Xbox November 2020 update brings dynamic backgrounds, Game Pass improvements and more

Microsoft has begun rolling out the November 2020 Xbox Console Update. The update is available for the newly launched Xbox Series X and Series S gaming consoles as well as the Xbox One family of devices. The new features that are coming with the update include dynamic backgrounds, new badges optimized for Xbox Series X and Series S, the ability to preload games from Xbox Game Pass, the ability to add existing Xbox family members to a new console, and some performance improvements and bug fixes.

Dynamic Backgrounds

If your Xbox home screen looks dull, then the new dynamic backgrounds should add some new life. Available for the Xbox Series X and Series S, gamers will be able to customize their home screen with motion and color. There are six new options, including homages to older-gen Xbox consoles. Microsoft may or may not add more colors and themes depending on the feedback from users in the future.

Optimized for Series X and Series S badges

With the launch of the new Xbox Series X and Series S consoles, Microsoft did not launch any new or exclusive titles. It did, however, offer over 30 games fully optimized for the new-gen consoles and a bunch of older Xbox One games has also been updated to take advantage of the increased performance of the Series X and Series S. Microsoft has now added a special X|S badge to game tiles making it easier to see which of your games have been optimized. Users can also make use of the Filter button to see only “Optimized for Xbox Series X|S” games.

Auto HDR

We already know that the new Xbox consoles have the ability to run HDR games. With the latest update, both the consoles will now include an option called Auto HDR. Turning this on would “improve the visual quality of a game without changing its overall look.” The best part is, this feature doesn’t require any additional work from the developer. There will also be a new tag to let you know if the game is benefiting from this feature. Users will be able to access this when they open the guide during a game with Auto HDR running.

Pre-load games on Xbox Game Pass

The latest update is also adding a new feature for Xbox Game Pass users. Apart from viewing and adding games to your “Play later’ list, users will be able to pre-install certain games before they arrive on Xbox Game Pass. You can check upcoming games and pre-install them by heading to the Xbox Game Pass app on your console or smartphone under the “Coming soon” section. Microsoft says that all upcoming games will not be available for pre-install, but there is a feature on the smartphone app that will let you queue them to install on day one.

Adding family member accounts

The Xbox Family Settings app for Android and iOS allows users to create and add family member accounts to their Xbox console, allowing them to have full control over their usage, notifications, stats, and more. The ones who have been using the app since its launch will now be able to add family members to their console during the setup.

Xbox Insider Program

Along with the new update, Microsoft has also announced the Xbox Insider Program for Xbox Series X and Series S users. You can read more about it and register yourself by heading here.

Apart from these, the new update brings some bug fixes and performance improvements. The new update is currently rolling out for all users of the Xbox Series X, Series S, and Xbox One consoles. If you haven’t got your hands on either of the new-gen consoles, then check out our restock guide for more information.

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