Xbox Series X’s best feature is now even better
The May Xbox update includes a number of new features
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A new Xbox update is rolling out forXbox Series XandXbox Series Sthat includes a slew of new quality of life features, and significantly improves what many consider to be the best feature ofMicrosoft’s new consoles:Quick Resume.
Quick Resume lets you seamlessly switch between multiple games and resume gameplay from where you left off almost instantly. But after installing the May Xbox update, Quick Resume will now be more reliable, load even faster, and users will be able to tell which games are currently suspended at a glance.
Previously, you’d be left guessing which games had closed after reaching a set limit of games (which tends to range between five to eight titles suspended at once), but now you can specifically select which games you no longer want to remain in Quick Resume, and see which ones are waiting for you to jump back into.
You’ll also be able to quickly tell which games support Quick Resume easily by bringing up the Guide menu. A ‘Quick Resume’ tag will now be visible, similar to how games that supportAuto HDRorFPS Boostnow have a handy indicator.
The new Xbox Series X update now adds support for passthrough audio for media apps. That means if you’re using a streaming app likeDisney PlusorNetflix, you can make them sound even better. As outlined in the May Xbox updateblog poston Xbox Wire, “Passthrough lets audio decoding from media apps on your compatible HDMI devices bypass the console for the highest quality listening experience with your external sound system.”
Tired of using the same dynamic background? The May Xbox update includes a new dynamic background called ‘Motes’, which matches your profile color (though really we wishMicrosoft would add more colors already).
Another dynamic background has also been added called ‘The Original’, which brings back the classic green orb that adorned theoriginal Xboxdashboard. You can see how it looks below, and contrary to the tweet, it’s available for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S owners right now.
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Xbox insiders can now access the original Xbox dashboard animation as a dynamic background called “The Original” pic.twitter.com/Nvh6D8iw2XMay 11, 2021
The new update also lets you watch trailers ofXbox Game Passgames more easily, with certain titles being spotlighted to users with trailers that play automatically when you hover over them.
Parents will be pleased to hear about the new “Ask a parent” feature, which is part of the newXbox Family Settingsapp. Parents can now approve multiplayer games by specific title, directly from your console or the app. If your child asks to play a specific game in multiplayer, you can approve or deny their request, which is great if you’d prefer your child not to jump into any online spaces.
Finally, theXbox appfor Android and iOS is getting more features, like letting you view your game stats like ‘time played’ and push notifications to alert you when your friends are online.
Quick as you like
It’s a bumper update for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S owners to enjoy, then, but it’s the improvements to Quick Resume that will really be welcomed by the Xbox community. The feature can have a transformative effect on the way you enjoy games, as the ability to have multiple games suspended and ready to play from where you left off is, quite literally, a game changer for those whose time is already at premium.
Adam was formerly TRG’s Hardware Editor. A law graduate with an exceptional track record in content creation and online engagement, Adam has penned scintillating copy for various technology sites and also established his very own award-nominated video games website. He’s previously worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor and once played Halo 5: Guardians for over 51 hours for charity. He is now an editor at The Shortcut.
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