Microsoft is testing a new Xbox UI update in order to simplify the experience it provides. The company heard the complaints of the part of the community that tested the development versions, so they implemented some changes that made the interface easier to use, as some complained that there were too many icons and they were also very large, making it feel crowded.

The company explains that they started with hundreds of draft changes before reaching a seemingly more balanced end result. The developed prototypes were tested by a selected group of users who contributed their perspective. The result was a balance of experience, accessibility, functionality and the needs of the community itself.

New Xbox Dashboard features a new guide menu that is always at the top center of the screen and provides quick access to the game library, Microsoft Store, Game Pass, the search function and the settings menu. When the user hovers over the shortcut at the bottom of the interface, they will see the wallpaper dynamically change to reflect the currently selected game.

Another new addition is that the Xbox launch menu can now indicate when there is something in a section that requires the user’s attention. This means that if there are updates to the game or one of the titles on the wishlist has been released, the user will see a tile pointer to their game library or the Microsoft Store. This feature is still under development, so its behavior may change when it officially starts rolling out to users.

As we already hinted, the new Xbox UI has not been officially released yet, so To get it, you need to join the Xbox Insiders program and sign up for the Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha test rings.. The user must download the app by searching for “Xbox Insider Hub” from Xbox One, Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X and then follow the instructions in the app.

We will see if the changes that Microsoft wants to implement in the Xbox panel will give a breath of fresh air to the consoles, which clearly surpass their direct rival in the sector, Sony’s PlayStation, in terms of sales. The Japanese giant clearly dominated the last generation and it looks like it will repeat the result in the desktop consoles at general levels. On the other hand, there is the Nintendo Switch, which is often despised, but has nothing to envy its rivals on a gaming level.