Xbox One to Pick Up Game and App Grouping, More in June

Microsoft has delivered an early version of the June Update for Xbox One to Insiders, providing an early peek at some coming new features.

“Not all of these features will be available immediately, but will be added over time in system update 1806 (June Update),” Microsoft’s Bradley Rossetti explains. “The team at Xbox is always striving to improve the platform, and these features developed from fan feedback will continue to be shaped by Insider previewers.”

This week’s release is aimed only at members of the Xbox One Preview Alpha Ring; those in other Xbox One preview rings will receive this and future updates in the coming days.

New features include:

Games and apps groups. The My Games & Apps screen provides a grid of your installed and available games and apps, and as our collections have grown, it’s become a bit unwieldy. So Microsoft is providing a way to group apps and games into groups. Groups will appear in My Games & Apps, and in Home and the Guide too. And because they are tied to your account, they will sync across consoles.

Improved search. Now, when you press the Y button on your controller anywhere in the dashboard, a Search screen will appear.

Multiple Wi-Fi password support. I’m really surprised this is a new feature, but with the June Update, you’ll be able to store multiple Wi-Fi passwords, making it easier to take your console to different locations.

Accessibility improvements. The Narrator feature will support five additional languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Swedish, and Dutch. And an Australian version of English is on the way too.

Family settings improvements. It’s not clear what’s changing here, but Microsoft says that “new features will allow for the right experience for child accounts.” Whatever that means.

I received the update last night, and I see the new search experience but not groups. I guess I’ll be getting that soon.