Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring are getting a much requested Discord feature with the latest update

Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring are getting a much requested Discord feature with the latest update

What you need to know

  • Xbox’s Insider Program is an opportunity for users to test new games and features while providing feedback that shapes the console’s future.
  • The latest update for users on the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring introduced several new features and bug fixes.
  • One notable newly introduced feature allows users to connect to direct voice chats via Discord directly from Xbox’s Parties and Chat tab.

As an analyst with over a decade of experience in gaming and tech industries, I must say that the latest update for Xbox Insiders on the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring is a game-changer (pun intended). The ability to connect directly to voice chats via Discord from the console itself is a feature I’ve been eagerly anticipating.


Today, an update was released for members of the Xbox Insider’s Alpha Skip-Ahead group, featuring a significant enhancement for Discord interaction.

The Xbox Insider program allows console users to test out new features before they hit the operating system for widespread use, giving Xbox’s development teams a chance to squash bugs and tweak new features based on actual player feedback. The program is divided into various rings, each gaining access to features in varied states of stability.

Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring are getting a much requested Discord feature with the latest update

Today, the latest Xbox Update Preview has been launched, accompanied by a system update. This system update brings the operator system to version XB_FLT_2411GE/26100.2843.241021-2200 for members of the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring who are Xbox Insiders. In this update, Direct Voice Chats through Discord will now be available.

Users of Alpha Skip-Ahead ring who get the latest update can now easily access the Xbox guide by simply pressing the Guide button on their controller. From there, they can navigate to the “Parties & chats” tab, select Discord, and opt for Direct Voice Chats to view a list of direct message channels available for joining directly from the Xbox console. At present, users can only utilize Discord voice channels within servers they belong to; however, this update will enable peer-to-peer calling without necessitating a server with a voice channel.

In simpler terms, software or features found in the Alpha Skip-Ahead stage are often less polished and prone to issues compared to those that reach the Delta stage. Users chosen for the Alpha Skip-Ahead group are usually trusted by the Xbox team due to their consistent provision of valuable feedback on bugs and new features. These users have demonstrated their reliability through providing quality feedback, participating in tests, and filling out surveys. Only after meeting these criteria do they receive an invitation to join this advanced stage of the program.

Users of Alpha Skip-Ahead must upgrade to the latest operating system by 3:00 AM PT on October 24th. This update adds the ability to customize the mapping of thumbsticks from the Xbox Elite Wireless Series 2 and Adaptive Controller to keyboard, mouse, or button inputs in games that accommodate them. This new functionality allows users to utilize their controllers for keyboard and mouse functions within compatible games, and they can do this by creating a new profile or modifying an existing one via the Xbox accessories app.

The update incorporates several bug fixes, predominantly aimed at enhancing local language support within the console. However, certain problems, like the need to restart your controller after setting up mouse input mapping and incorrect input display when controller thumbsticks are mapped to mouse input, remain ongoing. These issues are currently being investigated, but a resolution is not yet available.

Due to the essential role of the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring during playtesting, it seems improbable that the upcoming Discord calls will become available to the public before early 2025.

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2024-10-24 12:39