The Verge - Breakings

Xbox One will not be backwards compatible with Xbox 360 games

2013-05-21T18:00:03Z

If you were hoping to play your vast collection of Xbox 360 games on Microsoft's latest creation, we've got a spot of bad news. Microsoft Xbox Live VP Marc Whitten confirmed to The Verge that the new Xbox One console will have no backwards compatibility whatsoever.

"No, there's not," said Whitten, when we posed the question. "The system is based on a different core architecture, so back-compat doesn't really work from that perspective."

That means that Xbox 360 discs won't work, but also extends to Xbox Live Arcade downloadable titles. Anything that was designed for the Xbox 360 will have to be rebuilt, and it sounds like Microsoft doesn't plan to do so.

An incompatible architecture

Technologically speaking, it's not wholly a surprise that backwards compatibility is off the table. Today, the company confirmed months of rumors that the new Xbox would use an x86 CPU. Games designed for the Xbox 360's Xenon processor simply won't run natively on the new hardware, since the Xenon used a PowerPC architecture instead. Of course, Sony's PlayStation 4 has the same problem: Sony also chose to move to x86 from PowerPC, and the PS4 also won't directly support PS3 games.

But while Sony is promising that PlayStation 4 users will indeed be able to play PlayStation 3 games at some point, by streaming them from the cloud, Microsoft is not promising any such thing for Xbox One. When we specifically asked Whitten whether the company had any streaming option or download option for existing Xbox 360 games for the Xbox One, he confirmed that there was no such thing in the works at Microsoft.

Microsoft does, however, plan to keep selling the Xbox 360 alongside the new console for the foreseeable future. "This isn't about getting rid of the Xbox 360," Whitten said. Perhaps the lack of backwards compatibility will be good for business there.

Update: Polygon reports that the new Xbox One won't be compatible with Xbox 360 controllers as well.

Microsoft announces live action 'Halo' TV series with Steven Spielberg as executive producer

2013-05-21T17:47:53Z

Microsoft has just announced a new expansion of the Halo universe — a live-action TV series will be coming to Xbox Live, and Steven Spielberg will be involved in an as-yet undefined role. "Halo has always been more than a game," said Bonnie Ross from 343 Industries when she announced the show. "The Halo universe is an amazing opportunity to be at that intersection where technology and myth-making meet to produce something truly groundbreaking," Spielberg said on a pre-recorded video. There's no word yet on when this show will debut, or where we'll be able to watch it beyond Xbox Live.

Update: Microsoft has clarified that Steven Spielberg will be the executive producer of the new Halo TV series. There's no other news on other creative contributors or when the show might air.

Update 2: After learning of the creative minds behind Microsoft's Halo series, we're now getting a better sense of how much of an investment the company is making in this project and future original programming. In an interview with Variety, Nancy Tellem (Microsoft's president of entertainment and digital media) reveals that the operating budget will resemble that of HBO's Game of Thrones and other ambitious, high-caliber shows. It sounds like we won't hear about Microsoft's next project in the immediate future, however. "For us, it’s about taking the necessary time to produce the right shows," she said.

Xbox Live adds gameplay recording and sharing, revamps achievements

2013-05-21T17:27:02Z

Xbox Live has long been a central component to Microsoft's game consoles: it (and Halo 2) almost singlehandedly made the original Xbox a force to be reckoned with, and it's been key to the successes of the Xbox 360. For the Xbox One announced today, Microsoft has naturally seen fit to refresh its online services.

Much like Sony did with the PlayStation 4, Microsoft is adding video capture and sharing tools to its online offering. As announced on stage today, the Xbox One's "Game DVR" allows you to capture gameplay and share those videos over Xbox Live and elsewhere. There's also a video editor so you can adjust and clip your recordings. Additionally, as part of a revamped achievement system, clips of the moments before you unlock an award will be automatically recorded. Thankfully, all of the video content is stored in the cloud so it should be easy to share and you won't have to worry about filling up your hard drive. It looks like Sony may have the upper hand here with its Gaikai-based streaming options and Ustream integration, which allow friends to watch live as you play and even jump in and take control of your game.

