Xbox Is Testing a New Game Hub Feature — But It Adds an Extra Step to Launching Your Games

Microsoft is once again tweaking the Xbox dashboard experience. A new update being tested by members of the Xbox Insider Program introduces a redesigned Game Hub system on the Xbox Series X|S — and it’s already sparking mixed reactions.

Here’s what the new feature does, why it matters, and why some players are already asking for the option to turn it off.

What’s the New Xbox Game Hub Feature?

Instead of launching a game directly by pressing the A button on its tile, the updated dashboard first opens a Game Hub page. This hub provides additional information about the game, such as:

• Your total Gamerscore in that title

• Time played

• Friends who are also playing

• Recent screenshots and videos

• Shortcuts to the game’s store page, updates, and DLC

While these extras can be useful, the change means that launching a game now takes an extra button press — something many players feel is unnecessary.

Why Is Xbox Testing This?

Microsoft is always experimenting with ways to improve its user interface. The Game Hub system is likely an attempt to give players quick access to more data about their games, without having to dig through menus.

But the implementation is already raising concerns. As reported by The Verge’s Tom Warren, while you can disable the hub for games on the home screen, you can’t avoid it for titles in your full library or quick resume list — at least in the current test version.

What Players Are Saying

The community reaction so far has been mixed:

• Some users appreciate the quick access to extra info.

• Others are frustrated by the added friction when trying to simply launch a game.

• One common suggestion is to assign the Game Hub to the X button instead of replacing the traditional A button function.

This would preserve the fast, one-click launch experience while giving players the option to open the hub when they want to.

The Bigger Picture: Customization vs. Convenience

Xbox has often been praised for giving users flexibility in UI customization — but not always. While recent dashboard updates have improved visuals and performance, they’ve also added more promotional content and layers that some users find intrusive.

Ideally, Microsoft could allow players to toggle the Game Hub feature entirely, or customize what shows up when selecting a game.

Because at the end of the day, most of us just want to turn on our console and jump straight into the action.