Xbox apps, DVR, cross-platform streaming heads to Windows 10 [Update: Video]
Windows 10 will feature Xbox system-level apps, including friends lists, activity feeds, messages, clip sharing and clip recording services, Microsoft announced during a conference today. The Xbox app will appear on every Windows PC and tablet. Each user's list of games in Windows 10 will be platform-agnostic, meaning Steam games are listed next to Windows games, and so on. Windows 10 PC players will be able to record 30-second game clips – after the fact – just like on Xbox One.
Players will be able to stream any Xbox One game to any Windows 10 PC or tablet. Fable Legends will launch on Windows 10 PCs in addition to Xbox One, and it will feature cross-platform co-op. Additionally, Windows 10 universal apps are on their way to Xbox One. Unity is adopting DirectX12, which consumes half the power that DirectX11 does, Xbox head Phil Spencer said.
Microsoft posted a list of some coming Windows 10 Xbox functions, shared below.
[Image: Engadget]
Xbox functionality on Windows 10, highlights from Xbox Wire:
The Xbox App. Whether you only game on the PC, the console or both, the Xbox app brings together the most important aspects of your gaming life: Games, Friends, Messages, Activity Feed, your gaming legacy with Achievements, and much more.
Xbox Live and multiplayer across devices. Xbox Live is social, interactive, and seamlessly integrated directly into Windows 10, bringing gamers the experiences they love across devices, like multiplayer gaming on Windows 10 against players on an Xbox One, and messaging and chat with friends. And developers will get full access to the Xbox Live API, making it easier to create more powerful gaming scenarios across devices.
Game Streaming. Thanks to the deep integration of Xbox on Windows 10, games on Xbox One can be streamed through your home network to your Windows 10 PC or tablet, anywhere in your house. Xbox One gamers will now be able to play many of their favorite console games on their PC. And many Xbox One accessories will work interchangeably on the console and PC (with more on the way), so you can customize your experience in whatever way you see fit.
DirectX 12. We've enhanced our graphics technology to squeeze every ounce of performance out of your supported hardware and open up a new wave of innovation for high-end graphics. Delivering greater complexity and detail on your current PC, games authored or updated for DirectX 12 are able to run faster and have richer visuals. And this technology is already in the hands of developers today. The engines used to power hundreds of games are implementing DirectX 12, including Unreal Engine 4 from Epic and, as we announced today, Unity.
Game DVR. On Xbox One, one of the most popular features used by gamers is Game DVR, which gives simple access to recording, editing, and sharing out your most epic gaming moments. It's not easy or consistent to do that for PC games today. We're bringing this beloved feature to Windows 10, now accessible by simply pressing Windows+G. With the games you love playing – whether on Xbox Live, Steam, or other services – you can record, edit, and share game clips with all your social networks.
Fable Legends. Today we announced that we are bringing Fable Legends to Windows 10 PCs, day-and-date with the Xbox One version in 2015. This means Fablefans running Windows 10 will be able to play against their fellow gamers on Xbox One. It's the same game, in the same world, on the same map. Fable Legends is just the first of the major game franchises from Microsoft Studios coming to Windows 10 and we will have more to share in the coming months.
