It’s finally here. The new Xbox One was revealed recently at a live unveiling event, after months of anticipation and excitement. And it’s not even called Xbox 720. The unveiling also confirmed the voice control rumour. Don Mattrick, Microsoft Executive, described it as an ‘all-in-one’ box, most probably referring to the live TV services along with the apps and the gaming system. Along with the new next-generation console, a new Kinect was also announced, with lots of new improvements. It will also be developed for Windows PC, like the previous Kinect.
The console will be released for the public later this year. The New Xbox One supports live TV services, has new unique apps, and it’s built to make your gameplay experience better than ever.
System Specifications and Hardware
The console revealed was black and sleek, and kind of looked like a very cool set-top box, and it’ll need to be kept horizontally, always. It has a blue-ray drive, and it can also be connected to your actual set-top box through HDMI, but the HDMI pass-through will have to be bought separately. The system’s UI is used, which enables features like custom trending and list of favorites, and the system will also have a content guide. You also switch from the Xbox dashboard to live television easily.
Through the partnership between Microsoft and AMD, a custom 40-nanometer chip with an 8-core CPU and GPU that powers the Xbox One was created. The hardware also includes 8GB RAM, a 500GB hard-drive, 802.11n WiFi and USB 3.0. The console has a built-in Kinect sensor. The company has confirmed that the console runs on three OS’: Windows Kernel, Xbox OS and the third is the one that allows the switching between various windows.
Voice Control and New Xbox Kinect
As mentioned previously, the console comes with a new Kinect sensor, which has a new feature: Voice Control. If you say “Xbox On” the console with turn on, and all you have to say is “Go to TV” or “Live Switching”, and it’ll happen.
The built in Kinect-camera has a 1080p sensor, so that you can explore the system with just gestures. It’s capable of detecting your heartbeat, and can be used to access Skype as well- which means video calling in HD, something everyone will love. It can also identify the Xbox One controller to enable simple player syncing, which is another thing to enhance your gameplay experience. Since the Xbox 360, the microphone has gotten many updates and it’s because of them that the console is so efficient that it can detect voices even in a noisy environment.
It’s been confirmed that Kinect will come for Windows PC as well, but that’ll happen months after the public release of the console, as per what happened with the previous-generation console.
The New Xbox Controller
The new Xbox controller was also revealed with, as the company says, more than 40 “technical and design innovations.” The vibration feature has also gone through a change, with its own set of triggers for controller vibrations during gameplay. It has an improved directional pad and analog sticks, and this controller’s overall structure and form is similar to the Xbox 360 one, with an “integrated battery compartment.”Instead of the home buttons, the controller has buttons meant for user interface purposes. It’s been developed in such a way that it is conveniently compatible with the Kinect, to enable and enhance player syncing. But other than these changes, when it comes to the controller’s looks, it hasn’t changed much. Perhaps a touch of familiarity will be good.
Xbox Live and User Interface
The new Xbox One’s User Interface comes off as professional, but convenient. The layout isn’t all that different from the one in Windows 8, but it has a new theme, with a black background. There’s a TV content guide, and you can switch to live TV from the dashboard itself. Skype and Internet Explorer are the two applications that have been confirmed.
The new Xbox One dashboard will also have a ‘Snap Mode’ (the Add Snap option), which enables you to have more than one window open on the screen, and you can switch between various windows with the voice control option or gestures (through the Kinect sensor).
The Xbox Live services are still an important part of the console, and it’s just better on the Xbox One. “Game DVR” is a new feature on Xbox Live, which enables users to record, edit and even share awesome gameplay videos. The Xbox Live has a new and refreshing ‘Achievements’ System.
Individuals can also play downloadable games by installing them in segments. And yes, your achievements and (premium) Gold subscription from your previous Xbox will be transferred to your new and improved one. There’s also a “Smart Match” options, which actually gives you the approximate time of how much you have to wait till you can enter a multiplayer game. Even better, it gives you the option to open another window and watch TV while that’s happening. So no more staring at the loading screen for those long, long minutes.
Confirmed Titles
EA has confirmed that NBA Live 14, Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14, and EA Sports UFC will be there on Xbox One, and Activision has confirmed Call of Duty: Ghosts as well, both promising Xbox One exclusive DLC.
Other confirmed titles are:
-Battlefield 4
-Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
-Thief
-Watch Dogs
-Quantum Break
-Forza 5
-Bungie’s Destiny
When they announced that the games will be installed on the console’s hard drive automatically, it was a pleasant surprise. But the installation is compulsory. And the game will be connected to the user’s Xbox Live account. For those who are used to borrowing games from their friends, and are planning on borrowing them to install them on the console: there will be a fee. Even if you install a pre-owned disc, you will have to pay for it.
But Microsoft has also made things easier for players, because they will be allowed to trade-in or resell the games. The Xbox One is not an online only console; you will have the option to play offline as well.
Other news on Xbox:
–Imminent Event Of Next-Gen Xbox Reveals The Show Off For Next-Gen FIFA And Next Gen Call Of Duty
–Eidos Montreal’s Thief Confirmed For Xbox One
–The First Relation Of The Audience With TV – Introduction Of Xbox One
–“Xbox One Will Be Listed In The Unified Section Of Games” – Confirmed By Microsoft Corporate
–Three New Battlefield 4 Screenshots Revealed