What Does the September 2026 Update Add?
The September 2026 update brings five console-facing features to Xbox Series X and Series S, starting with Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead ring members in the Xbox Insider program. Microsoft’s own release notes for the Alpha ring build confirm the rollout began on September 9, with a wider public release expected before the end of the year, as Xbox’s official Insider release notes detail. The changes are practical rather than flashy, but each one solves a specific annoyance long-time owners have lived with for years.
Five New Features at a Glance
The update touches remote play, voice chat, personalization, and search. Coverage of the rollout describes six console features rolling out to Alpha ring Insiders on September 9, with startup animation choice, badge customization, improved local search, remote play upgrades, background downloads during streaming, and Voice Clarity among the additions confirmed in reporting on the September update.
Feature | What It Does |
1440p Remote Play | Higher resolution and bitrate streaming to phones, tablets, and PCs |
Voice Clarity | Reduces background noise in party chat |
Startup animations | Choose boot screens from past Xbox generations |
Badge customization | Show up to five badges, hide others from public view |
Local search | Find games and achievements faster in My Games & Apps |
1440p Remote Play Preview
Remote Play now supports resolution up to 1440p with increased video bitrates, a direct upgrade for anyone streaming games off their console to a phone, tablet, or Windows PC. The bump in bitrate means fewer compression artifacts during fast-motion scenes, which matters more for competitive shooters than turn-based titles. Downloads can also continue in the background while you stream, cutting the dead time that used to force a choice between updating a game and playing it.
Voice Clarity for Party Chat
Voice Clarity filters out everyday background noise, such as fans, keyboards, or a TV playing in another room, so party chat comes through cleaner. It works at the system level rather than per-game, so the effect carries across every title and app that uses Xbox chat. Anyone who games in a shared living space or an apartment with thin walls will notice the difference immediately.
Custom Startup Animations
You can now pick your boot-up animation from the Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox Series X|S, or the default “We Are Xbox” screen. Microsoft has not added Xbox 360 or original Xbox startups yet, though the option list suggests more legacy screens could follow. It is a cosmetic touch with zero performance impact, appealing mainly to owners who like personalizing their dashboard.
Feature Availability by Xbox Insider Ring
Right now, these features are live only for Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead ring Insiders, not the general Xbox population. Broader availability is expected in the coming weeks or months, following Microsoft’s usual pattern of moving polished features from Insider rings to public release quickly once they’re stable. If you’re not enrolled in the Insider program, none of these five features are active on your console yet, regardless of how current your system software appears.
Keep Your Console or Turn It Into Cash?
Whether to keep your Xbox Series X or Series S after this update comes down to how often you actually use the features it adds, not how many features shipped. Owners who stream to other devices, chat constantly in parties, or care about dashboard personalization get real, usable upgrades. Owners who play locally, solo, or infrequently will barely register the change, and for them, current resale value and the looming X25 Limited Edition release make selling worth serious consideration.
Who Benefits Most From the Update?
Players who use Remote Play regularly, chat often in parties, or want a personalized dashboard get the most out of this update. If you stream games to a phone or laptop while away from your TV, the jump to 1440p resolution and higher bitrates is a tangible visual upgrade, not a marginal one. Anyone in a household with roommates, kids, or thin apartment walls will hear the difference Voice Clarity makes in party chat within minutes of turning it on. Startup animation and badge customization appeal to owners who spend time in the dashboard and treat their profile as a bit of a personal space.
Who Will Barely Notice It?
Owners who play mostly offline, single-player games with no chat or streaming habit will see almost nothing change in daily use. None of the five September additions affect frame rates, load times, or game compatibility. If your Xbox Series X sits connected to a TV and never leaves the room, features built around remote streaming and chat clarity don’t apply to your setup at all. For this group, the update is a fair moment to ask whether the console still earns its shelf space.
How Much Is an Xbox Series X or Series S Worth Today?
Resale value depends heavily on condition, storage configuration, and which model you own, with the Series X commanding a higher price than the Series S due to its larger SSD and 4K output at up to 120fps. Xbox Series X and S consoles have sold more than 34.4 million units worldwide as of February 2026 according to VGChartz data cited in a breakdown of the best places to sell a used Xbox, which keeps buyer demand active across resale platforms.
If you’re weighing your specific model, current condition-based offers are available for the Xbox Series X 1TB in Carbon Black, the all-digital Xbox Series X 1TB in Robot White, the Xbox Series S 512GB in Robot White, and the Xbox Series S 1TB in Black. For a direct look at how the two current models compare on the resale market, see this guide on Xbox Series X vs Series S resale value.
Does Holding Until the X25 Release Make Sense?
Holding onto your console specifically to wait out the November X25 Limited Edition release rarely pays off in resale terms. New hardware announcements typically push resale values on existing consoles downward as buyer attention and budget shift toward the newer model. Selling before that shift, while your Series X or Series S still reflects current condition-based pricing, tends to net more than waiting until after a splashy new release resets buyer expectations. If you’ve been eyeing a new console purchase funded partly by your current one, selling ahead of the X25 launch protects your resale window rather than gambling on it.
Why Gizmogo Is a Fast Selling Option
Gizmogo offers condition-based, instant quotes for Xbox Series X and Series S consoles regardless of cosmetic wear or working condition. The process skips the listing, photographing, and negotiating that private marketplace sales require, and payment is issued quickly once your console is verified. For owners who’ve decided the September update doesn’t change their daily habits enough to justify keeping the hardware, Gizmogo’s console trade-in options turn an idle Xbox into cash without the wait of a private sale.