CNET

Xbox One users now can remotely buy a game and have it automatically downloaded to their console, courtesy of the latest update.

With a rollout that started Sunday, the Xbox One August update offers "one of the most requested features" based on Xbox feedback, according to Xbox Live chief Larry Hryb, aka Major Nelson.

Specifically, gamers will be able to use the Xbox SmartGlass app or access the Xbox.com website to remotely buy games and add on content. Assuming your Xbox One is set up to automatically accept updates, that means your console will start downloading the game or other content right after you purchase it.

To keep current Xbox One owners happy and potentially draw in more buyers, Microsoft updates the console each month with new features and enhancements. Those updates are based on feedback from current users. The next major update for September has already started rolling out to members of the Xbox Live preview program, and promises a slew of new features, including a revamped Party App, a new Friends section, a boot-to-TV option, and updates to SmartGlass.

Also packaged into the August update is a change to your activity feed, specifically in the way you interact with your friends. Tweaked with a new one-column layout, the activity feed will let you post text to your feed and like or comment on other items in the feed. In turn, you'll be notified if someone likes, comments on, or shares the items that you post. You can share game clips and other items with your friends either publicly or privately, according to Hryb.

What else does the August update carry?

Your friends list now shows you how long a specific friend has been online. The Blu-ray player app supports 3D Blu-ray. A notification pops up when your controller's battery gets low. And finally, you can turn off notifications while watching videos.

"Today (Sunday), we will begin rolling out the next Xbox One system update to fans around the world, which will include improved social features to make sharing your gaming experiences with friends better and easier," Hryb said in his blog post. "These new features are a result of your invaluable feedback, including some of the most requested features seen on Xbox Feedback."

The update is scheduled to reach all Xbox One users over the next few days.