Xbox is making some big changes to its achievement system, and Insiders are getting a glimpse ahead of everyone else. Achievements have been a major part of the Xbox ecosystem for decades now, going all the way back to 2005. Achievements have been a point of pride among gamers, offering an incentive to put in some extra work while playing various games.
The Xbox brand is in the middle of a major transition at the moment. Xbox Series X/S has struggled to find the same level of success as past Microsoft consoles, and the company’s higher-ups have looked for ways to make users excited again. This year has seen major shake-ups at the top, with new Xbox boss Asha Sharma taking the place of Phil Spencer. It remains to be seen what the future holds for the company, but fans are hoping that things can start to turn around.
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Xbox Achievement Changes Revealed
Xbox has been making changes to its achievements throughout 2026, and the company has even more in store. Xbox Insiders are getting these changes right now, but they’ll be rolled out to all players sometime in the future. For starters, when a player obtains 100% of achievements for a game, it will now be highlighted on their profile, making it easier to spot. Getting 100% of achievements in a game is a big point of pride, especially for tougher games like Elden Ring. It makes sense that some players would want to make sure their biggest accomplishments don’t get lost among all the other games they’ve played.
In one of the more interesting changes, Xbox users will gain the ability to hide games that appear on their profile, starting later this month. Following the change, players who have put a lot of work into games they might be less proud of can make sure other people can’t see it. It will also prevent other users from finding out just how many achievements the player might have missed or struggled to obtain in relatively easy games. The change might seem silly, but Xbox says that it’s been one of the most often requested changes by users. In an era where gamers don’t have nearly as much privacy as they used to, it’s easy to see how some might embrace this change. Hidden games will not have a negative impact on the user’s Gamerscore.
In March, Xbox started to offer more color customization options. With this new update, achievement notifications will now match the user’s custom-designed color, making them more personalized. There will also be new animations that appear when the player obtains a classic or rare achievement.
Balance the critic averages
Balance the critic averages
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So far, the achievement changes have seen a lot of praise on social media, with many users noting that these options should have happened a long time ago. It’s unlikely that this update will suddenly make Xbox a more viable brand to newcomers, but it should create a more pleasant experience. With plans underway for Xbox Series X/S successor Project Helix, the company will need all the goodwill it can get. New consoles are always a tough sell, especially with how RAM costs keep going up. Xbox has a long way to go when it comes to restoring faith in the brand, but every little win helps.
