Xbox consoles will soon be able to automatically mute speakers when using headphones

Laurent Giret

Microsoft has started testing a new feature on Xbox consoles that will automatically mute speaker audio when gamers start using a headset. Currently, Xbox gamers have to manually turn off their speakers after connecting a headset to the console, and repeating that process every single time can quickly become a hassle.

This streamlined audio experience is currently being tested with Xbox Insiders on the Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead rings, with a possible release next month. Sony’s PS5 consoles can already mute speakers when you connect a headset to them, and it’s nice to see Microsoft’s Xbox consoles following suit.

The latest Xbox Insider “2111” build released yesterday also introduce new colorblind filters on Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. This system-level feature will apply to games, movies, apps, and menus, and the Xbox team hopes that it will make games that lack similar filters more accessible for people with color blindness or color vision deficiency.

Microsoft releases new Xbox system updates almost every month, and the company has another big new feature coming later this year with Xbox Cloud Gaming finally launching on Xbox consoles. This will allow Xbox Game Pass subscribers to quickly test games before downloading them, but Xbox Cloud Gaming will also bring next-gen games like Microsoft Flight Simulator to Xbox One consoles.