Finally! Friend notifications will be returning to Xbox One as part of its next system update, with new features now being rolled out to participants of Microsoft's update preview program.
Notifications, which pop-up when a friend signs in to Xbox Live and starts a game, was a feature of the Xbox 360 but did not make it to the Xbox One in time for launch. Since then, Microsoft has said notifications have become one of the most frequently requested features.
Also in the next Xbox One update preview are improvements to Kinect and GameDVR and more on-screen information about saves and updates for games and apps.
It is currently unknown when every Xbox One owner will get to sample the new features, but it should (fingers crossed) arrive sometime in April.
Microsoft rolled out its last major Xbox One update at the start of March, which brought back party chat and Twitch integration in time for Titanfall.
Here's what Microsoft says is new in the its latest update preview (via NeoGAF):
Game and app saves and updates. A game save progress bar will show you the status of your game saves. You will also be able to easily tell what games and apps are being updated or have been updated recently.
Friends improvements. Notifications will be added to see when favorites and friends sign in to Xbox Live. This actually was one of the most frequently requested features from the first preview wave and we made it a priority to include it in the April update. Also, friends who are in multiplayer will be identified in the friends list. We’ll also add the ability to view friends’ most popular apps.
Blu-ray 50 Hz video output support for content recorded at 50 Hz will resolve video playback issues some Xbox Live members in Europe are experiencing.
Kinect voice and motion improvements will continue to fine tune the quality and reliability of Xbox One commands.
Improved GameDVR video quality through compression algorithm improvements.
Updates to Xbox One device management to address issues controlling TVs, set top boxes, and receivers that our customers have reported.
New audio settings to tune how much volume is lowered when Kinect is used in communications.
