Microsoft Starts Multi-Month Design Experiment With the Xbox User Interface

The Xbox user interface is set to get a major overhaul, but unless you’re an Xbox Insider, it’s going to be months before we get to see the changes.

Ivy Krislov, Senior Product Manager Lead, Xbox Experiences announced via Xbox Wire(Opens in a new window) that a “multi-month series of experiments” are starting this week, with a focus on the design of the Xbox user interface and homepage.

The experiments will only be visible to Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring, and the layout, design, and ease of access changes will be rolled out randomly to those eligible to participate. Scrolling down the tweaked UI will also reveal further experimentation with curated game channels and collections.

Those Insiders receiving the first experimental tweaks can expect to see a new “Jump back in” row for recent games and apps, easy access to system apps, curated gaming categories and recommendations, and “consistent design and visual identifiers with updated layouts to keep the experience familiar.”

Microsoft is asking for feedback from those seeing the design changes through the Xbox Insiders subreddit(Opens in a new window). So if you aren’t an Insider, that may be the best way to keep track of the changes being made. And as to when Microsoft will release the new design for all Xbox owners, it’s not going to happen this year. The final version will be rolled out in 2023, though.

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