Yesterday, Microsoft announced that party chat, previously only available to Xbox Live Gold members, will soon be free for all Xbox players. The company disclosed the news in one tweet with phrases like ‘Alpha’, ‘Alpha Skip-Ahead’ and ‘flighting’. Meanwhile, one accompanying blog post contained a string of numbers: 2104-210323-0000. What do all those things mean?
The short version is that it is all a lot of references to the current one Xbox Insider Program, which allows Xbox users to test upcoming features before they are made available to the wider population. Earlier this month, for example the allowed program some members pause games while other games are being downloaded which can significantly increase download speeds. In some cases, members can even preview upcoming games.
That is not all. In January, Microsoft announced (as part of a turnaround in a proposed drastic Xbox Live rate increase) that sometime this year, Xbox Live Gold membership will no longer be required to play free-to-play games, reversing years of precedent.
This latest rollout from Xbox Insider starts the ball rolling and removes that restriction for players in the Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead tiers of the program. Soon beta and lower members will also be able to play Fortnite, a free-to-play game, without paying for a monthly Xbox Live Gold subscription. Microsoft still hasn’t said when that change will roll out to the general player base.
Okay, I love it. How do I register?
Easy: turn on your Xbox. Go to the store. Open the search function and press “insider”. Download and launch the Xbox Insider Bundle app, then click the “Join” button. (It’s the only one.) That’s it. You’re in!
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So how does this work?
Xbox Insider offers benefits based on a tier system. There are five levels, three of which you can actually reach:
- Omega: This is the starting level. You will receive updates just before they go live to the general player base – still early access, but no bragging rights and shiny VIP veneers.
- Delta: If you have been part of the program for at least one month, you are eligible for the Delta level, provided you have also reached Xbox Insider XP level two. (Yes, like a video game, Xbox Insider has levels. I agree. It is annoying.) You’re guaranteed to receive updates before the main player base. In some cases, when updates require additional testing, you can get them ahead of the folks in the Alpha and Beta levels. Luxury.
- Beta: If you have been on the Xbox Insider Program for three months and have reached level five, you are eligible to be the Beta Rater. These people will access updates shortly after the ones in the Alpha tier.
The Alpha and Ultra-exclusive Alpha Skip-Ahead levels are by invitation only. Don’t sweat that one.
You don’t automatically jump between levels when you unlock them. Once you’ve reached a new level, go to the “Previews” tab, click on “Xbox Update Preview”, open the “info” submenu, and click ‘Manage’. That should bring up a list of all the levels you have unlocked. (Side note: this method is also how to opt out of the program. Go through these steps and click “exit preview”.)
One more thing: you don’t have to start all over when you switch consoles. Save like Xbox dataXbox Insider status tracks your account. Once you open the app on your new computer, you can access everything that you had access to on your old computer.
Why shouldn’t I automatically level up?
Enchanted levels provide early access to new features, which is super cool, but those features were generally less tested at the time and thus are at higher risk for bugs. By giving you the option to switch levels, you have control over your risk of developing encounter bugs or experience Xbox features in an incomplete state.
How do I level up?
In the Xbox Insider app, navigate to the “Activities” tab. You will see a series of short surveys, each of which will give you a chunk of XP for answering multiple choice questions. One such activity is the “ weekly pulse, ” which requires some serious brain teaser answering. Are this week? “When was the last time you submitted a bug report?” That’s an easy 5 XP.
You even gain experience points by completing the tutorial, which – I don’t shit you – is called ‘My First Quest’. It consists of two questions. You get 10 XP when you get through it, a task that takes you a whopping 17 seconds.
It takes 20 XP to reach level two. Delta rank, here I come!
Yes, good for you. How much will this cost me?
Zero dollars. Come on, you’re essentially focusing product updates for Microsoft, and that’s not to say anything about the pure data hands you with each completed questionnaire. If anything, you should be to get paid.