Beginner’s Guide to Xbox Series X|S

Welcome, new Xbox owner!

You’ve just stepped up your gaming game with one of the most powerful consoles available today—congratulations! To ensure you dive into the gaming action swiftly, there are a few key things you’ll need to do once you’ve unboxed your shiny new Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S.

Before we jump into the specifics, remember: the recommendations here are just the beginning. For comprehensive, step-by-step setup instructions, check out Xbox’s official site.

## Getting Your Console Ready

Let’s start by setting up your console. Go ahead and follow the instructions included in the box to connect your Xbox to the internet, using either a broadband or wireless connection. Once that’s sorted, plug it into a TV with HDMI compatibility and power it on to initiate the updates.

Updating your console is essential for playing the latest games and ensuring your system is secure. We advise completing this update process before hooking up any extra peripherals, such as external hard drives or charging stations, to guarantee everything works smoothly together, both now and down the line. A full list of compatible accessories is available on the Xbox website.

Depending on your internet speed and the number of updates needed, this step might take a while. If you’re gifting the console, consider doing this part ahead of time—it speeds things up when it’s finally unwrapped.

While your console is updating, why not download the Xbox app for iOS or Android? This handy app offers step-by-step setup guidance and allows you to manage your console from your smartphone. If you’re a parent or guardian, the Xbox Family Settings app is also a must-have for added control and safety features.

## Setting Up Your Free Xbox Account

To unlock features like online multiplayer gaming and join a vibrant gaming community, you’ll need a free Xbox account. You can sign up here. If you already have a Microsoft account from other services like Windows or Outlook, you’re good to go!

This is also an ideal time to set up a Family Group, especially useful if you have younger gamers in the house. It allows you to create individual accounts for each player, giving you the ability to tailor content and screen time settings as needed. Learn more about setting up a Family Group on Xbox here.

## Configuring Family Settings

For consoles being set up for children under 13, creating a child account is essential. It simplifies how you add family members to a family group and helps you monitor console activities via the free Xbox Family Settings app, available for both iOS and Android.

Customize their experience: set up screen time schedules, manage content restrictions, tweak communication settings, review friend requests, and set spending limits on the Xbox Store. You can adjust these settings whenever you like, encouraging healthy gaming habits along the way.

## Activating Energy Saving Features

Did you know your Xbox can be eco-friendly? It sure can! By opting for the Shutdown (energy saving) mode, your console can consume up to 20 times less energy when it’s off versus the Sleep mode. It’s set to this energy-saving mode by default, but feel free to tweak the settings to what you prefer. Just head over to Settings, click on the General tab, and navigate to Power Options.

## Exploring Gaming Accessibility Features

Thanks to feedback from the Gaming & Disability Community, many titles on Xbox’s Microsoft Store now highlight accessibility features through special tags, making it easier for players with disabilities to decide if a game suits them. The Xbox Series X|S is packed with features designed to make gaming accessible to everyone.

With Copilot, two controllers can be turned into one. The Xbox Accessories app lets you reconfigure your controller button layout. Speech to Text transforms in-game chat into on-screen text, and Quick Settings offers swift access to features like Night Mode and High Contrast.

If you have further suggestions as you explore these features, check out the Xbox Accessibility Insider League (XAIL) FAQ page. Discover the full range of accessibility settings on the official Accessibility site on Xbox.com. Many games also come with superb accessibility features crafted alongside the disability community:

– Forza Motorsport provides Blind Driving Assists for players who are blind or have low vision.
– Forza Horizon 5 includes ASL/BSL interpreters during cinematics.
– Grounded offers an Arachnophobia Safe Mode to adjust the spider appearance.

Moreover, Xbox provides the Xbox Adaptive Controller, especially designed for players with limited mobility. It acts as a hub for devices that enhance gaming accessibility. For more insights, explore the Xbox Adaptive Controller and its User Guide.

## Dive into Game Pass

Get more out of your console with a Game Pass Ultimate membership, unlocking console multiplayer and instant access to hundreds of high-quality games. This includes day-one releases from top studios like Gears of War, Halo, and Forza, as well as a plethora of indie games and more. Ultimate membership even stretches to PC titles, Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), exclusive deals, and EA Play access, featuring hits like EA Sports FC, Battlefield, and Star Wars.

For PC gamers, there’s the PC Game Pass through the Xbox app on Windows PC. Browse a wide range of PC games, get recommendations, filter by genre, and discover new favorites. Like the Ultimate membership, PC Game Pass includes EA Play on PC at no extra cost.

Opt for Xbox Game Pass Core for online multiplayer and access to over 25 games on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. It also offers discounts up to 50% on certain games.

Xbox Game Pass Standard gives you everything Core offers, plus hundreds more high-quality games for a single monthly fee, constantly updated with new titles. Note, however, it doesn’t include all day-one releases.

## Time to Start Gaming

With everything set up, it’s gaming time! Head over to Xbox.com for a variety of resources to kickstart your journey. Discover new releases and bestsellers on the Games homepage, or check out the Xbox Sales & Specials page for deals on games, consoles, and accessories.

For the latest Xbox clothing and accessories, visit the official Xbox Gear Shop, or hit the Microsoft Store on Xbox for the latest releases and add-on content at fantastic prices.

One of Xbox’s exciting additions, Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), available with a Game Pass Ultimate membership, lets you stream games to your devices, from mobile phones to PCs, anywhere you are.

Additionally, all membership tiers include Xbox Remote Play. This means you can play games installed on your console from any compatible PC, Android, or iOS device. Explore more about Xbox Remote Play here.

Welcome to the Xbox family! If you haven’t already, bookmark Xbox Wire to keep updated with the latest news and updates about your favorite games across Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud gaming. Happy gaming!