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Xbox One: Microsoft's new console, Kinect, and a big bet on TV

Microsoft's new Xbox One console is set to debut in November and battle Sony's PlayStation 4 in a fresh round of console wars. The Xbox One includes Kinect in the box, and some entertainment features that take over live TV. Here's everything you need to know about the hardware, updates to Xbox Live, SmartGlass, latest games, and Microsoft's plans for the living room.

  • Chris Welch

    Sep 6, 2013

    Chris Welch

    Microsoft details a faster, more powerful SmartGlass experience for Xbox One

    SmartGlass
    SmartGlass

    SmartGlass, which enabled Microsoft's Xbox 360 to communicate with mobile devices, came relatively late in the console's life cycle. But Xbox One has been designed to maximize interplay with your Windows, Android, and iOS hardware, Microsoft revealed today. The company is sharing new details on what the next-generation SmartGlass experience will entail. First, connecting your console and smartphone or tablet will be a much faster process. Whereas the original app controlled Xbox 360 through the cloud, SmartGlass on Xbox One talks to the console directly over your Wi-Fi network. Microsoft says the initial connection now takes just four seconds, and subsequent connections only get faster from there.

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  • Bryan Bishop

    Sep 5, 2013

    Bryan Bishop

    First Xbox One commercial targets NFL fans, not gamers

    Xbox One NFL ad (SCREENCAP)
    Xbox One NFL ad (SCREENCAP)

    Part of Microsoft's Xbox One strategy has been to stress that it's not just for gaming, but that it can serve as a broad entertainment device as well. This new ad for the next-gen console drives that message home by focusing directly on Microsoft's partnership with the NFL. As part of the collaboration, the Xbox One will feature its own fantasy football system and exclusive interactive broadcasts. Along with showing off those features, the spot also takes a look at how Skype calling might be used in a real-world situation — when you're surrounded by screaming football fans, of course.

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  • Sean Hollister

    Sep 4, 2013

    Sean Hollister

    Xbox One goes into mass production, with one last CPU tweak

    Xbox One Build 2013 stock 1020
    Xbox One Build 2013 stock 1020

    Microsoft is ready to wage the next console war. According to Xbox marketing chief Yusef Mehdi, the Xbox One is now in mass production, and the company's expecting to ship millions and millions of consoles this holiday season. Pre-orders are already sold out. But before the company put the assembly lines into motion, Microsoft made one last tweak, bumping the Xbox One CPU's clockspeed from 1.6GHz to 1.75GHz. Speaking at the Citi Global Technology Conference, Medhi said the CPU boost is on top of the graphics performance improvement that the Xbox received in early August. "The system is really going to shine," he told analysts.

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  • Adi Robertson

    Sep 3, 2013

    Adi Robertson

    The Xbox One won't support external hard drives at launch

    White Xbox One
    White Xbox One

    If you're looking to expand on the Xbox One's 500GB internal hard drive, you'll have to wait at least a little while. On a PAX podcast, Microsoft's Major Nelson said that the company was falling behind on its plans to support external drives. "The future plan is definitely to support external storage, much like we do on the Xbox 360," he said, responding to an audience question. "My understanding is that feature will not be there at launch, because the team is working on some other things, but it definitely is on the list. I don't know when it will come in, though."

    It's hardly a surprise to see some features get delayed at a console launch, though we don't know why it wasn't possible to implement it earlier, and there's no sign that it won't be coming soon after, since we're still months away from the launch. Storage woes also tend to come later in a console's lifespan, both because it takes time to build up a game library and because game sizes can increase dramatically over time. This does mean, however, that early adopters will have to stick with the standard 500GB option until the feature is added — Microsoft previously touted external hard drive support because its internal drive was non-replaceable.

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  • Andrew Webster

    Sep 3, 2013

    Andrew Webster

    Xbox One supports up to eight controllers for multiplayer gaming

    Xbox One controllers (560px)
    Xbox One controllers (560px)

    Microsoft has spent a good amount of energy detailing the controller for its upcoming console, and now we've learned yet another detail — the Xbox One will support up to eight wireless controllers simultaneously. That's double what the Xbox 360 supports, and the One's wireless controllers will also feature a 30 foot range. Of course, it's unlikely that many developers will utilize so many controllers for local multiplayer, but it could potentially be a great way to play Madden or FIFA with a large number of friends. More importantly, it also means that the Xbox One could be home to the next-gen Bomberman game of our dreams.

