The next generation Xbox has just been revealed. The Xbox One is a powerful console with an impressive amount of software updates and games. While previous versions of the Xbox focused on gaming, the Xbox One is more of a complete entertainment package. Microsoft’s new mantra for the new Xbox is “All in One System,” and “Simple, instant, and complete.” Microsoft wants to control your living room entertainment experience and for the most part, it delivers.
With exclusive deals with ESPN and the NFL, sports fans can look forward to watching live sports while managing their fantasy teams. There will also be support for watching live TV, though Microsoft didn’t show exactly how this is achieved. The demo gave a quick look at the voice activated channel surfing of the Xbox One. Simply say the name of the network you want to watch, like “CBS” or “NBC” and the Xbox One will automatically switch to it.
Kinect voice and gesture controls
When the Kinect debuted, it seemed more like a tech demo than an actual product. With the release of the Xbox One comes a new version of Kinect. Every console will ship with the motion control and voice command device. The experience will be personalized as the Xbox will remember your face and voice, logging you into your own account immediately.
Microsoft revealed new gestures that make multitasking with the Xbox One a reality. Previously, the Xbox 360 only allowed running one app at a time. With the Xbox One and Kinect sensor, users will be able to return to the home screen by simply grabbing and panning with their hands. Users can also wave left and right to navigate menus.
There will also be a “Snap Mode” for the Xbox One, which is lifted straight out of Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system. This is how multitasking will be achieved with the new console. In the demo, Microsoft showed off how you can Skype with someone while watching TV and how you can watch live sports while managing your fantasy team on the side.
EA Sports: FIFA 14: Ultimate Team, NBA Live 14, Madden 25, UFC
We learned that the next FIFA game was coming to the next gen Xbox this morning but what we didn’t know is that it would be an exclusive title. FIFA 14: Ultimate Team will be released exclusively on the Xbox One but details are scarce.
During the event, EA Sports concentrated on showing off the new in-game engine that will be implemented across all of its games. There will be more contact between the character models, making the game look and feel more realistic. EA Sports also revealed that the new game engine would do four times more calculations per second than the previous version, which should help make characters act more realistically.
Forza Motorsport 5
Microsoft’s flagship racing game is back. While Forza Horizon featured a more arcade-like driving game, Forza Motorsport 5 is a return to form of a true racing simulator. The brief video that was shown of the game was pre-rendered footage that looked really impressive. There were close up details of the lighting effects of pain, the wear and grit of a worn tire, and the detailed body work of the new car models.
The only info we have about Forza Motorsport 5 is that it will be available at launch this year, with more details to come during E3.
Halo show
Steven Spielberg is making a live-action Halo TV show with 343 Industries. Enough said.
Call of Duty: Ghosts
The next Call of Duty game will be released on the new Xbox, as previously speculated. Previous leaks show that Ghosts will be a continuation of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 storyline, with Lt. Riley making his return.
Activision seemed aware that gamers were becoming fatigued with generic Call of Duty games and took time to point out what’s “all new” about Ghosts. They’ve hired Academy Award winner, Stephen Gaghan, to write the script, which should help with character development and the story. There will be a new world, new narrative, and new characters that you’ll actually care about. They’ve also added a new dog character that will aid you on your missions.
We also already knew that Call of Duty: Ghosts is coming out November 5th for the Xbox 360 and PS3. While Activision didn’t reveal a solid release date for the game, we assume it should be coming out at the same time on November 5th.
No backwards compatibility
After the Xbox One event, an FAQ on Microsoft’s site revealed that the new console will not support Xbox 360 games nor Xbox Live Arcade titles. If you want to keep playing old titles, you’ll have to have your old console handy.
The reason behind the incompatibility is the different architectures of the two consoles. The Xbox 360 features a PowerPC-based architecture while the new Xbox One will use the x86 architecture, similar to what Sony is using for their PlayStation 4.
Microsoft responded to Engadget by saying, “We care very much about the investment people have made in Xbox 360 and will continue to support it with a pipeline of new games and new apps well into the future.” The Microsoft rep continued, saying that the Xbox One was designed, “to play an entirely new generation of games — games that are architected to take full advantage of state-of-the-art processors and the infinite power of the cloud.”
Still a mystery
Microsoft has trumped Sony in the fact that it actually revealed their new console but details about both the Xbox One and PS4 are scarce. How exactly will the life TV functionality work? Will it require a cable box or will it function as one? What’s new in Forza Motorsport 5? When will the console come out?
Microsoft promises that the console will be released some time this year but there’s no solid date. It’s probably safe to assume that the Xbox One will be released during the holiday season, like the PS4.
Microsoft will be at the E3 conference this year to reveal more information about the Xbox One so stay tuned for our E3 coverage.
