Summary
Microsoft will be offering new options duringXboxgame installations that will give users more freedom to choose which features to download. While most gamers can conveniently grab titles and updates when theirXbox is in Standby mode, the size of the downloads is what bothers some players. In the modern age of gaming where digital downloads are a huge part of the ecosystem, many fans are hoping that there are ways to be able to control not only the speed of online transfers, but also the size and space that software occupies.
Luckily, Microsoft’sXboxInsider Program has allowed the team to experiment when it comes to making optimal changes to the system. The service has allowed select users to get early access to new games and features with developer partners. This includes several experimental options that help shape the Xbox experience as a whole. One new update currently being provided by the program is the option to have more flexible game installations.
According to an update by Microsoft, Xbox Insiders will be receiving an Xbox Update Preview for the Alpha Skip-Ahead feature. Users will now be able to choose what parts of the game to download before installation. Games which support this new option should end up as a smaller download first, with the user being allowed to select if they want to downloading additional features such as multiplayer content, HD textures, and others. Whileprices of Xbox Storage Expansion cardshave gone down significantly over time, game sizes have grown as well, and being able to have a choice of what contents to install should help players save space and reduce download time.
What Else Has Microsoft Done To Optimize Digital Downloads?
With Microsoft also currently testing the idea ofpre-downloading Xbox game updates, the team seems to be focusing on optimizing the digital game space. Especially considering that the Xbox Series S itself is a digital-only console, being able to minimize the time and space factors involved in playing a game is a valid concern that Microsoft should continually fix to appease fans. The Series S’s internal storage is already very small to begin with, so the option to download less is a good feature to have.
However, one thing that fans have been asking Microsoft to provide is the option to select what version of a game to download. While theXbox’s Smart Deliverydoes wonders in allowing players to sync progress, it also robs players of the option to select whether they want to install an Xbox One version of a game. Xbox users know that Xbox Series X/S games can only be installed on internal storage. Some games have versions which are nearly identical, and having the option to install an Xbox One version to the external drive could help players save even more space. Still, Microsoft’s optimization features are heading in the right direction and there is still hope that updates will come out in the future.
Xbox Series S
Released alongside the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Series S is Microsoft’s budget option for the ninth console generation. Designed exclusively for digital gaming, the Series S can run the same games as the Series X, albeit at a potentially lower resolution and frame rate.
