Xbox March Update releases with Auto HDR and FPS Boost toggles for Xbox Series X|S, prep for Xbox Wireless Headset, and more
Players will have more control over their games.
What you need to know
- The Xbox OS gets regular updates to add new features, tweak existing ones, and overall improve the experience for players.
- The Xbox March Update is now rolling out for all Xbox players, and includes Auto HDR and FPS Boost toggles for compatible games on Xbox Series X|S.
- The Xbox Accessories app is also being updated to prepare it for the Xbox Wireless Headset, which is launching soon.
- There are a few other minor tweaks and changes on Xbox, while Achievements are being tested in the new Xbox Mobile app!
Xbox is now officially releasing the Xbox March Update to players on the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One. The March Update isn't a massive update, but still includes a handful of wonderful additions and changes for Xbox players. Most notably, the Xbox March Update prepares Xbox consoles for the impending Xbox Wireless Headset, and adds additional settings for Auto HDR and FPS Boost backward compatibility features.
Firstly, the Xbox March Update adds long-awaited toggles for Xbox's impressive Auto HDR and FPS boost features on select backward compatible games. Auto HDR uses machine learning to add high dynamic range to games that weren't built with it in mind, while FPS Boost utilizes the power of next-gen consoles to double or even quadruple the framerate of older games. Both features are exclusive to Xbox Series X|S, and are enabled automatically on certain games (Auto HDR is much more common than FPS Boost).
With the Xbox March Update, players will now be able to access the game's manage settings and access toggles for these features. Once the game is restarted, players will be able to check in the Xbox Guide while the game is opened to see if their settings were kept. These toggles will only appear for games that support these features.
Next, the Xbox March Update is updating the Xbox Accessories app to prepare it for the upcoming Xbox Wireless Headset. The Xbox Accessories app will be able to tweak equalizer settings, bass boost, auto-mute sensitivity, mic monitoring, and brightness of the headset's mic light.
The Xbox Wireless Headset is coming on March 16, and is one of the most exciting gaming accessories we've seen in recent history. If Microsoft delivers on all its promises, the Xbox Wireless Headset will almost certainly become one of the Best Wireless Headsets for Xbox Series X|S.
The recently redesigned Xbox Mobile app is also testing an update this month to bring back Achievements support, which has been a huge pain point for players regarding the new mobile experience. Xbox is currently testing several designs with a small subset of testers and the moment.
Other smaller changes include:
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- Better management of game subscriptions from your Xbox console
- The removal of TV listings for OneGuide on Xbox One
- Further improving the "managing games" experience
The Xbox March Update is currently releasing to players today, and lays the groundwork for further improvements as time goes one. If you want to get the most out of your Xbox, especially your new Xbox Series X|S, consider one of the Best External SSDs for Xbox Series X|S to upgrade your storage capabilities.
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Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter @BoddyZachary.