January 13th 2015 6:00 pm PT

Xbox One February System Update: Game hubs and TV updates now in Preview

Thanks to the Xbox community, we’re back in action early this year, kicking off 2015 with another system update preview release on Xbox One. Last year, we added hundreds of features on Xbox One — we can’t wait to share more with you this year and hear what you think on Xbox Feedback! This month, we’re bringing members of our Preview program a peek at how we hope to bring the Xbox community even closer together through an all-new feature called game hubs. Your friends, game creators, community managers, and other fans like you can now more easily meet, talk, share content, and play their favorite games. Also, we’re adding more tile transparency for custom backgrounds and a handful of updates to live TV.

Starting today, members of the Xbox One preview program will get to check out these new features first:

Game hubs – New in preview this month, game hubs are the go-to centers for all sorts of interesting content around your favorite games. Every Xbox One game will have a game hub where you can see which of your friends are playing the game, compete with your friends in game leaderboards, dive into the coolest game clips and game broadcasts, and follow the game’s VIPs and top players.

To get to the game hub for your favorite game, find a game in your pins, recently played list, or My games and apps, then press the Menu button and select View game hub. You can also search for any game in the Xbox Store and click on the game hub tile from the game’s store page.

Custom backgrounds and tile transparency – We listened to your feedback and added additional tile transparency to the Home tiles to make your background images more visible. As a reminder, to set a custom background, go to Settings > My Xbox > My background. Note: some items can’t be made transparent due to usage rights/restrictions for certain images.

TV updates – We’re releasing a lot of updates to the live TV experience and features are being released to additional countries in preview this month:
- OneGuide for the Netherlands – Support for OneGuide will continue in preview for the Netherlands and the missing channels for the Netherlands OneGuide listings will become available over the next few weeks.
- TV trending in OneGuide – As you scan the detailed OneGuide TV listings, you can see which shows are trending by a “Trending on Xbox” note and associated icon. Xbox – live TV trending is based on the number of Xbox One owners currently watching that show in each country, pulled from anonymous data collected at a national level. Currently, Xbox TV trending is available to all members in the U.S., UK and Canada.
- Live TV trending (new countries) – France, Germany, Brazil and Mexico will begin seeing live TV trending data in Xbox OneGuide.
- Improved control of TVs, set-top boxes and audio/video receivers – Xbox One will work even better with more devices. This month’s preview release contains updates to the IR blasting database for new models and addresses issues reported by our fan community.
- “Trick play” with Xbox One Digital TV Tuner – Preview members with the Xbox One Digital TV Tuner in supported countries (UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain) will now be able to see video frames when fast-forwarding or rewinding paused TV on your Xbox One consoles.
- Live TV streaming on Windows Phone and Android – We are continuing the preview of live TV streaming on Windows Phone and Android devices for Xbox One Digital TV Tuner owners in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

We’re excited to start the New Year off on the right foot by continuing our commitment to making Xbox One the best place to play. Let us know what you think of this month’s preview and stay tuned for more news on Xbox One system updates.

Preview, System Update, Xbox One By MajorNelson

permalink: http://majornelson.com/2015/01/13/xbox-one-february-system-update-game-hubs-tv-updates-now-preview/

246 comments

Robin Abrahamsson

The achievement app has also been updated, as it now show three rows of achievement tiles at a time instead of two.
fastharryDOTcom

why not make the party system work and make it easy to use….and MAKE “private chat” again so it is easy to break away for a second from your party and talk to a friend..
- Guest
  
  Compare Facebook’s UI to that of 8 years ago, and you would see a major difference. Heck, Facebook has updated their UI drastically in the past, which confused and alienated users until they got used to it.
  - fastharryDOTcom
    
    so you are telling me we have to have basic functionally by waiting 10 years after the 360 had it?
Kazaam

No, not realy worth for a GAMINGCONSOLE!!!
I dont need a hub, I see what my friend are playing and when I want, I join them.
And the rest of the Xbox ONE world doesnt interest me.

This is a gaminbox not a tv-reciever, get rid of this sh**.

