Microsoft is releasing a new Xbox system update that is focused on making the console’s Home screen more personal, flexible, and streamlined. The new features are already available for members of the Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead through the Xbox Insider program, and early users will be able to test these before a broader release.

The update answers longtime users’ call for a cleaner, more highly customizable Home interface, an area that Xbox enthusiasts have found cluttered and impersonal in recent years. Microsoft said,

“This update is part of our ongoing effort to make Home more personal, flexible, and responsive to your feedback.”

Recent Updates

The release adds three new settings aimed at enhancing usability and minimizing visual overload, they are:

Hide System Apps: System apps would previously be displayed in the “recently played” carousel along with games, which didn’t make for very efficient navigation. With this option turned on, system apps will no longer be visible on that list.

Pin Favorites to Home: This feature enables users to pin a maximum of three favorite games or apps to the recently played section. They will remain in priority even when users open new content, providing faster access to titles. Microsoft said,

“These pins will stay near the front of the list as you launch other things, giving you quick access to your go-to titles.”

Reduce Tile Count (coming soon): Microsoft is also in the process of crafting a setting that will enable users to reduce the number of tiles in the recently played list, continuing to make the Home screen layout simpler. Although not yet live, this feature is in the process of a refinement and is set to roll out in a future Insider build. Microsoft said,

“We’re still refining this setting, and it will be coming soon.”

Community Feedback

These Home updates are a direct reaction to gamer demands for more personalization. Microsoft highlighted that a lot of users felt frustrated over having an overcrowded interface and unnecessary app tiles. With such updates, the company hopes to deliver a more curated experience without giving up on functionality. Those who want to test the features ahead of time can join the free Xbox Insider Program, which provides access to pre-release builds and feedback opportunities.

Price Increases

The enhancements are part of wider shifts in Microsoft’s Xbox platform. The company recently posted price hikes for Xbox consoles and announced that new games will be charged $80 from later this year. In the meantime, excitement is growing for the June 8th Xbox Games Showcase, at which Microsoft will announce a slate of new games and updates, and a special Direct presentation for The Outer Worlds 2 directly after the main show.

Little, considerate changes, such as being able to hide unnecessary system apps or pin your favorite titles, do not simply update the Xbox experience, they personalize it. At a time where software expansion and algorithmic madness rules, Xbox’s recent update feels wonderfully human-focused, hoping the rest of the gaming world can take notes from it.\