Microsoft continues to improve the experience for its players, whether they play on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC or via Cloud Gaming. Thus, the manufacturer is deploying updates this November for consoles and the Xbox application for Windows and mobiles.
Friend requests are back
The new update for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S introduces a revised social connection management system, now allowing players to choose between becoming friends or simply following other users. Friendships are now reciprocal and require approval, providing greater control over visibility and shared information. In contrast, tracking remains a one-way connection, allowing content shared by a player, club, or game to be tracked without the other party needing to reciprocate the connection.
Existing connections will be updated according to this new system: players will remain friends with those who have also added them as friends, while those who have not will be moved to the followed list.
To manage these social relationships on Xbox, simply open the guide by pressing the Xbox button, then go to the People tab. There, players can view their friends list, accept or decline friend requests, as well as search for new friends. In addition, it is possible to see who follows and who is followed directly from the profile.
This update also includes improvements to notifications and privacy settings, allowing users to manage their social experience on Xbox from different devices: the console, the Xbox app on Windows, the Xbox mobile app, as well as only from xbox.com/play.
Content search has finally been improved
A new, optimized search experience is now available on Xbox in all supported regions and languages. This update improves search on console as well as in the Xbox app on Windows, providing more accurate and relevant results. This allows players to find the game or related content they are looking for more quickly, even if they don't know the exact name of the title.
With search-assisted AI, it's now possible to find games using general phrases, like “farming simulation games with fishing” or “FPS with zombies,” and get results tailored to those terms. criteria. This intelligent search system goes beyond simple keyword matching by also recognizing typos, abbreviations, synonyms, as well as emojis. This makes searching even more flexible and accessible, even if users are unsure of the exact terms.
The Xbox application for Windows is entitled to a small overhaul
After a testing period in October for members of the Xbox Insiders program, the new homepage is now rolling out to all players. This update improves access to various features, including the “Jump back in” experience, which allows players to easily resume the last games they played, without having to dig through the application .
The new home page conveniently and centrally consolidates the latest and popular content from Game Pass and the Store, making it easy to quickly discover new games and offers. In addition to this, the page offers recent news, personalized recommendations, free games as well as special offers, making the browsing experience more fluid and personalized. This helps them stay informed and enjoy a richer, more focused experience on their home page.
A little more customization on Xbox
The options for personalizing the gaming experience on Xbox are enriched with a new feature that allows players to create player images from their achievements or screenshots. This update therefore offers the possibility of zooming and cropping these images to adjust the background of the console home page, thus offering further customization of the interface.
Calibration and customization of controllers
This month, Xbox is rolling out several updates and improvements to its flagship accessories, including the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Adaptive Controller, and the Xbox Accessories app. These new features aim to provide more flexibility and customization options to players.
One of the main new features is the introduction of the stick calibration tool for the Xbox Elite Series 2 wireless controller, now available in the Xbox Accessories app on console and PC. This tool allows you to recalibrate the controller sticks to correct minor issues, such as erratic responses, without requiring repair or a return to support. Additionally, to extend the life of the controller, players can now replace worn or damaged parts such as sticks, paddles or D-pad, and use the calibration tool after any repair of the base or of the motherboard.
Xbox Elite Series 2 and Xbox controllers also benefit from a trigger calibration tool, allowing players to adjust the triggers independently in the event of a minor issue, directly from the Xbox Accessories app. This feature simplifies controller maintenance and prevents users from having to resort to external repairs.
Another big improvement is the ability to map stick directions to buttons on the Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller or external joysticks connected to the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Players can now further personalize their experience by assigning specific actions to buttons or keyboard inputs. Additionally, the ability to map mouse movement to sticks or joysticks allows emulating mouse cursor movements and simulating left, right and middle clicks on PC, by connecting the controller via cable. The mapping options continue with the ability to map the viewpoint button to control the opposite stick on the Xbox Adaptive Controller, providing increased customization and a gaming experience more tailored to individual needs.
