The claim of “updates automatically” in the modern technology age is often misleading. Games, apps, software, and hardware, including consoles like the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, require patches that are usually initiated by the user. The process involves a push notification that the user must accept, leading to a waiting period as the patch downloads.
Despite advancements, the process of updating software remains a point of friction for users. Microsoft aims to address this with an “Update Pre-Download” feature introduced in its Xbox Insider program, which is currently being tested before a widespread release.
However, challenges remain as updates for console games must go through a certification process before distribution, causing frustrations for gamers and developers. The new feature allows certain games to download patches days before release, enabling players to start playing immediately after the update goes live.
The first game to utilize this feature is Sea of Thieves, available through the Insider program on Xbox. Users can enable it by accessing the “My games & apps” menu and selecting the update option.
The promise of “updates automatically” made by Microsoft and PlayStation a decade ago has yet to be fully realized. Gamers still face delays as patches are downloaded and installed when starting a game. The success of the latest auto-update feature remains uncertain, given the need for developers to opt-in and legal requirements that may hinder automatic updates for certain titles.
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