Via its Insider Program that’s used for beta testing new options, Microsoft has began testing a brand new Recreation Hubs function on Xbox. Out there to Xbox Insiders, the Recreation Hub will enable gamers to launch their video games by hitting the A button on their controller twice.
The function was noticed by Tom Warren, who additionally posted an indication of the brand new function on YouTube. Via the brand new Recreation Hub, gamers will see a brand new display after they go to launch a sport via the house display. This new display will current gamers with a bunch of particulars concerning the sport, together with a listing of associates who play the identical title, in addition to particulars on play time and Xbox Achievement progress.
Whereas the brand new interface does present extra particulars about any given sport, as Warren factors out, this will increase the variety of occasions gamers must hit A to get right into a sport. Slightly than with the ability to launch the sport immediately from the house display, gamers must undergo one other display earlier than they’re within the sport.
As showcased via the video, this new Recreation Hub display additionally presents a listing of accessible addons (which incorporates expansions in addition to smaller DLCs and microtransactions) that gamers can buy proper subsequent to the enormous play button. This may indicate that the Recreation Hub was developed to current a better means for publishers and builders to current new DLC to gamers.
Warren additionally notes that the Recreation Hub doesn’t pop up whenever you launch a sport out of your recently-played record within the side-bar. This might both indicate that the Recreation Hub will solely be accessible via the house display and the library display, or that the function remains to be beneath improvement, and thru future updates, may additionally present up from the recently-played record.
The Recreation Hub function additionally appears to be early in testing, since it’s only out there to some Xbox Insider Skip-Forward testers. A wider rollout is probably going deliberate for a later date.
Whereas work on the Xbox Sequence X/S software program is occurring as one would possibly count on, studies have indicated that Microsoft is engaged on a handheld Xbox gaming system behind the scenes. Earlier this month, Microsoft is slated to launch an Xbox-branded handheld gaming PC that may compete with units just like the Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally.
Whereas no actual particulars have been revealed to this point, rumours level to the brand new system that includes Xbox-styled design sensibilities, together with an Xbox information button. Very like different Microsoft {hardware}, the hand-held system can also be anticipated to run on a modified model of Home windows.
Microsoft itself has confirmed that it’s engaged on a handheld gaming system, with Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer mentioning that prototypes are at present within the works. Nonetheless, the system remains to be a while away, in response to Spencer.
For our ideas on Microsoft’s future as a gaming {hardware} maker, right here’s why we imagine the corporate may turn into a darkish horse available in the market because of its future plans for console and moveable gaming {hardware}.
Microsoft has began testing a brand new Xbox Recreation Hubs function with Xbox Insiders. It means you may need to press the Xbox A button twice to launch video games quickly. Here is a fast overview of the way it works
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— Tom Warren (@tomwarren.co.uk) 2025-03-25T10:20:14.559Z
