Xbox One system software

Xbox One system software

Xbox One home screen with Killer Instinct running.
Developer	Microsoft
OS family	Windows, Hyper-V, Windows 10-based, Xbox OS[1]
Working state	Current
Source model	Closed source
Initial release	6.2.9781.0 (xb_rel_flash1307.130829-1800)[2] / November 22, 2013
Latest release	10.0.10586.1202 (th2_xbox_rel_1603.160420-1900) / April 27, 2016[2]
Latest preview	10.0.10586.1202 (th2_xbox_rel_1603.160420-1900) / April 22, 2016[3]
Available in	Languages Dansk, Deutsch (Deutschland), Deutsch (Österreich), Deutsch (Schweiz), English (Australia), English (Canada), English (Czech Republic), English (Greece), English (Hong Kong), English (Hungary), English (India), English (Ireland), English (Israel), English (New Zealand), English (Saudi Arabia), English (Singapore), English (Slovakia), English (South Africa), English (United Arab Emirates), English (United Kingdom), English (United States), Español (Argentina), Español (Chile), Español (Colombia), Español (España), Español (México), Français (Belgique), Français (Canada), Français (France), Français (Suisse), Français, Nederlands (België), Nederlands (Nederland), Norsk bokmål, Polski, Português (Brasil), Português (Portugal), Suomi, Svenska, Türkçe, Русский, 한국어, 中文 (新加坡), 中文 (简体), 中文 (繁體), 中文 (香港), 日本語 [4]
Update method	Direct Download USB Recovery[5]
Platforms	Xbox One
Preceded by	Xbox 360 (system software)
Official website	Xbox One firmware versions

The Xbox One system software, sometimes called the Xbox OS, is the operating system for the eighth-generation home video game console, Xbox One.^[6] It is a Windows-based operating system using the Hyper-V virtual machine monitor and contains separate operating systems for games and applications that can run on the console.^[1] It is located on the internal HDD for day-to-day usage, while also being duplicated on the internal NAND storage of the console for recovery purposes and factory reset functionality.

The Xbox One allows users to download applications that add to the functionality of the dashboard. From June 2014 onwards, entertainment apps no longer required the user to be signed into a valid Xbox Live Gold account in order to use the features advertised for the given app.^[7]

Since launch, Microsoft has been updating the OS monthly, with updates downloaded from the Xbox Live service directly to the Xbox One and subsequently installed, or by using offline recovery images downloaded via a PC.^[5] In November 2015, a major system update known as the New Xbox One Experience was released, which brought very significant changes to the design and functionality of the system.^[8] Notably, the Windows 10-based Core had replaced the Windows 8-based one in this update, and the new system is sometimes referred to as "Windows 10 on Xbox One" or "OneCore".^[9][10]

Technology

System

The Xbox One console runs on an operating system that includes the Windows 10 core, although initially it included the Windows 8 core at the Xbox One's release. The Xbox One system software contains a heavily modified Hyper-V hypervisor as its host OS and two partitions. One of the partitions, the "Exclusive" partition is a custom virtual machine (VM) for games; the other partition, the "Shared" partition is a custom VM for running multiple apps. The Shared Partition contained the Windows 8 Core at launch until November 2015, where via a system update known as the "New Xbox One Experience", it was upgraded to the Windows 10 Core. With Windows 10, Universal Windows Platform apps became available on Xbox One. According to the current head of Microsoft's Xbox division, Phil Spencer, "The importance of entertainment and games to the Windows ecosystem has become really prevalent to the company".^[11] The program that Microsoft launched allows developers to build a single app that can run on a wide variety of devices, including personal computers and Xbox One video game consoles.^[12] According to Polygon, Microsoft is obliterating the distinction between Xbox One and Windows PC.^[11]

Starting in February 2014, Microsoft invited select users to join a preview program that enables them to receive early builds of upcoming system updates and experiment with the features prior to the public launch of the software. Once registered for the Xbox One Preview Program, participants will be able to test the early features included in the update and provide feedback on a private forum and can opt out of future waves.^[13] Through its Xbox Feedback website, Microsoft has been soliciting input from consumers on its features and taking requests for future additions to the console. Low battery notifications and Blu-ray 3D support are two examples of ideas that have been among the top vote-getters on the site.^[14]

