We didn't see this one coming! It's just been announced that Xbox achievements are getting multiple new improvements, including a brand-new visual refresh, and these are rolling out to Xbox Insiders starting today.
The most major difference here is that achievements now look different — they feature "updated icons and animations when you unlock classic or rare achievements", and you can see an example of a rare achievement up above.
"We’ve refreshed achievement notifications with a new look and feel, including updated icons and animations when you unlock classic or rare achievements. Notifications will also match your custom color, making each unlock feel more personal. Happy achievement hunting!"
Another major thing is the ability to highlight games you've 100% completed. These will appear highlighted by default, and you'll also be able to sort by 100% completions if you want to, while Xbox says that it's "continuing to explore new ways to recognize completion and milestone moments over time".
"When you’ve earned all available Gamerscore for a title, you’ll now see it highlighted in your achievements list, so your hard work is easy to spot. This gives you a quick, at-a-glance way to celebrate full completion."
Finally, you'll now be able to hide games from your Xbox achievements list if you wish as well. Xbox says this "has been one of the most requested features from Xbox Insiders", allowing you to have "more control over how your accomplishments are presented", and it's a feature that will be rolling out later this month.
"Whether you want a cleaner look or just want to highlight what matters most to you, this puts your profile in your hands."
All of this will initially be available to members of the Xbox Insider program alone, followed by a public rollout for all Xbox users at some point in the near future (Insider features usually remain exclusive for just a few weeks).
Multiple members of Team Xbox have been mentioning how there are more Xbox achievement improvements to come in the future as well, including Xbox boss Asha Sharma and next-gen exec Jason Ronald:
We'll leave you with some images below that are part of the new Xbox achievement refresh:
Excited for this? What else are you hoping to see in the future? Tell us down in the comments.
Comments 16
I couldn't care less about trophies, but this is excellent for those that do.
Asha is off to a good start.
The only thing I really wish they would do is move or at least give the option to move the achievement pop up notification to the top left of the screen like Sony does. I hate it when you are in game especially during a cutscene or QTE and the achievement pops up at the bottom of the screen and covers up text. So annoying.
They finally allow us to hide games! New visuals look cool however I’d have liked a separate list for DLC and a special achievement for 100% a game (a platinum trophy equivalent).
Most importantly it really seems new leadership at Xbox is really listening and finally doing things the last administration neglected for whatever reason.
@Tasuki You can set up all notifications to appear on any corner, it’s been an option ever since the Xbox One days.
@IOI Really, I never knew that, I will have check that out. Thanks.
First thing I'm seeing that sparks my curiosity. Lets see how this moves forward.
Hope they dont forget about doing something for earning achievements while playing xbox games on pc because the notification for those is very sad.
@Tasuki though do bear in mind that some games do override this setting.
I hope hiding games is the first step for deleting titles we don't want in our profiles. I really want to curate my history.
Being able to hide games with earned achievements is a nice addition. I’ve got a few on my list from trying stuff out on Game Pass, and I’ve wished I could remove those I know I won’t go back to.
It's a very basic update, but since they haven't paid any attention to achievements for so many years, any improvement is welcome.
Good, but not good enough. What achievement hunters really want is a way to permanently remove games with partially completed gamerscore from our achievement lists. Not ‘hide’ like what’s included in this update, but actually Remove the games from our lists. If platform holders like Sony or Microsoft won’t enforce stricter guidelines as to what is acceptable achievement criteria and what is not, then this would act as a catch-all to defuse a number of potentially anti-achievement hunter practices.
Whether a developer decides to include an achievement that is far too difficult or time consuming for the average player, or if the achievement itself is bugged, or in the event of an abrupt server shutdown that would render 100% completion impossible, the ability to simply erase the incomplete game from existence would preserve an achievement hunter’s hard fought, hard earned account without staining it with a game which would remain forever incomplete.
TL;DR, Either get devs in line and make sure the criteria is acceptable across the board, or give the end user the option to bypass any potential issues.
Fully expected the AI to generate a certificate now and congrats me with a poem or something… seems so millennial to just get a pop up….
One thing I'd like to have is a way to get a previously unlocked achievement (without receiving gamerscore points, obviously). Sometimes I'd wanna feel like playing a game for the first time.
It's funny because people swore up and down Phil and Sarah cared about the console and console gamers, yet in 1 month Asha Sharma has done more updates and features than those two did in the past 2 years!
I'm not sold on Xbox just yet, really depends on if they bring back exclusive games, but at least they are acting like console gamers exist again.
I'd be absolutely shocked if this is Sharma's doing, @TheGameThrifter. These improvements have probably been in the works for a few months.
It's likely to be 2 or 3 years before we really see Sharma's vision for Xbox. Until then, most of what happens, maybe everything that happens, will just be things she can take credit for without actually being the one that implemented it in the first place.
Xbox is like a huge tanker, set on a particular course, with it taking months or even years to change direction, and steering the ship in a different direction takes time to take effect...
As I’m about to reach one million GS, with just under 1000 GS needed, this update although is a welcome one it is also too little too late for me.
When I’ve reached a million GS I’ll just be unlocking achievements in certain games I really like and actually want to go out of my way to unlock. One million is the ultimate milestone imo, after that two million, three million etc just isn’t the same. It’ll of took me nearly 21 years reaching one million!
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