I should buy a gaming pc and play on steam …
- deadbox102
  
  It can’t be both? The days are gone where gaming is all a console can do and I am thankful for it. Xbox One has something for every member of my family. You forget the room where most consoles are, the living room.
Dwight Trounson

Can we PLEASE just separate language and physical location? I live in Germany and speak basically none of it….and their voice overs are abominable
- Guest
  
  Oh tell us about it. It’s so hilarious, most people that speak English in the larger European countries HATE the dubbing they do on foreign shows/movies. That’s why it’s so hilarious the Xbox One was delayed in the Benelux countries under the nomer of “needing more time for regional language support”. Nobody in the Benelux gives a flying F about Dutch being on the Xbox One and now that it has launched, the proper language support isn’t there, yet the Dutch text is still forced on the dash. WTF MS, such a fail righ there!
KaosTheory

Fix what is already there first instead of these new “features”.

Will this transparent tiles stuff help on my plasma tv?

Party chat is still a bust sometimes.

When in a game and I press the guide button, it’s like the home screen has to reload. It all disappears and then comes back. Seems clunky and slow. Kind of how Windows explorer.exe crashes and reloads all your desktop items.

I removed my console from the preview program because i did not like getting these updates to test ahead of time. I found to have issues w/ chat…etc because my friends did not have these updates (weren’t in the program).

Xbox Music in the background would be awesome.

Controller disconnect issues still (firmware has been updated).

All I can think of at the moment.
https://account.xbox.com/en-US/Profile?gamerTag=bharris9 Brandon Harris

I would like an invite to the Xbox One Preview program if anyone would like to send one my way — Gamertag = bharris9
Michel Simmons

I don’t care for much of these updates, but some users will appreciate it. How about bringing that digital tv tuner to the United States so that us cord cutters without cable can actually be happier about this media centric update. How about more available pins, how about ability to us one drive photos as background photos. Where’s background music support?
Bollix

I’d love an invite to the Preview Program if anyone wouldn’t mind sending me an invite. Thanks! Gamertag: Bollix10
Finaldeath

Hopefully the essential apps like friends, messages and achievements get a speed boost. They are far to slow.
Mike Mattinson

Two words.. Custom Soundtracks.
Amaury Trench

add sleep timer please!! It can’t be that complicated!!
I really like watching tv before sleeping but since i bought my xbox i have to wake up in the middle of the night to turn my xbox off (what isn’t cool). Or i have to use my tv remote only to program a timer for the tv but my xbox remains on for the whole night (it is quiet, but i’d rather sleep without any noise at all!)
- Kevin Klahn
  
  What are you talking about? Set your Xbox to turn off after 1 or 6 hours of inactivity in the settings
  - Amaury Trench
    
    Watching TV isn’t considered inactivity, so it doesn’t turn off when I fall asleep while watching…
Maurice Jason Davies

Sounds like good things. If anyone has an extra beta preview invite they could send my way, I’d be eternally grateful. GT: Jase D Dakota I was late to the Xbox One party and I miss beta testing all the dashboard’s like I used to do on the 360.
http://www.slevynamiru.cz Sagat

VIBRATION ON/OFF pleaaaaaseeeeee
- Nick Peck
  
  Pretty much every game has that option in the options / settings screen. I’m sure an overall on / off would be nice but again, just shut it off in game and you will be good.
  - Tyler Lundberg
    
    I’m pretty sure you can turn it off completely as well.
  - http://www.slevynamiru.cz Sagat
    
    Not every game….Ryse of Rome and more others
Dave

Can we have a feature to remap controls in every game?
David J Best

How do I get added to the preview program?
- Guest
  
  You can’t. Stop asking please.
Lucky13X

The game hub will really drive participation with Twitch and broadcasting.
Nick Peck

Great additions. Though the ONLY thing I want right now is the ability to download my movie / tv purchases already. Having to always stream was not fun during the outages around the holidays! Man I was angry lol, so please, let us download them for local play. I loved that option on the 360.
Nick ProjectNemesis

ye fix the party chat and plz give us the 360 quik menu back kinect vois dsnt work in my region
gamer04

love the transparency, hopefully we’ll see the ability to take and share screenshots soon like we can with video.
SP

You know what would really be nice is if you add the feature that the 360 has where you can TURN OFF THE VIBRATION ON THE CONTROLLERS. How hard is this to add? I was playing the halo 5 beta and the fact you can’t turn it off in the features made the game a little annoying to play.
Chris Capasso

Would be nice if the live TV streaming and features were available in the USA
Louie

Still waiting on live tv streaming to devices in the usa…
elross66

How about fixing DVD playback so the voice in in sync!!!!
Heidi Holappa

Seriously, I still can’t use English voice commands with my country selected?!? WTF, Microsoft, as Phil so eloquently said in Modern Family. Why The Face?
Derek D

