Microsoft is reworking its Game Bar to take advantage of the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and we got a sneak peek at what’s coming, thanks to some early code hidden in Redstone 4 build 17046.

Here are all the changes we noticed, from left to right, if you’re following along with the screenshot:

• The awkwardly small Prussian Blue Game Bar has been replaced with a much larger transparent—soon to be acrylic—bar
• The Game Bar now supports light and dark modes
• The entrance and departure animations have been refreshed
• The flipping Xbox Live avatar bubble is gone and replaced with a simpler Gamertag readout
• Shortcuts to your Xbox Live profile, Mixer profile, recordings folder, and settings have been added
• A clock has been added, reminiscent of the clock that appeared when opening Charms on Windows 8
• Some broadcast settings have been promoted to toggle buttons and switches on the Game Bar (e.g. capture video, audio)

What do you think? Is Microsoft headed in the right direction here?

Tagged with Game Bar, Redstone 4