November Xbox One Update Adds Custom Backgrounds, Twitter

Microsoft on Monday started rolling out its latest Xbox One system update, bringing a slew of new personalization, TV, and SmartGlass features.

The update is rolling out now for all Xbox One preview program members, and will launch for everyone next month. One of the most requested features coming this month is the ability to customize your background with some of your favorite achievements and game clips, Microsoft's Larry Hryb, a.k.a. Major Nelson, wrote in a post on Xbox Wire.

"The No. 1 fan-requested feature is making its initial debut for preview members," he wrote. "For the first time, each account on your Xbox One can have a customized background. You can choose a custom color or achievement art as your background on Xbox One, with more customization options coming down the road."

You can also now share your location, bio, and up to six game clips or achievements on your profile, and browse other players' profiles from the SmartGlass app on your phone. When you find a sweet game clip, you can now easily share it with your followers on Twitter.

The console also now integrates Twitter with live TV, letting you see what people are saying about shows in real time. There's also a new tab in OneGuide showing the most watched TV shows, updated by the minute, so you can quickly see which shows are popular. The MiniGuide has also been updated to include your favorite TV channels in a combined "Recents and Favorites" area that can be activated by saying "Xbox Select — MiniGuide" while watching TV.

:story: PC Magazine