Xbox Consoles Get Brand-New System Update for February 2026

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A new update for Xbox began releasing to compatible devices – including Xbox consoles and PCs – in late February 2026. This update enhances cloud gaming on Xbox consoles and adds new features for controllers on PC, along with other improvements.

Xbox usually gets big updates every month, and the latest one came out on January 21st. This update improved the Xbox app on Windows 11 PCs, especially for those with ARM processors, and added a helpful indicator to show when your game saves are syncing. It also made Xbox Cloud Gaming work with even more smart TVs and continued to expand support for handheld devices.

February 2026 Xbox Update Brings 1440p Streaming to Consoles

On February 25th, Xbox released a major update – the second of 2026. A key improvement is higher-quality cloud gaming, now streaming at up to 1440p with faster speeds on Xbox consoles. Although cloud gaming was made available to most Xbox Game Pass members in August 2025, these enhanced features are still exclusive to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. You’ll be able to enjoy 1440p streaming on the newest two generations of Xbox consoles, the Xbox PC app, and certain handheld PCs and browsers. The update also includes support for Smart TVs, including those that recently gained Xbox Cloud Gaming access in January 2026.

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Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members will immediately notice clearer and more detailed images. The upgrade from 1080p to 1440p means less blur, especially on larger, high-quality TVs and monitors. A higher bitrate also improves picture quality by reducing visual distortions like smearing or pixelation during fast-paced action. While the improvements to responsiveness might be less noticeable, the February 2026 Xbox Cloud Gaming update is designed to make gameplay feel smoother. Cloud gaming relies on a constant connection between your device and Microsoft’s servers, and while a faster connection doesn’t eliminate delays completely, Microsoft believes these changes will lead to more consistent and fluid performance. Of course, a strong and reliable internet connection is essential to experience these benefits. These Xbox Cloud Gaming improvements have been in development since at least early 2025.

Xbox PC App Gets New Controller Navigation Sounds

Image via Microsoft

The February 2026 PC update focuses on improving how the game feels to use, with a new feature being optional sounds for controller navigation. These sounds, available now in the Xbox PC app, are designed to make moving through menus feel more connected and responsive. You can customize or disable them in the app’s audio settings if you prefer the original setup. Initial tests by TopMob show the feature is turned on automatically with the update. The update also includes a redesigned layout for the Game Bar Audio widget.

ROG Xbox Ally Lineup Receives Several Improvements

So, the February 2026 update has some cool stuff for my ROG Ally and Ally X! They’ve added this ‘Advanced Shader Delivery Indicator’ which basically tells me if a game has already pre-loaded all its shaders. That’s awesome because it means less stuttering and faster loading times, especially when I first launch a game. Microsoft says it’s just a little way to keep us informed, but I appreciate knowing if a game is really ready to go. Plus, they’ve made it way easier to format my microSD cards right from the Xbox app on my Ally. Now, when I’m installing a game and need some extra space, I can just format the card directly without messing around with my computer – super convenient!

Xbox February 2026 Update Full Patch Notes

Xbox Cloud Gaming Improvements on Consoles

  • Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox consoles is leveling up. We’re now rolling out up to 1440p, higher bitrate streaming for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, delivering sharper visuals and more responsive gameplay across supported titles and regions.
  • This upgrade is beginning to roll out on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One X and Xbox One S consoles – joining the Xbox PC app, handhelds, supported browsers, select Fire TV devices, LG TVs, and Samsung TVs. With Xbox Cloud Gaming now out of beta, we’re continuing to refine performance, expand support, and make cloud gameplay seamless.

Xbox app on PC and Game Bar 2602

  • Sounds when navigating with gamepad: When moving around the Xbox app and taking actions, you will hear familiar sounds like those of an Xbox console, giving you audio feedback.
  • Numerical battery percentage in Game Bar: When opening Game Bar, the actual percentage of battery remaining on your device will now appear in addition to a visual representation of battery life.
  • Improved filters and sorting in Library: Your game library now allows you to filter by Handheld Verified status, Performance Fit, and sort by a number of new criteria. Additionally, the buttons for sorting and filtering have been improved to be easier to use.
  • Game Bar Audio widget improvements: The Audio widget in Game Bar now has improved gamepad navigation support and an updated layout and styling to go with those changes.

ROG Xbox Ally Updates

  • Improved Removable Storage Formatting support: ROG Xbox Ally players can now easily format removable storage (including the officially licensed Sandisk microSD cards) for installing and running games directly in the Xbox app. When installing a game, you can simply select your removable storage drive and format it directly.
  • Advanced Shader Delivery Indicator: ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X players will now see a notice on the game loading screen of supported titles indicating if graphic shaders were pre-compiled. Advanced Shader Delivery preloads game shaders during download so select games launch faster and run smoother on first play.
  • Additional Improvements: We’ve made several other updates for ROG Xbox Ally players based on their feedback.

ASUS Armoury Crate and Command Center

  • More flexible key mapping: You can now remap Gaming Copilot and Push-to-Talk keys directly from the Action section in the keymap configuration menu.
  • More accurate Modern Standby behavior: Improved Extreme Standby Mode logic for more reliable Modern Standby performance. (Requires ROG Xbox Ally BIOS v317 or later).
  • Improved UI scaling at 900p: Fixed an issue where the Armoury Crate SE (ACSE) interface could extend beyond the screen at 900p resolution.
  • Improved system stability with controller emulation: Fixed an issue that could cause a system crash when using the Xbox 360 Controller Emulator.

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2026-02-26 01:49