Xbox to allow players to hide games from the achievements list in the upcoming update

Microsoft is testing new features that will give Xbox players greater control over their achievements list, including the ability to hide games from view and changes to how achievements appear when unlocked. The updates are currently being trialled through the company’s Xbox Insiders programme, which is free to join and allows selected users to test new features before a wider release.

The company has confirmed that the first wave of changes will begin rolling out to select Xbox Insiders later in April. Although the features are still in testing, they are expected to become available to all Xbox users once development and feedback stages are complete.

The move reflects Microsoft’s continued focus on refining the Xbox user experience, particularly in areas that allow players to personalise how their gaming history is displayed publicly. It also demonstrates ongoing efforts to address long-standing community feedback on profile customisation and achievements management.

New options to customise achievement lists

One of the most notable additions will allow players to hide individual games from their achievements list. This option will apply regardless of whether a player has completed the achievements in a particular game. While the games will be hidden from public view on the achievements list, they will still contribute to the player’s overall Gamerscore.

This feature is expected to give players more control over how their gaming history is presented to others. Some users prefer to keep unfinished or casually played titles out of their visible record. In contrast, others may wish to curate a more focused list that highlights only the games they actively pursue.

Microsoft stated that the ability to hide games has been “one of the most requested features” among Xbox Insiders. The request has been raised repeatedly over the years by players seeking more flexibility in how their gaming activity is displayed.

In addition to hiding games, players will also gain new filtering tools. These will allow them to sort their achievements list to show only the games they have completed. Titles with 100 per cent achievement completion will also be visually highlighted, making it easier for players to identify their fully completed games at a glance.

These filtering improvements are designed to simplify navigation for users with large libraries. Many long-time Xbox players accumulate achievements across hundreds of titles, making it increasingly difficult to locate specific games without improved organisation tools.

Redesigned achievements bring visual updates

Alongside the new management features, Microsoft is testing visual changes to how achievements appear when unlocked. Xbox Insiders participating in the trial will receive redesigned achievement notifications with updated animations and a refreshed look.

The revised notifications will also match the custom colour theme chosen for a user’s Xbox interface. This adjustment is intended to create a more cohesive visual experience across the console’s menus and alerts.

Microsoft is also exploring subtle refinements to the achievements interface. The redesigned presentation aims to make achievements easier to read and more visually engaging, without altering the core functionality that players are already familiar with.

The emphasis on visual feedback reflects a broader trend across gaming platforms, where achievement systems are increasingly treated as part of the overall player experience rather than just a record of progress. By improving how achievements look and behave, Microsoft hopes to maintain player engagement while keeping the interface modern and responsive.

Feedback from Xbox Insiders will play a significant role in shaping the final design. As with previous feature tests, Microsoft is expected to adjust animations, colours and layout elements based on user feedback before releasing the changes to the wider public.

Ongoing updates reflect community-driven development

The upcoming achievement updates follow other recent changes aimed at improving player control and flexibility. In March, Microsoft introduced an update that allowed users to selectively exclude games from the console’s Quick Resume feature, another change widely requested by the community.

While the company has not directly linked the current updates to broader leadership goals, they arrive at a time when Microsoft continues to refine its gaming strategy and strengthen its relationship with players. Recent leadership messaging has highlighted a renewed focus on delivering features that respond directly to user needs.

Microsoft Gaming chief executive Asha Sharma previously spoke about plans to “recommit” to the Xbox platform, signalling an ongoing commitment to improving both hardware and software experiences. Although the latest achievement features are relatively small in scale, they represent a practical example of how user feedback can shape development priorities.

Industry observers note that user experience improvements often play a significant role in maintaining player loyalty. Features that allow greater personalisation, even minor ones, can help strengthen engagement among dedicated players and communities.

The wider success of Xbox in the coming years is likely to depend on a combination of hardware innovation, software services and user-focused updates. If future consoles continue to blend PC and console gaming capabilities, maintaining strong community support will remain essential to Microsoft’s strategy.

For now, Xbox Insiders will be the first to explore these new tools, providing feedback that will help determine how the features evolve before they reach the broader player base. If testing progresses smoothly, the ability to hide games from achievements lists could soon become a standard feature across Xbox consoles worldwide.