Also like the PS4, the Xbox One will allow users to start playing games before downloading the entire thing. Microsoft says that downloadable titles can be installed in segments to allow for gameplay quickly. While Sony hasn't detailed the system used on the PS4, it did suggest that titles would be playable while they were downloading; with the Xbox One it sounds like you'll need to download a complete chunk of the game first. Microsoft does say that users will be able to download updates in the background, however.

The refreshed Xbox Live also includes some more minor changes. Microsoft is touting a matchmaking system called "Smart Match" that will give you an estimated wait time so you don't have to sit around in a lobby waiting for a multiplayer game. Coupled with Microsoft's push to make the Xbox One a hub for TV content and other entertainment options, the new system is designed to let you continue watching a show until a match is available. Like the current version of Xbox Live, your profile, achievements, and saves will be synced with the cloud, but Microsoft is now allowing you easily sign into any Xbox One and pick up where you left off in games you've downloaded or installed. The company also hinted at what it's called "living games," an artificial intelligence that can mimic your play style with game worlds that evolve over time. There isn't much information available but we'll be on the lookout for more.

Microsoft also says that achievements have been expanded, but it hasn't provided many details yet. Your Gamerscore will be brought over from the Xbox 360, however, as will existing Xbox Live Gold memberships. And yes, that does mean that the company's subscription-based online service will continue to be necessary for multiplayer gameplay on the Xbox One. For your money, Microsoft is at least building up its backend: the company's Marc Whitten said on stage that this year over 300,000 servers will power Xbox Live, up from only 500 at launch and 15,000 today.

Microsoft bringing fully integrated SmartGlass experience to the new Xbox One

2013-05-21T17:25:27Z

At E3 last year, Microsoft introduced Xbox SmartGlass — a second-screen companion app to the Xbox 360 for smartphones, tablets, and Windows 8 PCs that displays companion content for supported entertainment options like movies and games. Unsurprisingly, Microsoft has just announced that it's bringing that technology to the new Xbox One console. Microsoft's Marc Whitten called it a "native" part of the Xbox One. He also said that there have been over 10 million downloads of SmartGlass for the Xbox 360. A report from Wired indicates that the new SmartGlass will eventually be able to turn your smartphone into a "skeumorphic" remote control that will mimic any other input device you might need to use. We've also learned that it'll let more devices connect at once for multiplayer and shared experiences. While overall details were minimal, we imagine we'll learn more about how SmartGlass works with the Xbox One at E3.

Every Xbox One comes with a next-generation Kinect

2013-05-21T17:23:50Z

Every new Xbox One will come with a new Kinect, Microsoft has just announced. The peripheral has received an incredible overhaul: the Xbox One uses it to turn on your entire entertainment system and switch between games, movies, web browsing and live television at a moment's notice. Just say "Xbox On" to turn on the console, even when it's off, and the Kinect will recognize you, automatically sign you in, and give you hands-free control over your entertainment experience. Say "Go to TV" or "Go to Internet Explorer" and you're there, or spread your hands in particular gestures while the Kinect depth camera is watching and you can grab items on the screen, or snap them side by side. It's also obviously the camera you'll be using for new group video calls with Skype.

The new Kinect has a wide-angle 1080p HD depth camera that captures RGB color video at 30 frames per second, and Microsoft says it's more sensitive and powerful than ever before: it uses time-of-flight technology to send out light and measure the amount of time it takes to return, and it can work even in a completely dark room. Microsoft says it can detect slight rotations in your wrist or shoulder, and Microsoft claims it can even read your heartbeat while you're exercising. "This is rocket science level stuff," says Xbox's Marc Whitten.

The Kinect can even recognize the new Xbox controller, so that you can add additional interaction even in traditional games by simply moving the controller while you're playing. The microphone array will now process audio that's personalized to each individual, the better to recognize you, and we're already seeing voice commands integrated in the new Xbox programming guide to control the console's live TV experience.

Oddly, Microsoft hasn't given us a new name for the new Kinect yet. We'll let you know if that changes.

Five years on from HD-DVD's failure, the Xbox One has a Blu-ray drive

2013-05-21T17:20:34Z

Microsoft's Xbox One will come complete with a Blu-ray drive. Games for the new console will be stored on Blu-ray discs, matching the PlayStation 4 as well as the Wii U's high-capacity proprietary media. It's not currently known what speed the Blu-ray drive runs at.

