Yesterday Sony announced what entertainment-centric apps would be featured on the PlayStation 4 at launch, and now it's time for the Xbox One to get the same treatment. Microsoft has detailed the different TV, video service, and streaming apps that will be available on the console for each of the 13 markets it will be launching in.
In the US, the lineup of 19 apps will look awfully familiar to Xbox 360 owners — but while Sony has specified that all of its apps will be available at launch, Microsoft is less clear, stating that this "first wave" will be rolling out between the One's launch on November 22nd and spring of next year (HBO Go in particular is called out as "coming soon"). One obvious omission is the lack of a dedicated YouTube app on the Xbox One and PS4. While Microsoft has battled to provide YouTube on Windows Phone, it currently offers a YouTube app for the Xbox 360. Microsoft tells us that YouTube will work in Internet Explorer on Xbox One, but it's still surprising not to see a dedicated app on each next-generation console.
Users will also need an Xbox Live Gold subscription to take advantage of the selection. In the US that amounts to:
- Amazon Instant Video
- Crackle
- CWTV
- ESPN
- Fox Now
- FX Now
- HBO Go (listed as "coming soon")
- Hulu Plus
- Machinima
- MUZU TV
- Netflix
- Redbox Instant by Verizon
- Target Ticket
- TED
- The NFL on Xbox One
- Twitch
- Univision Deportes
- Verizon FiOS TV
- Vudu
The Xbox One is priced at $499, and will be arriving one week after the $399 PlayStation 4 is released. Given Microsoft's focus on providing a comprehensive gaming and entertainment experience with the One, the long list of entertainment apps is to be expected — but of course the above list is for US customers only, with services like Lovefilm, Netflix, Eurosport and others coming to various other countries depending on region.