Microsoft promises smoother performance, less redundancy

Reworked from the ground-up, the new Microsoft Store on Xbox is advertised to be a much smoother experience than past iterations. "We’re obsessed with getting it right for customers,” wrote Principal Program Manager Cody Bird in an Xbox Insider post.

Speed has been dramatically improved. Microsoft themselves went so far as to claim that the new store will perform twice as fast as before – launching in under two seconds. Aside from loading faster, the new store will cut down on time spent within the interface.

Critical information like ratings, content, and discounts will always be at the forefront. Instead of opening a different menu, you can watch trailers while searching and quickly see what games are popular among your friends.

And now, it’s even simpler to navigate the menus between browsing, searching, and even cross-generational shopping. To put it simply, Microsoft has designed the new store to be as user-friendly as possible. “Our goal is to provide an inclusive and intuitive experience for everyone,” Bird said. “And we’re committed to making it easier than ever to find your next favorite game, app, movie, or TV show.”

In an interview with Bird, Director of Programming for Xbox Live Larry Hyrb (aka Major Nelson) said that while the update would roll-out to testers slowly, there will be a full release later this year.

Later in the interview, Bird acknowledged that their previous framework, “while really versatile, had a lot of performance limitations,“ but is now vastly improved. He later described the interface as "snackable" – enjoyable and informative, but not overwhelming.

Everything is a lot more relevant as well – the store will look at your recent activity and recommend items based on what you play the most. Bird also stressed how the new design feels natural and flows well between the different sections of the store.

As of August 5, the update is still in beta for a small number of Xbox Insiders – an early feedback program where users can try and critique new updates and features before release.