The move marks an about face from Microsoft, which opted to support DVD media on the Xbox 360 while Sony's PlayStation 3 made use of Blu-ray technology. Microsoft released an HD-DVD drive accessory for the Xbox 360 in 2006, but it was only ever used to play movies stored on the ill-fated format. The player was discontinued in early 2008.

There's palpable irony in Microsoft's shift to Blu-ray

There may be palpable irony in Microsoft's shift to the optical media format pushed by rival Sony, but Redmond won't have had many other options on the table. While the limits of DVD as a storage medium meant the next Xbox was always due for an upgrade, it's unlikely that Microsoft will have considered going digital-only a viable path given the lagging state of broadband penetration worldwide. And, while the company could have followed Nintendo's lead and created its own optical discs, using a Blu-ray drive — with movie playback intact — should help position the Xbox One as an all-in-one box for the living room.

Check out our Xbox One Live Blog for the latest updates!

Microsoft brings live TV to Xbox One with voice navigation

2013-05-21T17:12:46Z

Microsoft has announced TV for Xbox One, bringing a long-rumored live TV system to its next-generation console. Saying "Xbox, watch TV" will turn on live TV, and it's possible to switch between TV and other Xbox systems. The new Xbox "snap mode" can also pin things like Internet Explorer to one side of the screen, allowing users to watch TV or movies on the other side. Naturally, it includes SmartGlass integration, which allows it to be controlled with a smartphone. There's some integration with extra "smart" features, like the ability to watch a basketball game while tracking the players' stats. Overall, the system sounds much like what we heard before launch. A cable or satellite box can pass its signal through the Xbox via HDMI, then to the television, where you can choose to either use the provider's own interface or opt for Microsoft's own version.

The Xbox One will include all the features you'd expect on its own interface for television, including a list of favorites and a guide of TV listings, which can be navigated by voice. "Watch ESPN," for instance, will bring up the sports channels, while "What's on MTV?" will tell you what's on right now. A "trending" section" shows the most popular shows among friends and the Xbox community, as well as what's popular with video on demand offerings. During the demo, these features all appeared to work well — but we imagine having a voice-controlled remote will cause even more havoc than the Kinect's usual voice options.

Above all, we're being promised that the Xbox One social features will be truly integral. "Only on Xbox will TV become social in ways unknown to us today," said Microsoft's Nancy Tellem, saying the new Xbox would become the "next watercooler" for discussion — apparently Microsoft doesn't believe Twitter already occupies that niche. To heighten the profile of its television service, Microsoft is announcing new partnership projects, including a Spielberg-produced Halo TV series and an exclusive deal with the NFL.

Check out our next-generation Xbox Live Blog for the latest updates!

This is the new Xbox One controller

2013-05-21T17:10:07Z

The newly-designed Xbox One hardware will come with a redesigned controller, Microsoft revealed today at its next-generation Xbox event in Redmond, Washington.

Microsoft says its console gamepad has been "refreshed with more than 40 technical and design innovations," including an updated directional pad, thumb stick, integrated battery compartment, and an "ergonomic fit." That includes new "vibrating impulse triggers" designed to provide feedback to players' fingertips.

Microsoft says the new controller is designed to work closely with the new Kinect, "allowing the two to be paired automatically to create seamless player syncing." That synchronization will be enabled by Wi-Fi Direct technology that pairs the controller with the new system.

The new controller appears similar to the Xbox 360's controller design, and Microsoft has clearly taken an evolutionary design approach based on looks alone. In case you're wondering, Polygon reports that the existing Xbox 360 controllers won't be compatible with the new console.

Click here for our hands-on impressions with Microsoft's new controller.

Xbox One: a next-gen console with a focus on interactive TV and apps

2013-05-21T17:06:39Z

After months of rumors and speculation, Microsoft's next-generation console is finally here. During a special event at the company's Redmond headquarters today, Microsoft is unveiling Xbox One. Describing it as an all-in-one console, Microsoft's Don Mattrick unveiled the new shaped Xbox controller alongside Xbox hardware that closely resembles a set-top box.

