Hot 10 Xbox Features You Don’t Know About

Xbox is a powerhouse when it comes to nifty features. We’ll review the top 10 of those, so you’ll be able to unlock its full potential. 

#1 — Ain’t no party like a text party

Voice chat isn’t anything new — it’s been available for the older Xbox generations since the days of BioShock and Fallout 3. And it wasn’t until recently when voice chatting was  “enriched” with texting.

Now you can write words in case your mic is busted or if you feel a bit shy and not ready to be heard by your teammates/Xbox Live friends.

#2 — Going backwards

Backward compatibility is one of the coolest know-hows, as it allows you to play games that were originally made for Xbox 360 on a newer console. Is there anything else to squeeze out of this function?

Actually, there is: screenshots and video snippets. Here’s what to do:

  • Press the X button twice.
  • A menu will unfold, offering to record a vid/snap a screenshot.

The best part about this trick is that you don’t need a video-capturing card that starts at $129.

#3 — Remap in a snap

Customizing controls is pivotal if you have a unique gaming style. And Xbox actually allows it. And not just for a single game, but for all of them.

The know-how is available thanks to the New Xbox Experience patch. There you can fine-tune controls for your entire collection: from Overcooked to Far Cry series.

Interestingly, you can deactivate some of the controls for good. But this requires an Xbox Elite controller, which costs around $180.

#4 — Don’t be lame, share a game

There’s a boss feature, which allows you to save some money and play a game for free. Here’s how it works:

  • Download your profile on your friend’s console;
  • do the same with your friend’s profile on yours.

And voilà, you have unlimited access to each other’s game catalogs! Now you can split the price of a fancy game you’ve been craving, like God of War 5 or RDR 2. Or skip buying a game which your buddy already owns.

#5 — Supah quick

Installing a game can be a drudgery. If you want to test a newly obtained title right now, without having to wait for hours, then:

  • Disable Ethernet.
  • And switch off your Wi-Fi.

As a result, it’ll take about 20-25 minutes for the game to get installed! The reason why: apart from the body of a game, its numerous updates are also dragged into the process. But you can get them later separately. 

#6 — Try before you buy

Well, not really try, but watch. Thanks to the in-built Broadcast option, you can instantly access live streams on Twitch. 

You can watch them amidst checking out the game offers. So, if you want to know what a certain game has to offer in terms of gameplay, you can find out right this second.

#7 — Menu button tricks

The menu button is like Atlas, which carries the navigation mechanics of the system. But can it do any other useful things? Yes!

It unfolds a feature list, properties, and other things of everything that you click on. It’s Xbox’s RMB, basically.

#8 — Snap achievements

You can monitor your in-game achievements smartly:

  • Double-tap the Xbox button;
  • choose the “Achievement” tab;
  • highlight the one that you need;
  • press A. 

 And now you can monitor how close you’re getting to some in-game trophy. 

#9 — Xbox + PC 

They belong to the same family. And you can connect an Xbox controller to your desktop if it runs Windows 7 or 10. A step-by-step guide:

  • Connect the controller to your PC;
  • head to the Device Manager to install the Xbox driver;
  • reconnect the controller to the USB port.

If everything goes smoothly, it’ll greet you with a brisk vibration. If not, you can consult this thread on the official MS website. MacOS is also compatible, but you’ll need a wireless controller.

#10 —  Phone equals controller?

Your phone can be turned into a Kinect substitute of sorts:

  • Download this app.
  • Synchronize your console and phone.

Now you can switch on/off some features, discover new games, chat with your Xbox buddies, etc. All on the go.

Xbox Power Activated

Use these tips, show them to your friends, and unlock the full potential of your console. More lifehacks are coming. Also, leave a comment and tell us if you like our tips.