The Xbox app finally lets you choose where to install your PC games
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Microsoft is finally updating the Xbox and Microsoft Store apps on Windows so you can specify a folder to install your games to. The change will be available soon to people who install the Xbox Insider Hub app and is expected to be in beta before the release of Halo Infinite on December 8, according toThe Verge.
With the update, you’ll be able to choose a hard drive and a folder inside it as a location to install your game. Like any other program on your PC, you’ll be able to access the folders without Windows marking them as hidden, like it does currently with the WindowsApps folder.
The change removes the barriers Windows uses to prevent you from accessing your game files, which has kept people from installing and using mods. Some games currently allow mods, but they only allow you to access a dedicated mods folder. With this change, you’ll be able to install mods directly into your game files like you can do on Steam.
It’s unclear if the update to the Xbox and Microsoft Store app will fix an ongoing problem where Game Pass games won’t fully uninstall and clear up the space on your hard drive. Several users onRedditandReseterahave reported this problem since 2019. With direct access to your files, you might be able to solve this problem by manually cleaning them out yourself.
In a videoannouncing the upcoming change, Microsoft also noted that downloading games will be faster through the app too.
Game Pass PC subscribers will surely welcome this change as it makes managing your files a lot easier as you install games frequently. You can finally know exactly what’s going on with your precious C drive.
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Tyler has covered videogames and PC hardware for 15 years. He regularly spends time playing and reporting on games like Diablo 4, Elden Ring, Overwatch 2, and Final Fantasy 14. While his speciality is in action RPGs and MMOs, he’s driven to cover all sorts of games whether they’re broken, beautiful, or bizarre.
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