Xbox is making some big changes to its performance system, and Insiders are getting a glimpse before everyone else. Achievements have been an important part of the Xbox ecosystem for decades now, dating all the way back to 2005. Achievements have been a point of pride among gamers, offering an incentive to put in a little extra work while playing various games.
The Xbox brand is in the midst of a major transformation right now. The Xbox Series X/S has struggled to find the same level of success as previous Microsoft consoles, and the company's senior executives have been looking for ways to make users happy again. This year has seen major shake-ups at the top, with new Xbox boss Asha Sharma taking over as Phil Spencer. It remains to be seen what the future holds for the company, but fans are hoping things can start to turn around.
No, Xbox is not buying Steam
Widespread internet speculation suggesting that Xbox is buying Steam appears to be little more than an April fool's joke.
Xbox Achievement Changes Revealed
Xbox has made changes to its performance in 2026, and the company has even more in store. Xbox Insiders are getting these changes right now, but they will roll out to all players at some point in the future. For starters, when a player gets 100% of achievements for a game, it will now be marked on their profile, making it easier to spot. Getting 100% of achievements in a game is a great pride, especially for tougher games like Fire Ring. It makes sense that some players want to make sure their greatest achievements don't get lost among all the other games they've played.
In one of the more interesting changes, Xbox users will get the ability to hide games displayed on their profile, starting later this month. After the change, players who have put a lot of work into games they might be less proud of can make sure others can't see it. It will also prevent other users from finding out how many achievements the player may have missed or struggled to achieve in relatively simple games. The change may seem silly, but Xbox says it's been one of the most requested changes by users. In an age where gamers don't have nearly as much privacy as they used to, it's easy to see how some might embrace this change. Hidden games will not have a negative impact on the user's Gamerscore.
In March, Xbox began offering more color customization options. With this new update, performance notifications will now match the user's custom-designed color, making them more personalized. There will also be new animations that appear when the player achieves a classic or rare achievement.
Balance the critics' averages
Start
Balance the critics' averages
Light (6) Medium (8) Hard (10)
So far, the performance changes have received a lot of praise on social media, with many users noting that these options should have happened a long time ago. It's unlikely that this update will suddenly make Xbox a more viable brand for newcomers, but it should make for a nicer experience. With plans underway for Xbox Series X/S successor Project Helix, the company will need all the goodwill it can get. New consoles are always a hard sell, especially considering how RAM costs keep rising. Xbox has a long way to go when it comes to restoring faith in the brand, but every little win helps.
