Microsoft is all set to finally unveil which Windows 10 universal apps will be coming to the Xbox One this year. According to sources familiar with Microsoft's plans, an announcement should be coming this month, with a number of apps set to debut alongside a new initiative to open up the platform to more developers.
According to these sources, who spoke with The Verge, these announcements will take place at Microsoft's Build Conference in San Francisco on the 30th of March. To bolster this evidence, Xbox head Phil Spencer also tweeted out a confirmation of this.
In a tweet posted earlier today, Phil Spencer said: “We will discuss our next steps with the Universal Windows Platform at //build later this month.”
Microsoft has been teasing the Xbox One's ability to run Windows apps for a while now and has even discussed things like native mouse and keyboard support in the past. Now it looks like those features are finally arriving, which means the Xbox One will join the Windows 10 cross-platform initiative, which allows apps to run across desktops, laptops, smartphones and tablets.
KitGuru Says: While I don't see many people running Office apps on their Xbox, it will be interesting to see exactly what Microsoft brings to the table with the first batch of universal apps available on Xbox One. It is also important to remember that upcoming Microsoft exclusive games also use the universal app platform, which opens up other possibilities like cross-play, cross-saves and the ability to pay once for a game and be able to play it on other devices as well.
Xbox chose this upgrade path the moment they sided with AMD whereas Sony is pure in its business plan. Talk about late I actually want Microsoft to fully explore the endless possibilities of Universal Windows Applications.
Otherwise why did they put an end to Games For Windows Live and settle for a more primitive approach?
This would include seamless integration with cloud infrastructures on Windows for PC to break free from this waste of resources. Emulation as the current strategy is a global crisis, bring us entire Xbox 360 DVD catalogue!
Nope. AMD was the only one that had graphics + X86 chip for sale. Its that simple. Balle-mer was in charge when AMD was chosen and he never had any visions. Balle-mer was a genius in destroying competition by shady business. (like sending MSFT operative to Nokia and have him destroy nokia from inside.)
This gens consoles are the first generation that is not subsidised but still MSFT/Sony charges a 50% licensing fee for games released for consoles.
Weak/cheap consoles for the masses that dont understand how things work.
The one app strategy for MSFT: lets see how tablet apps work on Xbox. Universal apps are something that have existed on Unix for 20+ years with different packages for apps. Its normal in the computing world. Its have always been MSFT that have been abnormal since they even can’t packaged different languages in Windows. (and the fact that MSFT never in history managed do to a great product. In fact: their strategy have been to make bad products to force people to upgrade or RedRing of death on X360 that counted as sold consoles = had many years lead over PS3)
My argument is over why Microsoft would choose optical media and then continuously roll out updates restricted by hardware configurations?
This behaviour exists in computers but it should be a different scenario with consoles. Imagine if Xbox One had opted out of Blu-Ray certification, then we would have a more flexible system. Xbox is now a DVR restricted by software and copyright laws determine the capability. The downfall is that we PC users are tied to these dead end operating systems.
For the sake of progress Microsoft made these ‘decisions’ for us simple folks, I just wish they would stick to a plan and see it through otherwise gamers lose out. Sony is admirable in it’s ignorance as they were far sighted yet reluctantly refuse to adopt PS3 optical media while PSN has the advantage for software distribution.