Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer admitted last year that the software maker had “a ton of work to do on Windows” for PC gamers. Microsoft is now starting to improve its Xbox integration on PC with the unveiling of a big overhaul for the Game Bar feature in Windows 10. Available for beta testers today, the updated Game Bar now includes widgets that look more like the overlays you’d find in Nvidia’s GeForce Experience. Microsoft wants to give you more reason to use the Game Bar, Windows’ built-in tool for capturing video and screenshots while you’re playing games. Guess what that means it’s meme time! In the next build of Windows coming for Xbox Insiders, Game Bar’s getting some new features, including a Spotify widget and embedded meme-making tools for slapping some crazy text onto your screenshots. I can’t wait to write “honk honk” on a screenshot of my favorite Forza car and go extremely viral.
Jokes about billion dollar companies making meme tools aside, Microsoft’s ideas for Game Bar are cool it’s expanding the overlay with a number of widgets for more than just recording gameplay. The Spotify widget will make it easier to play custom music while gaming without switching apps. A new chat widget will pull in your Xbox Live friends list so you can send messages, see what they’re playing, or see what they’re streaming on Mixer.
And thankfully you’ll be able to customize this widget layout and hide widgets you don’t want. With this update you’ll be able to “pin” the ones you do want to actually stay “above” your game screen when you hide the overlay, so you could keep a performance overlay up or even a Mixer stream to watch someone while you play.
Unfortunately the social features are limited to Microsoft’s own services, right now, but that doesn’t seem to be written in stone. “In the initial release we’re going to do Xbox Live Friends, then listen to user feedback.
Microsoft is also making it easier to turn captured screenshots into memes with quick edit and sharing to Twitter features. You can capture a video, add overlay text, and then share it instantly to Twitter, all while this interface hovers above your game. There’s even a new Xbox social widget with a friends list and the ability to quick-send messages from the Game Bar.
Microsoft has really focused on improving the Game Bar from being a simple bar to more of an overlay feature that’s fully customizable. You can pin widgets where you want them and choose which ones to include or hide.
The new features will be available to anyone with a recent version of Windows who signs up for the Xbox Insiders program. That’s pretty simple. Here are Microsoft’s instructions:
Launch the Xbox Insider Hub on your Windows 10 PC – if you don’t have it, get it from the Windows 10 store.
Select?Insider Content?in the upper left
Select Windows Gaming. If you are on Window 10 build# 17763 or higher, you will be automatically enrolled into the Game bar flight
Press Win+G in any game to bring up Game bar and have fun!