User interface

The Xbox One system software's interface uses a geometrical placement of squares and rectangular items that scrolls as a continuous horizontal line, using the Metro design language that is also seen in Windows 8, Windows 10, and other Microsoft products.^[15] The dashboard is divided into "Home", "Community", "OneGuide", and "Store" sections;^[16] the "Home" section contains a recent apps and games list, and shortcuts to "pinned" apps and games. The "Community" section allows users to view their friends' in-game activities and captures, post status updates,^[17] as well as view trending content.^[18][19] The "OneGuide" section aggregates television and online video content, while the "Store" section serves as a portal to the games, video, music, and app marketplaces.^[16] In general, the top level menu of the Xbox One feels a lot less cluttered than the Xbox 360's dashboard. For example, the friends tab has been removed and replaced with a dedicated app that users can load up to see what their connections are doing. There are a couple of columns for settings options and an area for "pinned" favorites, a "main" screen showing current and recent apps and games that the user played or used, and a small "What's New" section highlighting some recently added content. In total, the interface is very clean and sparse.^[20] Microsoft also introduced a new way to multitask called Snap, which allows Xbox One users to open multiple panes in a single window.

When Microsoft upgraded the Windows 8-based Core to a Windows 10-based one, they made a tour of the new user interface up on Xbox Wire, promising faster, easier navigation, improved community features and, notably, the return of Xbox Avatars. The main feature on the home screen is a list of most recently played games. Selecting any given title will give users more information about announcements, achievements, social activity and so forth. It is also more focused on the actual games they are playing, which is part and parcel of the company’s new direction under Phil Spencer, the current head of Microsoft's Xbox division.^[21]

Multimedia features

While like other video game consoles the Xbox One is primarily designed for playing games, it is more than a game console. It is an entertainment hub for games, television, music, and videos. Mainly the console focuses on functionality and entertainment as a whole. At Gamescom 2014 Microsoft unveiled a new plan to remedy this and make earnest on the Xbox One’s label as the "all-in-one entertainment" solution by way of expanding its media support. The Xbox One's media player is quite similar to the Xbox 360's playback suite in terms of form and function, however the newer console now supports more than 30 formats including the MKV container and GIF files. The Xbox One console also does some unique things. For example, its owners can control their television broadcasts using the device, as well as use it as a functioning DVR.^[22] Apart from streaming music and videos via Play (Charms > Devices > Play), there is also a networked approach. There are two primary ways to do this. The first is to stream media from a computer or tablet, and the second is to play it directly off of a USB flash drive. The advantage of this method over the Play system is that users can do it all from wherever they sit via the Xbox One, instead of sending the video from a PC to their console.^[23] Aside from multimedia files, Xbox One plays CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray Discs, and it also comes with DLNA and MKV support, which means that downloaded video files can be streamed via the PC or transported via external hard drive and USBs. Meanwhile, the interactive TV Guide allows users to turn on and control television with their voice. Furthermore, the system comes with a comprehensive range of applications related to multimedia features. In the United States, video channels include for example the Amazon Instant Video, Crackle, Hulu Plus and Netflix. Microsoft had announced that the Xbox One was awarded for its multimedia capabilities at the 66th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards in early 2015, and the prize was given for the Xbox One's television-on-demand functions.^[24]

Backward compatibility

The Xbox One was not backwards compatible with either the original Xbox or the Xbox 360 console at launch,^[25] and Microsoft had admitted that attempts to use cloud streaming to allow Xbox 360 games to be played on Xbox One proved to be "problematic".^[26] However, during its E3 press conference on June 15, 2015, Microsoft announced plans to introduce Xbox 360 backward compatibility using the software method on the Xbox One.^[27] Supported Xbox 360 games are supposed to run within a software emulator provided by the updated system software, implementing both the hardware and software of the Xbox 360. Xbox One recording and broadcasting features are supported along with Xbox 360 multiplayer, achievements and cloud save access.^[28]

