The Xbox PC app isn’t just for Xbox games anymore

Microsoft is so desperate to be the new face of PC gaming that it’s willing to do anything to earn the title. Step 1 involved giving Asus a comically large bag of money to put its name on the next-generation ROG Ally handheld. Next, it’ll allow PC gamers to access their Steam and other libraries inside the Xbox PC app, in a bid to discourage gamers from making a beeline for Valve’s launcher right as the computer turns on. Step 3… Step 4: profit.

You’re an Xbox, Harry

An aggregated library consolidating both your Xbox and other game libraries isn’t a terrible idea. Unless you’re an Xbox Insider, all of whom are said to get access to the new library as soon as this week, you’ll need to wait until ‘later this year’ for the general Xbox PC app to get access. Until then, you’ll have to deal with separate game libraries.

What we do know is that it’ll be ready for the common folk by the time Microsoft and Asus are ready to bring their lovechild onto the market. Since Microsoft is still playing coy about when exactly that’ll be, we’re still left in the dark. We have a rough idea thanks to credible Game Pass leaker, eXtas1s, who claims pre-orders for the new handheld will open in August, with the product hitting shelves sometime in October.

“With the aggregated gaming library, players can conveniently launch games from Xbox, Game Pass, Battle.net and other leading PC storefronts from a single library within the Xbox PC app,” said Manisha Oza, Xbox Product Manager.

Read More: Asus and Microsoft unveil the first handheld Xbox

It’s not exactly clear which “leading PC storefronts” are included. Microsoft only mentions Battle.net by name, though it says that it will continue “rolling out support for additional PC storefronts over time,” so even if your launcher of choice isn’t there in the beginning, we reckon it will be by the time the next ROG Ally is ready.

If you’re desperate to forego Steam and all the rest immediately, you can sign up to be an Insider by installing the Insider Hub on your Windows PC here and joining the PC gaming preview. Unless you’re fielding a bunch of titles across Steam, Epic Games, Ubisoft Connect (shudder), and Xbox itself, it’s unlikely the Insider program will get much traction in the meantime.

Steam has proven itself to be resilient despite numerous other publishers attempting to go it alone, before eventually calling it quits and running right back to the PC gaming lord and saviour, Gaben. If anyone can challenge Steam, however, it’s Microsoft — and an aggregated library might just be the way to do it.