay more usable on portable devices. Naturally, I’ve been testing the app extension since the announcement to get a feel for what it offers, and while it’s serviceable, it’s anything but a proper solution. I’m trying to avoid sounding grumpy, as the compact Xbox Game Bar is going to help some of thebest gaming handheldsout there. Specifically, it should give devices like theAsus ROG Allya way to tweak settings and launch games without using either the Windows desktop or a third-party app like Armoury Crate. My initial concern with this approach is that it’s more or less another middleman, serving to implement on an operating system that has no interest in on-the-go usability. I’m using theAyaneo Flip DSto test the compact Xbox Game Barrecently announced via Xbox Wire. In theory, the experience should be the same as when using the ROG Ally orLenovo Legion Gosince they all use Windows 11, but your mileage could vary if your chosen device has specific firmware active in the background. I also had a bit of trouble getting the new overlay option to appear in the first place, as I had to re-install the Xbox app multiple times from the Microsoft Store to get up and running. I’m trying not to let that faff set the the tone here, but it does tie into the overall clunky nature of the Windows gaming experience. A night at the Game Bar Image1of2(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) Image1of2(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) Image1of2 (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) For those of you unacquainted, the Xbox Game Bar adds quick access to console-like functionality like screenshots, social elements, and audio mixing dials. There are also a small range of widgets you can grab that’ll let you use apps like Spotify while in-game rather than having to head back to the desktop. Sounds ideal for handhelds, right? Well, the new compact mode helps resize everything for smaller portable screens making the UI a bit more controller and touch-friendly. All the above functionality remains the same, but some of the changes lean more towards quickly launching games. This was one of the first elements I noticed, as the “recent game” list now takes center stage at the front of the Game Bar. You won’t be able to access your full PC library from here since it’ll only retain a shortlist, meaning you’ll still have to rely on Steam and other storefronts, but the larger menu is appreciated. Of course, you can also launch the main storefront apps and things like Armory Crate using the compact game bar, saving you once again from faffing around with desktop icons. I’m not entirely convinced this is a more effective approach, as you’re still going to end up thrown into various other screens before eventually reaching your game of choice, and it’s still extremely tempting just to use Steam Big Picture mode from the get-go. Handheld overlay hangover (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more The first relates to power management settings, as you’re still going to either use your handheld’s specific app (in my case AyaSpace) or Windows settings to adjust things like wattage, battery life, or even resolution. Had the Game Bar included some of these options within its toolbox, it would have brought some of those more hard-to-interact-with elements out from within OS menus and into a controller-friendly space. Another element that feels slightly half-baked is the Game Bar’s performance tab, as I couldn’t see a way to pin it on screen in compact mode. Being able to do that would mean you could run through specific sections of a game and have an FPS counter in view, but the current format means you’ll have to stop playing to look at any metrics. For context, the Steam Deck and Windows handhelds like the ROG Ally can display stats in a small box in the corner of your display using its own sidebar overlay. (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) While testing the compact Game Bar, I kept asking myself whether I’d use it instead of existing management apps or even just Steam Big Picture Mode. The short answer is no, as the functionality it provides is pretty basic. Admittedly, Microsoft didn’t pitch this update as a way to turn your handheld into a portable Xbox or even eliminate the need for Windows interaction. However, this is the first meaningful update that targets the Windows handheld experience, so it’s understandable that players may have been expecting something a bit more revolutionary. All the company has done in this instance is scaled the UI for the existing game bar. That could be considered a step in the right direction, but I’m hoping it’s not just a bandaid to appease anyone who’s now invested in the platform for portable gaming. Today’s best handheld gaming PC dealsASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesAsus ROG Ally X$559ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all pricesMSI Claw$699ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today’s best handheld gaming PC dealsASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesAsus ROG Ally X$559ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all pricesMSI Claw$699ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today’s best handheld gaming PC dealsASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesAsus ROG Ally X$559ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all pricesMSI Claw$699ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today’s best handheld gaming PC deals ASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesAsus ROG Ally X$559ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all pricesMSI Claw$699ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all prices ASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all prices ASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all prices ASUS ROG Ally ASUS ROG Ally $550$490View $550$490 $490 See all prices Asus ROG Ally X$559ViewSee all prices Asus ROG Ally X$559ViewSee all prices Asus ROG Ally X Asus ROG Ally X $559View $559 $559 See all prices Lenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all prices Lenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all prices Lenovo Legion Go Lenovo Legion Go $699.99$549View $699.99$549 $549 See all prices MSI Claw$699ViewSee all prices MSI Claw$699ViewSee all prices MSI Claw MSI Claw $699View $699 $699 See all prices Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all prices Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all prices Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB $717View $717 $717 See all prices Valve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all prices Valve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all prices Valve Steam Deck OLED 1TB Valve Steam Deck OLED 1TB $739.99View $739.99 $739.99 See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices TOPICSMicrosoft TOPICS CATEGORIESXboxPlatforms CATEGORIES More about handheldsThis handheld is the same size as an NES controller, but I use it to play 30 years worth of retro classicsWill the next Lenovo Legion Go actually be a Steam Deck? 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hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”