With every update that focus’s on TV, I regret buying my Xbox One more and more. It wouldn’t be so bad if they would release a OTA box like they did in the UK. But apparently, sleeping in Bed with the dieing cable companies instead of focusing on your American fan base (where the most xboxs are sold) is more important.
Derek D

I think we can all agree that the Xbox One release in terms of PR is one of the messiest failures in console history. It drove a lot of Xbox Loyalists to other platforms.
My question for all of you….
What do you think will be the comeback product / game / feature that will bring back former Xbox fans if they haven’t already come back?
Thretosix

No mention of being able to rearrange the tiles, transparency, really? I’m at the point I want to delete all the tiles. Moving to front as my only option to move the tiles is just plain stupid. These updates seem to be adding more confusion that adding things that help, achievements are not even in MY PROFILE always snap as opposed to full screen, the featured achievements are almost hidden. I get that you received good feedback about the custom backgrounds, but we have been waiting for features like playing personal music over games as we we could on the Xbox 360 since launch. Stop patting yourselves on the back and actually listen to the feedback people want most.
lsomoza

If anyone could send me an invite, I’d greatly appreciate it! GT: Syrinx Starman
David J Best

If anyone has an invite please could you send me one as well. Thank you! GT: B3S7Y
David Goodwin

Two questions:

1. When will HDMI CEC be supported? The PS3 and PS4 both have it and its been part of the HDMI spec since 1.0.The Kinect IR blaster can’t switch inputs on my TV and AV receiver at the same time.

2. When will the DVB-T widget be released in Australia/New Zealand. Both countries use largely the same system which is largely the same as the UK…
http://www.trueachievements.com/NBA+Kirkland.htm NBA Kirkland

What does that “Follow” button do?
Ronald Vermaesen

Hello all, i got some of you the invite for the beta program, wich will give you a notification soon 1-5 days. although my comment is looked into, and is still pending, untill i recieve more information on this, i won’t beable to invite anyone else, untill i know more about this. sorry if i couldn’t get you all a invite !. *Sorry Ms if i broke a rule, just helping others out!*

With kind regards Odin.
fastharryDOTcom

perhaps you should stop looking for something at the end of the rainbow and fix basic functions first..Seems every couple of days Xbox service alerts are back up..
Shorty

I´m waiting for the screenshot function!
Jeremy Roberts

Could Get an invite please. GT: Uncle Tom32
Adrianna Balfour

hi Adrianna Balfour friends nice yes or how are you
meddle0ne

There are 50 million people on the support forum with intermittent controller disconnecting issue for months. It would be nice if we could get that resolved through software update, or recall faulty hardware if that is the cause. There are many customers who have warranties expiring, or expired that can’t use their consoles. Controllers not staying connect pretty much makes a gaming console useless.
- ImTheMetalLord
  
  Hold the power button on the console for 5-10 seconds until it turns off. Then unplug the power supply from the back of the console. Then plug your console directly into the wall socket with nothing in between. No power strip or surge protector nor extension cord. Then plug everything back up and this has been known to fix the issue.
  
  Keep in mind that the power brick has a fuse in it to protect your console and every system MS has made is supposed to be plugged directly into the wall. It’s a lack of enough power that causes that as well as other issues such as lag and freezing troubles.
  
  50 million? OK LOL
  - meddle0ne
    
    BTW, continually unplugging my console is not a reasonable solution, even if it did fix the problem, which doesn’t. If the power supply needs that remedy then there is a design flaw that MS needs to own up to, and provide us with a new redesigned power supply. That is a class action law suit waiting to happen. Of course, for months, support hasn’t acknowledged whether there is a defect or not… which is a problem.
    - ImTheMetalLord
      
      What are you talking about? Plug it directly into the wall one time and it has been known to correct the issue. I never said to do it over and over again.
      - meddle0ne
        
        We’ve already tried that. You’re making the assumption that those of us who are having this issue aren’t capable of simple troubleshooting, or utilizing support. I wouldn’t be talking about this if the fix was that obvious. Your dismissive attitude is just perpetuating the problem here. BTW ’50 million… that’s known as hyperbole.
      - ImTheMetalLord
        
        Actually I was just trying to be helpful you ungrateful putz!!
        
        I took time out of my day to type that info out for you thinking I might be able to help someone. Wasn’t assuming anything and only providing information.
        
