Microsoft Enhances Xbox Home UI with New Customization Features

Microsoft has announced a significant update for Xbox owners, allowing them to pin apps and games directly to the Home User Interface (UI). This latest enhancement to the Xbox dashboard will be rolled out to Xbox Insiders this week, introducing several new options aimed at improving user experience.

New Features for Xbox Home UI

Among the new features, users will soon be able to pin up to three of their recently played games or apps to the homescreen. According to explains Eden Marie, principal software engineering lead for Xbox experiences, “These pins will stay near the front of the list as you launch other things, giving you quick access to your go-to titles.” This functionality is designed to streamline access to frequently used applications and games.

Customization Options

In addition to pinning apps and games, Xbox users will have the option to hide system apps from their homescreen. This feature allows players to focus solely on their favorite games and applications, enhancing the overall user experience. Furthermore, users will soon be able to reduce the number of visible tiles in the recently played games and apps list. Microsoft has indicated that it is “refining this setting,” which will be available to Xbox Insiders shortly.

Responding to User Feedback

The motivation behind these changes stems from feedback received from the Xbox community. Microsoft aims to create a more personalized experience for users. Marie, a representative from Microsoft, stated, “We’ve heard from many of you that Home should feel more like your space. Whether it’s surfacing your favorite games, hiding what you don’t use, or simply making Home feel less crowded, this update is a direct response to that feedback.” This commitment to user-centric design reflects Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to enhance the gaming experience.

Previous Updates and Testing

This is not the first time Microsoft has made significant changes to the Xbox Home interface. The company previously tested a big overhaul of the Xbox Home UI in 2022, which was later rolled out to all Xbox owners in 2023. This earlier update included improvements such as increased space for backgrounds, quicker access to games, the store, and settings, as part of a broader UI overhaul.

Conclusion

With these new features, Microsoft is taking steps to ensure that Xbox users have a more tailored and efficient experience on their consoles. The ability to pin favorite games and apps, hide unwanted system applications, and customize the dashboard layout are all part of Microsoft’s strategy to enhance user satisfaction. As these updates are rolled out to Xbox Insiders, the feedback from the community will likely continue to shape future enhancements to the Xbox Home UI.