Published 16:00 25 Sep 2026 GMT+1

All 11 new features in Xbox's latest free major system update as users brand it 'fire'

The latest Xbox Update Preview contains 11 new features, three quality-of-life changes, and plenty of bug fixes.

Kate Harrold

A major new system update has rolled out on Xbox Series X/S consoles via the Xbox Insiders beta programme ahead of a future rollout to all users.

It’s a hefty one, introducing 11 new features in addition to a number of adjustments and fixes.

As a reminder, while the Xbox Insiders programme may sound elusive, anyone can sign up via their console by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub app.

Without further ado, here’s everything included in the latest Update Preview, Beta Ring (2610.260921-2200).

Every new feature in Xbox’s latest system update

Users can now sort achievements by name, completion percentage, Gamescore earned, or the number of achievements unlocked, as well as the default ‘last played’ view. Each sorting option can also be ordered in ascending or descending order.

Xbox users can now include chat audio in their captures, allowing you to record your most hilarious gaming moments with friends. Within party chat, each player controls whether they want their audio to be captured, with only those who opt in recorded.

You can now view, sort, and delete local game save files that aren’t currently in use to make additional room on your console, offering you more control over your console’s storage.

Users now have more control over what’s displayed in Recent Games and the Apps list on the Home screen. You can remove any item, including the Play History tile.
There’s an immersive new background mode that lets you press the right thumbstick to fade away your home UI, leaving only your dynamic and custom background. This feature is already impressing gamers who have branded it “fire”.

You can now use a local search to find specific games and achievements, with this working alongside existing filters and sorting options.

Xbox users can now view detailed information for every badge displayed on a profile, including high-resolution artwork and details about when and how it was unlocked.
You can also customise how your badges are showcased, with users able to feature up to five badges in their profile card showcase or hide certain badges from public view.

Series X/S insiders can now preview higher-quality Xbox Remote Play streaming, with support for up to 1440p resolution and increased video bitrates for “sharper visuals and smoother gameplay”. This works on supported devices only.

You can now select which startup animation you want to see, “with options spanning from Xbox One through to the latest generation”. To locate these options, press ‘Settings’, followed by ‘System’, and ‘Startup’. You can also choose whether sound plays or not.

Where network conditions allow, users can now continue downloads in the background while cloud gaming is in use, reducing wait times and keeping play uninterrupted. To turn this option off, press ‘Settings’, followed by ‘Cloud gaming’ and ‘Streaming preferences’.

Games played via Cloud Gaming will not automatically be added to the Games section of My Games and Apps.

The underlying infrastructure of party chat has been updated to enhance reliability and security.

The Apps can add a border setting in ‘TV & display options’ and ‘Video fidelity & overscan’ now defaults to off.

Various fixes to focus while navigating the dashboard.
Fixed an issue where downloads could appear to pause or stop unexpectedly.
Fixed broken images and text for certain compilation discs in the recent games list.
Fixed an issue where focus would be reset or lost in My games & apps when content is refreshed.
Fixed scrolling and display issues in the Local game save management UI.
Various stability and performance fixes.
Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.

Featured Image Credit: Billy Freeman via Unsplash