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Winhanced for handhelds reveals the cheapest place to buy games in latest update, with version 1.0 coming soon

Winhanced is closing in on version 1.0
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Winhanced for handhelds reveals the cheapest place to buy games in latest update, with version 1.0 coming soon
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You can treat Winhanced as an alternative to the Xbox FSE (Full Screen Experience), which has been available on Windows handhelds and other Windows 11 devices since the tail end of last year. It aims to provide a much more console-like experience on PC, and now, Winhanced has another impressive update that may revolutionize how you shop for games on your handheld.

The devs behind Winhanced recently claimed that version 1.0 is “right around the corner,” and that’s evident from the fact that the latest update is 0.9.9.1. Along with the usual set of bug fixes and minor changes, the latest update ships with “full support” for MSI’s new Claw 8 EX AI+ and a redesigned store that focuses on personalization, upcoming game releases, and pricing.

Winhanced version 0.9.9.1 has been released

Early access content is available to those who support the project on Patreon, giving them exclusive access to some of the new store features in Version 0.9.9.1 for a limited time. This includes the store rework, which adds quality-of-life features such as regional pricing, a game wishlist (which you can import from your existing Steam wishlist), and more.

Cross-store features caught our attention in particular. Winhanced pulls trailers, reviews, ratings, and prices from different platforms to display in its new unified store page, making it easier to get all the information you need before you buy. Winhanced’s store tab also clearly states which storefront has the best price. Currently, Steam is often cheapest, thanks to its ongoing Summer Sale. The Discover tab also highlights free game promotions, such as those commonly found on Epic Games.

Winhanced 0.9.9.1 introduces the Store: discover games tuned to your taste, compare prices across storefronts, build a wishlist with price-drop alerts, and buy-to-install without ever leaving Winhanced. Plus SteamGridDB artwork, paddle remapping, and RGB lighting control are now out of early access for everyone.

✦ New in Early Access

The Store

  • Discover: a personalized feed that learns from what you actually play, with rows like “More like [game],” franchise picks, “Trending now,” and “Outside your usual”
  • Tune your feed: pick favorite genres and mechanics to steer recommendations, and hide any game or whole row you’re not interested in
  • Cross-store price comparison: see the best deal for a game across Steam, Epic, GOG, Xbox/Game Pass, and Humble at a glance
  • Regional pricing: set your region in Settings > General to see prices in your local currency
  • Wishlist: track games with price-drop alerts and one-click import of your existing Steam wishlist
  • Release Calendar: upcoming releases, Game Pass leaving-soon dates, and current sales in one view
  • Cross-store search: fast search with typo tolerance across every connected store
  • Rich detail pages: trailers, reviews, ratings, and price comparisons across stores
  • Seamless buy-to-install: purchase a Steam or Xbox game and Winhanced confirms ownership and can install it for you after purchase
  • Game news & release alerts: a multi-source news feed plus “Notify me” alerts surfaced in What’s New

Playtime Everywhere

  • Live playtime now syncs across all your libraries (Steam, GOG, Xbox, Epic, PlayStation), including games you’ve played on another device or haven’t installed yet
Source: Winhanced (see for full patch notes)

So, not only has Winhanced established itself as a solid option for a more console-like experience on Windows handhelds, the addition of a dedicated store keeps all your games and your purchasing journey in one place. Microsoft does something similar with its Aggregated Library, but you still have to visit third-party stores such as Steam, Epic Games, or Battle.net to shop around and purchase.

With the new Winhanced update, you can compare prices in one place and enjoy a ‘seamless buy-to-install’ experience without moving between storefronts. Xbox FSE only shows your currently installed games in the Aggregated Library. Winhanced 0.9.9.1 also adds a game release calendar for extra discoverability, something we saw Steam implement late last year.


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About the Author

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.