Xbox consoles will receive a brand new system update for February 2026

New Xbox the update began rolling out to supported devices, including Microsoft consoles and PCs, in late February 2026. The patch brings improvements to cloud gaming on Xbox consoles and new controller features on PC, among other updates.

Major Xbox updates usually arrive once a month, with the latest premiering on January 21st. The first 2026 patch extended support for Xbox PC apps to ARM-based PCs running Windows 11, added a game save sync indicator, and made Xbox Cloud Gaming compatible with more smart TV models, in addition to expanding the ever-growing handheld compatibility program.

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February 2026 Xbox Update brings 1440p streaming to consoles

The second major Xbox update of 2026 was released on Wednesday, February 25. Its highlights include the introduction of higher-quality Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming on consoles, allowing users to experience up to 1440p and higher bitrate video. Although the streaming service was extended to all Xbox Game Pass tiers except PC Game Pass in August 2025, the newly introduced enhancements will still be limited to Ultimate subscribers. Hardware-wise, 1440p streams will be supported on the latest two generations of Xbox consoles and the Xbox app for PC, as well as select handhelds and browsers. Smart TVs will also be included in the rollout, including those that just received Xbox Cloud Gaming support in January 2026.

Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.

Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10)

For Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, the immediate benefit is better picture quality. Moving from 1080p to 1440p results in finer detail and less visual blur, especially on larger QHD-compatible TVs and monitors. A higher bit rate further improves image quality by reducing compression artifacts such as blurring or blocking during fast motion. The February 2026 Xbox Cloud Gaming upgrade is also said to improve the game's responsiveness, though the impact may be more subtle. Cloud gaming relies on the continuous exchange of data between the player and remote servers, and while a higher bitrate alone won't eliminate input lag, Microsoft says the broader improvements can lead to smoother movement and more consistent performance. However, all of this depends on access to a sufficiently stable and fast Internet connection. According to previous insider reports, the newly debuted Xbox Cloud Gaming enhancements have been in the works since at least early 2025.

Image via Microsoft

On PC, the February 2026 update is largely focused on improving the end-user experience, highlighted by the inclusion of optional controller navigation sounds. Audio cues, now available in the Xbox app for PC, are designed to make navigating menus more responsive and tactile. These can be adjusted via the app's audio settings, which also allow them to be turned off completely for anyone who prefers the old driver's navigation setup. GameRant's testing suggests that the new feature is enabled by default. The patch also improves the Game Bar Audio widget with an updated layout.

The ROG Xbox Ally Lineup is getting several improvements

The changelog attached to the February 2026 update also mentions several additions to the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X handhelds. Both now offer an “Advanced Shader Delivery Indicator” that indicates whether supported games have precompiled shaders, which can reduce the usual stuttering or long waits players may experience on first launch. Microsoft frames this feature as a small transparent feature that helps users understand when a game is actually ready for a clean launch. Another novelty comes in the form of the ability to easily format removable storage – namely microSD cards – directly from the Xbox app on the ROG Xbox Ally device. The formatting option appears when installing a game, streamlining the process of freeing up space, or otherwise preparing the memory card for installation.

Full patch notes for Xbox February 2026

Xbox Cloud Gaming improvements on consoles

Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox consoles is increasing. We're now introducing up to 1440p streaming, higher bitrate for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, bringing sharper visuals and more responsive gameplay across supported titles and regions.
This upgrade is starting to roll out on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One X, and Xbox One S consoles — joining the Xbox PC app, handhelds, supported browsers, select Fire TV devices, LG TVs, and Samsung TVs. Now that Xbox Cloud Gaming is out of beta, we're continuing to improve performance, expand support, and make cloud gaming seamless.

Xbox app for PC and Game Bar 2602

Sounds when navigating with a gamepad: As you move around the Xbox app and perform actions, you'll hear familiar sounds like an Xbox console, giving you audio feedback.
Numerical battery percentage in game panel: When opening the game panel, in addition to the visual representation of battery life, the actual percentage of the remaining battery on the device will now be displayed.
Improved filters and sorting in the library: Your game library now lets you filter by Handheld Verified status, Performance Fit, and sort by a number of new criteria. In addition, the sorting and filtering buttons have been improved to make it easier to use.
Improvements to the Game Bar Audio widget: The Audio widget in the gamepad now has improved support for gamepad navigation and an updated layout and style to match these changes.

ROG Xbox Ally update

Improved support for formatting removable storage: ROG Xbox Ally players can now easily format removable storage (including officially licensed Sandisk microSD cards) to install and run games directly in the Xbox app. When installing the game, you can simply select your removable storage drive and format it directly.
Advanced Shader Delivery Indicator: ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X players will now see a notification on the game loading screen with supported titles indicating whether the graphics shaders have been precompiled. Advanced Shader Delivery pre-installs game shaders during download, so select games start faster and run smoother the first time you play.
Another improvement: We've made a few more updates for ROG Xbox Ally players based on their feedback.

ASUS Armory Crate and Command Center

More flexible key mapping: You can now remap the Gaming Copilot and Push-to-Talk keys directly from the Actions section of the keymap configuration menu.
More accurate behavior in modern standby mode: Improved extreme standby logic for more reliable performance in modern standby. (Requires ROG Xbox Ally BIOS v317 or later).
Updated default game profiles (preview): Default gaming profiles (preview) now use Windows Power Balanced mode to help optimize battery life while gaming.
- New introductory promo support is available for both ROG Ally models.
- You can now map Enter/Exit FSE to a button.
- Profiles for individual games also support full-screen (FSE) keybindings.
Improved UI scaling at 900p: Fixed an issue where the Armory Crate SE (ACSE) interface could go beyond the screen at 900p.
Improved system stability with driver emulation: Fixed an issue that could cause the system to crash when using the Xbox 360 controller emulator.

Source: Xbox Support