Several New And Useful Features Coming To Xbox One Soon

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Xbox One is seemingly nearing the end of its life cycle, but Microsoft is not giving up on it yet. The company is adding many new features to the console to enhance the gaming experience further.

New Xbox One features

Microsoft recently revealed several new Xbox One features coming to the Xbox Insiders on the Preview Alpha and Skip Ahead rings. If everything goes well, all these new Xbox One features will be rolled out to regular Xbox One users.

Currently, the Xbox Insiders can test a new Restart console button in the Power Center, a new floating mini keyboard and reprogramming the OneGuide button on the Xbox Media Remote. But more new features are being made available to the Insiders now.

One such feature is the Xbox Game Pass Quests, which will now be accessible on the dashboard. Going forward, users will be able to browse all quests from “My Profile.” Currently, the Xbox Game Pass Quests are limited to the U.S. They are, however, a good way to discover more Xbox Game Pass games, especially since they now help you earn Microsoft Rewards points.

Another new feature coming up is Message Requests. This new feature separates messages from your friends from those outside of your Xbox Live friend list. Thus, the feature helps you avoid spam on Xbox Live. The feature adds Message Requests to ensure that the messages from your friends appear as normal messages, while the messages from others fall into a Messages Requests tab. It must be noted that Xbox already has a feature to block messages from strangers.

Microsoft is also adding a new Suggested Uninstall feature. The feature helps you chose the games and apps that you can remove when you need some space to install new content. After you free up enough space, the console will automatically start the installation of the app or game that couldn’t go through due to insufficient storage space.

“You can also get to the new drive manager page via Settings > System > Storage to easily manage your existing content and uninstall multiple titles at once,” the company said.

Features based on user feedback

Another upcoming feature is based on feedback from the players who have complained of difficulty in using the virtual keyboard. To address this, the company is testing a new mini virtual keyboard option to help you type faster.

“We understand that navigating a virtual keyboard can be a challenge whether you’re writing an LFG post for Apex Legends or inputting a 5×5 code for a new game…. This new virtual keyboard makes it easier to navigate and type using a controller,” Microsoft says.

One more feature based on the user feedback is the option to restart the console. Microsoft is considering adding the option to restart the console to the Power Center. This will allow you to access the feature quickly just by holding the Xbox button on the controller to bring up the Power Center. Currently, users have to navigate to the System tab to restart the console.

Microsoft is also updating the Xbox media remote. The update would reprogram the OneGuide button to launch a media app instead of OneGuide. This change basically helps you to reach your favorite app faster.

Another useful addition

Additionally, Microsoft says that some Xbox Insiders may see more experimental features than those mentioned above. “These are designed to gauge interest and solicit feedback from a more focused group,” the company says.

One such feature is possibly the Dolby Atmos audio “upmixing” for people using home theater systems. This new feature turns non-Dolby Atmos sound from the game and movies into Dolby Atmos, says a report from Forbes.

Moreover, the report notes that the upmixing processing is not only approved by Dolby, but is also designed by Dolby. For those unfamiliar with it, the Dolby Atmos creates a three-dimensional sound space around the user, rather than making it appear to come from the speakers.

It must be noted that the upmixed Dolby Atmos is not as effective as core Dolby Atmos. Still, upmixing will give a boost to the game soundtracks.

“The extra sense of immersion this can create compared with non object-based sound systems is remarkable – and particularly effective with games,” the report says.

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