        Obviously you have no idea about intent and assume others are just jerks. Well I’m not one and I’m sorry you are having issues with it and I’m sorry my information was not helpful.
  - evilfangs .
    
    I would not trust Microsoft’s fuse in their brick over my own surge protector. Only a crazy person who has too much money would plug a console in without it connected to a surge protector.
    - ImTheMetalLord
      
      I’ve lived for almost 50 years and have never had a surge in any of the dozens of places I’ve lived. Besides is there any other electronic products in your home that has a brick like the Xbox’s? It was developed to protect the consoles from getting to much power to fast as well as to make sure it doesn’t lose power to fast all about protection. And apparently you have no idea how fuses work.
    - ImTheMetalLord
      
      Attacked again. Major Nelson and moderators you really need to take care of this person that keeps flagging unnecessarily.
      - Gazmaster3D
        
        Its pathetic and who ever is doing it needs to grow up
      - http://www.youtube.com/SabzilaTV SABZILA
        
        Yes i agree, im also flagged for no reason.
- meddle0ne
  
  Why was my comment with the link to the support forum removed? Anyway, the numerous support threads for intermittent controller disconnecting are easily Googled if anyone is interested. I’m embarrassed because I influenced so many of my friends to buy XB1s, and the handling of this issue makes me look like a fool. The fact that my comment was removed reinforces my concern that something nefarious is afoot.
Adrianna Balfour

hi
Mr Horrible

Phil Spencer has really turned the Xbox One around. I slated it when it was revealed, but he has done such a brilliant job. Don Mattrick ruined the Xbox, but Phil Spencer is fixing it. If there is a Next Gen Xbox in 8 years time, then focus fully on Games, then a year later add the entertainment stuff, oh and ditch Kinect period its rubbish.
- Guest
  
  8 years? Hahaha, nope. you’ll see a new console either next year or the year after that. This gen doesn’t have enough power to last 8 years when many games barely run at 30fps with lowered resolutions.
  - evilfangs .
    
    The consoles are just over a year old, developers are still learning how to develop for them. These consoles will last at least 6 years.
Rudragon43NL

Audio messages + screenshots.
Just saying…
http://abertoatedemadrugada.com/ Carlos Martins

How much longer till international users can select other languages for games?
Have a portuguese account, but want to play/hear my games in english instead of Brazilian.

It’s been over 1y since launch and we’re still waiting for it…
Liana Copland

Is there any way to get in on a future preview program?
Lucas Sanches Cestari

I hope they make a way to take screenshots soon! i really want to show how beautiful the games are on xbox one with my facebook and twitter!
beardyman3218

Good update. In the next could you please bring back private chat and have an option to use the media player play music while unsnapped.
Kevin Burton

How do you join the preview program? And one point I was getting previews but no longer
Michael Booth

The Main Issue is. Xbox 360 had 1 app. the Xbox Guide. Everything anyone needed was there. it all worked. was easy to use. Now The Xbox One has to guide but 20 diffirent apps that were all one app on the 360. I. E. Friends/messages/recent players/background music/ xbox system settings/ etc. This needs to come back. YOu had it before. Honestly there was nothing wrong with the 360’s dashboard or guide there is EVERYTHING wrong with the X1’s dashboard/Snap. Snap is terrible it doesn’t even work 85% of the time. and even when it does it takes forever to load and STILL messes up.

Simply put. Fix the UI. Give us back what we originally had. The Xbox 360 dashboard/guide. You were able to change the dashboard on the 360 and you made edits to the guide and that was an old console you have newr technogly. meaning you should be able to do everything that was on that console with this one. So please. Listen to us. YOu guys say you hear us. But All I’ve seen is a WHOLE lot of Selective Hearing. Quit saying you hear us if you don’t wanna hear the entirety of what we say.
Please Clarify

The Game Hub functionality is an innovative concept and just what X1 needs to differentiate from the competition. Good job!

But please allow the digital tv tuner to be used also in officially unsupported countries, as there is no technical reason for the limitation and many international early adopters (me included) would like to import new products as soon as they are available.
Bobo Tapia

How about a settings tab on the dash? And while you’re at it, how about making all the other stuff that was baked into the 360 dash baked into the x1 dash instead of being apps?

Aside from graphics and controller, x1 is inferior to 360 in almost every other way.
Matuck

Nothing about enabled HDMI pass through when in standby? Is that much to ask?

January 13th 2015 6:00 pm PT

Xbox One February System Update: Game hubs and TV updates now in Preview

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