It's been about a month and a half since Microsoft's new Xbox Mode rolled out, and the vision behind it is clear. The company wants to bring a simplified, gaming console-style interface to all PCs running Windows 11. Having spent some time testing it, I can already say it's one of Microsoft's most significant, yet simple leaps towards gearing up the operating system for an uncompromised gaming experience.

The obvious question one might ask is how it holds up against the incumbent. Valve's Big Picture Mode has been a part of Steam for well over a decade, and it remains the benchmark for couch-friendly PC gaming interfaces on capable devices. So how does Microsoft's attempt compare, and more importantly, is there any reason to use it over the option Steam has offered for years?

What does Microsoft get right with the Xbox Mode?

It's usable, controller-friendly, and almost perfect for the couch experience

If you've read my previous review of the Xbox Mode on Windows 11, you'll know that my first impressions were largely positive, and a few weeks of additional use has further cemented my position on it. Microsoft seems to have taken all the user feedback rather seriously and meticulously built an interface that feels designed for a standard controller, which, obviously, is a lower bar than it sounds for a company that has Game Pass as a major offering to the market.

The first standout point is the library aggregation, which feels just right, largely because the transition to other game libraries outside of the Xbox ecosystem feels almost seamless. Having Steam, Epic, GOG, and Game Pass titles consolidated into a single, navigable dashboard addresses the launcher fragmentation issue that has historically frustrated anyone trying to kick back and enjoy their games on the PC.

Besides this, all the major aspects surrounding the user experience give little room for complaining. Controls like the on-screen keyboard is polished, the Settings overlay keeps all the essential controls at your fingertips (regardless of whichever controller you're using), and the Gamepad Cursor works as a reliable fail-safe if, for any reason, the controller navigation doesn't work out well. It becomes quite evident that Microsoft has borrowed the vast majority of UI elements and emulated the user experience that comes directly from its Xbox Series S and X consoles, and naturally, there was no reason not to. In retrospect, Xbox Mode quite literally transforms any device that's running it into a modern Xbox, with the option to exit and switch to desktop mode as necessary. If you're on Windows and would like to use your PC as a console, there really is no reason to not give this a go.

Steam's Big Picture Mode is just brilliant

And it got here almost 14 years ago

The Big Picture Mode has been a part of the Steam experience since 2012, and the version that runs today reflects a decade of consistent refinement that most users never fully appreciate because, since the PC is the major market for Valve, not many users run the mode to begin with. The interface is well-built, and nothing about the usability gives any reason for complaining either. The home screen is personalized, brings up your most recent games, displays your playtime at a glance, and organizes news and recommended content without the interface ever feeling cluttered.

What I appreciate is the settings menu, which goes much deeper than most dashboards designed for consoles do. Here, you'll get insights around storage management with per-drive breakdowns, controller configuration, overlay behavior, and an option to even configure your display scaling. As with the Xbox Mode, the UI feels comprehensive enough so that you can reliably ditch your mouse and keyboard and immerse yourself within the interface, and of course, your games.

The Xbox Mode vs Steam Big Picture Mode

Which one should be your pick?

The answer to this question will depend exclusively on where most of your game library lives. The Big Picture Mode, however stunning, only helps you to access your Steam library, and for someone whose collection is exclusively on Steam, it is the more mature option on Windows. That being said, the answer going to be quite different for the vast majority.

Most PC gamers in 2026 have a game library that's scattered across Steam, Epic, GOG, Game Pass, and whatever launcher a publisher decided to force on them this year. The Xbox Mode works as an antidote to this problem by consolidating all of it into a single dashboard, which is an advantage the Big Picture Mode cannot match just yet. Sure enough, you can add and play non-Steam games and external applications, but that's going to be an extra step, possibly involving GitHub workarounds.

What's worth understanding is the fact that Big Picture Mode's problems on Windows are largely architectural rather than a reflection of Valve's effort here. The mode on Windows 11 runs as a window, which means Valve has no control over how the OS handles window focus or compositing. This means focus inconsistencies can arise, and also result in problems like controller dropouts and various overlay quirks. On Linux and SteamOS, however, Valve controls the compositor through Gamescope, and those issues are nonexistent. The Steam Deck's integration has proved that already, so when it comes to selecting a launcher, both your library and platform matters.

More competition, more options

For over a decade, Big Picture Mode stood alone. While Xbox Mode's arrival doesn't stand to displace it altogether, it does raise the bar in ways that will benefit both platforms moving forward. It remains to be seen if Valve continues to refine their Big Picture Mode interface with the upcoming arrival of the Steam Machine, because all signs point toward the fact that the interface will have a lot to do with how the game experience feels like on Valve's console-PC hybrid.