Xbox enters the 'faster PC launcher' arms race, its app loads faster now too

Xbox has joined the 'faster launcher load times' arms race, announcing that its updated Xbox PC app, available now to Xbox Insiders, launches up to 60% faster, and has also been overhauled to offer "simpler navigation, updated filters, and new ways to organize your games."

Along with the faster launch time, Xbox said the home, store, and Game Pass pages in the updated app load up to 50% faster, while in-app windows open up to 65% faster—depending upon factors including device, internet connection, system configuration, and usage, of course. Library navigation has been simplified, search has been improved, and friends and social features are now part of the main navigational window.

Credit where it's due: That change to friends and social features is welcome. I don't use the Xbox App much—to be blunt, it's pretty much exclusively for Sea of Thieves. …