Xbox One November Update Custom Backgrounds: Check Out How Spiffy They'll Look on Your Dashboard

The Xbox One November update introduces the ability to use achievement art you unlocked as a custom background, in addition to a rather extensive palette of colors.

Here's how the achievement artwork will look on your dashboard.

[gamer1138]

It's a great first step. Got a titanfall background on mine at the moment. Just need the ability to upload your own backgrounds rather than using achievement ones.

[Abriael]

I'd me more interested in selecting how much the bacground is dimmed. Dimming is necessary for the tiles to stand out, but now they're a bit too dimmed for my taste.

[Gazondaily]

Any chance you can take the snaps with a recording device as opposed to a camera? I want to see just how dim they look. They do look way too dim at the moment.

[gamer1138]

@Abriel. I agree to an extent. Some of the achievement art does look a little too dark but then some really stand out, like ones from Shadow Of Mordor.

[Abriael]

@Septic: unfortunately I don't have one (I'll have to get an elgato soon, they're damn hard to find here in Italy for some reason), but yeah, they look very dim at the moment, probably to make the tiles stand out. What you see on the pics is pretty much exactly what I'm seeing on my screen as of brightness. Hopefully they'll make it an option.

[Gazondaily]

Ah okay fair play mate. Yeah they are way too dim for my liking too.

[Revolt13]

I was checking it out, it seems the background dims the further you scroll right > by the store
And lightens up to normal the further you go left < my pinned apps

[Abriael]

@Revolt13: yep, the two screens on the right are even dimmer. I can confirm that.

Probably because some of the text on them is not on tiles.

[VegasDawg]

You have much bigger problems to worry about.

[Samsara82]

personally on mine when I move across the menu, the tiles become a little translucide so you see the background...i'll try to do a video or something because the pictures from Dualshockers are static and all taken at the same spot on the dashboard.

[NoDucks]

They dim when changing between home pages (Pins, Home, Friends, Store). Home is the darkest, store is the lightest

[Gamer1982]

Tiles take up way too much room you can hardly see the background. The PS4 and The Xbox One have okay GUI but they both need a change. Doubt MS will ever change the Xbox though as they want it as near to windows as possible.

[thexmanone]

I'm sure you will be able to resize the tiles. Just like you can do in windows 8. With all these updates that come out, it will be soon.

[mcstorm]

I think they will change it to match whindows phone in the end as I am running the beta of WP8 and I have the live folders which I think would work really well on the xbox one and it will also replace your tiles picture with the background you pick so I would love to see both of these options on the xbox one but more than anything folders so I can arrange my files on the home screen better.

This is what im talking about for anyone who is unsure.

http://swedishtechreport.co...

[NoDucks]

Windows 10 comes out next year, and the pre-release screenshots look good

[annoyedgamer]

The ability to add your own backgrounds is on its way should arrive in November.

[AutoCad]

its actually there already,i created my own background last night

https://pbs.twimg.com/media...

[Yetter]

They say in the update video you can use the media player app to grab a screenshot of anything and use it as your background. Is that not included in this update?

[Hexer1021]

Nope. It's gonna be "later down the road" so maybe in late November or possibly December.

[DJStotty]

http://majornelson.com/

you can even create and share your own background for other users to download and try out. that my friends is available to preview members now, and will be in the november update for all others not in the preview program

[NoDucks]

It will be on before general consumer release according to what they have told us Beta Testers

[DJStotty]

http://majornelson.com/ you can use any picture that you like :)

[DirtyLary]

Just achievements? I see people on reddit making custom backgrounds?

[Yetter]

http://majornelson.com/

According to this you can

[BLKxSEPTEMBER]

I love my X1!!!!! Keep the updates coming MS. Excellent job.

[XanderZane]

I agree. I downloaded the update last night, but didn't have time to explore all the new stuff. I will definitely check out the Themes and see if I can play video and music from my IPod and digital camera. Should be interesting.

[sashimi]

the tiles ruin the background for me, it might aswell be blank /shrug

[Abriael]

In which case, you can at least select colors now.

[TheBrit]

Always had a choice of colored backgrounds, at least I have.

I agree though, I picked from several backgrounds and the only place I saw it actually appear was in the main tile on the home page, the actual screen behind it always seemed to be just 'black'

wonder if I am doing something wrong here. I will use media app tonight to snapshot a completely bright picture say, sunset overdrive and try and see if that makes a difference.

