Xbox One gets dashboard overhaul with Fluent Design

The next major Xbox system update adds Fluent Design, customization options, and faster experience.

Xbox system update 2017
Xbox system update 2017

Microsoft unveils a new update that overhauls the Xbox One dashboard with a brand-new look integrating Fluent Design and customization options. The new release is part of the Fall Creators Update for gaming, and it’s available for testers with consoles enrolled in the Alpha ring of the Xbox One Insider Program.

In this new version, Microsoft is focusing on making the experience even faster than before, and there is a completely revamped dashboard which has been designed based on feedback adding the ability to customize Home just the way you want. The update also expands to Guide and Community, and future releases will bring updates to Avatars, Game Hubs, Profiles, and more.

Here are more details about this first preview of the next major update for the Xbox One dashboard.

Fluent Design

Perhaps the biggest change you’ll notice is the new completely redesigned Xbox One dashboard that integrates elements of the Microsoft Fluent Design System, such as Reveal highlight, Acrylic material, and Perceptive Parallax.

Alongside the design improvements, Microsoft is making the experience faster by eliminating the wait between Home, Social, and My Games and Apps by combining them into one experience, which means no more splash screens.

Customization

On the Fall Creators Update for Xbox One, you can finally customize virtually any aspect of Home. If you want to add a game, app, or friend, you can simply select “Add to Home” from the Xbox (button) menu.

As you add new content, you’ll be creating a “block of content” that you can reorder or remove. These blocks will also show updates with relevant information. For instance, adding a new game, you may see Activity Feed content, friends that may be playing the game, suggest Achievements, and offer a shortcut to the Game Hub for that title.

Xbox One content block (2017)
Xbox One content block (2017)

Navigation

The update offers quick navigation between tabs in the guide, and new tab flyouts makes it a lot easier to see more content faster.

Switching between apps or jump to home is easier than before, and the new horizontal layout lets you quickly move between tabs using your controller.

Xbox One Guide (2017)
Xbox One Guide (2017)

Sign-in, Achievements, multiplayer (including parties, Looking for Group, and tournaments), People, Home and recent, messages, broadcasts and captures, and a new action center (including settings) each have their own tab in the new Guide.

Community

As part of the community changes, the Activity Feed layout has overhauled to offer more content at-a-glance. Feed items can now show information in full-screen view, and comments can expand making them easier to read.

Clubs, Game Hubs, and Profiles have been updated to make them more dynamic and engaging than ever before.

Although these changes are mainly focus on Xbox One, the gaming update also expands to Windows 10. Starting with the Fall Creators Update, you’ll be able to turn on or off Game Mode on each game and control new broadcasting audio options using Mixer from the Game bar.

The update is available for testers in the Alpha ring now, Microsoft says that the new changes will expand to more Insiders soon, and everyone else will get Xbox system update later in 2017.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.