Sunday, January 17, 2021

Xbox Announces New Home Screen and UI Changes

In addition, we are also exploring options for new game channels and collections when you scroll down that include content that’s curated for you based on things like the games you’ve played or how to make the most out of your Game Pass subscription. Some of my pet peeves with the Xbox dashboard pertain to the Game DVR not syncing audio properly when recording clips, alongside the general speed of performing tasks like trimming and sharing. It would be nice if we could shrink down the tiles on the dashboard as well or have them fade out to give us more options for custom backgrounds. I'd also like to see the Xbox achievement system borrow some features from PlayStation, such as so-called "Platinum trophies" for fully completing the entirety of a game's achievements.

Up at the top of the homepage, things aren't that different, though the six most recent games you've played or apps you've used are all the same size now, rather than the most recent being the largest. We know the Xbox homepage is where our gamers spend a lot of their time, and it’s a space that’s very personal. We also know we can always be listening and learning how we can do better here while keeping your experience fast and familiar.

Xbox boss: Sony wants to ‘grow by making Xbox smaller’

It was a bit of a bummer that the Xbox Series X|S didn't come with a new home screen, but this will hopefully offer that refresh fans were hoping for when the consoles launched in 2020. It seems like this home screen will also come to Xbox One users as well, but it wasn't specified. Underneath that Game Pass sections are your pinned apps and games, where you can fix frequently visited titles like Netflix or Destiny 2. According to Warren there doesn't appear to be any way to move the section for pinned apps and games up or down amongst the rows.

xbox home screen

Discover new favorites with Xbox Game Pass, add items to your wish list or cart as you shop, and get peace of mind with parental controls. Microsoft is asking for more Xbox Insiders to get involved in the process, either via the official Xbox Insider subreddit or by participating in the Xbox Insider program directly. I’ve managed to try an early version of the Home UI this week, and while there are some much-needed improvements, the home section of the Xbox dashboard is starting to feel like one giant Xbox Game Pass ad. Going even further down you'll find rows for things like the top free games or the most popular games on Game Pass.

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Knowing some of the most common Home screen errors will help you know when a quick refresh could be the best fix for you. Refreshing features on any piece of hardware is an excellent way to troubleshoot common issues or problems you may be experiencing. For more information on the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter at @XboxInsider and this blog for release notes, announcements, and more. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring. When you scroll down, you’ll see curated categories and recommendations tailored to your gaming preferences. Chat with anyone on Discord via voice channels or group calls directly from your console making it easy to connect with friends across mobile, Xbox and PC.

xbox home screen

With that, we’re kicking off a multi-month series of experiments to learn how to create a more personalized home screen experience and address some of the top trends and fan requests. Team Xbox is always looking for ways to improve your gaming experience, getting gamers what they want, games. We’re focused on making it faster and easier to play the games you love and find your next favorite game.

Xbox app for mobile

A revamped "Jump Back In" row populates a list of your most recent games and apps at the top. Periodically refreshing your Xbox Home can also help update any changes you make to your customization options or Home screen layout. For instance, setting a custom gamerpic for your Xbox profile could update faster by simply refreshing the Home screen. We want to ensure this experience is the best it can be, and we know getting it right will take some time which is why we will be rolling it out slowly and iterating throughout the process.

xbox home screen

This new Xbox Home UI is still in early testing, so I assume this will return, but right now, it feels like a giant ad without that customization. The Xbox dashboard in recent years has become something of a source of controversy, with users denigrating the abundance of algorithmic content, while requesting refinements to features like the Xbox Game DVR and so on. Today, we're getting signs of renewed investment in the Xbox dashboard, with a call to action from Microsoft for feedback on some major changes to the experience. Microsoft also says that you'll see "curated categories and recommendations tailored to your gaming preferences" when you scroll down the page. The new “Jump back in” row gives you quick access to your most recently played games and apps. Microsoft is testing a brand-new Xbox home screen that will roll out to all Xbox consoles in 2023.

It would be nice for Xbox to surface other types of gameplay progression too, given that some gamers prefer to stick with a single title over long periods of time. Microsoft previously explored revamping the Xbox achievement system with an Xbox "career" system as it came to be known, but it was unfortunately scrapped before implementation. In what Microsoft is calling the "New Xbox Home Experience," Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip Ahead ring will begin seeing aspects of the new dashboard very soon. This includes a refined home screen with quick visual access to important features like the settings menu, while surfacing more of your recent content directly on-screen.

xbox home screen

The UI improvements include a new 'Jump back in' row and make it easier to access apps such as Settings and the Microsoft Store. A visual search bar and settings menu button can be found right at the top, which should improve ease of access for new users who aren't familiar with the Guide menu. The main interface now replaces the larger tile for the most recent app or game, with six tiles that are now all the same size across the top row. These are the latest apps or games, and I’m glad to see that Microsoft has removed apps like Settings and the Microsoft Store from appearing in this recent list, given you can easily access both from the new Xbox Home UI.

Why You May Need to Refresh Your Xbox Home Screen

Refreshing your Home screen is also a great way to double-check any visual changes you make to your Xbox's layout, whether through a custom gamerpic, a new theme for your console, or even your dashboard's entire layout. Luckily, for Xbox consoles, refreshing features like your Home screen is easy to do and a great way to ensure your Home screen layout and applications function as intended. The new Xbox dashboard is designed to be familiar, responsive and inviting for all gamers, so you can spend more time playing and less time waiting.

xbox home screen

The new interface is familiar, but has some important refinements to improve usability and style. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. A first look at the new Xbox home page UI that's set to arrive next year has been shared, giving us a look at what will be different.

In the area below the main home screen, there’s a section for recently added games to Xbox Game Pass. This alone feels like a good addition for Game Pass users, but scrolling further down and it’s clear that every section is simply an extension of Game Pass or the Microsoft Store to encourage you to download or buy games. While most Xbox users have been asking for a less cluttered UI on the home screen, this aging tiled interface does nothing to show off the dynamic backgrounds and wallpapers available on the console. Thankfully, the main section now has only two tiles reserved for ads instead of three, but once you scroll down, you’ll notice this home screen is one giant promotion for Xbox Game Pass. Either way, for those who are a bit tired of the current Xbox home screen, this is great news.

With your input, we’re looking forward to launching this new, better Home experience in 2023. Please share your feedback and be patient as we add, remove, and change features to optimize the experience. The new dashboard design is part of what Microsoft describes as a "multi-year" experiment with new features and refinements, and wants Xbox users along for the ride. We've asked Microsoft if the Xbox Game DVR capture features or achievements system may be on the docket for improvements or revamps as part of this renewed spate of development, but we haven't heard back just yet. Microsoft isn’t planning to roll this new Xbox Home UI out until 2023, so there are many months ahead of testing, and I’m sure plenty of tweaks and changes, too.

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