Xbox has officially unveiled its new Cloud Gaming web experience, and at first glance, it should feel familiar to anyone who has used an Xbox console. The layout closely mirrors the console interface, making it immediately approachable, and eager-eyed fans may notice it resembles the datamined UI that leaked a couple of months ago.
That said, this is a public preview, and things could change. Even in its current form, it represents a clear improvement over the existing web experience, both visually and in how it flows, which makes it an encouraging step forward.
Here’s how you can try it for yourself right now, along with a closer look at the new experience
A noticeable improvement
With this new public preview, users can switch to a far more console-like experience. The interface is cleaner, more structured, and much closer to what you would expect when powering on an Xbox.
To access the new experience, follow these steps:
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- Go to xbox.com/play in your browser of choice and make sure you’re logged into your Xbox account.
- Once logged in, go to settings in the top right corner by clicking on your profile.
- Select the Settings option from the drop down menu.
- Here under Account, toggle the option Preview Features and select Yes when asked.
- You’ll then have to wait as the features are enabled, which may take up to 10 minutes.
- Once done, visit play.xbox.com in your browser of choice to experience the new cloud UI.
Glimpse into the future of Xbox UI?
After spending some time with it while writing this, it feels like a meaningful step forward for Xbox Cloud Gaming. Navigation is clearer, the layout feels more intentional, and it is simply more pleasant to use overall.
There are still bugs and rough edges, which are expected in a public preview. Even so, the experience already feels like a noticeable improvement, and it naturally raises questions about where this approach could appear next across future Xbox experiences.
A more unified UI across devices would be a welcome change. I am very much looking at you, Xbox Ally, because the Xbox app just is not cutting it on the Xbox Ally X for me. A more console-like experience would be a clear step in the right direction.
If you do try it out for yourself, Xbox has pleaded with users to provide feedback, so make sure to check the full Xbox Wire article on just how to do that.
Cloud gaming may not be everyone’s daily driver yet, but this redesign makes it a lot easier to imagine a future where it is. Now, Xbox just needs to keep the momentum going.
Have you tried the new Xbox Cloud Gaming web experience yet, and does it feel like a step forward compared to the current interface? Let us know in the comments or by taking part in our poll below:
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