Xbox Mode on a Windows 11 PC with dual monitors is exactly what you should expect — and that’s a shame

Xbox Mode is indeed here for Windows 11, despite online concerns surrounding the rollout, especially as it’s currently being released in phases.

For those unaware, Xbox Mode essentially puts the Xbox App in full screen on your PC and reduces background tasks to give a more console-like experience for your Windows PC, handhelds, and is designed more for a TV experience.

While opinions on the performance gains remain mixed, one user on X (formerly Twitter) noticed that Xbox Mode doesn’t exactly play nicely with multi-monitor setups, and honestly, this is pretty much what I expected.

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In Xbox Mode, your second, third, or maybe even fourth monitor, if you’re that committed, will simply display a blank screen while your primary display runs Xbox Mode. As a PC gamer myself, though, I can’t help but feel that’s a bit of a shame.

I regularly have content open on my second monitor while gaming. It’s a habit I’ve built over the years. Admittedly, it’s probably terrible for my concentration, but it’s how I like to use my PC, and I doubt I’m alone there.

With that said, it’s not surprising to see Xbox Mode function this way. The entire idea is to create a more console-like experience, and consoles traditionally focus on a single display. Still, I’d love to see Microsoft eventually make use of that space.

Whether it’s allowing users to have other apps open on another display, keep Discord open, or throw up YouTube or Netflix, there’s definitely potential here. Xbox Mode doesn’t improve performance enough to justify completely locking down secondary displays, especially for PC users who are used to multitasking.

For example, what if I wanted a guide open while playing, or wanted to stream while using Xbox Mode? I don’t stream anymore, but if I did, there’d be no convenient way to monitor chat, scenes, or controls from another display.

I will also say that I am aware that you can quickly switch between apps using the multitasking feature, but I’m sure we can all agree it is a shame to have a big empty space on whatever extra display(s) you have.

And I am also aware and know this is a bit redundant, Xbox Mode is designed for TVs and handhelds and isn't exactly meant for multi-monitor setups, but when I put Steam in Big Picture Mode, I can still operate my PC normally outside of that experience.

This isn't exactly a huge issue in the grand scheme of things, but I am curious what people think. Do you agree with me, or am I just complaining for the sake of it here?

Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll above.

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