Microsoft has begun testing new customization features for Xbox consoles, giving Xbox Insiders early access to options for backgrounds, game libraries and the Guide menu. The tests started on Nov. 12, 2026, and focus on how players personalize the console dashboard and organize their digital games. The features are rolling out to Insiders first, with broader availability expected later.
Xbox Insiders can now save their preferred dynamic backgrounds and set them to rotate automatically, according to Eden Marie, principal software engineering lead at Xbox. Players can select a Shuffle option at the top of any background category, which lets the background change at each sign-in or on an hourly, daily or weekly schedule. The feature adds a new layer of control over how the console home screen looks.
Microsoft is also changing how disc-to-digital games are organized in the library. Insiders who have claimed a digital license from a disc-based game will see those titles grouped in a separate category within the library section. Players will additionally be able to hide the digital license icon that appears on game tiles.
The Guide menu is the third area being tested. Insiders can choose whether the menu appears on the left or right side of the screen, a shift from its usual position. Alpha Skip-Ahead members will get access to the new options first, Marie said.
The changes are aimed at Xbox owners who want more control over the console interface and how their game collections are displayed. The background shuffle builds on the dynamic backgrounds already available on Xbox consoles, while the library update targets players who convert disc-based games into digital licenses. The Guide menu option addresses long-standing preferences about screen layout.
Microsoft has not said when the features will reach all Xbox Insiders or the wider player base. Marie said the company will expand the tests to more Insiders and players over time. For now, the features remain limited to test participants in the Xbox Insider program.
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