Xbox One Holiday Update Arrives To Socialize Your Gaming Experience Across Multiple Platforms

Clubs Home Console 2
One of the great things about modern consoles like the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 is that they are continually updated and granted new features through software. The Xbox One is a much more capable console today than it was when it first launched in late 2013, and it’s gaining even more features today with the release of the Holiday Update.

The Xbox One Holiday Update is aimed at making the console experience even more “social” in an attempt to “unite gamers across devices, giving you access to more people to play with that share your interests and more choice in how you play.” The Holiday Update also extends to nearly every platform imaginable via the Xbox app, which can be downloaded for the PC, Windows 10 Mobile, Android and iOS.

Headlining the new features is Clubs, which are groups that are created and monitored by gamers. Creating and joining Clubs is an easy process, and you’ll be able to share content and create parties with other members. Creating and communicating with others (using voice or text chat) via Clubs can be accomplished on any platform using the Xbox app.

The Looking for Group (LFG) tool allows you to actively seek out gamers to play with. Microsoft likens it to a want-ad; perhaps “Desperately Seeking Gamer” is in order? “You’ll be able to add certain requirements to make sure that you’re finding the right gamers,” writes Scott Henson, Xbox Partner Group Program Manager. “You can specify the game, the game mode, the language the party will be speaking, how many people you need, rules like no trash talking or casual friendly, and any other in-game requirements like level, gear or character type.”

LFG Xbox app PC create

Other features that have been added into the mix include Achievement Rarity, which allows you to see what elite company you’re in with regards to a particular achievement and the inclusion of Group Messaging across all Xbox One and Xbox app platforms. You’ll also find an improved Gamerscore Leaderboard and emojis that are now available for your Xbox One virtual keyboard.

The Holiday Update is rolling out today to the Xbox One and the Xbox app.

Brandon Hill

Brandon Hill

Brandon received his first PC, an IBM Aptiva 310, in 1994 and hasn’t looked back since. He cut his teeth on computer building/repair working at a mom and pop computer shop as a plucky teen in the mid 90s and went on to join AnandTech as the Senior News Editor in 1999. Brandon would later help to form DailyTech where he served as Editor-in-Chief from 2008 until 2014. Brandon is a tech geek at heart, and family members always know where to turn when they need free tech support. When he isn’t writing about the tech hardware or studying up on the latest in mobile gadgets, you’ll find him browsing forums that cater to his long-running passion: automobiles.

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