Forget the return of the Desktop and new universal applications; today’s breakout announcement concerning Windows 10 was the new Xbox app for Windows. In Windows 10 users will connect directly to Xbox Live, record video clips and play games directly from their Xbox One.
Microsoft announced the new Xbox app for Windows 10 at its Windows 10 Media Briefing earlier today. It talked about the coming app and its features more on Xbox Wire. Make no mistake, Microsoft has big plans. This could be the most aggressive move into PC gaming Microsoft has ever made.
First there are the companion experiences. With Xbox on Windows 10, Xbox users can compose messages, monitor their activity feed and browse through the achievements they’ve earned. In that respect, Xbox on Windows 10 is what we should have gotten with the current Xbox app for Windows 8.1. Microsoft is pretty much combining the features of the app we have today and Xbox SmartGlass for Windows.
This is where Microsoft’s Xbox on Windows 10 plans get very, interesting. Besides being an Xbox One companion, Microsoft is turning Windows 10 PCs into an Xbox themselves. Windows 10 users will be able to completely control their Xbox One from their device and they won’t have to be sitting in front of it to do it. The Xbox One app will give them a live video feed directly from their console. Windows 10 will also allow users to play Xbox One games on their notebook, desktop or tablet. Phil Spencer demoed the feature using a Surface and Forza Motorsport 5.
Microsoft is giving PC makers complete access to its Xbox Live gaming service through Windows 10 too. That’s a long way of saying users can expect games made for Windows to include Xbox Live integration. In fact, Microsoft showed off a version Fable Legends for the PC during the event. It’ll be one of the first games that allow PC users and Xbox One users to play against each other. Xbox One controllers and other accessories will work on the Windows 10 Xbox one app too, Microsoft says.
This morning Microsoft revealed Windows 10 will be free for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 users to upgrade to for one year. A preview build of Windows 10 with the new Xbox app is expected sometime in the next week.
