For a long time, gaming on Windows laptops powered by ARM chips felt like a compromise. Battery life was excellent, designs were slim, and performance for everyday tasks was solid, but gaming support lagged far behind traditional x86 PCs. That gap has now narrowed significantly.
Microsoft has officially rolled out the Xbox app for all ARM based Windows 11 PCs, bringing native access to a large portion of the Xbox PC gaming ecosystem. This update allows ARM powered laptops and tablets to download, install, and manage games directly through the Xbox app, instead of relying on workarounds or cloud-only options.
This change is part of Microsoft’s January 2026 Xbox update and marks a major shift in how ARM devices fit into the Windows gaming landscape.
Xbox app arrives on ARM powered Windows 11 devices
The Xbox app is now fully supported on Windows 11 systems running ARM processors, including Snapdragon powered laptops and tablets. This means users can browse the Xbox PC catalog, manage their game library, and access Game Pass titles directly from the same app used on traditional PCs.
According to Microsoft, more than 85 percent of the Xbox Game Pass catalog already works on ARM hardware. These games can run locally, without requiring special configurations or alternative launchers. For titles that are not yet compatible, players still have the option to stream games through Xbox Cloud Gaming, ensuring access to the full Game Pass experience while native support continues to expand.
This move places ARM based Windows devices much closer to parity with Intel and AMD powered PCs when it comes to gaming access.
Prism emulator improves game compatibility
A major reason this transition is possible is Prism, Microsoft’s x86 and x64 emulation layer designed specifically for ARM hardware. Prism has received significant updates over the past year, adding support for modern instruction sets such as AVX and AVX2. These technologies are commonly used by newer PC games and have historically been a barrier for ARM compatibility.
With these improvements, a wider range of modern titles can now run smoothly on ARM based systems. Performance is also more consistent than earlier emulation attempts, making local gameplay far more practical than before.
Microsoft has also confirmed support for popular anti cheat solutions, including Epic’s Easy Anti Cheat. This change allows competitive and multiplayer games like Fortnite and Gears of War Reloaded to run as intended on ARM hardware, without blocking players due to system architecture.
What this means for ARM laptop owners
For users who chose ARM laptops for their battery efficiency, quiet operation, and lightweight designs, gaming no longer feels like a major limitation. Devices that were once considered productivity focused can now handle a meaningful portion of the PC gaming library.
This update also benefits upcoming hardware. Future ARM based laptops from manufacturers such as ASUS, along with rumored NVIDIA powered ARM systems, will be able to tap into the same Xbox PC Game Pass library from day one. Even Windows based handhelds running ARM processors stand to gain from this expanded compatibility.
By bringing the Xbox app to ARM based Windows 11 PCs, Microsoft has removed one of the biggest barriers holding these devices back from being taken seriously by gamers. ARM machines are no longer limited to cloud streaming or casual titles and can now participate more fully in the broader PC gaming ecosystem.
Topics linked throughout this update include Microsoft Windows developments, Xbox gaming news, and broader Windows 11 platform improvements, all of which point toward ARM becoming a more mainstream choice for Windows gaming.
