Xbox One’s UK TV 50Hz Judder Not Fixed By First System Update

Last month, we reported a frame rate mismatch problem on the Microsoft Xbox One, manifesting as judder when the next-generation console is asked to display 50Hz video signal (for example PAL DVD, or UK TV broadcast using the HDMI passthrough feature) which then has to be converted to the machine’s native output of 60Hz.

Xbox One

The company has now rolled out the first system update for the Xbox One since launch, but from our testing, the frame rate mismatch issue hasn’t been fixed, which means that users in the United Kingdom and Europe (as well as any 50Hz-based country) will continue to experience judder or stutter when watching 50Hz content, especially during panning shots in live sports broadcast like football, or with scrolling news ticker.

Our Xbox One unit automatically downloaded the mandatory software update yesterday, and we’ve been running our usual tests on it to see if Microsoft addressed the 50Hz judder issue that has affected British and European owners. Unfortunately, the company seemed to have turned a deaf ear to the complaints, leaving the default display frame rate of the console as 60Hz, without adding any functionality to match the output refresh rate to the source, or a user-accessible option to switch to 50Hz manually.

However, the workaround that was previously reported by a HDTVTest reader to force 50Hz output on the Xbox One still works, which basically involves tricking the console into thinking that the TV’s not compatible with 60Hz. Although this eradicates any noticeable judder in TV programmes and PAL DVDs for UK and European users, a blanket frame rate of 50Hz will be applied to every content including 30fps or 60fps video games, which may in turn look unnatural or exhibit judder. While waiting for Microsoft to release an official fix, here are the full instructions of the said workaround.

3 comments

  1. I have still to see a problem with my SKY pass through, I have posted what worked for me, I upgraded the HDMI cable to V1.4 between Skybox and Xbox, set the output to 720p and I have not experienced this Judder effect people keep talking about, honestly I forget all the time that the Xbox One is even in-between the Sky and TV, I have watched fast Action movies, TV shows, football and Car racing, am I lucky? Or is it that the judder is not down to frame rates – before I changed my HDMI cable to V1.4, I had judder, freezing, snow pictures (white Noise also in green) and black pictures, now…..Not a problem and loving the Xbox One experience!

  2. No problems passing through signal from sky+ HD box. Watched sport, movies and TV without any judder or picture problems. The reports that all UK xbox one users are affected by this judder problem is certainly mis-information and does nothing to help microsoft patch.

  3. Im sorry, you must have a magic sky box then! This issue affects all of europe and everywhere that uses a 50hz broadcast signal!!! Hdtvtest couldnt be anymore correct!
    If you dont notice it then enjoy,for everyone else who lives in the uk this is a problem