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The Xbox app will now tell you how long it takes to beat a game

The Xbox app will now tell you how long it takes to beat a game
Russell Kidson

Russell Kidson

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If you were hoping for Xbox to become more intuitive, Microsoft has just made your wish come true with HowLongToBeat integration. Essentially, if you’re a stickler for time management and planning – even while gaming – you’ll now be able to see how long a game is expected to take to beat on the Xbox app. 

Xbox App DOWNLOAD

Essentially, if you head to the Xbox app on your Microsoft PC, you’ll see a new section called HowLongToBeat. This section contains a list of popular Xbox games and tells you how long each will take to complete successfully. Of course, if you’re the type to hunt through each level for lore or secrets, it’ll take you a little longer to get through a game than Xbox estimates. 

This new function is far more intuitive and advanced than just estimating playthrough durations, though. It is powered by user data, which means it takes actual statistics from various user playthroughs to calculate average durations for games.

Xbox app how long

Even more impressive, the utility breaks games down into main plotlines, sidequests, and extra content and then gives you estimated durations for each. This is helpful if you only have a little time to play. Now you’ll be able to see that you’ll be able to complete villager number 2’s quest for his missing dragon eggs but not quite enough time to find out who killed the pivotal character around whose death the entire main plot of this hypothetical game is centered.

Even more sophisticated than that, the utility will give you three different durations upon which to base your decisions. You’ll see the speedrun/ rushed gameplay duration, the average player’s duration, and the leisurely duration for each game on the list. 

Xbox app how long

This is a game-changer for the gaming industry, especially for people who are conscious about how long they like to game or how much time they can realistically set aside for gaming. Gaming is an incredibly important way to relax and unwind in the modern world, and thus, it’s integral that we are able to plan for it properly. With the help of the HowLongToBeat utility, now we can. 

If you’d like a rundown of the other new features for the Xbox app, we’ve got an article that sets them all out nicely.

Russell Kidson

Russell Kidson

I hail from the awe-inspiring beauty of South Africa. Born and raised in Pretoria, I've always had a deep interest in local history, particularly conflicts, architecture, and our country's rich past of being a plaything for European aristocracy. 'Tis an attempt at humor. My interest in history has since translated into hours at a time researching everything from the many reasons the Titanic sank (really, it's a wonder she ever left Belfast) to why Minecraft is such a feat of human technological accomplishment. I am an avid video gamer (Sims 4 definitely counts as video gaming, I checked) and particularly enjoy playing the part of a relatively benign overlord in Minecraft. I enjoy the diverse experiences gaming offers the player. Within the space of a few hours, a player can go from having a career as an interior decorator in Sims, to training as an archer under Niruin in Skyrim. I believe video games have so much more to teach humanity about community, kindness, and loyalty, and I enjoy the opportunity to bring concepts of the like into literary pieces.

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