Microsoft has announced that the upcoming fall update for Xbox One, currently in preview, will soon be rolling out to those in the Beta ring of the Xbox Insider Program. While the update has been in testing for both the invite-only Alpha ring and select Delta ring members up until now, this latest expansion delivers its new feature set to a wider pool of testers.
We've previously covered what's been confirmed for the next Xbox One update – many of these features already available in testing. Among the biggest changes is a refresh of the user interface influenced by the Fluent Design System, a redesigned Home menu layout and an all-new light theme. Other improvements include support for 1080p uploads through Microsoft's Mixer live streaming service, a new Guide menu with further depth and other miscellaneous tweaks.
Updated September 7, 2017: Since the build has begun rolling out to Beta ring users, it appears the light theme is currently not available. It's unclear whether this functionality will be enabled relatively soon with a server-side tweak, or those in the ring will be waiting a little longer. We've reached out for more details and will ensure to update this article once more information is provided.
Beta ring users will be able to download the build from 6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET on September 6, or 2 a.m. on September 7 for those in the UK. For those who use the Xbox One's Instant On mode, the update will begin automatically downloading to your console. If you choose to manually install the build, navigate to All Settings > System > Console Info & Updates and check for an update.
As we reach the end of the year, these builds continue to add new features and refinements, prior to the public release. While confirmed features, such as the new Xbox Avatars and original Xbox backward compatibility, are yet to hit Xbox Insiders, their arrival should be on the horizon. The Fall Creators Update, the equivalent update later this year for Windows 10 PCs, recently picked up a scheduled release date of October 18. Provided the roadmap for the Xbox One update is similar, we should see these new features rolling out in the weeks to come.
Are you getting your first hands-on with the next Xbox One update today? Or already spent some time with the new features through other rings? Let us know in the comments below or the new forum thread we've created!
