The Xbox app for PC is set to remove a number of installation restrictions in a change that will make it far easier for modders to work on games.
As announced in a video (below), Microsoft has confirmed that it is set to give further access to PC players when installing games. “We want you to be able to choose where your games install,” says Partner Director of Experiences Jason Beaumont. “Soon Xbox Insiders can start testing out selecting what drive your game installs to and select where your default folder goes within that drive.”
“They’ll also find the download speeds for those games have improved over time so it’s even easier and faster to get to your next game.”
Beaumont went on to confirm that the update will also allow players access to their local files for a wide range of games within Xbox Games Pass. For players looking to mod their games this is great news, as it now means that they will be able to edit and move their game files much more easily. While Beaumont didn’t confirm exactly how many games would be receiving the additional features, it was stated that players will be able to check whether a game is moddable via a tag present on its Xbox app page.
Currently, when downloading games from Games Pass, players often experience issues with the Microsoft Store and its WindowsApps folder. The folder itself comes with a number of restrictions that limit what players can do with their games. Unlike rival platforms such as Steam, which already grants players a number of options when it comes to installing games, the current method used by Microsoft makes it difficult for players to do a number of things after installation, including backing up and modifying their files.
In other recent Microsoft news, the company recently announced a strategic partnership with Sega that will see the Sonic publisher produce games built on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. Sega has said that the agreement is part of the company’s new “Super Game” initiative, which aims to create “new and innovative” games with a focus on global online play.
Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
