Excitement for Microsoft's next generation Xbox console hasn't faded one bit since the Windows maker made the announcement at its Redmond, Washington campus in May.
Now only two weeks away from launch, Microsoft has revealed more information on the Xbox One's feature set.
In a lengthy blog post Friday entitled "Xbox One: The Complete All-in-One Games and Entertainment System," several features were outlined exploring its eighth-gen console. The latest information is Microsoft is attempting to establish the console as a device with uses that expand beyond gaming. Though some features were already announced at the May presentation or during E3 in June, Microsoft elaborates a little more this time.
Alongside advances in hardware, the biggest story is that the Xbox One will have Kinect 2.0 bundled with each console sold. The camera/microphone device will help users control functions through voice commands. Outside of basic functions like turning the console on and off, television functions can also be controlled if connected to a cable or satellite set-top box through HDMI-in. The feature - OneGuide - will further simplify the television experience even more by allowing users to create personalized viewing experiences. The Kinect 2.0 device can also recognize users and provide personalized instant log-ins through Biometric sign-in.
Multiplayer invites for games can also be received while watching TV or viewing movies making the transition between both activities less cumbersome. The Game DVR and Upload Studio were also expounded upon more. Outside of making commands to record gameplay, the Xbox One will have a five-minute buffer that's constantly recording. Those gaming video can later be edited in a variety of ways before being shared. Xbox SmartGlass usage can support up to 16 devices at one time on the Xbox One. The accompanying app will come as a free download for Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, iOS and Android devices on Nov. 22.
Multitasking through the "Snap" feature allows users to simply do two things at once i.e. gamers can play on one side of the screen while watching TV on the other. Microsoft used an example of playing Dead Rising 3 while viewing Machinima gameplay walk-through videos of the game for help.
The Xbox One will retail for $499 when it launches November 22.
