TL;DR: Microsoft is piloting a smart download client in an Xbox OS preview (XB_FLT_2608GE26100.9400.260719-2200) that tests available content servers, measures connection speeds, and switches to the fastest server during installs and updates to shorten download and install times; the feature is currently limited to Alpha Skip-Ahead insiders.
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Microsoft is experimenting with a new console OS update that will help reduce the time it takes for games to download and install.
A recent Xbox update preview build introduces a smart client feature that aims to boost download speeds. Xbox insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead Ring (basically a fancy name for the Xbox users who test things out before anyone else) are currently testing OS Version XB_FLT_2608GE26100.9400.260719-2200, which adds the new intelligent download feature.
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“Users will experience a new feature to optimize game install and update speeds by introducing a smart download client. Shortly after your game download begins, the client will check which content servers are available for the install or update. It will then test the connection speed to each server pool and select the fastest available connection for that install. The speed test will rerun periodically during the install or update to ensure that the client continues using the fastest available connection.”
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It’s important to remember that this is a test phase and the smart client is currently not available for the general public.
This feature will definitely come in handy with big marquee games like Grand Theft Auto VI on the horizon. It’s also just a net benefit for the future of the Xbox ecosystem, which is expected to have a disc-less future similar to PlayStation. Microsoft’s next-gen Project Helix console is also expected to play both Xbox console and Windows PC games in a digital-oriented hybrid device.
What is the smart download client Microsoft is testing in the Xbox Alpha Skip-Ahead build?
Which specific Xbox Insider ring and OS version are currently testing the smart download client?
How does the smart client determine which content server to use for a game install or update?
Will the smart client re-evaluate server choices after a download has started?
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The addition also helps offset one of the more often-forgotten eccentricities of the Xbox console regarding download speeds; if a game is currently running on an Xbox Series console, download speeds will be significantly reduced.
