Tag: Xbox Insiders

Beginning Ad-supported Game Streaming Test & Learn

Posted on by faz_business


Today, we’re starting to test an ad-supported way to stream select games from your library for a limited time, available to XBOX Insiders. 

During this test period, XBOX Insiders with an XBOX account will be able to stream games they own for free with ads. Players will have one hour session limits across supported devices and regions.  

Here’s what you can expect:  

  1. Ads will play before sessions begin. 
  1. The core game experience is unchanged. 
  1. This is optional. Players can choose other ways to play at any time.  

For many players, the device they already own now allows them to stream games with XBOX. Cloud can also help XBOX One owners play newer games built for XBOX Series X|S without needing to purchase new hardware right away. That can be especially meaningful in places where consoles are harder to find or less affordable, giving more players another way to access great games on devices they already have.  

Advertising has existed in gaming for decades, from in-game placements to free-to-play models. But it hasn’t always been built with the player in mind. When done well, advertising can help lower the cost of access. It creates another way for players to get into games without an upfront streaming purchase and expands audiences through new ways to play.  

For brands, this only works if showing up here adds to the experience, not takes away from it. 

Given that, we want to be clear about how we will approach ad-supported services across XBOX: 

  1. We start with the player. Ads should create value. 
  1. We do not interrupt the flow of gameplay. 
  1. We hold ads to the same quality bar as our content. 
  1. We’re clear about what’s advertising. 
  1. We make sure ads fit what players expect on each platform. 

We’ll learn from this test and continue to improve it based on how players use it and what they tell us. Our goal is simple. Give more people more affordable ways to play.  

How to Get XBOX Insider Support and Share Your Feedback

Thanks to XBOX Insiders for all of the feedback. You can also visit aka.ms/XBOXplayervoice to share what you think.  

If you’re an XBOX Insider looking for support, please join our community on the XBOX Insider subreddit. Official XBOX staff, moderators, and fellow XBOX Insiders are there to help. We recommend adding to threads with the same topic before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can!

If you aren’t part of the XBOX Insider Program yet and want to help create the future of XBOX and get early access to new features, join the Program today by downloading the XBOX Insider Hub for XBOX Series X|S & XBOX One or Windows PC. For more information on the XBOX Insider Program, follow us on Twitter at @XBOXInsider and keep an eye on this blog for all the latest news.

Other resources:

For more information: follow us on X/Twitter at @XboxInsider and this blog for announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on the XBOX Insider SubReddit.



Once Human Console Open Beta: Join the Supernatural Survival World on XBOX Series X|S

Posted on by faz_business


The apocalypse is calling! The wait is nearly over, Metas. Before the official launch, we are thrilled to announce the final Console Open Beta for our weird and wonderful supernatural survival game, Once Human.

Prepare to experience the apocalypse like never before. With the leap to the big screen, you can expect deeper immersion, stunning visuals on your XBOX Series X|S, and pure, unfiltered survival. More players, more chaos, and more fun await! Here is everything you need to know before you step into the supernatural monster world.

Experience the Apocalypse on the Big Screen

Survive in a supernatural apocalypse where reality has fallen apart. As a Meta-Human, you will explore a vast, Stardust-infected open world where monsters are both a threat and the key to your survival. Every expedition carries risk, but yields vital resources. Gather materials and build your ultimate territory, but be prepared to defend your home against relentless sieges.

In this world, your enemies are your greatest asset. You can capture Deviants—bizarre entities that can automate your base, gather resources, and fight by your side. Push your evolution further by hunting powerful anomalies for Mutagens. Fuse with them, mutate your body, and harness their grotesque abilities to crush anything that stands in your way. In Once Human, survival is more than just staying alive. It is about turning the unknown—and the monsters themselves—into your own power.

During this Open Beta, you’ll have access to multiple scenarios and seasons to fit your playstyle. Whether you want to learn the ropes or dive straight into hardcore challenges, the choice is yours. Available scenarios include:

  • Novice Scenario
  • Manibus
  • Endless Dream
  • The Way of Winter
  • RaidZone

(Note: Players in all scenarios except RaidZone can also experience Visional Wheel S3: Aberrant Progeny!)

Reach Level 20 & Earn Exclusive Rewards

As a massive thank-you to everyone participating in this final test, we are giving away exclusive rewards that you can bring with you into the official launch!

