We're loving Xbox's range of dynamic backgrounds on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, with two more based on Halo Infinite and Wasteland added earlier today, but why can't you make your own custom versions?
It seems the answer lies in the memory budget for the dashboard on these consoles, as Xbox Engineering Lead Eden Marie took to Twitter yesterday to explain that any kind of full motion video would just be a step too far:
This means you're never going to be able to turn a gameplay clip into a dynamic background, for example, although it remains to be seen whether Xbox could implement additional features such as utilising a revolving sequence of screenshots and/or custom audio... any kind of customisation would surely go down well in the future.
Nevertheless, we're still very happy with the selection on offer right now — but if you were wondering why you couldn't make your own dynamic backgrounds, this is seemingly the answer. It's nice to get clarification all the same!
What are your thoughts on Xbox's dynamic backgrounds for Series X and Series S? Let us know below.
Comments 13
Would much rather the memory pool is saved for games than a dynamic background. Sensible trade off
We just need more of this dynamic backgrounds based on games from Xbox game studios, a FH5 and a Gunk one would be nice
Not like you can see them fully anyway, pointless giving resources to something that's mostly obscured by tiles and adverts.
@FraserG Speaking of adverts, what's with the obnoxious amount of multiple video ads that play by default on this site lately? Three on this page alone. I tend not to adblock sites I like but purexbox just made my blocklist.
@Shigurui Not something I deal with directly, but I'll pass on your feedback 👍
That's what I like about them, I wouldn't use them if they were more resource intensive.
I'm scratching my head trying to figure out in what world, something that uses next to no systems resources or space, would be too much for the Xbox.
I do this on my PC which has much higher overhead than an Xbox. At the same time it is also not as advance as my Xbox so something doesn't seem to add up here. Particularly when considering the fact that once a game is running, the dashboard is essentially suspended at which point is is no longer a drain on the system.
@FraserG Thanks, I get how much ads help the site and I'll click on the occasional static one but autoplay video ads need to die in a fire.
Just here for the games, as long as the background isn’t distracting I don’t care.
Memory for games is more important
I'm perfectly fine being limited to the ones they provide to us, but I hope they keep them trickling in so we at least have a variety to choose from in the future.
@themightyant I feel the same
@Shigurui They also seemingly removed the ability to make app and game tiles semi-transparent.
I'd rather have multitasking by snap back than this.
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