Microsoft says Xbox mode is coming to Windows 11 in April, bringing a console-style interface, faster game loading tools, and a unified PC strategy.

The post Microsoft Plans ‘Xbox Mode’ for Windows 11 PCs Starting in April appeared first on TechRepublic.

Microsoft a profité de la GDC 2026 pour annoncer l'arrivée du Xbox Mode sur tous les PC sous Windows 11 dès le mois d'avril. L'interface plein écran, pensée pour la manette, était jusqu'à présent réservée aux consoles portables ASUS ROG Xbox Ally.

Une interface console sur n'importe quel PC

Le Xbox Mode, c'est l'interface plein écran que les possesseurs (dont je suis) de ROG Xbox Ally et Ally X connaissent déjà. Un environnement épuré, optimisé pour la navigation à la manette, qui donne accès à toute votre bibliothèque de jeux sans passer par le bureau Windows. Vous lancez le mode, vous jouez, et vous pouvez revenir au bureau classique à tout moment.

Microsoft l'étend donc à tous les appareils sous Windows 11 : PC fixes, portables et tablettes. Le déploiement commence en avril dans certains marchés, avant une extension progressive au reste du monde.

Côté entreprise, le mode est disponible sur Windows 11 Pro mais désactivé par défaut sur les machines connectées à un réseau d'entreprise, avec la possibilité pour les administrateurs IT de le bloquer, parce qu’il ne faut pas déconner quand même bande de feignasses, on n'est pas là pour rigoler.

Le message aux développeurs est clair

Le vice-président Xbox Jason Ronald a été direct : pour développer pour Xbox à l'avenir, il faudra développer pour PC. Microsoft pousse le GDK unifié, son kit de développement qui permet de créer un jeu une seule fois et de le faire tourner sur PC et sur console.

Le catalogue Xbox Play Anywhere compte désormais plus de 1 500 jeux et 500 studios partenaires, et la progression se synchronise entre les appareils.

Et puis il y a Project Helix, la prochaine console Xbox. Asha Sharma, la patronne de la division, a confirmé qu'elle jouera à la fois aux jeux console et aux jeux PC. Les kits de développement alpha partiront chez les studios en 2027, ce qui repousse une sortie grand public à 2028 au plus tôt.

Un PC qui fait console, ou une console qui fait PC ?

La vraie question derrière tout ça, c'est la fusion entre PC et Xbox. Microsoft ne veut plus que les joueurs choisissent entre les deux, et le Xbox Mode est le premier morceau visible de cette stratégie.

Sur le papier, pouvoir basculer entre Windows et une interface console avec un bouton, c'est exactement ce que les possesseurs de PC portables gaming et de handhelds demandaient. Reste à voir si l'interface sera aussi fluide sur un PC classique que sur un Ally X conçu pour.

Cette annonce est clairement un gros coup de la part de Microsoft. Transformer n'importe quel PC Windows 11 en quasi-console Xbox, c'est malin, et ça répond à un vrai besoin pour tous ceux qui branchent une manette sur leur portable. Le fait que Play Anywhere dépasse les 1 500 jeux est aussi un bon signal.

Sources : Windows Central , WCC Tech

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The post Hackers Pose as IT Staff in Microsoft Teams to Install Malware appeared first on TechRepublic.