Unlike Xbox 360's emulation of the original Xbox, games do not have to be specifically patched but need to be repackaged in the Xbox One format.^[29][30][31] Users' digitally-purchased games will automatically appear in their library for download once available.^[27] Games on physical media will not be executed directly from disc; inserting the disc will initiate a download of a repackaged version. As with Xbox One titles,^[32] the disc must be inserted during play for validation purposes.^[27][29]

At least 100 Xbox 360 games are officially supported and available for the feature's public launch alongside the November 2015 "New Xbox One Experience" system update,^[33] and Xbox One preview program members received early access with a limited number of titles upon the announcement.^[34][35] Microsoft expects the number of supported games to increase significantly over time, but not all Xbox 360 games will be supported—this explicitly includes any games that require Kinect or access to USB peripherals.^[36]

Xbox division head Phil Spencer has stated that the idea of possibly adding support for games from the original Xbox was not "silly", but that the Xbox division is focusing on Xbox 360 compatibility first.^[37]

Development

At the 2016 Build conference, it was announced that all Xbox One consoles could be updated to include a development kit for universal Windows applications on Xbox One,^[38] with official support for the platform and Cortana coming in summer 2016.^[39]

History of updates

Along with introducing improvements and fixes for native console apps and software, the monthly updates to the Xbox One system software introduce major features that are voted on or requested by the community,^[40] though some months have included more than one update. Starting in February 2014, beta releases of updates are tested^[41] before going live to check for unwanted bugs and stability.^[42]

On the day of the console's launch in 2013, a system update was released to remove the controversial always-online DRM announced at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2013. This DRM would have required the Xbox One to connect to the Internet at least once every twenty-four hours, or else games would cease to function. After a wave of backlash from gamers and press alike, Microsoft was forced to reverse its policies regarding this, but early users had to go online at least once to receive this patch.^[43][44]

The February 2014 update introduced the ability to see how much hard disk space is available. It also introduced support for USB keyboards, enabling users to plug a keyboard into their console, thus eliminating the need to use the on-screen keyboard.^[45] Over a year later, in July 2015, Phil Spencer, head of the Xbox team, vowed that mouse support would be added sometime in the future as part of cross-platform gameplay between Windows 10 devices and the Xbox One console.^[46]

The March 2014 update added support for video output at 50 frames per second rather than 60, allowing smoother video on 50 Hz displays common in Europe. In the United States, refresh rates on screens are higher (60 Hz) than in Europe.^[47]

In June 2014, support was added for external hard drives of 256 gigabytes or more, allowing two to be connected to the console at a time via USB 3.0.^[48]

As part of the July 2014 update, consoles could better understand voice commands spoken in different accents and dialects of English and German.^[49] A month later, purchases from the official Xbox website and the SmartGlass app were enabled, allowing for easier content purchasing.^[50]

In the October 2014 update, a media player app was added with support for many formats and codecs, including the Matroska container, as well as DLNA streaming from other networked devices.^[51]

In March 2015, a new screenshot feature was added to the console along with tile transparency, allowing owners to share game screenshots online or use one as a menu background.^[52]

In April 2015, due to criticisms of the power consumption needed for the Instant-On feature, a system update prompted users to select between Instant-On and an energy saving mode. Instant-On had been enabled by default in the U.S., drawing criticism from the Natural Resources Defense Council.^[53]

During the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2015 in June, Microsoft discussed three major features that later came to Xbox One consoles in November 2015: Windows 10 streaming, Xbox 360 backwards compatibility, and an interface redesign known as the New Xbox One Experience.^[54] In advance of the public release of Windows 10, a July 2015 update let users stream games from their Xbox One to any device running Windows 10, a feature announced in January 2015.^[55] The service streams only to one device at a time.^[56]

In the February 2016 update, a slew of new features became available. For example, global leaderboards for each game and the ability to hide unused or expired beta games, and demos from a users game collection. More notably, the February 2016 update allowed users to rearrange their customized 'pins' via the controller, whereas previously users had to use the Xbox One SmartGlass application to use this feature.^[57]

