Quick Summary
The Xbox February update for Xbox Series X / S and Xbox One includes the ability to recalibrate the thumb sticks on an Xbox Wireless Controller.
Touch controls have also been added to the Xbox mobile app for use when playing your games remotely.
Microsoft is currently rolling out an update for its Xbox consoles that, among other things, adds a neat tool to improve your Xbox Wireless Controller.
The update, which should be available on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One consoles now, gives users the ability to recalibrate the thumbsticks on their controllers, whether that be the standard variant or an Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Elite 2.
This not only allows you to fix any minor calibration issues you might encounter, and thereby avoid having to contact support or pay for a costly repair, but it also helps you set up replacement thumbsticks which Microsoft sells.
Touch controls
In addition to the recalibration tool, the latest update also adds mobile touch controls to the Xbox app for remote play.
You can access your own Xbox console through an iPhone, iPad, Android or Windows device and stream games from there, but you previously had to use a wireless controller. Now you can play more than 100 of the best Xbox games through intuitive touch controls that appear on the screen (much like they do when playing via Xbox Cloud Gaming).
Other Xbox console tweaks
The update also adds new filters to the "My games & apps" menu screen to make it even easier to find the games you want to play. And subscription tabs, such as for EA Play and Ubisoft+, can now be sorted by "Recently added".
Finally, as well as a few other minor fixes, the February Xbox update includes a new access restriction system that allows automatic profile sign-out. This is particularly handy for shared spaces, such as children's hospitals and schools.
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In all likelihood the update will have downloaded and installed automatically, but if not you should check your settings to force the update manually.
Rik is T3’s news editor, which means he looks after the news team and the up-to-the-minute coverage of all the hottest gadgets and products you’ll definitely want to read about. And, with more than 35 years of experience in tech and entertainment journalism, including editing and writing for numerous websites, magazines, and newspapers, he’s always got an eye on the next big thing.
Rik also has extensive knowledge of AV, TV streaming and smart home kit, plus just about everything to do with games since the late 80s. Prior to T3, he spent 13 years at Pocket-lint heading up its news team, and was a TV producer and presenter on such shows as Channel 4's GamesMaster, plus Sky's Games World, Game Over, and Virtual World of Sport.
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