Microsoft has revealed the new features and changes coming in the Xbox February 2023 update, which officially rolls out today! The highlight is that the recently announced sustainability updates are now available to everyone (not just Xbox Insiders), but we've also got some other cool additions including Google Home app integration!
Here's the complete list of what's coming to Xbox in the February 2023 update:
Energy Settings Updates
"Xbox is now the first console to offer carbon aware game downloads and updates. When your console is plugged in, connected to the internet and regional carbon intensity data is available, Xbox will schedule game, app, and OS updates for your console at specific times during the nightly maintenance window..."
"You can choose what works best for you and adjust your settings at any time. Shutdown (energy saving) cuts power use by up to 20x when it’s off compared to the Sleep power option."
Hide Game Art When Selecting Tiles On Home
"With this new feature gamers can hide game art so it will no longer replace the Home background each time you move to select a game tile. Instead, the Home background will always remain the solid color of your choice."
Use Google Home App As Touch Remote Control
"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."
Easily Jump Back Into A Party
"We’re experimenting with some different experiences to make it easy to jump back into a party with your friends. As we roll this out, a random subset of users will be able to give it a try.
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 can also easily select which friends you want to invite."
Excited for these February 2023 Xbox features? Let us know in the comments below.
[source news.xbox.com]
Comments 26
That's all awesome, but, have they made quick resume stable and fully functional yet?
"Hide Game Art When Selecting Tiles On Home"
Where is "Hide Tiles To View Game Art On Home"? 😄
@Altarchon5050 It has been working much better for me since a few months ago. The main trick that works for me is to wait for the dashboard to be fully displayed, so a few extra seconds.
"Hide Game Art"
No longer worry about paid content replacing your Old Spice ads again! With the February update, you'll always be up to date on the latest Old Spice, Doritos, and The Last of Us TV series by Sony Pictures and HBO(R) on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console.
@Altarchon5050 It's not always as bad as it once was, but, yeah, I agree, that's the standout feature on the platform and it's still so unreliable on a large number of games.
I just want a feature to "dismiss" a card from my recently used apps and games. I'm mostly thinking of "that game I tried over XCloud for 15 minutes and I don't want to play it any more".
I'd really like an updated search function on xbox store.
One where you can search publisher or developer.
Alphabetical, date or even console version please.
Also please bring Paramount+ app to Xbox .
Just give us transparency tiles.
@spoonman2 same here rewards app broken on the console keeps asking me to update location.
@theduckofdeath I read it wrong and thought they had actually 'fixed' it.
Why did they not have the option to hide backgrounds for games on the Home menu before? Anyways, Happy you can do this now.
@spoonman2 I thought it was just me. Did my searches this morning and played a game to get achievement and went back in to be told to change location. Fingers crossed its fixed soon.
@Balta666 I do wait for that. My main complaint is with all ubisoft games I play (AC,FC,GR) if you do not hard quit the game from the home screen, the ubisoft store is not accessible during the game. Thanks tho.
What if I don't want google home crap?
@Altarchon5050 Quick Resume seems to work fine for me, as long as I am playing a campaign. Doesn't work at all with any multiplayer games.
@Altarchon5050 that looks to be and issue by Ubisoft itself and something I am not sure the Xbox team can do anything about it
@NEStalgia they really need to fix the Home Screen and get it right. I like most of the Ui, but the Home screen and Achievements page need some love. Needs a more modern, almost relaunch feel and i think that alone is enough to have them ahead of PS5 in Ui. The more i try and love the sony Ui on PS5, i still find it kinda mediocre and the Xbox Ui to be close to just right with those 2 areas pulling the rest of it down. I see some fan’s ask for a better settings menu and i mostly agree with that, but for how little i use that area and the familiarity I have with it, i would place that as a distant 3rd project.
@Balta666 Good point. I'll try it with Forza or something to see if there's a difference.
@theduckofdeath wondered the same, found this online: "To adjust your background, navigate to Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Solid color and game art. On this page you can choose to show or hide game art with the toggle in the bottom right of the screen."
Here is the link https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/02/15/xbox-february-update-out-now/
EDIT: I needed to update my console manually for this to appear btw!
give me quick resume with Sonys cleaner UI. or just remove the ads. if my console is on, means im gaming and nothing else.
@Kurt101 @trev666 pops up for me too, but app opens/updates points etc if i reopen app straight after error
@stvevan @trev666 it's working OK this morning. Fingers crossed for you both.
@theskelf Ugh, I don't know what happened there! Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
@Spider-Kev Just don't use it. They're not going to break into your house and force you to install the Google Home app, and use it to control your xbox. Just because it's not useful to you doesn't mean it isn't to other people.
Fix the slow download speeds. Something useful for a change instead of all this meh visual stuff.
I'd just like to remove the advertising tiles and repurpose the space to something useful.
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