Microsoft has confirmed a major update for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S that will significantly improve boot times for both consoles. Keep in mind that we are referring to the time it takes for the console to be ready for use since we press the power button, that is, when it is completely off.
This update is only found currently available on the insider channel, which means that it is still in the testing phase, and that it will not reach the bulk of users of both consoles for some time (there is talk of early August, so it should not take more than a week or two). All in all, the important thing is that this update is a reality, and that it should soon be available to all Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users.
To reduce the startup time for both consoles, Microsoft has confirmed the creation of a shorter startup animation that, in total, it completes in a time of only 4 seconds, while the previous animation needed 9 seconds to complete. When we move in such small figures it may seem that the numbers matter less and less, but the truth is that it is impressive, since it is a reduction of more than 50% of the startup time of both consoles.
It is important to remember that to achieve these low startup times Microsoft has to perform a careful work at the software level, although it is true that the hardware also helps. The unified memory architecture of Microsoft’s next-generation consoles, coupled with the presence of a SSD capable of working at a speed of 2.4 GB/s, are key in this regard. Without an SSD, this short boot time would be impossible.
Taking stock, and comparing this generation of consoles with the previous one, there is no doubt that one of the most important improvements that it has left us has been the reduction of startup and loading times, both of the operating system and the interface, which we know as cold boot, like from loading times of games. Previous-gen consoles could have us waiting several minutes for a particular section of a game to load, while current-gen consoles usually don’t take more than a few seconds. As those of you who read us daily know, it is the magic of the SSD.
In another vein, Microsoft announced last week that members of the insider channel can now connect your Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X consoles to Discord and use said chat service directly from their consoles. Another interesting update that will arrive in the coming weeks for users of these consoles.
