Microsoft announced that the Xbox One will get two updates, one in February which has already rolled out for the console owners, and a second update that will hit the consoles in March. Microsoft is now introducing a beta program that will allow select Xbox One owners to test the future updates weeks before they are officially released, and provide their valuable feedback about the features and other bugs, if there are any.
This is how it’s going to work: Microsoft will invite select Xbox Live users to preview new features that will be a part of the March update as well as the future updates, asking them to provide their feedback and if they encounter any bugs or issues with the update. Selected members will receive a message inviting them to register for the beta program. The first update to members registered in the beta program will roll out some time in the next week, and users can provide their feedback in a private forum, and can even opt out of the program.
“Beginning today, Xbox is inviting select Xbox Live members to preview new features coming to Xbox One in a March system update and future system updates as they become available, asking them to provide valuable feedback before the updates are implemented worldwide. Selected participants will receive an Xbox Live message with a token to register,” says Major Nelson.
As announced before, the March update will improve multiplayer and party experiences on the Xbox, but users will not be able to use the party features with members not registered in the beta program. “Features that will not be enabled during the preview include party chat, party invites, party matchmaking and party visibility. Once the March system update becomes available to all consoles worldwide, new party features will function normally for all Xbox One users. If this is an issue, you should consider not signing up for this beta,” the company said in an email to Polygon.
Xbox One owners will be notified to join the beta program via a message on Xbox Live.