The March 2016 update builds on the features that were introduced in the February 2016 update. New features that were included in the March 2016 update was the ability to purchase Xbox 360 compatible games on the Xbox One, party chat while broadcasting Twitch streams, customizable DVR recording lengths, which means that owners can now record a clip for up to 5 minutes long. Other improvements included the ability to track achievement progress from the Xbox One guide, video playback from the Xbox One activity feed, the ability to have 16 people in a party chat, the ability to track Xbox 360 achievements on the Xbox One activity feed. Further improvements in the March 2016 update include the ability to launch web links and YouTube videos directly from the Game Hubs and the ability for a user to compare their avatars to their friends.^[58] Additionally, the update also introduces the ability to factory reset the console without deleting installed games and applications.^[59]

Version history

Microsoft aims to add monthly updates to the Xbox One console. To add features, and improve install/loading times for games, and apps.^[60] The largest of which was in November 2015, named the New Xbox Experience update.^[61][62]

  Obsolete/Discontinued

  Current

  Beta

Table of 2016 Xbox One OS Updates
Version	Release date	Availability	Required?	Description/Features
10.0.10586.1026 (xbox_rel_1510.151217-1035)	January 7, 2016	Public	Yes	Improvements[63][64] Small fixes, and improvements

Table of 2015 Xbox One OS Updates
Version	Release date	Availability	Required?	Description/Features
10.0.10586.1024 (th2_xbox_rel_1510.151203-1909)	December 9, 2015	Public	Yes	Improvements[65][66] Bugs with Edge browser fixed Other minor fixes for bugs and performance
10.0.10586.1006 (xb_rel_1508.150825-1633)	November 12, 2015	Public	Yes	New Xbox One Experience Update[61][67][68] New Features[68] Windows 10 integration New apps can be used on both Xbox One and Windows 10 New dashboard User interface layout Shortcuts added to navigate in the new UI Backwards compatibility for a select 104 Xbox 360 retail and [Xbox Live Arcade]] games; with more being games being added in the future. Digital and disk based games can be used for Backwards compatibility. Xbox 360 IU, added for added for backwards compatible games. Support added for backwards compatible games to use the Game DRV, screenshots, and Windows 10 streaming. Double taping the left thumb stick, opens a guide on the left side of the screen with access to friends, notification and settings on the left side of the screen. Pressing the home button to view notifications will not take the player out of games, instead opening the left snapped guide: New fully customize avatars New picture-in-picture for OneGuide App channels added to OneGuide New guide UI for home button, and Community tabs Support for the Windows 10 IPA Cortana added for future patches Game Hubs which allow people to follow games, and compare your stats with friends Newly developed apps for Windows 10 can be made to work cross platform. Improvements[69] Improved navigation speed through menus, apps and settings. Improved access to social content Improved access to trending Xbox topics, videos, and TV on the Community tab, and OneGuide tab. Improved multitasking speed Improved to create and join party's. Improved ability to compare friends and their gaming stats Improved Xbox Store layout; separated into four categories, and is listed vertically for easier navigation. Improved loading time for TV listing on OneGuide Other[70] My game and apps moved to bottom of home screen along with pinned items Ability to use Kinect gestures removed form the dashboard. Due to compatibility issues with the new Xbox UI.
6.2.13329.0 (xb_rel_1508.150825-1633)	September 9, 2015	Public	Yes	In game improvements Fixes a issue with in-game audio.[71]
6.2.13326.0 (xb_rel_1508.150810-2029)	August 13, 2015	Public	Yes	New Features Changes to support the upcoming New User Experience.[72]
6.2.13194.0 (xb_rel_1507.150702-2154)	July 7, 2015	Public	Yes	New Features Game streaming to a Windows 10 device[73]
