Game Gifting .gif

A Gift to Insiders: More New Features

Last week, we delivered an upgraded console experience to Xbox One owners that focused on personalization and speed. It was a massive update, but we aren’t done just yet. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be addressing customer feedback and adding even more great new features that gamers have been asking for. Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect:

Game Gifting .gif

• For Xbox Insiders in the Alpha ring, the Microsoft Store now enables gifting of most digital Xbox One games, “durable” downloadable content (DLC) (map packs, weapon skins, etc.), Xbox Live Gold, and Xbox Game Pass—right from your console. Just choose an eligible digital game sold in the Store, select “Buy as Gift” and send it to your friends or family members by picking their Gamertag or entering their email address.

• In addition to games and friends, you will soon be able to add club blocks to Home. We’re also making it easier to explore additional types of blocks at the bottom of Home by adding a new section under “Add More.”

• We’re improving the setup experience to make it better for both new users and upgraders. The settings from your home console will now be saved to the cloud, just like your game saves. Whenever you set up a new console, you will have the option of applying these saved settings during the sign-in process.

• Additionally, your console will now back up even more settings, including your TV & OneGuide settings. This expansion will provide a simple experience when you transition from one console to another using the settings backup to your external games and apps storage device.

Off-console OOBE .gif

• The Xbox app for iOS and Android will now enable you to finish setting up your new Xbox One X console while it’s downloading the day one update. We’ve also improved the process for enabling 4K output right out of the box.

• Xbox’s new screensaver notifications provide an at-a-glance status of what activities you can immediately step into after you’ve had to step out for a moment. We’re adding additional notifications types when your system goes idle, including LFG posts, broadcasts, and Achievements.

• We’re adding miniature Game Hubs for your most recently used games directly into the Guide. That way, you can access the great content on a game hub without having to leave your game.

• Adults who have enabled the “Buy & download” online safety setting will now have an easier time purchasing games thanks to a passkey/password challenge directly in the Xbox dashboard.

Hidden Achievement .gif

• Now for a personal favorite: games where you haven’t unlocked any achievements can be hidden from the personal and public view of your profile.

These features will roll out to Xbox Insiders over the next few weeks. Insiders can check the release notes within the Xbox Insider Hub for more details, or navigate to the Xbox Insider forums at forums.xbox.com.