The Quick Resume feature on the Xbox Series X/S consoles is getting even better with the May 2021 update. Microsoft claims the update makes Quick Resume more reliable and improves load times even further for compatible games.
The Quick Resume feature on the Xbox Series X/S lets you switch between multiple games and resume playing a game from the same point where you last left it in an instant.
Quick Resume on the Xbox Series X/S Gets Even Better
You'll now also be able to easily find games that support Quick Resume on your Xbox Series X/S. These games will now be highlighted with a new tag to make finding them easier.
Additionally, your Xbox Series X/S will start grouping games that are currently saved using the Quick Resume feature so that you can easily see which games are ready for you to jump right into and start playing. You can add this group to your Xbox Home screen as well.
In March, Microsoft rolled out an update for the Xbox Series X/S that lets you suspend games to increase download speeds.
Audio Passthrough for Media Apps
Apart from Quick Resume improvements, the May 2021 update for the Xbox Series X/S adds passthrough support for media apps like Plex, Disney+, and others. This will allow such streaming apps to send their decoded audio stream directly to your sound system bypassing the Xbox for the best possible quality.
Make sure to enable Allow Passthrough option from the Xbox audio settings screen to take advantage of this feature.
In its announcement on the Xbox Blog, Microsoft highlights that the May 2021 update adds the ability to watch game trailers in the Xbox Game Pass library. This will easily let you find the next game that's worth playing. All game titles highlighted in the Game Pass hub spotlight will automatically start playing their trailer when you focus on them.
New "Motes" Dynamic Background Added to Xbox Series X/S
There are other miscellaneous but important changes in the May 2021 update for the Xbox Series X/S. There's a new "Motes" dynamic background that you can use on your Xbox's Home screen.
Xbox Family Settings is also improving and will let you approve multiplayer games on a title-by-title basis. This means you will be able to approve multiplayer gaming requests for a specific title for your children even if you have disabled the feature as a part of your Xbox family settings. You can approve games directly from your Xbox console or the Xbox Family Settings app for iPhone and Android.
Microsoft also announced that it is shutting the Smart Glass app for PC and removing it from the Microsoft Store. It is now recommending that you use the Xbox app for Windows 10 to discover and manage games with Xbox Game Pass.