Don't worry, your Xbox One isn't broken – that mangled text is part of the localization process. Here's what it means and its use in Xbox development.

Microsoft has recently begun ramping up development on the upcoming fall update for Xbox One, which is set to deliver a wave of new features across the console. Among these changes is a reworked user interface influenced heavily by the company's "Fluent Design System," delivering a system-wide overhaul aiming to deliver new texture and depth the experience as a whole. As the update approaches its final release, a select subset of users can now get hands-on with an in-progress version of the operating system, via the Xbox Insider Program. However, as new features begin to appear, you may have noticed some strange fonts throughout the Xbox One dashboard. And as ugly as they may seem, these play a role in development across the Xbox OS. Best VPN providers 2020: Learn about ExpressVPN, NordVPN & more What causes strange fonts in Xbox Preview builds?

In Xbox Preview builds, Microsoft adopts a technique known as "pseudo-localization," to test foreign characters and how they interact with the user interface. By exchanging various characters and symbols for similar counterparts, this allows developers to test how different types of text are displayed and prepare for localization, without going to the effort of translating into multiple languages. Essentially, this is a fake form of translation used in the development process, before actual translations begin. How pseudo-localization works is relatively straightforward and achieved by finding characters from foreign languages and exchanging them with similar characters in English text. Although its implementation can vary, Microsoft uses a pseudo-localization language that's relatively easy to read at a glance. Why use pseudo-localization in Xbox Preview builds?