Microsoft will soon allow Xbox Insider Program participants to test new Xbox One features months before they are released to the public.
The new "Alpha - Skip Ahead" ring of the program, which will allow testers to try out new futures that are even further away from their scheduled release dates, is a concept that was borrowed from the Windows Insider program.
Xbox Insider Program To Offer Even Earlier Xbox One Builds
Microsoft announced the new Skip Ahead ring for the Xbox Insider Program through an official Xbox Wire post.
"By piloting builds well in advance of their release, Xbox Insiders will play an even bigger role in shaping the future of Xbox," Microsoft said.
The Xbox Insider program has four rings, namely Preview Alpha, Preview Beta, Preview Delta, and Preview Omega. The Preview Beta and Preview Delta rings require testers to be part of the Xbox Insider Program for a certain amount of time, while Preview Alpha is an invite-only privilege.
The Skip Ahead ring for the Xbox Insider Program will fall under the Preview Alpha ring. Microsoft will be sending out invitations for the Skip Ahead ring to Preview Alpha testers this month, and will then issue the invitations to other testers at a later date, presumably based on how many Preview Alpha testers decided to sign up.
There are currently no details on the new Xbox One features that testers will be able to try in the Skip Ahead ring. Microsoft also warned that the Xbox One builds offered under the Skip Ahead ring may be even more unstable compared to build offered under the Preview Alpha ring.
For Xbox One Insider participants who value knowing the latest features over console stability, and those who have multiple consoles who can afford to have one of them on test builds, the Skip Ahead ring will be an enticing offer.
Xbox One At E3 2018
The announcement of the Skip Ahead ring for the Xbox Insider Program comes just before the start of E3 2018. Microsoft teased that this year will be "its biggest showing ever" at the annual video games event.
Microsoft has launched what it calls the Biggest Xbox Sale of the Year, offering the first-ever discount for the Xbox One X. The sale also includes special prices for other Xbox One models and accessories, Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Games Pass subscriptions, and over 300 Xbox One games.
The Xbox One, however, is already in the wrong direction heading into E3 2018 with the rumored Crackdown 3 delay. With the over-the-top action game reportedly pushed back into 2019, the Xbox One exclusives list just got even thinner compared to the PlayStation exclusives that will be showcased at E3 2018.
