November Update Brings New Xbox One Experience, Backwards Compatibility, Windows 10
So what exactly is this New Xbox One Experience (NXOE) all about, and what new cool things will it bring to Xbox One consoles across the board?
This week at the Halo 5 Live launch event, Xbox chief Phil Spencer announced that the much-awaited New Xbox One Experience will start rolling out to all Xbox One consoles come November 12, Windows Central reports. So far, only those enrolled to the Xbox One Preview program have had their hands dirty with the NXOE, but come November 12, all Xbox One consoles will have access to the update. But what exactly is new with the New Xbox One Experience?
For starters, the New Xbox One Experience brings in the new and all-powerful Windows 10 operating system. Windows 10 was built with the vision to encompass all Windows 10 devices. The upcoming November update that will bring the New Xbox One Experience translates this vision into reality as it finally includes the Microsoft console under the Windows 10 umbrella. So what does this mean for Xbox One users? Windows 10’s speed integrations and top-of-the-line technology will enable the Xbox One to perform functions and features up to 50 percent faster. A lot of people at the Preview program are already testifying to this, so when Microsoft finishes fixing all the bugs in time for the November 12 update, then that will be a field day for Xbox One users the world over.
One of the more visible changes, too, that will be brought about by the New Xbox One Experience is the overhauled interface. The whole Xbox One interface has been thrown out the window and replaced with a sleeker and easier-to-navigate home screen. From what the Preview users have seen, firing up the Xbox One console will bring the user to a home screen featuring the games you and your friends have been playing, along with game and developer announcements, and easy sharing links. Basically, it’s easier navigation, quicker response time, and a more tight-knit playing community made possible by the New Xbox One Experience.
One of the most looked-forward features of the New Xbox One Experience is the Xbox One backwards compatibility — the feature that will enable Xbox One consoles to run and play Xbox 360 games, digitally and natively. When the NXOE releases on November 12, over 100 Xbox 360 titles will already be playable on the Xbox One, such as well-loved titles Gears of War, Mass Effect, Viva Piñata, and others. As the months go by, Microsoft swears that more Xbox 360 titles will be playable on the Xbox One via the New Xbox One Experience.
If you can play an Xbox 360 game directly on your Xbox One, how will Xbox 360 DLCs work, you ask? Game Informer reached out to Microsoft on this matter, and a representative replied via e-mail that the Backwards Compatibility dashboard will not emulate the Xbox 360 store.
“We will support both digital and disc-based entitlements for Xbox 360 games running on Xbox One. Right now, Backward Compatibility does not emulate the Xbox 360 store and new Xbox 360 games can be purchased on your Xbox 360 or via Xbox.com.”
So, that means if you already own the DLC, you’re all set to access it via the Xbox One Backwards Compatibility. However, if you wish to purchase new add-ons or DLCs, you will need to boot up your Xbox 360 and purchase it there, or head to the Xbox website.
Finally, the New Xbox One Experience will be all about community-building and sharing. The new community section of the NXOE will let you see trending games, activity feeds, potential player friends based on shared interests, and basically just enable you to reach out to a wider Xbox One-playing community outside your regular circle. Like social media for the geeks.
And did we mention Cortana is coming to the Xbox One as well via the NXOE? But that is not until 2016.
The New Xbox One Experience will be available to all Xbox One consoles come November 12. If you have any questions regarding the NXOE, head over to the Windows Central forums for help.
[Image via Xbox Wire]
