Starting in the early access program later this month, new social features making it easier for gamers to connect with their friends and new ways to access their TV and entertainment throughout their homes will be coming to Xbox One, writes Major Nelson in a blog post.
Among the updates:
- New “Friends” section. Users can see at a glance what’s going on with their friends. They can stay up-to-date with their current activities and the most popular games their friends are playing, and there’s a Gamerscore leaderboard to see who has improved their Gamerscore over the last 30 days.
- Snap Center. Favorite features in the Xbox 360 guide are coming to Xbox One in a way that’s now truly side-by-side with games, Major Nelson writes. “Messages, friends, parties, and achievements will all be available in the new Snap Center, providing a seamless way to switch back and forth without having to leave a game.”
- Threaded Messages. The new Messages app features threaded messages with the full conversation history – including embedded links to Game DVR clips – that can be viewed without interrupting gameplay.
- Stream TV to SmartGlass. Available in markets receiving the Xbox Digital TV Tuner, Xbox One owners will be able to stream their TV across their home network to their smartphones and tablets using the Xbox SmartGlass app. “They can also pause, play and rewind as well as change channels, without interrupting gameplay on the Xbox One. This will work for SmartGlass apps on Windows, iOS, and Android,” he writes.
To learn about these updates and others, head over to Xbox Wire and to Major Nelson’s blog.
Suzanne Choney
Microsoft News Center Staff