Using the Xbox Companion app to find content and play it on the Xbox 360 video game console

If the rise of touch‑based devices like the iPad and smartphones has taught us anything, it’s that people love to play casual games. And while some hard‑core gamers will cling to their high‑end gaming devices–say, the Xbox 360 video game console or Windows‑based PCs–this audience is a minority. Most people enjoy games but don’t have the time or energy to devote to all‑night deathmatch contests in virtual worlds. And the changes Microsoft has made to Windows 8’s built‑in games functionality reflects that fact.

Windows has always included at least a handful of casual games, most notably the now‑classic Minefield and Solitaire. But with the switch to immersive, full‑screen, Metro‑style experiences in Windows 8, Microsoft is likewise moving its game efforts into this environment. So the new game experiences in this release are tailored to Metro and are largely designed around the multi‑touch interactions that will be common on tablets and other touch‑screen devices.

This chapter examines the game‑related functionality that is new to Windows 8 and covers what you need to do to get up and running with this new generation of touch‑based gaming experiences. We don’t focus on the legacy features that carry forward from previous versions.