[TheBrit]

I cannot edit my post so I will correct it here, I believe I was getting background colors mixed up with the tile colors that you could always change.

[DaGR8JIBRALTAR]

Exactly. With all the tiles,backgrounds really make no sense.

[Riderz1337]

The tiles really ruin it. You can't see anything lol

[Gameplay999]

Perhaps optional transluscent tiles?

[Gamer1982]

A good idea but that requires more resources. Not much but with MS trying to squeeze every drop out of its console. They would have to get that resource back from somewhere they cannot take away from games resource so it would be difficult as they have no doubt already got that dash running at pretty high efficiency.

[BattleTorn]

[commented under wrong article]

[smellslikeralph]

i tweeted to phil spencer that we need either Smaller tiles, the ability to resize our own tiles or a removal of tiles period.

I dont mind the tiles but id like to be able to resize them personally

[Godz Kastro]

You should join the preview program and make the suggestion there. If you need an invite let me know.

[jrshankill]

Hey Godz can you send an invite my way?

[OldDude]

I could use one if you wouldn't mind. Jealous of all you guys getting them early.

Thank you.

[vishant101]

Me two please :)

[lawgone]

Could you please send me one? Thanks.

[StormLegend]

The tiles are in the way.. I would rather just change the colors of the tiles instead.

[DJStotty]

you can change the colour of the tiles can't you?? i have been doing this since launch day?

[CervantesPR1]

i have to say as playstation gamer and someone who is not fond of xbox,

this is pretty cool, getting wallpapers as rewards for achievements is a great idea, but the tropy system in PSN is much better than the achievement system in xbox live but this is a great idea that i hope sony also implements in their trophy system.

[Masterh0ppa]

Trophy system much better? You smoking crack again mate?

[smellslikeralph]

Hes on something stronger then crack. Its called playstACID because hes seeing things

[DarthJay]

The ONLY thing better about the trophy system is the reward of a platinum trophy. There is something to be said for having something to show for getting all the achievements.

It would be awesome if Xbox One had something similar to what the 360 had where it showed off all the games you have a perfect score in. That would be a nice touch.

Otherwise, gamerscore is as good as it gets. You can't compare the gold/silver/bronze system. It's not as tangible as a number that constantly gets bigger.

[OVOrizzy]

Meanwhile us PS4 users are waiting for firmware update 2.0.... *SIGH*

[medman]

@ovorizzy
Granted, the wait is tough...but the amount of awesome in the update along with share play will make it all worthwhile. I only hope shareplay works properly.

[Hammtweezy2192]

It's pretty cool adds a new look for sure. Next update will add brightness adjustment to background and use your own photos with one drive.

[oNoxious]

Not bad. It's still a little bland looking overall but I didn't buy it for custom backgrounds, as long as I can play my games anything they add is a plus.

Would like to see something done with the avatars though, they're pushed away and seem to have been forgotten about.

[Kingdomcome247]

They've made mention of making the Avatars a focal point once more. I never cared too much for them personally, but there's been a lot of buzz on Xbox feedback for them to return. I'm loving the backgrounds currently. I've got the forest scene from Ryse as my background at the moment.

[oNoxious]

I may have to finish Ryse for some better backgrounds, currently I'm using a CoD Ghosts background of two soldiers. It's good that they're listening, I wasn't too fussed by the avatars on 360 but maybe they could do something cool with them this time.

[lawgone]

I still haven't decided how I feel about the tiles but this is a step in the right direction. I may actually just go with the xbox green background.

[Sneakybudda]

i love all these updates, it makes the console evolve and thats why i love xbox. Anyone else agree?

[DarkSniper]

Dark Sniper definitely agrees. Xbox One does the right thing by their audience by enhancing the next generation experience with consistent updates that gives the user maximum customization when enjoying the Xbox experience.

Dark Sniper is glad that he made the right choice this generation and he hopes that all of you having a pristine gaming experience on Xbox One.

Please have a bubble on Dark Sniper's behalf.

$niper

[DJStotty]

good stuff. i loved this feature on my x360!!! winter theme when it got a bit cold :) and also winter avatar. then put the summer clothes and theme in the summer. great way to personalise the console. now all we need is the avatars back microsoft (crosses fingers)

[BABY-JEDI]

It would be really good if you could make the tiles a little bit smaller & semi-transparent. But good step forward
; )