Microsoft has released a beta test of the first download speed-enhancing fixes, finally addressing the slow and painful game download process on the Xbox console and Xbox PC application. The company has updated its Xbox console preview build 2608.260719-2200 to introduce a smart download client. This client works by checking which content servers are available for installation or updates when you start your game download process. It then tests the connection to each server pool and selects the ones that route the fastest, effectively acting like a smart web router for optimal access. This speed test runs periodically to ensure that the smart download client continues using the fastest connection, essentially connecting you with the quickest online server.

In early testing by Windows Central running on the Xbox Series X, the console achieved the full 250 Mb/s connection speed when downloading game data after the smart download client was applied. This means that Microsoft has found a way to efficiently route game data from the fastest server relative to your internet connection, so download speeds are only limited by your internet service provider plan. In practice, this means that your actual connection will be much faster as it is finally optimized for maximum bandwidth as the usual internet routing is not always optimal. Similarly, TechPowerUp-hosted downloads are based in multiple geographical locations, so each download is done fastest in proximity to the user PC. Similar technology was far overdue in the Xbox console, and it looks like it is also coming to the Xbox PC application as well. Below is the example courtesy of Windows Central.