There are not many moments in tech reporting where I get to write a story that feels like a personal win, but today is one of them. Microsoft has officially announced that the Xbox app is now available on all Arm-based Windows 11 PCs. This means users can finally download and play a large portion of the Xbox PC catalog directly on devices like my Surface Pro on ARM.
For years, Windows on ARM has been the platform I have quietly rooted for. It is efficient, capable, and increasingly confident. With this update, it gains the gaming support it has long needed.
According to Microsoft’s Windows Experience Blog, this update represents “another milestone for players everywhere,” bringing the full Xbox app experience to ARM PCs. That includes browsing the library, downloading titles, and accessing Game Pass benefits.
The most striking detail is the level of compatibility. More than 85 percent of the Game Pass catalog already works on Arm-based Windows 11 PCs. These are local installs, not cloud-only workarounds.
For the remaining titles, Xbox Cloud Gaming continues to fill the gaps, creating a unified experience rather than a fragmented one.
Prism, AVX, Anti-Cheat and More
This progress is the result of several platform improvements and developer partnerships.
Prism, the x86 and x64 emulator that powers app compatibility on Windows on ARM, recently gained support for AVX and AVX2. These instruction sets are widely used in modern PC games for physics, effects, and other performance-critical tasks. With this support in place, a significant portion of the Xbox PC catalog becomes viable on ARM hardware.
Anti-cheat compatibility has historically been a major barrier for ARM gaming. Microsoft confirmed that Epic Anti-Cheat now works on Arm-based Windows 11 PCs, enabling titles such as Fortnite and Gears of War: Reloaded to run locally.
Windows now includes Performance Fit, a system that helps players understand which games are best suited for their specific hardware. This is particularly useful for ARM devices, where performance characteristics differ from traditional x86 systems.
I have been using a Surface Pro on ARM as my primary machine for almost two years now, and it has been one of the most enjoyable computing experiences I have had in recent years. Instant-on responsiveness, long battery life, cool thermals, and now native access to the Xbox PC catalog all contribute to a platform that feels complete.
Microsoft notes that this progress is the result of collaboration across “the gaming community, OEMs, silicon innovators and game studios” to deliver a consistent Windows gaming experience across desktops, handhelds, and ARM laptops.
This is the kind of ecosystem momentum has been a gift to Windows PC users. Windows on ARM is no longer a future concept. It is a present reality.
Microsoft closes its announcement by stating that “every update we deliver and every title we bring to Arm-based Windows 11 PCs is shaped by what we hear from players.” The message is clear. This is only the beginning.
With new ARM silicon from Qualcomm and NVIDIA on the horizon, and with Prism continuing to evolve, the platform is positioned for a significant year of growth. Now that the Xbox app is officially supported, Windows on ARM finally feels like a full PC experience without compromise.
