Microsoft's Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are finally here, its two next-generation consoles, following up on the Xbox One family. The devices bring improved system performance, new CPU and GPU architectures, and solid-state drive (SSD) storage, making games look better and run faster than ever.
But the arrival of any new console generation has its hiccups, with Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S hitting the market with a small list of known issues likely to impact users upon release. The new consoles have various software bugs that may interrupt your experience, including many already acknowledged by Microsoft. We've rounded up all the bugs and issues you may encounter, alongside the known workarounds to consider.
Xbox Series X, Series S known system bugs and issues
The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S launch with a mostly familiar operating system (OS) for Xbox One owners, resulting in a relatively sleek and speedy experience. But some of the new additions have their known issues, with fixes currently still in works through the launch period.
Xbox Live down for some
With Xbox Series X and Xbox Series X steadily rolling out across the world, some users reported issues impacting Xbox Live, with many unable to sign in to Microsoft's gaming network. While Microsoft acknowledged issues on Tuesday afternoon, the service has recovered for most.
No signal or corrupted image with 4K at 120Hz
Primarily impacting some of the best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft has acknowledged an early bug when using the console at 4K resolution, with 120Hz support and variable refresh rate (VRR) support enabled. According to the company, the issue comes results in "no signal" or a "corrupted image" with select HDMI 2.1 TVs from LG, Samsung, and Vizio.
The issue will likely cause some launch day frustrations for those with affected displays, causing potential headaches without a clear cause. While we expect a future fix to eliminate this issue, you'll need to work around those limitations through the release.
The easiest fix may come from a TV firmware update. You may also disable specific features on your console, whether swapping out 4K resolution for 1080p, 120Hz for 60Hz, or turning off VRR, eliminating one part of the trio behind the issue. You may also disable VRR on your TV entirely as a last resort.
Quick Resume doesn't work with some titles
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S debut an all-new Quick Resume feature, allowing either system to automatically cache game sessions in memory, essentially running multiple titles simultaneously. And while the feature works seamlessly across most games, Microsoft has identified a select list of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S Optimized games that may not play nice with the capability.
Microsoft has made it simple, disabling Quick Resume for these titles until fixed. The company states it's "working as quickly as possible to fix this at the platform level" but still leaves some titles excluded from the compatible lineup. If you're struggling to keep select games in Quick Resume, this bug may be the culprit.
DVD or Blu-ray playback displays black screen
Microsoft has acknowledged an issue intermittently impacting Xbox Series X DVD and Blu-ray playback. The console may display a black screen when inserting a disc. Microsoft suggests those who encounter the bug remove their disc, restart the console, and re-insert their disc. This doesn't impact Xbox Series S, given its all-digital design.
HDR game captures appear too dark
Microsoft has detailed an issue with HDR video capture on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, which may present colors too dark, compared to their original on-screen presentation. While there's no workaround available, with a "coming soon in a future console update," those needing high-quality captures can disable HDR in system settings.
Kinect not working on Xbox Series X, Series S
Microsoft has committed to bringing all Xbox One accessories forward to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, including your headsets, controllers, and chargers. But Microsoft's ill-fated Kinect sensor is among the few exceptions, with support stripped from the newest console, alongside support for any Kinect-dependent titles. This is not a bug but rather an intended setback with the next generation. Rest in peace, old friend.
OneGuide TV not working on Xbox Series X, Series S
The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S take a step back from Microsoft's initial "all-in-one" vision for entertainment, cutting out the OneGuide application for TV. It comes with removing HDMI passthrough for cable boxes while also eliminating compatibility for TV tuners. Instead, you'll need to connect your device directly to your TV or use one of the various streaming apps available.
Xbox Series X, Series S known app bugs and issues
The next-gen Xbox consoles retain full backward compatibility with games and apps from the Xbox One era, with extensive testing from Microsoft in the leadup to launch. But some media apps have found themselves incompatible on Xbox Series X and Series S, with future fixes still to come.
Can't install or open EA Play
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S bring compatibility issues with the EA Play app, the central hub for Electronic Arts' subscription service, following the move from Xbox One. It comes at an unfortunate time, with EA Play joining Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on November 10.
However, the impact on functionality is minimal, with a simple workaround. All EA Play titles can be found within the My Games & Apps library, located under the EA Play in the "Full Library" tab. The list includes all games available with the subscription, with quick access to installing each title. Limited-time free trials can download by searching for their respective marketplace listings on the Microsoft Store. But for the app itself, there's no known workaround, with Microsoft stating it's "working with our app partners to find potential resolutions for the future."
Can't install or open BBC iPlayer App
The BBC iPlayer app becomes an unfortunate casualty following the switch to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, which fails to install and launch on both consoles. Although no workaround has been published, Microsoft states it is "working with our app partners to resolve this." To access BBC iPlayer, you'll need to switch to an Xbox One console or another compatible app.
PeacockTV Xbox app pixelated or bad quality
Microsoft has detailed an issue affecting the PeacockTV app on Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. The bug sees "occasional pixelated frames" when viewing content on the console, with no workaround available as of launch. The platform holder states that "the proper teams are working on a fix," scheduled for a future app update.
We'll keep updating this list over the following days, as new bugs surface, and fixes arrive. Experiencing an issue not included on this list? Let us know in the comments section below.
The full next-generation experience.
Xbox Series X is Microsoft's new flagship, as its most powerful console with over 12TF GPU performance and a custom SSD. It boasts up to 4K resolution and 120 FPS, full backward compatibility across four generations, and ray-tracing support.
Experience next-gen gaming for less.
Microsoft serves the next-generation for less with its budget-friendly Xbox Series S. The console packs the same high-performance CPU and SSD technology as Xbox Series X, while scaling back the GPU and removing the disc drive.
