Summary
- Xbox updates aim to enhance user experience through bug fixes, improvements in accessibility, and localization across the console.
- Alpha testers get new features like OneDrive storage notifications, while both testers encounter audio and networking issues.
- Xbox Insider Program invites members to shape upcoming updates and features by completing quests, surveys, and reporting issues.
Xbox has unveiled details about console updates rolled out to Alpha and Beta testers, aiming to enhance the user experience and address various issues reported by the Xbox community. The updates, while incorporating background improvements for stability and quality, also introduce several noteworthy changes and fixes across the Xbox ecosystem.
Xbox allows users to play a variety of video games, ranging from blockbuster titles to indie favorites. The Xbox console family includes various iterations, such as the original Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, each offering improved hardware capabilities and features. These consoles also serve as multimedia entertainment hubs, providing access to streaming services, apps, and online multiplayer gaming through the Xbox Live platform.
The update was rolled out for Xbox Insider Program members at 2 p.m. PT on March 4, 2024, with mandatory implementation scheduled for 3 a.m. PT on March 5, 2024. Xbox experienced some issues in February, and as announced on the Xbox Wire, for beta testers, this update includes fixes geared towards enhancing accessibility features, particularly addressing issues related to narrator readout in the guide and unexpected errors encountered when viewing recent captures in the Capture & Share section. Moreover, system-wide improvements have been made to ensure proper localization across the console, catering to users worldwide.
However, Beta testers may encounter some localized text anomalies, which Xbox advises investigating further to understand the impact of such changes. Despite the strides made in enhancing the user experience, certain known issues persist, including intermittent audio glitches and occasional networking connectivity delays upon boot. Xbox's engineers are actively investigating these issues and encourage users to report any instances encountered via the Report a Problem feature.
For Alpha testers, new features await, including a toast notification system for users running low on OneDrive storage space after uploading screenshots or game clips. Additionally, fixes addressing game save accessibility issues due to lengthy names and delays in checking for recent updates in My Games & Apps have been implemented. Xbox features some of the top games of the decade, and this update is crafted to streamline the gaming experience even further.
Alpha and beta testers are part of the Xbox Insider Program, which invites fans to give feedback on upcoming Xbox updates, features, and games for both consoles and Windows devices. Members can shape content by completing quests and surveys, reporting issues, and unlocking previews based on their interests and activity level. Active participation in the Xbox Insider Program provides players with the opportunity to test new features and updates, thereby contributing to the continuous evolution of the Xbox ecosystem.
New Console Updates Notes
Notes for Beta Testers
System Update Details
- OS Version: XB_FLT_2403ZN\25398.3848.240229-2200
- Available: 2 p.m. PT – March 4, 2024
- Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – March 5, 2024
Fixes Included
Accessibility
- Fixes to improve narrator readout in the guide when viewing friends and making changes to the friendship.
Capture & Share
- Fixes to address an unexpected error in the guide when viewing recent captures.
System
-
Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
- Note: Users participating in Preview may see “odd” text across the console. To learn more visit: What’s This? Learn More About Pseudo-Loc in Preview.
Known Issues
Audio
-
Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
- Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
-
Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
- Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.
Networking
-
We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
- Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.
Notes for Alpha Testers
System Update Details
- OS Version: XB_FLT_2404ZN\25398.3978.240228-2200
- Available: 2 p.m. PT – March 4, 2024
- Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – March 5, 2024
New Features and Experiences
Capture & Share
- Users will now see a toast notification after uploading a new screenshot or game clip to OneDrive if they’re running low on space.
Fixes Included
Games
- Fixed an issue where game saves could become inaccessible if the name was very long.
My Games & Apps
- Fixed an unexpected delay that could occur when checking for recent updates for games and apps.
System
-
Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
- Note: Users participating in Preview may see “odd” text across the console. To learn more visit: What’s This? Learn More About Pseudo-Loc in Preview.
Known Issues
Audio
-
Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
- Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
-
Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
- Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.
Networking
-
We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
- Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.
Microsoft Xbox Series S
- Brand
- Microsoft
- 4K Capabilities
- No (Upscaling available)
The Xbox Series S is a digital-only game console that offers the same processor as its more powerful Xbox Series X sibling but cuts down on memory, storage, and the GPU while removing the disc drive to offer a next-generation console experience at a fraction of the cost while targeting gamers at lower Full HD or 2K resolutions instead.
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info