Users will finally be able to customize their background, which has been the number one requested feature for quite a while. You can choose between custom colors or achievement art that you have unlocked, with the promise of more options to come. Gamer profiles are also getting a personal touch with the ability to share your location and bio, along with a curated selection of “showcase items,” which includes things like game clips and achievements that you want to show off. If you’re not content to share your game mastery with just people who check out your profile, you can now seamlessly tweet game clips to your followers from the console.
Twitter has also been worked into the live TV experience, with trending shows listed when you switch over to TV. Programs currently trending on Xbox are also shared. Once you are watching something, MiniGuide helps you keep up with the live Twitter discourse and get involved with the relevant hashtags. MiniGuide will also include an adapting list of your favorite and recent channels. To more easily get to these new features, you can now activate the MiniGuide with the voice command “Xbox Select – MiniGuide” while watching TV.
User interface updates to the store should make it easier to navigate and find the content you want on both the console and SmartGlass companion app. SmartGlass will now track your friends’ recent game activity and share the latest free Games With Gold offerings and discounts being offered, so you can snatch them up while away from the console.
Check out a full preview of the upcoming update over at Major Nelson’s blog. Members of the Xbox One preview program are already live with the update, with the final version set to surface in November.
