Microsoft Tests Gamepad-Controlled Cursor for Xbox App on Windows Handhelds

8 articles · Updated · The Verge · Apr 13

Microsoft has begun testing a Gamepad Cursor feature in the Xbox App for Windows handhelds, allowing the left stick to control a mouse cursor.
This update, currently available to Xbox Insiders, enables more intuitive navigation of apps and menus not designed for controllers.
The feature aims to make Windows handhelds feel more console-like, improving usability for devices such as the Asus ROG Ally and Xbox Ally X.

Is the Gamepad Cursor a sign that Microsoft is preparing to launch its own first-party handheld?

Can Microsoft's new 'Xbox mode' finally make Windows handhelds as user-friendly as the Steam Deck?

What performance optimizations will 'Xbox mode' bring beyond just being a controller-friendly launcher?

Will this new cursor feature completely eliminate the awkwardness of managing PC settings on a handheld?

How deeply will the new Xbox interface integrate with other game stores like Steam or Epic?