Windows 10’s Creators Update features have been available to Insiders for several months. This is the first build of the new Xbox software to reach Insider Program members though. It’s currently available to a limited number of players but will roll-out to all Insiders soon.
Microsoft is focusing on performance with the Creators Update, intending to make the Xbox One faster to navigate and easier to interact with. It starts with the new Home screen that’s been heavily simplified for speed.
New Home screen
Xbox One Creators Update Insider Preview 23-01-2017
Microsoft
After introducing the current interface in 2015, players sent feedback that too many button presses were required to complete key tasks. Microsoft has subsequently refined Home to place the emphasis on the most important content from games. It has changed tile sizes to make more space on the screen and added new options for going straight to the Game Hub or Club associated with your last-played game.
Updated Guide
Xbox One Creators Update Insider Preview 23-01-2017
Microsoft
The Guide menu has seen similar refinements. It’s now opened with a single press of the Xbox button, making it significantly faster to access. There’s a new layout that’s designed to put your content first, letting you access recently played games, pinned apps and game recording features without diving deep into menus. Microsoft has also added background audio playback controls for when you’re listening to music during gaming sessions.
Improved multitasking
Xbox One Creators Update Insider Preview 23-01-2017
Microsoft
To simplify the discoverability of multitasking, Microsoft has overhauled the system to work through the new Guide. Opening the Guide and then pressing “X” or “Y” on the controller immediately starts recording gameplay. New multitasking features, including an achievement tracker overlay, reduce the current interface’s reliance on the Guide during gameplay.
Cortana capabilities and Copilot mode
Xbox One Creators Update Insider Preview 23-01-2017
Microsoft
Additional features in the new update include improvements to Cortana and support for new spatial audio settings which developers can use in upcoming games. Microsoft has also expanded on its accessibility options, adding new configurations for gamers who require specialist control layouts. Two Xbox controllers can now act as one in Copilot mode, allowing for new control schemes that help Xbox to cater for every potential player.
“Performance, people, competition and streaming”
“For gamers, the Creators Update is about performance, people, competition and streaming – getting you to the things you care about most as quickly as possible,” said Microsoft. “Today, that will mean a faster Xbox One experience than ever before, connecting you with the applications, games and of course, friends, that you enjoy most.”
This is just the first series of updates for the Xbox One that’ll be released publicly as part of the Creators Update. Microsoft has more features on the way before the final release, including integration with streaming provider Beam. PC gamers on Windows 10 will also receive new gaming features as part of the update, including a dedicated “Game Mode” that will prioritise game performance. Full details are yet to be announced.
