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Microsoft trialing new Windows 11 Game Pass widget

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By Shella Artillero - - 5 Mins Read
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Microsoft is experimenting with a new PC Game Pass widget in the most recent Windows 11 preview in order to improve the desktop appearance of its Xbox gaming subscription service. The new Game Pass widget, which provides a visual shortcut to Xbox games in the Windows 11 widget panel, is rolling out in Insider preview build 25174 for the Dev Channel of Windows 11. "This widget is a window to the extensive PC Game Pass library – it will show the latest additions, games leaving soon, and others from highlighted categories and then take you to the Xbox app where you can install them, see reviews, and go all in."  In addition, the tech giant asserted that the widget would soon enable users to sign into their Xbox profiles and perhaps even quickly launch games they had previously been playing. In addition to these changes, the new build also contains enhancements to the File Explorer application, which now enables users to open folders in new tabs with a middle mouse click. The Windows version of Xbox Game Pass for Xbox consoles, PC Game Pass for Windows 10 and 11, offers a selection of downloadable games for $9.99/€9.99/£7.99 per month. Before Google launched Stadia, a gaming subscription service, Microsoft offered the PC subscription in 2019.  Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a large multi-platform subscription, costs $14.99 a month and includes top-notch games to play on Xbox, the browser, iOS and Android devices, and, starting in June, Samsung TVs. Microsoft is also working on making it easier to switch to recently played games after logging into an Xbox profile. Additionally, it is developing customized recommendations. Xbox Game Pass for PC has gained popularity. When Microsoft announced in January that it had acquired Call of Duty creator Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, it also said that it had 25 million customers. According to the blog post, Microsoft has been collaborating with the Xbox team to enhance how Windows and PC Game Pass function together. According to the firm, the Game The Pass widget will function as a window to the vast PC Game Pass collection, displaying the most recent additions, departing games, and other games from genres that have been selected. The widget should also drive visitors to the Xbox app so they can download games, read user reviews, and receive more information. Additionally, the new build will enable users to middle-click a folder in File Explorer's navigation pane to open it in a new tab. The tabbed File Explorer is necessary for this feature, but it hasn't yet been sent to everyone in the Dev Channel. The latest build has also fixed an issue that can cause explorer.exe to crash when opening new File Explorer windows. The tech behemoth has also resolved numerous more File Explorer problems with the UI and Dark mode. Microsoft is currently expanding the Game Pass library. Microsoft and Riot Games announced their collaboration in June, bringing a number of League of Legends games to Game Pass.
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