One Launcher to Rule Them All

So, Microsoft is trying something new.

Well, not really new. They're updating their "XBox" app (for Windows
and mobile) so it will have an 'aggregated gaming library' that
includes games from multiple platforms, including Steam, Epic Games,
Battle.Net, and their own XBox and GamePass services.* The goal is to
create a single destination from which you launch all your games; a
destination which just happens to be associated with Microsoft's own
store and services, giving them easier access to your pocketbook and
data.

This isn't a new idea, of course. Other services have done this
before; GOG's galaxy allows you to link up your Steam, Amazon and Epic
accounts into its own service, and others have tried similar things.
Heck, even Microsoft made an aborted attempt at this with their own
"Games For Windows" initiative in the late 2000s, albeit for
physical-media games.

Will it work? I'm guessing probably not. It's obviously a shot across
the bow at Steam, trying to dislodge Valve's near-monopoly on PC
gaming. But it again makes the mistake of thinking that the reason for
Steam's success is because it's just a great way to LAUNCH your games,
when Steam offers so much more. And not having to (manually) launch a
second client for those few non-steam games is probably not enough
reason to give up the advantages of using Steam. So I don't see this
attempt having much more success than Epic Game Store, GOG galaxy or
other third-party clients like Playnite.

Still, I can't say I'm totally against the attempt even if I know I
won't make any use of it myself. At the very least, it's neat to see
Microsoft for the first time actively acknowledging the existence of
Steam in its software. And previous challenges to its dominance have
often prompted Valve to make some neat improvements to their own
client. Competition is always beneficial to the customer! I'm not
crazy at Valve's domineering position in the industry either, though I
can't imagine anyone else being much better (certainly not Microsoft).

Anyway, the service isn't out yet and at first it will only be
available to "XBox Insiders". I guess the one positive thing is that
this attempt will probably last longer than if Google were making it.
;-)




* news here
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2025/06/23/xbox-insiders-aggregated-gaming-library-is-coming-to-the-xbox-pc-app/