6.2.12998.0 (xb_rel_1506.150601-2200)	June 5, 2015	Public	Yes	Multiplayer improvements Fix to address multiplayer issues across a few titles Party improvements Made some small updates to the Party app to help team better understand issues reported by the community Performance improvements Fixed an issue where certain type of disc-based bundled games would not properly install 10-bit HD High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) platform support added[74]
6.2.12825.0 (xb_rel_1505.150507-2219)	May 11, 2015	Public	Yes	Messaging improvements Added voice messaging options Voice messages can be recorded while Messages app is snapped Voice messages can be exchanged/heard on both Xbox One and Xbox 360 SmartGlass improvements Added ability to power on or off console from SmartGlass when SmartGlass-equipped device and console are on same network Party improvements Launch of dedicated servers for party chat functions to allow users with varying NAT settings to use service Setup improvements Add new power setting during initial set-up, allowing users to choose between "instant-on" and "power-saving" modes[75]
6.2.12710.0 (xb_rel_1504.150329-2200)	April 6, 2015	Public	Yes	Party improvements Party app provides additional information for troubleshooting communication problems Game hub improvements Activity feed posts can link to game's hub Activity feed post generated when user follows game hub Achievement app includes link on game page to its respective hub Achievements improvements Achievement pop-up now includes description of the activity that unlocked it Achievement pop-up remains displayed longer Improvements to launching achievements app from a pop-up Dashboard improvements What's On page added for users in United States, Canada and United Kingdom; includes links to popular content, including trending TV content (if OneGuide is enabled)[76][77]
6.2.12521.0 (xb_rel_1503.150305-1449)[78]	March 9, 2015	Public	Yes	New Features Screenshots: While playing a game, screenshots can be taken on the Xbox One console. Screenshots can be shared to various places, such as the Activity Feed, via an Xbox Live Message, the Profile Showcase, Twitter, or OneDrive. Suggested friends: With the suggested friends feature, the Friends area in home and your friends list will help users find and add friends Tile transparency: Based on public feedback, a setting has been added to vary the level of transparency of tiles on Home, so users can see more or less of their background image Other Improvements Sharing your name: Two new ways to share users real name; with all of their friends or to everyone in the Xbox Live community. Users can also continue to share their real name with select friends, or with no one OneGuide for Australia: Support for OneGuide continues in preview in Australia for free-to-air TV listings. Xbox One Digital TV Tuner in Australia: Xbox One owners in Australia with an Xbox Digital TV Tuner can now use it with the preview builds of this month’s release.[79]
6.2.12130.0 (xb_rel_1502.150209-1738)	February 13, 2015	Public	Yes	Stability and performance update Fixes issues with video playback with some media applications
6.2.12128.0 (xb_rel_1502.150202-2200)	February 5, 2015	Public	Yes	Controller improvements New firmware update for Xbox One Wireless Controllers increases speed of connection to console and addresses disconnection issues User interface improvements Launch of "game hubs", where users can access content specifically connected to that game, such as friends' activities, leaderboards and video clips When a background image is set, tiles become transparent to improve visibility of background wallpapers Party improvements Added new icon showing status of party members' connections Improvements to chat abilities for users with Strict or Moderate NAT conditions Improvements to party invites Improvements to connection times for chats Live TV improvements Live TV Trending tags listings in OneGuide with icons denoting if the program is trending on Xbox Live and/or Twitter Added new markets for existing Live TV features OneGuide now available in The Netherlands TV Trending tab added to Brazil, France, Germany and Mexico Improvements to system databases enabling control of more set-top boxes Added "trick play" feature to Xbox Digital TV Tuner, allowing users to see still frames while advancing or rewinding a paused broadcast Added streaming to Android and Windows Phone devices from Xbox Digital TV Tuner[80][81]

