Key Facts
- ✓ Microsoft has announced the Xbox app is now available on all Arm-based Windows 11 PCs, marking a major expansion for the platform.
- ✓ The app's release was enabled by a December 2025 update to the Prism emulator, which added support for AVX and AVX2 instruction sets crucial for gaming efficiency.
- ✓ More than 85 percent of the Game Pass catalog is now confirmed to run on Arm-based PCs, offering a substantial library to users.
- ✓ Unlike Valve's SteamOS, Windows on Arm supports anti-cheat software like Epic's Easy Anti-Cheat, granting access to a wider range of online multiplayer games.
- ✓ Microsoft's Copilot+ PC program, launched in 2024, has been a major driver for Arm-based hardware, often featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips.
- ✓ Expanded Arm support and Qualcomm's hardware teases suggest an Arm-based Windows 11 handheld gaming device could be announced in the near future.
A New Era for Arm Gaming
Microsoft has officially expanded its gaming ecosystem, announcing that the Xbox app is now available on all Arm-based Windows 11 PCs. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in the company's long-standing effort to bring its software to a new class of hardware.
The announcement follows a critical update to Microsoft's Prism emulator in December 2025, which now translates x86 and x64 applications to Arm with enhanced capabilities. This development opens up a world of gaming possibilities for users on devices powered by processors like Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips.
The Technical Foundation
The rollout of the Xbox app is built upon a major update to Microsoft's Prism emulator. This software layer is essential for running traditional Windows applications on Arm architecture, which uses a different instruction set.
In December 2025, Microsoft enhanced Prism with support for AVX and AVX2 instruction sets. These extensions are critical for modern gaming, as they allow for more complex calculations and data processing, directly contributing to smoother performance and more efficient game execution on Arm-based systems.
Both extensions play a role in making games run efficiently on Windows.
With this emulator update, the technical barriers that previously limited game compatibility on Windows on Arm have been significantly lowered, paving the way for the Xbox app's full functionality.
"Both extensions play a role in making games run efficiently on Windows."
— Microsoft
Expanding the Gaming Library
For users, the arrival of the Xbox app on Arm-based PCs means full access to Microsoft's gaming services. They can now purchase, download, and stream PC games directly through the app, creating a seamless experience comparable to that on traditional x86 systems.
Microsoft has confirmed that the Game Pass catalog is largely compatible with this new environment. According to the company, more than 85 percent of the Game Pass catalog now runs effectively on Arm PCs, giving subscribers a vast library of titles at their fingertips.
This level of compatibility is a testament to the work done on the Prism emulator and the collaborative efforts with game developers to ensure titles perform well on the architecture.
A Competitive Edge Over SteamOS
A key differentiator for Windows on Arm in the handheld and portable gaming market is its software compatibility. Unlike Valve's SteamOS, which powers the popular Steam Deck, Windows on Arm natively supports a wide range of anti-cheat software.
This includes solutions like Epic's Easy Anti-Cheat, which is a crucial component for many popular online multiplayer games. The lack of anti-cheat support on SteamOS has been a noted limitation for the Steam Deck, restricting access to certain titles.
- Full support for Epic's Easy Anti-Cheat
- Broader access to online multiplayer games
- Native Windows environment for all services
By supporting these essential security systems, Windows on Arm devices can offer a wider library of online multiplayer games compared to what is available on the Steam Deck.
The Road to Arm Hardware
Microsoft's push for Windows on Arm has been a multi-year journey, culminating in a major hardware push with the Copilot+ PC program launched in 2024. Many of these devices are powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips, with the latest iterations announced in September 2025.
Historically, Microsoft's focus for handheld gaming efforts has been on devices running AMD chips. However, the expanded support for Arm architecture, combined with Qualcomm's own teasers about future hardware, strongly suggests that an Arm-based Windows 11 handheld could be on the horizon.
This strategic alignment between software availability and hardware development indicates that Microsoft is positioning Arm as a primary platform for the future of portable Windows gaming.
Looking Ahead
The availability of the Xbox app on all Arm-based Windows 11 PCs represents a significant expansion of Microsoft's gaming reach. It validates years of investment in the Prism emulator and the Arm ecosystem, making it a viable platform for mainstream gaming.
With a vast majority of the Game Pass catalog now accessible and superior anti-cheat support compared to competitors, Windows on Arm is poised to become a formidable player in the portable gaming space. The industry will be watching closely for the first dedicated Arm-based Windows handheld, which now seems like a matter of when, not if.
