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Clarification: Does Xbox One have 10% more horsepower without Kinect?
Here's the short answer, right up front: no. The long, more explanatory answer is more complex of course. Last week at E3 2014, GameTrailers host and well-known video game dude Geoff Keighley tweeted this: After @xboxp3 interview I've been asking devs about impact of new Xbox sdk on perf. Bungie says it will get Destiny to 1080p/30fps on XB1. - Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) June 10, 2014 The "Xboxp3" Twitter handle he referenced belongs to Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox at Microsoft (we interviewed him last week as well, right here), and the "new Xbox SDK" he referenced is part of the June update that the Xbox One received. In said update, developers received a new software development kit that -- according to a statement Microsoft released at the time -- "allows access to up to 10 per cent additional GPU performance." So that solves it, right? Not quite.
Xbox One July update brings help for Achievements and 'Likes' on recordings
Microsoft gave viewers a peek at the continuing evolution of the Xbox One just ahead of its E3 press conference, but everyone should get to try out the new Snap mode for Achievements next month. That's because the feature is a part of the July update about to start testing, along with a few other tweaks. In case you missed the E3 preview, there's a video demo of the multitasking-ready new Achievements mode after the break, showing how it lets players track their progress while staying in the game, and even search for help on how to reach their goals.
Aaron Paul is messing with people's Xbox Ones
If you sell a voice-activated console, it's probably wise not to have people in your advert uttering the key phrase. Someone at Microsoft missed that point when they asked Aaron Paul to bark "Xbox on" at his TV to promote the Xbox One. More than a few people have commented on Twitter that the Breaking Bad star has inadvertently activated their consoles thanks to Kinect's well-tuned microphones. Cheaper faster and now immune to celebrity interference? The reasons to buy a Kinect-free Xbone are stacking up.
'Destiny' runs at a higher resolution on Xbox One thanks to Kinect changes
It looks like Microsoft's decision to let game developers access system resources previously reserved for Kinect features is already paying dividends. Bungie says that the resulting performance boost will let Destiny run on the Xbox One at a higher 1080p resolution while maintaining 30 frames per second; in short, it's now as sharp-looking as the PS4 edition. Xbox head Phil Spencer also tells Major Nelson that the anything-goes shooter Sunset Overdrive will take advantage of the loosened requirements.
Microsoft's next big Windows Phone may use Kinect-like motion gestures
Yes, the Lumia 930 and 1520 are fine Windows Phones, but where's the sequel to the fan favorite, the 1020? Apparently, it's coming -- and it's bringing a clever control scheme along for the ride. Sources for both WPCentral and The Verge claim that Microsoft's future Lumia hardware, nicknamed McLaren, will incorporate both a giant camera and "3D Touch" that uses motion gestures (some of them Kinect-like) to control the phone without poking at the screen. We've seen some of the rumored concepts elsewhere; you can cover the phone to mute it, or bring it to your ear to answer. Others, however, are unique. McLaren will reportedly react to your grip, and will let you see features 'hidden' inside a Live Tile (such as messaging in the Facebook app) by making a tapping motion that doesn't touch the glass.
Ubisoft's 'Shape Up' uses the Xbox One camera to try to make fitness fun
"Fitness is boring," says Ubisoft's Charles Huteau at the company's E3 press event. He's right, it is: There's a whole industry growing around our attempt to make exercise fun. Huteau, however, thinks the answer lies on the Xbox One. "Your workout will finally become an epic game." The name of that game is Shape Up, an Xbox One-exclusive fitness title that leverages Kinect 2.0's higher-resolution camera. It sounds old hat, we know -- but Huteau put his body where his mouth was, standing in front of the sensor and scanning his body into the game. He pulled up a mini-game called "Piano Step" and within moments, the presenter was competing against a pre-recorded version of himself in a modernized version of Dance Dance Revolution.
Get fit this November in Ubisoft's Shape Up
Though Ubisoft creative director Charles Huteau admits that "fitness is boring," Ubisoft has announced Shape Up, an exercise game that promises to "finally" turn your workout into an epic game. During Ubisoft's E3 conference, Huteau demonstrated a cardio workout that took the form of a mano a mano piano shuffle battle. While rapidly stomping virtual keys alongside a Kinect-spawned doppelganger of himself, Huteau seemingly worked up a minor sweat - crucially, without holding an extra peripheral (as in Ubisoft's Just Dance Now). Ubisoft offered no specific release date for Shape Up, but the game is slated to appear on the Xbox One during this November.
Xbox E3 2014 Liveblog on Joystiq
Following an awkward introduction over the past year, this is the Xbox One's E3 to shine and find its voice. Microsoft's console will likely focus on "games, games, games" during the E3 press conference, which is scheduled to start at 9:30AM PST. Kinect to our liveblog right here. Check back at 9:30AM PST to see Microsoft's metamorphosis on display, as we wait to see how much the company has shifted from its sports, TV, sports, TV focus. There's sure to be some Halo in there too.
