Xbox Game Bar Video Editor

Edit, enhance, and share—seamless gameplay editing.

While the Xbox Game Bar provides a built-in way to record gameplay, users lacked a way to edit their captured videos within the app. This forced them to use third-party software, which was often complex, time-consuming, and created friction in sharing their best moments.

As a Product Designer, I led the design of an integrated video editor for Game Bar, making video editing more accessible to all types of gamers, not just those familiar with professional video software.

Screenshot of Microsoft Minesweeper game with Xbox Game Bar overlay displaying audio controls, capture options, and system performance details.

The Challenge

User Frustrations & Pain Points:

  • No built-in editing tools in Game Bar, limiting quick customization.

  • High friction in content sharing, as users had to rely on external editing software.

  • Lack of simple tools for trimming, zooming, adding effects, or enhancing videos.

This gap directly impacted engagement, as gameplay sharing is a key part of Xbox’s community-building strategy. Users wanted a simple, intuitive way to edit and share highlights—without leaving the Xbox ecosystem.

Video editing interface with text overlay feature, showing a timeline and video frames, caption field reads: 'When You're waiting for Doomfist to go live!' Options to adjust text size and style are visible, alongside save and undo buttons.
Screenshot of a video editing interface, showing a timeline with multiple video frames, a cropping tool, and save options. The timeline displays timestamps and a segment of video is selected for cropping. Buttons for confirming changes and sharing are visible.
Screenshot of Overwatch gameplay with Xbox Game Bar overlays, including capture, audio settings, performance, and Xbox social features.

The Solution

Core Editing Features:

  • Trim: Users can quickly cut their videos by selecting start and end points.

  • Zoom: A dynamic zoom feature lets players highlight key moments using an intuitive drag-to-zoom interface.

  • Text Overlay: Users can add captions or text effects with real-time previews, choosing fonts, colors, and styles.

  • Sound Effects & Audio Uploads: A built-in library of sound effects and tracks with the ability to upload custom audio.

  • Speed Adjustments: Users can speed up or slow clips to add dramatic effect.

User-Centered Design Approach

To ensure ease of use, we focused on minimizing complexity while keeping complete creative control in the hands of users:

  • Single-window UI: The left side shows video files, while the right side houses the editing tools & preview panel.

  • Step-by-step flow: Users follow an intuitive editing process, eliminating the need for complex layers or menus.

  • Undo/Redo Functionality: Prevents frustration by allowing quick corrections.

Image of wireframe designs for a video editing application showing Trim, Zoom, Text, Sound, and Speed features.

Motion Study: Here, we show the interactions interface in a fictional scenario of editing an existing Overwatch video recorded using W+G, highlighting the new features in action.

Motion

Laptop displaying gaming footage and video editing software interface on the screen.

Key Takeaways

This project reinforced the importance of:

  • Designing for accessibility & simplicity, ensuring even casual gamers can edit and share content.

  • Reducing friction in user workflows, making in-app editing a natural extension of gameplay recording.

  • Validating UX decisions with motion studies, ensuring smooth, engaging interactions.

Looking ahead, potential updates include new filters, effects, and AI-powered auto highlights, helping users create even more engaging content with minimal effort.