Xbox owners are getting more customizations for backgrounds and the Guide menu

Tom Warren

is a senior correspondent and author of Notepad, who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years.

Microsoft is starting to test new customization options for Xbox consoles today. Xbox Insiders will be able to start testing new rotating backgrounds, new library options for digital games, and the ability to move the Xbox Guide menu to the right-hand side.

“Xbox Insiders can now save favorite dynamic backgrounds and shuffle through them automatically,” says Eden Marie, principal software engineering lead at Xbox. “You can also choose Shuffle at the start of any background category. Have your background change each time you sign in, or set it to change hourly, daily, or weekly.”

Microsoft is also improving how you organize disc-to-digital games on an Xbox console. Xbox Insiders who have claimed a digital license from a disc-based game will be able to see these titles in a separate category in the library section. You’ll also be able to hide the digital license icon on game tiles.

Finally, Xbox Insiders will be able to choose whether the Guide menu appears on the left or right side of a screen. “Alpha Skip-Ahead members can try them first,” says Marie. “We’ll bring them to more Xbox Insiders and players over time.”

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• Tom Warren