Reach Level 20 with any character during the beta to earn a Cosmetic Selection Crate and a Weapon Skin Selection Crate. (Note: If you only play in the RaidZone, you will need to accumulate more than 3 hours of playtime to be eligible).

Cosmetic Options (Choose 1 of 3):

  • Abyssal Dragon Set
  • Noise Manifesto Set
  • Wasteland Sheriff Set

Weapon Skin Options (Choose 1 of 3):

  • Dragon Dance – KAM
  • Reconstructed Matrix – AWS.33
  • Gem Symphony – MG4

Will my progress carry over? This Open Beta is a wipe test, meaning most of your character progress will be reset before the official launch. However, you won’t leave empty-handed! The following will permanently carry over to the full release:

✅ All earned Starchrom

✅ All cosmetics and outfits obtained

✅ Up to 6 collected Deviants

How to Join the Beta on XBOX Series X|S

This test is open globally, but spots are strictly limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the user cap is reached, the download channel may close, so be sure to secure your spot early!

To join on XBOX:

  1. Turn on your XBOX Series X|S and open the XBOX Insider Hub app (download it from the Store if you don’t have it).
  2. Navigate to the “Previews” section.
  3. Search for “Once Human” and click “Join”.
  4. You will be directed to the store page to install the game.

(If you participated in the previous Closed Beta and still have the game installed, you will receive an automatic update. If you deleted it, you can simply re-download it from your game library without needing to re-register).

Test Schedule & Important Info

Mark your calendars so you don’t miss a second of the action:

  • Pre-download Opens: June 17 at 5:00 PM PT
  • Servers Go Live: June 17 at 7:00 PM PT
  • Beta Concludes: July 8, 11:59 PM PT

A note on Cross-play: While cross-play with PC and Mobile players is not supported during this test, the console servers are unified! XBOX and PlayStation players will be able to team up and survive the apocalypse together.

We Want Your Feedback!

This final beta is crucial for us to polish the console experience before launch, and your feedback is incredibly valuable. If you run into bugs or have suggestions, please use the in-game Feedback & Customer Support menu. You can also join the dedicated tester-feedback-submit channel on the official Once Human Discord.

Gather your friends, grab your weapons, and get ready to survive the weirdness. We’ll see you in the monster world on June 17!

Join the Pillars of Eternity Public Beta Today!

Posted on by faz_business


We are excited to invite Xbox Insiders on Windows PC to join the Pillars of Eternity Public Beta. This beta introduces a major new way to play the original Pillars of Eternity: Turn-Based Mode. Your feedback is invaluable, so explore, experiment, and share your feedback to help shape the next update! To participate in the Pillars of Eternity Public Beta, you will need to either own Pillars of Eternity OR have access to the title via an active Game Pass subscription.

About the Game:

Prepare to be enchanted by a world where the choices you make and the paths you choose shape your destiny. Recapture the deep sense of exploration, the joy of a pulsating adventure, and the thrill of leading your own band of companions across a new fantasy realm and into the depths of monster-infested dungeons in search of lost treasures and ancient mysteries.

If you want to learn more, please visit the Pillars of Eternity Official Website.

How to Participate:

  1. Sign-in on your Windows PC and launch the Xbox Insider Hub app (or install the Xbox Insider Hub from the Store first if necessary)
  2. Navigate to Previews > Pillars of Eternity – Hero Edition
  3. Select Join
  4. Wait for the registration to complete and be directed to the Store and install Pillars of Eternity – Hero Edition

NOTE: To participate in the Pillars of Eternity Public Beta, you will need to either own Pillars of Eternity OR have access to the title via an active Game Pass subscription.

NOTE: This playtest is only available on Windows PC.

NOTE: If you already have Pillars of Eternity installed, please restart your PC after the registration has completed to ensure you get prompted to update to the Pillars of Eternity Public Beta version.

NOTE: If you wish to revert to the publicly available version of Pillars of Eternity, you will need to leave the Pillars of Eternity Public Beta via the Xbox Insider Hub. This will prompt an update reversion to occur.

Other resources:

For more information: follow us on X/Twitter at @XboxInsider and this blog for announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on the Xbox Insider SubReddit.



Check out the Project EVILBANE Pre-Alpha Playtest Schedule!

Posted on by faz_business


At long last, the Project EVILBANE Pre-Alpha Playtest Schedule, revealed at IGN Live 2025, has been revealed! If you haven’t seen the video yet, check it out.

Xbox Insiders, now’s your chance to check the game out early and give us your feedback.
Join our official Discord server and be the first to see the latest news and project updates!

