- The February 2023 update for Xbox rolls out.
- The update brings carbon awareness changes for downloads.
- You can now use Google Home as the remote and hide game art in Home.
Microsoft launches the Xbox Series X and S console upgrade in February 2023, which includes several updates and enhancements for the Xbox One.
Official modifications state that the Xbox February 2023 update will lower the carbon footprint and conserve energy when games and upgrades are downloaded. Game imagery from the home backdrop can now be turned off. In addition to a few other updates, the Google Home app may now be used as the console’s remote control.
Xbox February update new features
In order to preserve energy and lessen its carbon footprint, the business improves the download process in this release to ensure that Xbox Series X, S, and One download games and system updates when the electricity comes from lower-carbon sources. Power is supplied by electrical grids from a variety of sources, such as fossil fuels and renewable energy. With this update, Xbox will give priority to installing updates when clean energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower are used more frequently.
This functionality is comparable to Windows 11’s carbon-aware update modifications. Additionally, only when the console is connected and regional carbon intensity data is available will the new energy-efficient feature be accessible.
Additionally, to save even more energy (up to 20x compared to Sleep mode), the February 2023 update makes the Shutdown option the default for all consoles. To keep the console beginning quickly, you will need to manually adjust the option if you want the Sleep mode using the active hours.
The February Xbox update also makes it possible to operate the console with the Google Home app on Android smartphones. This is on top of the voice commands that Google Assistant offers for controlling your Xbox.
With this update, you will be able to conceal game imagery in the background and see plain colors instead, as part of the design modifications. Settings>General>Personalization>My background>Solid color and game art is where you may find the new choice.
Additionally, Microsoft is testing several strategies to enhance the ability to rejoin a party. You must select the Party or Party History button under the Parties & Chats tab in the guide after your console has received this update. A list of your past parties will appear, which you can use to start a new party or resume an old one.
All Xbox consoles across the world are currently receiving the February 2023 update. You can force the update by going to Settings>System>Updates>Update console and tapping the Start update button, though, if you can’t wait for it to become available to you naturally.