Microsoft Reportedly “Leaks” Mock-Up of Xbox Interface Featuring Steam Game Integration

In the ever-evolving landscape of gaming, Xbox seems to have made a bold move with its PC app, potentially letting slip a feature that few anticipated.

Just a short while ago, we spilled the beans on Project Kennan, a groundbreaking collaboration between Microsoft and ASUS. This device marks the beginning of a new initiative from Xbox, focusing on engaging OEM partners like those traditionally linked with Windows PCs, to chart the course for Windows gaming hardware’s future.

For those who’ve spent time with devices like the Lenovo Legion Go or ASUS ROG Ally, you’ll know their interface experience feels a world apart from the streamlined Steam Deck. Historically, Windows hasn’t been optimized for this kind of handheld experience, but that’s something Microsoft’s working to change.

Microsoft has enriched the Xbox Game Bar with a slew of new features, such as a compact mode and the recent addition of using the Windows on-screen keyboard with a controller. Yet, this latest “leak” might indicate an even larger leap forward.

An eagle-eyed look from The Verge caught a now-deleted Microsoft blog post sharing a graphic detailing their ambition for a multi-endpoint gaming ecosystem. A particularly eye-catching element in the image was a Steam filter in the Xbox app’s game library—something it currently doesn’t offer.

It’s worth noting that while the Xbox Game Bar can set to a compact mode to launch recent Steam games, allowing it to detect and play them directly, the Xbox app hasn’t embraced this functionality yet—certainly not to the extent of recognizing your full Steam library. For instance, I’ve recently been enjoying Final Fantasy 7 Remake on my Lenovo Legion Go this way.

Now, whether this Steam filter is a genuine feature in development or merely a designer’s fanciful mockup remains an open question. But, if real, could it be signaling the long-discussed collaboration between Microsoft and Valve, possibly making Steam accessible on Xbox consoles? The inclusion of Xbox consoles in the image suggests Microsoft might be hinting at something significant—or, it might simply have been an oversight.

After The Verge reached out about this intriguing image, Microsoft swiftly removed it, intensifying the mystery about what it actually signifies.

So, what does this all mean? My hunch is that Microsoft is planning a major overhaul of the Xbox app’s library section on PC. At the moment, this part of the app is fairly underwhelming, cluttered with obsolete Windows Phone games and lacking the tools to hide outdated beta tests or demos. Given Microsoft’s ongoing integration of Steam into the compact version of Xbox Game Bar and Xbox Head Phil Spencer’s vision for a seamless console-like experience on partner devices like Kennan and the ROG Ally, exciting changes could be on the horizon.

Microsoft is striving to merge Xbox and Windows game development more seamlessly. We know that going forward, traditional Win32 will likely become the preferred development platform for the next line of Xbox consoles, while existing Xbox One/Series X|S “ERA” infrastructure will gradually phase out. Exactly how this will affect the current library of games remains uncertain, but it seems Microsoft is considering emulation as a way to ensure backward compatibility and preserve games.

The big question is, will this open up possibilities for running these games on Windows devices like Kennan, the ROG Ally, or even on regular gaming PCs? The legal intricacies surrounding third-party titles might complicate matters.

We’ve reached out to Microsoft for an official comment on these developments. Regardless, it’s clear that the gaming landscape is gearing up for some fascinating shifts.