What you need to know
- The Xbox app on Windows will soon allow PC owners to install games into any folder they'd like.
- People will be able to access these folders and move files to different drives.
- This change will make it possible to mod more games that are purchased through the Microsoft Store.
Modding the best PC games purchased through the Microsoft Store could soon become easier and an option for more titles. According to a report from The Verge, Microsoft will soon allow PC owners to install games from the Microsoft Store or Xbox Game Pass for PC into any folder that they'd like. This will allow people to access the folders that games are saved in, back up titles, and mod games on their PC. The option will also make it possible to move folders with games inside them to different drives.
According to The Verge's sources, Microsoft is internally testing the changes that will be part of an Xbox app update for Windows.
Currently, the Microsoft Store installs games into the WindowsApps folder. This folder is difficult to access and limits what people can do with the game files. Competing stores, such as Steam, allow PC owners to backup games. This isn't an option at the moment through the Microsoft Store but will be following the upcoming update.
Microsoft hasn't shared details about the change but confirmed the new approach.
"With great PC games like Back 4 Blood, Age of Empires IV, Forza Horizon 5, and Halo Infinite on day one with Game Pass, we wanted to provide players with more options to customize their experience in the Xbox app," said partner director of experiences at Xbox, Jason Beaumont, to The Verge. "We'll continue to share updates as we launch additional features."
Some modding is already available for certain titles in the Microsoft Store but allowing people to freely access the files and folders for games allows modding for a much larger library of titles.
While the Xbox app update is being tested internally at Microsoft, the company has not shared details or a timeline for when it will become available. The Verge speculated that the update could arrive "soon" and referenced the fact that Halo Infinite multiplayer launches on December 8, 2021.