Table of 2014 Xbox One OS Updates
Version	Release date	Availability	Required?	Description/Features
6.2.11797.0 (xb_rel_1411.141124-1759)	December 1, 2014	Public	Yes	Wi-fi improvements Changes to wireless standards for European consoles Party improvements Improved two-player chat Improved audio quality[82]
6.2.11785.0 (xb_rel_1411.141104-1838)[2]	November 7, 2014	Public	Yes	Dashboard improvements Added customizable backgrounds; each profile can have its own background image Added ability to choose a custom color for panels on dashboard and to use artwork from unlocked achievements as background images; customizations travel with account to any console the user logs into Image files on an external USB device or DLNA-compliant media server can also be selected as background images Profile improvements Added bio and location entries to profiles Added ability to choose a selection of items that are visible when other users browse the profile; items can be chosen using console or SmartGlass Added ability to browse profiles using SmartGlass Twitter improvements Users can share clips using Tweets Live TV improvements Trending content Added "Trending" tab in OneGuide showing popular content available to them in their market (United States, Canada and United Kingdom only) and with their services List is updated every 60 seconds Twitter connectivity US-based users' Trending lists will include content based on number of Tweets Content trending from Tweets will take priority over content trending from Live users Users in the U.S. will see the actual tweets for the Live TV shows in real time and quickly find the Twitter #hashtag to join the conversation MiniGuide improvements Added Recents and Favorites section to show frequently-used content Kinect users can launch MiniGuide by saying "Xbox Select, MiniGuide" Internet Explorer improvements Internet Explorer can be snapped using the address bar Internet Explorer will show number of sites added to featured content list since last use New sites in featured content list will be tagged until viewed or seven days have passed since update Xbox One Store improvements General updates to improve ease of browsing and locating content Relocated navigation tools for faster access DLC, searches and recommended content are easier to locate Standardization improvements to make searches more relevant System improvements Added "Restart Now" in Settings -> Power & startup "Restart Now" power-cycles the console and clears out cached content as part of troubleshooting Smartglass improvements Added list of recent activity of users on friends list Added Gold VIP area allowing Gold-level members to access Games with Gold and Deals with Gold featured content, including ability to purchase and launch downloads of featured content Added Apps section to improve searches for console apps Added "Coming Soon" filter to search for content scheduled for future release[83][84][85]
6.2.11653.0 (xb_rel_1410.141009-1809)[2]	October 15, 2014	Public	Yes	Snap improvements Added access to Friends list, Message threads, Game DVR, system clock and battery life New snap menu improving ability to open/close snapped apps and changing focus between content and snapped app New snappable Friends and Messages apps Achievements improvements Ability to add captions to shared achievements Ability to see friends who have unlocked a given achievement Improvements to snapped Achievements app Friends improvements Improvements to how users see their friends' activities, achievements earned and games played SmartGlass improvements Added list of recently played games Added list of friends' top games Expansion of SmartGlass remote features to regions now receiving OneGuide Media Player improvements Added MKV and DLNA support Live TV improvements Added mini-guide that displays current TV content Mini-guide allows users to get information on content on other channels without changing from the current channel OneGuide improvements Added new markets: Belgium, Chile, Columbia, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia Internet TV improvements Addition of listing data for apps with live TV feeds Zattoo app (Germany, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland) will be updated to use this feature Setup improvements Improved ability to identify set-top box connected to HDMI In port Added ability to have console start in Live TV mode on startup (current users will receive on-screen notification of new feature) Settings improvements Added Devices & Accessories option, which allows controllers and other peripherals to be assigned to users and receive firmware updates Added ability to physically locate assigned controllers by having target controller vibrate Security improvements Users will be prompted to provide alternate contact information for reset purposes, if information has not been set previously[86][87]
6.2.11511.0 (xb_rel_1409.140829-1829)[2]	September 2, 2014	Public	Yes	Live TV Improved stability
6.2.11507.0 (xb_rel_1409.140826-2037)[2]	August 28, 2014	Public	Yes	Party improvements Interface improvements Improvements to information on party members, such as what players are in the same game Improvements to party functionality, including sending invites to players, joining parties and muting audio Media Player New app; plays music, displays pictures and other content from an attached USB drive Increased number of media formats over Xbox 360 Startup improvements Added ability to go directly to Live TV when console is restarted from low-power state SmartGlass improvements Added ability to post content to user's Activity Feed and respond to posts from other users (including "liking" and commenting on content) Added ability to post stored clips from GameDVR Added threaded conversations Added ability to start recording of game content from SmartGlass Added information on new features included in SmartGlass updates Kinect improvements Added "Xbox On" vocal command feature to consoles in Australia, Canada (French), Italy, Spain and Mexico GameDVR improvements Added ability to delete multiple unwanted clips using Upload app Avatar improvements Gamerpics using player's avatar can be saved to OneDrive Settings improvements Added "Devices & accessories" menu, providing information on user's controllers and other devices New "Instant Sign-in" feature available Troubleshooting improvements Added bandwidth metering to allow users to see how much data console is using General improvements Unspecified updates as console launches in new markets[88][89]
6.2.11393.0 (xb_rel_1408.140808-1753)[2]	August 17, 2014	Public	Yes	Activity feed improvements Feed redesign into single column, personalized to the user Addition of social media functions, including comments and "likes" from users, as well as notifications when such comments are made Ability to post video clips, either to all users or to select users SmartGlass users can see friends' posts Content purchase improvements Content can be purchased remotely using Xbox.com website or SmartGlass If console is set to receive updates in standby mode, console will start download of remote-purchased content Controller improvements Notification on-screen indicating controller battery charge is low Notifications improvements Ability to choose which types of notifications, if any, will appear while watching video content Blu-ray drive improvements 3D Blu-ray Disc support enabled Friends list improvements Indication of when friends were last online and what content was being used at that time OneGuide improvements Ability to report problems with OneGuide channel listings[90]
