As it does with the Windows 10 Insider Preview, Microsoft is adding a Skip Ahead option for those in the Xbox Insider Program.

“Our community is always eager to preview new features, apps and games in the pursuit of helping make Xbox an even better place to play,” Microsoft’s Savannah writes. “To further this effort and borrow a concept from our friends with the Windows Insider Program, namely branching our Alpha ring to preview RS4 and RS5 builds simultaneously.”

Xbox being Xbox, this addition is being handled differently than it is with Windows, where Skip Ahead isn’t a ring but rather an opt-in program for those in the Fast ring. On Xbox, a new Alpha – Skip Ahead ring is being added to the already somewhat confusing Xbox ring structure.

But it does at least work similarly to Windows, and it provides testers—in this case, those with special access—with a way to choose which future Xbox System software release they will test. The next one (RS4) or the one after that (RS5).

Alpha – Skip Ahead is, of course, limited to those already in the Alpha ring. But Microsoft says it will invite others from lesser rings into the program in the future as well.

Tagged with Xbox Insider Program