A bunch of new improvements are coming to Xbox… only for Xbox Insider Program users

Selected users of the Xbox Insider Program have the opportunity to try Game Hubs, a new feature that Xbox is evaluating before its wider release. This new system is activated by selecting a game, generating a hub that includes relevant statistics, such as friends who are playing, recent captures, upcoming events, and available downloadable content. In this way, players will have to go through this hub before the game starts, which could slightly change the startup experience.

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The default design of Game Hubs allows users to launch the game directly from the hub, which adds an extra step compared to directly starting a game. However, players who wish to restore the original settings and avoid this additional step can do so by modifying the options in “My games and apps,” then in “Settings,” and subsequently in “Games and apps.”

Currently, Game Hubs is available only to those in the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring of the Xbox Insider Program, and it will become a mandatory option starting March 25, 2025. Although the functionality presents interesting elements, such as the ability to receive notifications about DLCs immediately, there are also concerns among players about whether this new feature may significantly slow down the process of starting games.

Developers are seeking user feedback during this testing phase. The community is being invited to share their opinions and experiences through open questions in the comments. This interaction could help shape the future implementation of Game Hubs. As it stands, it is a topic of discussion among players whether they are truly willing to use this functionality or if they prefer to maintain direct access to their games.

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