Microsoft has confirmed a major update for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S that will significantly reduce boot times for both consoles. Keep in mind that we are referring to the time it takes for the console to be ready for use since we press the power button, i.e. when it is completely off.

This update is only found currently available on the dedicated channel, which means it’s still in testing and won’t hit the mass of users on both consoles for quite some time (they’re talking about early August, so it shouldn’t be more than a week or two). All in all, the important thing is that this update is a reality and should be available to all Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users soon.

In order to reduce the startup time of both consoles, Microsoft has confirmed the creation of a shorter startup animation that overall it completes in just 4 seconds, whereas the previous animation needed 9 seconds complete. When we’re in such small numbers, it may seem like the numbers matter less and less, but the truth is that it’s impressive, as it’s a reduction in boot time for both consoles of over 50%.

It is important to note that in order to achieve these short boot times, Microsoft must perform a careful work at the software level, although it’s true that hardware also helps. The unified memory architecture of Microsoft’s next generation consoles coupled with the presence of a SSD capable of operating at 2.4 GB/s are key in this regard. Without an SSD, this short boot time would not be possible.

When taking inventory and comparing this generation of consoles to the previous one, there is no doubt that one of the most important improvements it left us with was the reduction of boot and load times, both for the operating system and the interface we know as cold boot, as from loading games . Previous generation consoles can leave us waiting several minutes for a specific part of the game to load, while current generation consoles usually don’t take more than a few seconds. As those of you who read us daily know, that’s the magic of SSDs.

In another vein, Microsoft announced last week that insider channel members can now connect your Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X consoles to Discord and use said chat service directly from their consoles. Another interesting update that will arrive in the coming weeks for users of these consoles.