6.2.11274.0 (xb_rel_1407.140703-1704)[2]	July 7, 2014	Public	Yes	Achievements app improvements Achievements app can be snapped into a game, showing all available achievements and progress towards completion. Help option launches Bing search of online tips for completing achievements Snap feature improvements Pressing controller's Xbox button twice rapidly opens Snap Center, allowing access to any Snap-enabled application while in another app When an app is currently snapped, pressing Xbox button twice rapidly switches between primary and snapped apps Language improvements Spoken language chosen for Kinect voice control now independent of region selection for console Content delivery improvements Publishers can create content bundles and compilations for sale in Xbox Store Game DVR improvements Using SmartGlass, activity feed items and game clips can be "liked" Blu-ray drive improvements The disc drive can now read user-recordable BD-R/BD-RE discs[91]
6.2.11064.0 (xb_rel_1406.140601-2110)[2]	June 3, 2014	Public	Yes	Additional storage options External hard drives now supported. Up to two drives can be connected at one time. Drives must be USB 3.0-compatible or better and 256GB or larger in size Games, apps and other content can be installed to external drives and can be moved between consoles. Storage locations can be managed through console interface Friends options Users can make their real name known to other users, enabling others to locate them faster. Users control what other users can see their real names; users can maintain their anonymity or names can be visible to all users on the friends list, the friends of those users on the friends list, or to selected friends Xbox Live Gold features A new area accessible only to Xbox Live Gold members provides information on various Gold-level features, such as Games with Gold (games offered free of charge) and Deals with Gold (special pricing on content), as well as members-only announcements Sign-in options Users can identify a single account that will automatically log-on at system start-up Online store features New search features to enable faster searching for content TV and OneGuide features Expanded command & control database, permitting access to more devices to be controlled by the console Improved power management settings Premium TV options added for: Canada United Kingdom France Germany Spain Italy[92][93]
6.2.10951.0 (xb_rel_1405.140514-2300)[2]	May 16, 2014	Public	Yes	New sound options Sound Mixer controls volume of apps when the Snap feature is in use, allowing users to choose which audio feed gets priority Chat Mixer controls volume during Kinect Chat usage Speech recognition options Users may opt-in to allow Microsoft to collect voice data to improve Kinect's speech recognition abilities System update options Users have the option to apply system updates as soon as they become available[94]
6.2.10812.0 (xb_rel_1404.140411-1830)[2]	April 14, 2014	Public	Yes	System update improvements Added ability for console to complete system updates, including needed reboots, while in "instant-on" mode Added indicators to show what games/apps have recently received updates Added ability for users to get updates themselves instead of waiting for them to be pushed to the console Added game-save progress bar Friends improvements Added notifications for when users on friends list sign onto Xbox Live Added notification on friends list for when users are in multiplayer games Blu-ray 50 Hz video output support for content recorded at 50 Hz Resolved problem with users in Europe who were experiencing problems with video playback Kinect voice and motion improvements Continued improvements to voice and gesture recognition Improved GameDVR video quality Improvements to video compression routines Updates to Xbox One device management Improvements to control of outside devices thanks to user feedback[95]
6.2.10698.0 (xb_rel_1403.140301-2200)[2]	March 4, 2014	Public	Yes	Multiplayer improvements Party members can chat with each other even if in different games Chat is turned on by default Improved processes for inviting players to join parties and for players joining parties Added ability to see current party members' current activities Friends list improvements General improvements to functionality and speed Added list of players recently met in multiplayer games Added indicators for when friends are broadcasting content; added content thumbnails to activity feed Added "type-ahead" function to locate profiles faster Added context-sensitive menu options Added more options during profile views, such as sending invitations and joining parties Added 54 new gamerpics Twitch TV options Added ability to broadcast gameplay through Twitch.TV Added support for voice-overs to open and close broadcasts Social improvements Added list of friends currently online and broadcasting content General improvements Changes to notification center, including ability to silence the feature Game clips can be snapped Added password protection to console settings Internet browser improvements Mapping sites (Google Maps, Bing Maps) can be controlled using Kinect gestures or controller input Added search function to highlighted text Added Internet Explorer link to show additional results when using console's Bing search function Peripheral improvements New Xbox One controller firmware adding support for Xbox One Stereo Headset adapter Improved support for both Microsoft and third-party headsets Updated drivers for Xbox One Media Remote SmartGlass improvements Added notifications for Xbox Live messages Added ability to observe current activity of friends Improved access to game clips and game progress Snapped apps can be closed through SmartGlass Live TV improvements Added improved settings for users to display live TV content at 50 Hz Added option to change increments in volume changes using Kinect voice commands Added IR blasting for power on/off & volume to all regions Improved options for AVR setup Audio improvements Added support for 5.1 Dolby Digital when using SPDIF (optical out) Added support for stereo uncompressed, 5.1 uncompressed, 7.1 uncompressed or 5.1 Dolby Digital live or 5.1 DTS through HDMI[96][97]
6.2.10542.0 (xb_rel_1402.140213-0115)[2]	February 14, 2014	Public	Yes	Added features Improved My Game & Apps menu; users can now use sort options for games, apps and queued install menus Added ability to delete content save data Improvements to management of content installations Added battery power indicator for connected controllers Improvements to interfaces for accessing friends, achievements and messaging/chat features Added Game DVR app to Xbox OneGuide as a channel Improved progress indicators for system updates Improvements to update/content installation process Added separate lists for games, applications and queued installs Added support for USB keyboards Stability and performance improvements Improvements to overall performance/stability, NAT detection, Network troubleshooting and Blu-ray player[98]

