The Xbox February Update Rolls Out Today! 

As we improve the Xbox experience and add new features, Team Xbox will continue to innovate. With you in the centre, Xbox is constantly improving. This month’s update offers updates to Xbox power management, the ability to hide game art when selecting tiles on your Xbox Home background, access to new touch controls in the Google Home app to control your Xbox like you do other smart devices.

Xbox now offers carbon-aware game updates and downloads.

We shared last month sustainability updates for Xbox which were made available to Xbox Insiders. This update will be made available today to all Xbox consoles.

• Xbox now offers updates and game downloads that are carbon conscious. Xbox schedules game, app and OS updates when your console is connected to the internet. This may reduce carbon emissions as less electricity comes from the grid. It can reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and CO2 emissions, and it could also save you money.  
• The best option for you is yours. You can also adjust the settings whenever it suits you. Shutdown (energy saving) cuts power use by up to 20x when it’s off compared to the Sleep power option. We will reduce the carbon emissions of one tree per year for every 2 consoles that are switched to Shutdown (energy savings) during a one-year period.S or Xbox One consoles in Shutdown (energy savings) for 20 hours each day over a 1 year period; real energy savings and avoided emission may differ by the type and use of other factors|S and Xbox One consoles on Shutdown (energy saving) for 20 hours per day for 1 year; actual energy savings and avoided emissions may vary by console and other factors using Calculator of Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies | US EPA.

When selecting tiles for Home, hide game artwork

Many players dislike the visuals on their home screens and prefer to have a simpler background. Gamers can now hide any game art, so it does not replace the Home backdrop every time they select a tile. The Home background will remain unchanged in the color you choose. You can adjust the background by going to Settings > General >  Personalization > My background > Solid color and game art. You can toggle at the bottom of the screen to reveal or hide the game artwork.

Google Home can be used as a touch remote for Xbox consoles.

Since 2019, you’ve been able to control your Xbox console using voice commands with Google Assistant. Today, we’ve partnered with Google so that you can use the Google Home app as a touch remote control for your Xbox console. Now, when you add your Xbox console to your Google Home app, you’ll be able to easily turn your console on and off, navigate on-screen, control media playback, and more. The Google Home app can be used to control your Xbox just like other Smart Home devices.

 To get started, go to the Google Home app on your phone. To refresh your devices, pull down and touch your Xbox console’s touchscreen to access the touch controls. Remote controls include power on/off and directional navigation.

Rejoin the party with your friends

We’re experimenting with some different experiences to make it easy to jump back into a party with your friends. We will roll it out to a small group of people. To get started, go to the “Parties & Chats” tab in the guide on your Xbox console. Click on the “Party” or “Party History” button. You’ll see a list of your previous parties, which you can use to restart one of those parties or create a new one. You also have the option to select who you would like to invite.

Contribute to the shaping of Xbox’s future

Keep checking Xbox Wire regularly for updates and the most recent news about Xbox. Visit the Xbox Support website for support regarding Xbox Updates.

We love hearing from the community, whether you have a suggestion for a new feature that you’d like to see added, or you want to give feedback on existing features that could use some improvement. From game capture and share improvements, to helping games load faster, new ways to connect with your gaming community, and so much more, we’re always listening and looking for ways to improve Xbox experiences for gamers around the world. If you’d like to help create the future of Xbox and get early access to new features, download the Xbox Insider Hub on your Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Windows PC today. We want to hear your thoughts!