Microsoft is testing a new Xbox download system that could speed up game installs on the Xbox PC app and on Xbox consoles. Spotted by Tom Warren, a senior correspondent at The Verge, the <a href="https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/hardware-network/xbox-insider-release-notes/console/alpha/2026/07/alpha-2608-260719-2200″ rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>update uses a “smart download client” that checks available servers and selects the fastest route for downloads. Best of all, to make it even faster, it can switch servers during the process if another one performs better.
This could be a game-changer (no pun intended), as many titles eat a lot of storage and take a long time to download before you can start playing. Xbox app downloads have also drawn criticism for failing to use users’ actual internet speeds, making downloads even slower than they’d be on Steam or other clients. Now, users could see faster and more consistent download speeds, resulting in quicker installs.
The test is currently in the Xbox Insider program, and Microsoft has not announced a public release date. It also hasn’t confirmed how much speed improvement ordinary users will get once the test ends.
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