So you’ve decided to give someone a brand new Xbox console. First of all, you are incredibly generous! We’re sure they’ll be grateful to get something as amazing as a new Xbox from their soon-to-be favorite person in the world. But before you get the celebration started and start playing, there are a few key things you can do to get your recipient started.
Prepare the consolee
It’s time to get your console ready for use. Start with the instructions included in the box, which will guide you through connecting online (broadband or Wi-Fi), connecting an HDMI compatible TV and turning it on to start the update process.
Keeping the console up to date ensures that you can play any new game immediately and helps keep the console safe and secure. We strongly recommend completing this step before connecting additional peripherals such as external hard drives, battery charging stations, etc. This helps ensure maximum compatibility between your existing (and future) devices and accessories – You can find a list of compatible devices here on Xbox.com.
The may This may take some time depending on your online connection and the number of updates the console needs to apply. If possible, you should consider getting this done Before Your recipient will unwrap their gift so everyone can get up and playing much quicker on the big day.
While the console is being updated, this may also be a good time to download the Xbox app iOS or Android, which also includes some step-by-step instructions and console management features from your smartphone. And if you’re a parent, we recommend downloading the Xbox Family Settings app (more on that in a moment)
Create a free Xbox account
Next, they’ll need to create a free Xbox account to access features like playing free online multiplayer games, joining a community, and more. You can instruct them to sign up and get started here. If you already have a personal Microsoft account (e.g. through Windows, Office, Outlook, etc.), you can simply use that.
This is also a good time to start a family group, especially if you want to gift the Xbox to a family member under 13. You can set up specific Xbox accounts for everyone who wants to play. And as an organizer, you can set up separate content and screen time settings for each person. For more information about the benefits of creating a family group on Xbox, click here.
Select your family settings
If you are gifting the console to someone under 13, be sure to set up a child account. This makes it easier for parents to add family members to a family group and easily check their console activity Xbox Family Settings app.available free for iOS and Android.
You can customize your experience with features like setting screen time limits, managing content limits, chat access, revising friend requests, and setting spending limits in the Xbox Store. Even better: it’s easy to adjust the settings at any time. So if you’ve gifted this new Xbox to someone special in your life, this is a great way to develop healthy gaming habits together. You can find more information about the Family Settings app here. And check out some recommended co-op games to play with your family this holiday season here on Xbox Wire.
Adopt an energy-saving approach
Did you know you can help reduce emissions (and your energy bills) with Xbox? This is true. By using the Shutdown feature (power saving), you use up to 20 times less power when your console is off compared to sleep mode. By default, your console is set to the “Shutdown” setting, but you can adjust this at any time by going to your console’s Settings menu, navigating to the “General” tab, and checking “Power Options.” Find out how you can save energy here.
To use Play Accessibility features
Thanks to feedback from the Gaming & Disability Community, many games in the Microsoft Store on Xbox display Xbox Game Accessibility Feature Tags that indicate various accessibility features available in games. This makes it easier to find games that meet players’ specific gaming needs and interests. Beyond the Microsoft Store, Xbox Series X|S offers several features that make gaming possible for everyone:
- co-pilot allows you to connect two controllers so you can use them like a single controller.
- The Xbox accessories app You can configure the button layout on the Xbox Wireless Controller.
- Language to text Converts player speech or in-game chat that you can read on the screen.
- Quick settings allow you to quickly activate elements such as night mode, high contrast and more.
You can find the entire accessibility settings section here here on the official accessibility website on Xbox.com. There are also numerous games on Xbox with great accessibility features, often developed in collaboration with the disability community:
- Forza Motorsport: features Blind Driving Assists, a feature set designed for blind or visually impaired players.
- Forza Horizon 5: has an ASL/BSL interpreter during the in-game cinematics.
- Grounded: Includes an Arachnophobia Safe Mode that allows players to customize the appearance of spiders in the game.
- The valley: an audio-based action-adventure title that puts you in the worn leather boots of a blind adventurer and more.
Xbox offers that too Adaptive Xbox controller, which is primarily designed to meet the needs of gamers with limited mobility. It acts as a unified hub for devices, helping to make gaming more accessible across a variety of devices. You can Learn more about the Xbox Adaptive Controller and the official Xbox Adaptive Controller User Guide here
Join Game Pass Ultimate
Game Pass Ultimate unlocks significant player benefits – if you want to give your recipient the best value, consider this membership. Game Pass Ultimate gives you access to online console multiplayer and Hundreds high quality games that you can play immediately. This includes games from the major Xbox Games Studios franchises from day one such as Halo, Starfield, Gears of War, Forza and many others, including a variety of unique games ID@Xbox Games and new games are constantly being added. Ultimate also unlocks access to PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming (beta) – more on that below – as well as an EA Play membership with access to popular series like F1, Battlefield and Star Wars.
If the gamer in your life also enjoys gaming on PC, an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership is a good choice Also Unlocks tons of games playable on Windows, or you can give one as a gift PC Game Pass Membership! With the Xbox app for Windows PCYou can browse the catalog of PC games, view recommendations, filter by genre and discover your next favorite game with one click. And like the Ultimate membership, PC Game Pass also includes EA Play on Windows PCs at no additional cost, giving you access to a collection of EA’s top titles, exclusive in-game rewards, and early trials of select new games.
There are also Xbox Game Pass Core, which includes online console multiplayer and access to over 25 high-quality games on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. It also includes offers and discounts for members Up to 50% off select games with Game Pass promotions.
Get gaming
Now that you’ve made all the preparations, it’s time to start playing together! There are several places on Xbox.com that can help you find what you’re looking for. Our Games homepage on Xbox.com presents the latest and greatest new releases and bestsellers. You can also find the latest offers here Xbox sales and special offers Site where you can browse deals, special offers, consoles, accessories and more to take your gaming to the next level.
A few other places you might want to visit would be our official Xbox Gear Shop for the latest clothing and accessories for Xbox and the Microsoft Store on Xbox, where you can get the latest releases, Blockbuster exclusives, season passes, additional content, ID@Xbox games and more – all at great prices (and even better with your 10% store discount with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate).
Plus, it’s one of Xbox’s most exciting technologies and one that just keeps getting better Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta). With a Game Pass Ultimate membership, players can stream hundreds of high-quality games anywhere and play Xbox console games on other devices you already own, including mobile devices, tablets and PCs. Additionally, you can use Xbox Remote Play at all membership levels. This feature allows you to play games installed locally on your console on any compatible PC, Android or IOD device. You can Learn more about Xbox Remote Play here.
Once again: Welcome to the world of Xbox! While you’re here, be sure to check out some of our other holiday features we’ve recently released, such as: B. Instructions Build your perfect Xbox stocking. The Best co-op and party games of 2023and a Holiday travel guide if you are traveling this holiday season. If you haven’t already, be sure to bookmark Xbox Wire to stay up to date with the latest and greatest news and updates on your favorite games on Xbox and Windows.
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