Xbox is rolling out an overhaul of its achievement system. The banners that appear when you unlock them look shiny, and there are better ways to show off the achievements you're most proud of to your friends. They seem like pretty minor tweaks on the surface, but the reaction to them has been overwhelmingly positive as Xbox users celebrate a long overdue win for the platform.
Xbox has made long changes to its achievement system
Xbox revealed details of its performance improvements on Wednesday, noting that they will be available to insiders first — a process used to iron out potential issues — before rolling out to everyone soon. The update improves the icons and animations, lets you view titles with 100 percent completion, and gives you the ability to hide games from the list that you might not want others to see.
Now no one needs to know what games you played just because you wanted to increase your Gamerscore.
All good stuff, but pretty minor changes, really, and changes Xbox should have made a long time ago. However, the reveal that Achievements has received a long-awaited polish has been very well received, largely due to the long-delayed installment, and has given some people hope for the future of Xbox, something they haven't been offered in quite some time.
Despite New CEO's Teasing, Xbox Insider Says Exclusives Are 'Absolutely Not Happening'
In recent years, Xbox has moved to a more third-party approach with its titles.
While Xbox led the way with the shiny banners and new icons, it's the other new features that people seem to like the most. One player noted that they will finally be able to show off that they have 100 percent of every Halo game, while quite a few others are very happy that they will finally be able to hide their achievements.
Why this is a good first step for Asha Sharma
Asha Sharma, Xbox's new CEO, revealed that they have assembled a team dedicated to finding ways to respond to fan feedback, suggesting that this update is the team's first port of call. Responses to Sharma's tweet are even more positive, noting that this is a good first step in her Xbox leadership, and people are excited to see what comes next.
Some have even gone so far as to say that Sharma is already showing off Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond, which might be a bit harsh, but if you get into what's going on here, it makes a bit of sense. Yes, this is a very small thing, but it's something that Xbox users have been asking for for years, and they were seemingly ignored.
Not only has Sharma used a small gesture to make Xbox users happy, but it also proves that the post about listening to fan feedback isn't just for show. This is a direct response to something the fans want, and it's got them on her side at this early stage. Sharma must now prove that this is not a one-off and that more fan-led changes are coming, in contrast to the doom and gloom that has surrounded Xbox in recent years.
- Stamp
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Microsoft
- Original release date
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November 10, 2020
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$499 USD
- Operating system
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Proprietary (Windows based)
- Processor
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Custom AMD 8-core Zen 2 3.8 GHz
- Resolution
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720p – 4K UHD