'Dance Central' returns to Xbox as a download-only game
Kinect may no longer be a mandatory part of the Xbox One experience, but there could still be an incentive to pick one up: Harmonix has just used Microsoft's E3 keynote to unveil Dance Central Spotlight, a revival of its long-serving rhythm game series. Apart from delivering the visual upgrades you'd expect with a new generation of hardware, the title promises more dance routines, a voice-triggered "practice that" mode and an expanded fitness mode that will give you a proper workout. While more details of the game mechanics have yet to come, Spotlight will be a download-only release when it arrives on the Xbox One in September.
Microsoft now selling Kinectless Xbox One for $400
One way Microsoft can stimulate Xbox One sales is to drop the price to match its better-selling rival, the PlayStation 4. After it confirmed exactly that by announcing a Kinectless Xbox One last month, the company has now opened sales -- hours before E3 2014 kicks off. You can pick one up for $399.99/£349.99 via Microsoft's online store, which lets you concentrate on gaming instead of repeating that frustrating "Xbox on" command. If you decide later that you do want the sensor-packed accessory, a standalone version will be available this fall. Microsoft will also continue to sell the "premium" bundle with Kinect. Today's launch is meant to be about gamers that "just like to play games with a controller in their hand," because, you know, everyone else totally wanted a Kinect to begin with.
PSA: Netflix, Hulu among apps now free to use on Xbox Live
Last month, Microsoft announced it will no longer keep entertainment apps like Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBO Go behind its Xbox Live premium paywall. The change to its Xbox Live service structure is now in effect, allowing non-paying users to use the aforementioned apps in addition to ones like Twitch, MLB.TV, NBA Game Time, YouTube and more. Microsoft's decision to modify its free and paid Xbox Live service offerings was announced the same day as the $399 Kinect-less Xbox One console, which will be available starting Monday, June 9. Free-to-play and subscription-based games like The Elder Scrolls Online will still require a paid Xbox Live Gold subscription to play online, however. [Image: Microsoft]
Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved debuts on Xbox this October
Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved will bring its imaginative sound sorcery to the Xbox One and Xbox 360 on October 21. Developed by Rock Band creator Harmonix, Disney Fantasia explores the vivid imagery and music of Disney's symphonic film, but with a modern spin and a conductor-like wave of the arm in front of Kinect. As part of its release date announcement, Harmonix is showing off another one of Fantasia's hub environments, through which new songs can be discovered and brought into the world. "The Neighborhood" is a surreal glimpse at a 1980s New York, with a pastel sky bursting behind skyscrapers. As you poke around the city and complete songs, such as MIA's "Galang" and "The Real Me" by The Who, billboards and graffiti creatures come to life. And if you look in the right place, you can teach some cool vegetables how to be street performers. For more on Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved, head past the break to see the newest batch songs and footage of what it's like playing the game.
New Kinect for Windows is now available for pre-order, costs $199
If you've been jonesing to snag the new Kinect sensor for Windows, you can now get one -- well, almost. Microsoft has just made its latest Kinect for Windows available for pre-order for only $199 with the promise of shipment by July 2014 if you do so while supplies last. The idea behind the early release is to give developers a head start on building applications for the latest v2 technology, though there's nothing stopping regular consumers from getting in on the action as well. As a reminder, the new Kinect for Windows promises improved depth sensing, a wider field of view, 1080p resolution and more. So if you're tired of the Xbox One getting all the Kinect love, feel free to see what the Windows version has to offer at the source link below.
Microsoft lets Xbox One devs turn off Kinect for a power boost
Prepare to be confused: Despite everything we've heard about the Xbox One's Kinect sensor containing its own onboard processor, so that it doesn't weigh down the main console with voice- and image-recognition tasks, it's clear that the add-on does add to the burden. Microsoft has confirmed to Eurogamer that after this month's update (timed ahead of the new Kinect-less Xbox One), developers can access "up to 10 percent additional GPU performance," simply by virtue of system resources that no longer have to be reserved for the motion-sensing peripheral's features. In a tweet, new Xbox boss Phil Spencer said there is "More performance, new tools and flexibility to make games better." Does this mean that owners of the original Xbox One can get less screen-tearing or higher resolution in Titanfall simply by unplugging Kinect? No, but a new SDK enables a boost for game developers who are happy to sacrifice access to the "natural interface" in favor of better performance. In any case, Microsoft's initial justification for regarding Kinect as an "essential and integrated" part of Xbox One is starting to wear pretty thin.
HBO Go, Twitter among 35 apps coming to Xbox One by year's end [Update]
Xbox One and Xbox 360 will receive 45 apps by the end of the holiday season, Microsoft announced today. Among the apps are Twitter, Facebook, Vine, HBO Go, ShowTime Anytime, Comedy Central and Major League Gaming, some of which already have a presence on Xbox 360. Xbox One's Twitter app will integrate directly with its live TV offerings, as viewers will be able to view a stream of tweets for shows they're watching at the moment, as well as a "trending" section of the console's OneGuide that ties to popular programming going on at the time. Head past the break for a full list of the incoming apps and the regions they will launch in, courtesy of Xbox Wire. Update: To clarify, 35 of the apps will arrive on Xbox One as opposed to the 45 combined for Xbox One and Xbox 360. We've updated our headline accordingly.