On the hardware side, Microsoft has included 8GB of RAM, a single custom 40-nanometer system-on-chip with an 8-core CPU and GPU, and a custom 500GB HDD. The system-on-chip is made by AMD and Microsoft designed its own HDD in-house. Microsoft claims a combination of three operating systems power the One with the kernel of Windows. The system also utilizes a Blu-ray drive, USB 3.0, and built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi for gaming and entertainment. Microsoft also has new Kinect to share, and it includes a 1080p wide-angle camera that's designed to read your heartbeat while you exercise. Microsoft's new Xbox controller includes 40 design changes and impulse triggers that let you feel the feedback directly in the triggers themselves. The controller and Kinect work together to recognize a player, allowing gamers to raise a controller and cause actions in games, and more.

"Xbox on"

"Xbox on" turns on the hardware to power up an instant-on system with a new Home dashboard that is near-identical to Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system. Voice commands let you navigate the system, with options to control live TV. A new Instant Switching feature lets you move between applications and live TV streams instantly. Content can either be streamed from the web, or be pulled in through an HDMI in port on the back of the console. Microsoft has also built in a number of new gestures with Kinect, allowing players to navigate and close applications. Snap Mode follows a similar path to Windows 8, allowing Xbox One owners to run multiple apps alongside each other. Microsoft demonstrated a method where an app, like Internet Explorer, can run side-by-side while a movie plays.

Xbox One also includes Microsoft's Skype Xbox application with group video calling. Notifications display on the Xbox Home dashboard with a Snap Mode that lets you video call while you're watching movies. A new Xbox One Guide includes voice control search and navigation, and the ability to add favorites and see what type of content is trending. Voice commands like "watch CBS" navigate directly to the relevant content. Other software improvements include full SmartGlass integration to control the Xbox One with smartphones and tablets. Xbox One also includes a Game DVR feature that captures gameplay and allows you to share videos over Xbox Live and elsewhere.

More gaming exclusives teased for E3

It's clear there's a strong focus on entertainment here with the Xbox One, but Microsoft was quick to demonstrate its gaming heritage too. The first wave of Xbox One games include EA's NBA Live, FIFA, UFC, and Madden. Forza will return to the Xbox One, with Forza Motorsport 5 available at launch later this year. Downloadable content for the upcoming Call of Duty: Ghosts will launch exclusively on the Xbox One and Microsoft is teasing more exclusives at E3 in June. If you're looking to use existing Xbox 360 titles on the One, Microsoft has confirmed there is no backwards compatibility, and you won't be able to use existing Xbox 360 controllers either.

Quantum Break, an exclusive One title made by the creators behind Max Payne and Alan Wake will debut later this year, offering a blend of TV and gaming. Microsoft also announced a new expansion of the Halo universe with a live-action TV series coming to Xbox Live Steven Spielberg is involved in the production, and Microsoft is teasing it as an example of the internet-connected content that is coming with the Xbox One. A broad partnership with the National Football League will also see the Xbox One positioned as primary interactive experience for watching football.

Plenty of questions remain, and Microsoft has only teased the very first look at its next-generation console. There's no date for the Xbox One launch or pricing, but Microsoft is promising more information on games and other features at its E3 press event in June. Meanwhile, Microsoft is also holding its Build developers conference in late June, where we should expect to hear a lot more about how third-party developers create applications for the system.

Update: We're already getting some answers to those early questions. Engadget is reporting that the Xbox One's 500GB hard drive will not be user-replaceable as the Xbox 360's was. However, its USB 3.0 ports can be used for external storage.

Yahoo won't restrict porn on Tumblr

2013-05-20T22:01:11Z

During Yahoo's Flickr press event this evening, CEO Marissa Mayer responded to a question about restricted content on Tumblr, and confirmed that Yahoo has no plans to cull controversial material — meaning Tumblr's porn is safe. "It's the nature of user-generated content," Mayer said, answering one of the most pressing questions for many users of the service since rumors of the $1.1 billion acquisition began to swirl. However, Mayer promoted Tumblr's existing "NSFW" (not safe for work) tools to label controversial content on the network; "It's really important to have great community tools like 'NSFW' that Tumblr already has in place," she said.

Mayer's comments specifically answer a question that was merely suggested this morning, when she wrote about the acquisition in the Yahoo blog. "Tumblr is incredible special and has a great thing going," Mayer wrote. "We promise not to screw it up."

Tumblr is full of porn lol.
— Sean Nash (@seanwbu) March 14, 2013