Microsoft is working on a small new feature for Xbox‘s dashboard that will help cloud gamers access their recently played games more easily across devices. The past few years have seen Xbox go all-in on its Play Anywhere program, allowing Xbox users seamless access to their library of games across Xbox Series X and S consoles, PC, cloud, and handheld devices. This is in addition to Xbox’s newfound third-party focus that has seen major first-party titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle become available on PlayStation.
Later this year, Microsoft is looking to add another device to its long-ranging Xbox ecosystem in the ROG Xbox Ally, a collaborative Windows 11 handheld device. Unveiled during Xbox’s June showcase, the device will have two versions: the standard ROG Xbox Ally and the more powerful ROG Xbox Ally X. Using the power of Xbox Cloud Gaming, the ROG Xbox Ally will allow gamers to take their digital libraries on the go, filling a gap in Xbox’s ecosystem that presented itself with the release of Valve’s Steam Deck handheld several years ago. Xbox’s very own first-party handheld has reportedly been shelved in the meantime, as the ROG Xbox Ally prepares for a Fall release.
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With another device joining the Xbox family, Microsoft is taking a step to make its cloud gaming experience just a bit smoother for those who like to game on the go. In a new Xbox Wire post, Xbox revealed a new feature set to be added soon to its UI’s home dashboard called the “Play History” tab. This new folder will replace the rightmost game tile on the home screen and will provide easy access to users’ cloud games, as the other recently played game tiles to the left of the folder on Xbox’s dashboard are non-cloud games that are native to the console. The tile for this folder will showcase users’ four most recently played cloud games in a small grid, and will presumably open up to gamers’ wider cloud collections.
Xbox UI Getting New ‘Play History’ Feature
The big question among Xbox gamers right now is whether the feature will be able to be turned off, as those who don’t utilize cloud gaming wouldn’t want a perpetually empty gray box sitting on their home screen. That said, it’s easy to see how useful this new Play History folder can be, as it almost entirely eliminates the need to go digging through “My Games and Apps” to find one’s most recent cloud games. It fits right into the ethos of cloud gaming, which is all about convenience and a quick, snappy experience.
The Play History dashboard folder is currently only available for Xbox Insiders at the moment, but it’s expected to roll out in just a couple of weeks, though an exact date or timeframe is unknown. It’s good to know the feature will be ready to go in time for the release of the ROG Xbox Ally later this year.
- Brand
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Microsoft
- Original Release Date
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November 10, 2020
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$499
- Operating System
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Proprietary (Windows-based)
- Processor
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Custom AMD 8-core Zen 2 3.8 GHz
- Resolution
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720p – 4K UHD
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