Xbox One June update arrives so you can drop the nickname and add storage
Whether or not we love the update process, we're quickly getting used to the rapid pace of improvements coming to Microsoft's Xbox One. After the usual beta period, the promised June update is here, and brings several features we've been waiting for since launch. Old school automatic logins are once again an option, so even if your Kinect is unplugged (or nonexistent) all saves and settings will be available right away without any extra clicks. There's also support for up to two external hard drives, as long as they're USB 3.0 and at least 256GB. That's a boon not only for the extra storage space, but for speed too -- some beta testers reported faster loading times after adding 7200RPM drives that outpace the standard laptop option Microsoft put inside the XB1. The Xbox One version of Games for Gold and a new VIP section are here too, letting subscribers nab Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and Halo: Spartan Assault without spending another dime or try out Hulu Plus free for three months.
Xbox One's World Cup app sets its destination for Brazil
Microsoft announced a new sporty app section for Xbox One today called "Destination Brazil," which connects viewers with a couple of nifty tools to enhance their FIFA World Cup viewing experience. Slated to launch Thursday, June 12, Destination Brazil includes a "Brazil Now" app that snaps to the side of the TV screen to update viewers in real-time on match scores, statistics, interactive polls, relevant tweets and more. The Xbox One will also receive an unscripted TV series starring footballers Thierry Henry and Edgar Davids called "Every Street United," which travels the globe to find talented street soccer players. Every Street United debuts on Sunday, June 15 via its Xbox One and Xbox 360 app or through Xbox Video. Microsoft will also distribute videos on Xbox Video from YouTube soccer channel Copa90 and will provide a quick access point to the special World Cup mode within FIFA 14's Ultimate Team section. As a bonus, those that pick up a copy of FIFA 14 or 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil on either system (well, only Xbox 360 for the latter) will receive a special Xbox-branded mini soccer ball to destroy their lamps with, because they're definitely not Lionel Messi or anything. [Image: Microsoft]
Save $120 on an Xbox One, Kinect, Forza 5, a game you pick
Wal Mart is offering $119 of savings on an Xbox One bundle: You can grab the console (with Kinect), a digital copy of Forza 5, and a choice of whatever game you want for $500. There are 18 Xbox One games to choose from for the free option, including Titanfall, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, NBA 2K14, Thief and Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes. The Xbox One console with Kinect sells for $500 normally, or for the same price in a bundle with Titanfall. Wal Mart also has an "Ultimate 3 Game Value Bundle" for $550, and that includes the console, Kinect, Forza 5, NBA Live 14 and Fighter Within. That one advertises savings of $160. Microsoft plans to sell Xbox One consoles without Kinect for $400 starting on June 9. [Image: Wal Mart]
Joystiq Weekly: Xbox One's Kinect, Mario Kart 8 review, Godzilla's past and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. If machinery works the way The Brave Little Toaster suggests, you gotta feel for the Kinect - the solid experiences it supplements are often drowned in complaints about its underwhelming games, as well as its general inaccuracies as a listening, motion-tracking controller. We imagine Microsoft reassured the device about its playground reputation by including it with every Xbox One out there, but then ... well, this week happened. Kinect might be destined to just stay at home now, waiting for a band of appliance-shaped adventures to accept his flaws so it can tag along with for their straight-to-Blu Ray sequel. Hey, on the upside, at least that terrifying air conditioner died off before Kinect was ever able to meet him. Can you imagine being left alone in a house with that thing as a kid? Talk about new legitimate fears. Anyway, now that we're done painting a bleak picture of Kinect's secret social life, there's a lot more to this week than technological popularity contests. It's financial season, with Ubisoft, Take-Two and the NPD Group throwing numbers everywhere, we've got reviews for Mario Kart 8 and Super Time Force, and there's also a dip into Godzilla's past of ruining virtual metropolises. It's all stacked neat and orderly for you after the break!
Microsoft working with Rare to determine what's next
Touring Rare's history is pretty great, considering the company's standouts include Perfect Dark, Conker's Bad Fur Day and Banjo-Kazooie. After Microsoft purchased Rare, the studio still had a traditionally-controlled highlight in the Viva Piñata series, but Rare's more recent focus has been on supporting the Kinect with the Kinect Sports games. Now that Microsoft has conceded their Xbox One pack-in strategy for the peripheral, questions have arisen concerning Rare's next step as a studio, some of which were addressed in a Total Xbox interview with Phil Spencer, head of Xbox. "They're in the process of evaluating what they want to do next, and we're working closely with them to see what their new project will be," Spencer said. "And I've also laughed when people have tried to use the word, what I 'force' them to do," he added, explaining that trying to force "independent-minded" studios like Rare to do something is "never a successful equation." We're well aware that games need to be profitable and that a studio's team changes with time. However, if Rare isn't being forced to support the Kinect and we get another rough Kinect Sports game instead of a new Viva Piñata, we'll join the ranks of the Sour troublemakers and start wrecking havoc in the nearest garden. [Image: Rare]
