Xbox players frustrated with new Xbox UI update
Xbox players are not happy about a new Xbox UI Update that introduces ads, removes groups, and reduces customization, with many expressing frustration at the lack of communication from Microsoft and the impact it will have on their experience. The update has improved the aesthetics, but the prominence of Game Pass tabs has overshadowed any positives, while the lack of customization and the presence of unmovable tabs, such as the “Most played games” tab, are major complaints among players.
“This new Xbox UI is literally just Game Pass ads,” one player says. “Literally just one ad after another, with no regard for what we want to see.” Another player says, “Microsoft absolutely refuses to listen to its players on this. We’ve been telling them for months that we don’t want Game Pass ads, we want our groups back, and we resent the excessive advertising.”
Players are also angry that the update, which has been tested by Xbox Insiders dating back to September of last year, is being rolled out to the broader community without any communication from Microsoft. “We’ve been in the Insiders program for a very long time, we’ve given them feedback, and they’ve completely disregarded it,” one player says. “We’ve been telling them that this update was going to be a disaster, and now it’s going out to everybody.”
“Microsoft is making decisions that directly impact our experience and our time spent on the console, yet we have no voice,” another player says. “They’re ignoring the feedback we gave them for months in the Insiders program, and now they’re just shoving this down our throats.”
While there are some players who are happy with the update, the overwhelming majority of feedback on Reddit and Twitter is negative. “It’s a real shame, because they’ve done a lot of things to improve the aesthetics,” one player says. “But the prominence of Game Pass tabs has just overshadowed everything. We want our groups back, and we want those Game Pass tabs to be less intrusive.”
“If they were going to do this, they should’ve at least communicated with us extensively,” another player says. “For months, we’ve been telling them that we don’t want Game Pass ads, and now they’ve just pushed this update out to everybody without telling anybody. It’s disrespectful.”
The update will likely not see any significant changes now that it is out in the wild, but players will have to adapt to it for now. In the meantime, Microsoft is planning to charge subscription fees for use of its Game Pass catalog, with the upcoming Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription expected to cost $14.99 (£11.49) per month.
