September Xbox Update Introduces Game Pre-Downloads and Enhanced App Features

With the arrival of the Xbox September update, players can expect a variety of enhancements to their gaming experience across PC, mobile devices, and consoles. These upgrades aim to streamline interactions and provide greater efficiency in managing game content.

The most notable aspect of this update is the option to pre-download future game updates on the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Series S, along with Xbox One. This eliminates the need for lengthy download waits on the day an update is released, allowing players to dive right into their favorite games without delay.

This feature is particularly beneficial for live-service titles that regularly introduce significant content updates. However, it is presently restricted to a small selection of titles, including Sea of Thieves, Minecraft, and Cassette Beasts, with more titles expected to adopt this capability shortly.

To take advantage of pre-downloads, users should ensure their Xbox is updated, then navigate to the ‘My Games & Apps’ section. Within this area, players can select ‘Manage’ followed by ‘Updates’ to view a list of updates that can be downloaded in advance.

In addition to these updates, changes are also being made to the wishlist feature. Users will now receive alerts when desired games launch, are added to Xbox Game Pass, or become available during Free Play Days. If this feature is not preferred, notifications can be turned off in the settings.

The mobile Xbox app is undergoing significant changes as well. Features from the existing Xbox Game Pass app will be incorporated, with the latter being unavailable for download starting in November. This means the Xbox app will consolidate functionality, allowing users to manage their Game Pass subscriptions and peruse the catalog from a single interface.

PC gamers will also benefit from the introduction of Game Bar Compact Mode, designed for smaller screens and handheld devices, making it particularly useful for owners of devices like the Asus Rog Ally X.

Furthermore, enhancements are being added to the Xbox app on PC, which include better options for managing add-ons and improved user interface adjustments to simplify the process of monitoring installed games. These small improvements are welcome, given the previous challenges users faced with the Xbox app on this platform.