The Federal Trade Commission case against Microsoft may slowly be coming to an end, but the tech company is far from finished fighting against the Sony machine. It has now unveiled a new Xbox dashboard, which Microsoft believes will be a whole new home entertainment experience for gamers. It is Alpha user approved through the Xbox Insider program and will be coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. The Xbox dashboard has been created through community feedback and carful studies on what players want most out of a home screen.
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While the new Xbox dashboard might appear to be a minor change, with no impact on the “console wars,” gamers care about their system user interface. The PlayStation 5 in particular has received backlash over the lack of custom features on its own home screen. Sony fans miss the ability to download dynamic themes, which was an option on the PlayStation 4. Now Microsoft is turning the tables on its top competitor and introducing features the PlayStation 5 has failed to include.
Ivy Krislov, the Senior Program Manager Lead at Team Microsoft, has explained the desire of gamers in the community to have more access to customizable backgrounds. There have also been requests for players to be able to show off game art. The new Xbox dashboard will give users the opportunity to take advantage of these options and it utilizes a more rapid navigation process to the operate the system.
What Are the Features of the New Xbox Dashboard?
It’s one thing to talk about how the new Xbox dashboard will compete in the console arena, and another to see what it includes. Microsoft has released details on seven of the most important features coming to the new home screen. While there is more to the new layout than just these bullet points, this is what best sums up the new content. The features are listed on Xbox Wire as follows:
“1: Makes it easy to go to your Library, the Microsoft Store, Xbox Game Pass, Search, and Settings at the very top of your Home by introducing a quick access menu.
2: Creates more space for your personalized background by simplifying the layout and putting the games you recently played and other content and apps towards the bottom of the screen.
3: Adds an option to change your background to match the game you are highlighting in the recently played list.
4: Improves game discovery by introducing lists of games curated and personalized for you.
5: Allows you to customize your experience by pinning your favorite games, curated groups, and system groups like Quick Resume to Home.
6: Helps you find what’s going on in your community through the updated Friends & Community Updates row.
7: Shows you what media apps and content are available to you via a Watch & Listen spotlight and list of entertainment apps”
Only time will tell if the new Xbox dashboard is going to be a hit with fans, as Alpha user studies suggest. It is clear Microsoft wants to make the Xbox standout as competition continues to grow, and this may be the way to do it. It is certainly refreshing to see Microsoft making news for something other than a merger deal over video game developers. As this Xbox update continues to roll out, it may be interesting for fans to see if PlayStation will respond to the competitor with its own fresh and customizable home screen.
What do you think of the Xbox dashboard update? Are the new features something that makes you more or less a fan of the system? Will Sony be doing something similar in the future as a way to listen to its gamer community? Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.
Source: Xbox News
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