Xbox One users who are itching to try the upcoming Windows 10-inspired software overhaul can now reserve their spot.
But as Microsoft notes, getting the update will require a bit of patience. The opt-in process is also somewhat complicated. Here’s how it works:
- First off, you must be part of the Xbox Preview program, which allows users to test upcoming software builds. The easiest way to get into this program is to get an invite from an existing Preview user.
- After joining the Preview program, you should at some point get a message (in the Messages app) saying that Microsoft is “getting ready for the New Xbox One Experience Preview.” Microsoft’s Mike Ybarra says these messages are “rolling out now.”
- Once you have this message, open the Xbox Preview Dashboard and look for a post titled “Opt-in to the New Xbox One Experience.” If you see this post, open “Registration” from the main menu.
- In the Registration menu, hit “Change,” then select “The Preview—New Xbox One Experience,” then hit “Submit” and “Confirm.”
Microsoft says the new software will first roll out to Preview users who have provided lots of feedback in the past. Invites are rolling out in waves over several weeks, and opting in now doesn’t mean you’re part of the initial wave.
If all this sounds like too much hassle, you can just wait until November, when the New Xbox One Experience will launch for everyone.
Why this matters: More than just a feature update, the new software will completely change the Xbox One’s look and feel. It borrows heavily from the Xbox app in Windows 10, while putting an emphasis on launching games quickly and looping you into friends’ activity. The update also adds backwards compatibility with Xbox 360 games for all users, with more than 100 games available at first. In other words, Preview users should have plenty of reasons for wanting to get in early.