Microsoft is testing an internal XBOX PC app called Garrison, with faster library loading, a unified store view, desktop and fullscreen modes, launch controls, and clearer support for local installs and cloud gaming.
Jez Corden tested an early internal build of Microsoft's next XBOX PC app, which contains more than 1,400 games in his library. The preview reportedly moves through that collection faster than the current application.
Garrison Targets Speed
The rebuilt application is codenamed Garrison. Windows Central reported on the internal testing after Corden accessed an early build and demonstrated it in video footage, giving the redesign more substance than a speculative mock-up.
As of October 10, 2026, Microsoft has not announced a public release date. Access remains limited to early internal testing.
No measured loading times or formal benchmarks were provided. The available evidence shows a clear impression of improvement, not a quantified performance claim.
That distinction matters. A faster preview build does not establish how Garrison will perform after wider testing or whether every part of the Windows gaming experience has been rebuilt. Windows Central reports that an Xbox Insider release could arrive in the coming weeks, but Microsoft has made no commitment.
A Cleaner Library
Microsoft is changing how games and purchases appear in the application. The existing XBOX PC app separates game listings from their related store pages, forcing users to move between different areas while browsing a library or checking purchase information. Garrison reportedly brings those functions into one interface, cutting down on that back-and-forth.
The redesigned layout also separates games that can be installed locally from titles available through XBOX Cloud Gaming. That distinction matters in large libraries containing games from multiple XBOX generations, where the current presentation can leave installation choices unclear.
Reports on the redesign also mention individual launch parameters and two operating modes, a conventional desktop view and a fullscreen view. That points to a launcher designed for a console-like setup, rather than a standard Windows window alone.
Screenshots shared by The Verge's Tom Warren point in the same direction. Warren described the design as progressing well and said its performance was better than the current version. His account supports Windows Central's central claim, though it provides no formal technical measurements.
Built for Windows 11
Garrison reportedly supports mouse-and-keyboard input alongside controller navigation. Descriptions published by IT之家 and 163.com say the early build can adapt its interface for controller use and can be configured as the starting screen when Windows 11 enters its gaming-focused mode.
That gives the overhaul a clearer job than refreshing a desktop launcher. Fullscreen operation and controller navigation make the app more practical on handheld gaming PCs such as the ROG XBOX Ally, where readable scaling and mouse-free control carry more weight than a traditional desktop layout. TweakTown also describes the redesign as targeting handheld use alongside conventional PCs.
The timing fits Microsoft's wider focus on PC gaming, XBOX Play Anywhere and handheld devices. The company is trying to make XBOX access less dependent on one hardware format, while a slow or confusing Windows client gets in the way before a game starts.
What Is Still Missing
The early build appears to prioritise speed and ease of use rather than a wider platform feature set. VideoCardz likewise characterises Garrison as a performance-focused revision with limited genuinely new capabilities. Community tools and developer interaction remain areas where Microsoft's service trails Steam, as do user reviews and stronger store discovery.
That leaves Garrison closer to essential groundwork than a complete answer to Steam's richer PC ecosystem. Better library loading removes friction, but it does not supply the social and user-led features that make a storefront feel mature. A separate earlier update report described a game responding to launch problems through a substantial patch.
Some reports have linked the redesign to a separate Xbox Cloud Gaming interface codenamed Bastion. Microsoft has not confirmed that connection, so Bastion cannot be treated as an established Garrison feature or a specification for the final application.
Microsoft has not confirmed when Garrison will leave internal testing. Corden believes it could reach Xbox Insiders in the coming weeks and potentially before the end of 2026, but that remains a reported testing window rather than a release schedule.
Responsiveness describes how quickly the application reacts when opening pages or filtering a library. It is different from raw download speed. Network conditions and background services can still affect the experience, and the absence of benchmarks limits what can be claimed today.