Game Overview:

“Project EVILBANE” follows a hardened team of apocalyptic survivors who have sworn to avenge their ruined world.
Join the battle to triumph over the Archdemon’s forces and save humanity!

About this Playtest:

“Project EVILBANE” is still in early development, and this is its first public playtest.

The primary goal of this playtest is to ensure that combat is fun.
This build features four characters and four weapons,
and players can simultaneously wield 1 ranged weapon and 1 melee weapon for strategic gameplay.

To learn more about the featured characters and weapons, please check out the official EVILBANE Discord server.

Thanks for your interest, and we look forward to your participation!

Playtest Schedule:

  • Start: Friday, August 29, 1:00 AM PT (4:00 AM ET)
  • End: Monday, September 1, 1:00 AM PT (4:00 AM ET)

Bookmark the EVILBANE website and join the Discord server to be the first to get the latest news!
[EVILBANE Discord]
[EVILBANE Website]

How to Participate:

  1. Launch the Xbox Insider Hub on your Windows PC (or, if necessary, download the Xbox Insider Hub from the store.)
  2. Navigate to Previews > Project EVILBANE
  3. Select Join
  4. Wait for the registration to complete and be directed to the Store and install EVILBANE

NOTE: This playtest is only available on Windows PC.

How to Provide Feedback:

Once the playtest starts on August 29, you can report any issues using the Windows Feedback Hub. Please don’t forget to submit feedback so we can investigate:

  • Open the Windows Feedback Hub on your PC.
  • Select Report a problem.
  • Fill out the form with the appropriate details to help our investigation. Make sure to include the name “Project EVILBANE” in your feedback.
  • Select the Apps category and Project EVILBANE subcategory.
  • Submit the feedback.

Other resources:

For more information: follow us on X/Twitter at @XboxInsider and this blog for announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on the Xbox Insider SubReddit.



33 Immortals: Try Out New Features in the Fourth Playtest from May 20

Posted on by faz_business


33 Immortals is back for Xbox Insiders with a fourth playtest starting Tuesday, May 20, 8am PT (11am ET). The playtest will be available for 6 days and end on Monday, May 26, 8am PT (11am ET). Thunder Lotus incorporated more updates and is notably making the game available to players on Xbox One consoles for the first time. The developer is excited for Xbox Insiders to try the update and to get your feedback. Limited space is available so be ready to join on May 20th to experience this co-op action-roguelike for 33 players.

About the Game:

Play a damned soul and rebel against God’s final judgment. Dive straight into epic 33-player co-op battles with instant “pick-up and raid” matchmaking. Cooperate with your allies to survive against hordes of monsters and massive, challenging bosses. Expand your arsenal and equip powerful new relics to permanently upgrade your soul. Face the Wrath of God in a fight for your eternal life.

If you want to learn more, please sign up on the 33 Immortals Website!

Updates and Fixes:

  • Control rebinding has been added to the game!
  • Sword of Justice has been balanced following player input.
  • Staff of Sloth has been balanced following player input.
  • Bow of Hope has been balanced.
  • Daggers of Greed have been balanced.
  • Some Feats that were posing problems have been fixed.

For more information on updates, please see our full list of patch notes here.

Playtest Times:

  • Start: Tuesday, May 20th, 8am PT (11am ET) 
  • End: Monday, May 26th, 8am PT (11am ET) 

How to Participate:

On Tuesday, May 20th, 8am PT (11am ET):

  1. Sign in on your Xbox console or Windows PC and launch the Xbox Insider Hub app (or install the Xbox Insider Hub from the Store first if necessary)
  2. Navigate to Previews > 33 Immortals
  3. Select Join
  4. Wait for the registration to complete and be directed to the Store and install 33 Immortals Beta

NOTE: Limited space is available and offered first-come first-served.

NOTE: This playtest is now available on Xbox One consoles in addition to Xbox Series X|S consoles and Windows PC.

How to Provide Feedback:

If you experience any issues while playing 33 Immortals Beta, don’t forget to use “Report a problem” so we can investigate:

  • Hold down the home button on your Xbox controller.
  • Select Report a problem.
  • Select the Games category and 33 Immortals Beta subcategory.
  • Fill out the form with the appropriate details to help our investigation.

Other resources:

For more information: follow us on X/Twitter at @XboxInsider and this blog for announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on the Xbox Insider SubReddit.