The new Xbox Series X | S update will change the rules of the game if you’re fed up with your friends’ breathing or eating habits that disrupt your multiplayer sessions.
Now available for download on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, the new noise canceling feature was first added as part of the Xbox Insider Program a few months ago. It is now shared with all players with an update of friends’ saves as described Xbox system update site (opens in a new tab).
The Xbox noise canceling feature helps you mute or minimize background noise from your friends’ surroundings. Examples include sounds from a TV or loudspeaker, a fan blowing air, and even loud breathing. The result should be a much smoother party chat where you can hear your friends more clearly and less intrusive background noises ruin your immersion.
Want to give it a try in your next online session with your buddies? Just press the Xbox Guide button, go to “Parties & Chats”, then “Options”. There you will find the option to turn noise suppression on and off.
The sound of silence
Noise suppression is a fantastic feature that has been added to many platforms, including Discord. Nvidia also has its own AI-based noise cancellation in the form of RTX Voice, the global PC voice chat solution.
However, noise suppression and similar technologies are not without their drawbacks. If the effect is particularly strong, it may have the unintended effect of cutting off the beginning and end of a friend’s speech. This is something I personally dealt with when using noise canceling on Discord.
That doesn’t mean it’s not worth using, as the noise-canceling effect depends on the player’s environment. For many, this will be an excellent feature, especially if you want to stifle your friends’ less savory habits without calling them directly.
It can also be literally saving a life. In games where awareness of sound effects is paramount, such as PUBG Battlegrounds or Call of Duty: Warzone, noise suppression will really help filter out unwanted background noise so you can focus on your in-game environment.
Enhanced features like noise canceling work best in a great headset. Do you want to know what is right for you? Our guide to the best Xbox Series X headsets will help you get the best possible audio quality on your console.