Table of 2013 Xbox One OS Updates
Version	Release date	Availability	Required?	Description/Features
6.2.10217.0 (xb_rel_launch.131205-2200)	December 10, 2013	Public	Yes	Stability and performance improvements Improvements to SmartGlass connected standby feature Improvements for users rejoining games Improvements to notifications Improvements to dashboard stability Improvements to console's update services Improvements to wireless networking drivers[99]
6.2.10210.0 (xb_rel_launch.131118-1159)	November 22, 2013	Public	Yes	Launch Day update Day-one update installs the console's main operating system
6.2.9781.0 (xb_rel_flash1307.130829-1800)	November 22, 2013	Manufacturer	N/A	Factory-default installation

See also

• List of Xbox One games
• List of Xbox 360 games compatible with Xbox One
• List of Xbox Live games on Windows 10

Other gaming platforms from Microsoft:

• Xbox 360 system software
• Windows 10 Gaming
• DirectX 12

Other gaming platforms from this generation:

• PlayStation 4 system software
• Wii U system software
• Nintendo 3DS system software
• PlayStation Vita system software

Other gaming platforms from the seventh generation:

• PlayStation 3 system software
• Wii system software
• Nintendo DSi system software
• PlayStation Portable system software

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External links

• Xbox One system software changelog
• New Xbox One Experience