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  • Tom Warren

    Aug 26, 2013

    Tom Warren

    Microsoft creates white Xbox One for employees

    White Xbox One
    White Xbox One

    Microsoft is building a white Xbox One, but it's for employees only. A Reddit poster has revealed that Microsoft plans to gift the special edition white Xbox One to employees who have worked on the next-generation console. Employees working in Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, the division responsible for Xbox, will receive a free Xbox One, one year of Xbox Live, games, and a special achievement all on launch day. The front of the console even includes an "I made this" engraving. The Verge has confirmed with Microsoft sources that the giveaway is genuine.

    After unveiling its black Xbox One console in May, Microsoft kept quiet about any plans for additional colored models of its next-generation console. It's not clear if the software maker plans to release its special edition white variant to the public, and we've reached out to Microsoft for comment. The Xbox One is scheduled for a release in the US and other European markets during November, with additional countries planned for early 2014.

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  • Sean Hollister

    Aug 22, 2013

    Sean Hollister

    Xbox One and Kinect won't be sold separately, Microsoft confirms

    Microsoft has changed several key Xbox One policies to better compete with Sony's PlayStation 4, but this much is still guaranteed: every Xbox One will come with a Kinect. They won't be sold seperately. That's the word from Microsoft corporate vice president Phil Harrison. At Gamescom, he told CVG that as far as the company is concerned, Xbox One and Kinect are two parts of a single whole:

    Microsoft originally announced that not only would every Xbox One come with a Kinect, but also that it would be an integral part of the system that would need to be plugged in at all times. That last part is no longer true: Microsoft confirmed that the Kinect didn't need to be plugged in earlier this month. In doing so, the company raised both hopes and fears: hopes that Microsoft might be able to match the PlayStation 4's cheaper $399 price tag by not including a Kinect, and fears that Xbox One developers wouldn't be able to guarantee that any given gamer would have a new Kinect in their home. Now, the message is clear. Developers will be able to build their games with the assumption that Kinect will be available, and buyers will have to pay. Perhaps, if the resulting games are good, everyone will be a winner.

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  • Nathan Ingraham

    Aug 20, 2013

    Nathan Ingraham

    Amazon trade-in offer lets you upgrade an Xbox 360 game to Xbox One for $10

    xbox one logo (verge stock)
    xbox one logo (verge stock)

    If you're the kind of gamer who wants to buy this fall's top Xbox 360 games as soon as they're released and also buy them again for the Xbox One as soon as you can, Amazon is offering a deal that might be of interest to you. Essentially, Amazon will let you trade in an Xbox 360 game to get the same title for the Xbox One for only $9.99. For starters, you'll need to own one of eight new or forthcoming Xbox 360 games Amazon is including in the promo (options include FIFA '14Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, and Battlefield 4). Then, if you want to upgrade a game to the Xbox One version when it is released, you can just initiate a trade-in using Amazon's standard system. In addition to the guaranteed $25 Amazon says it'll give for these games, you'll also get an additional $25 off if you purchase the same game for the Xbox One.

    At the end of the day, the upgraded Xbox One version of the game will only cost you about $10 — not a bad deal, considering Amazon's throwing an extra $25 on top of what it would normally give for a trade-in. Of course, there's a lot of fine print to be aware of; most significant is that customers can only do this $10 upgrade once for one single game. You'll also need to complete the trade-in and buy your Xbox One game by the end of the year or else you'll lose the bonus $25 credit. However, it doesn't matter where you bought the Xbox 360 version of your game, be it from Amazon or somewhere else. All in all, the audience for this deal is probably somewhat limited, but it looks like there's some demand for it — Gamestop announced a similar promotion earlier this month. If you absolutely need to have one of the eight games Amazon is offering on launch day, and also want to have it for the Xbox One, this deal is worth looking in to.

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  • Tom Warren

    Aug 20, 2013

    Tom Warren

    Xbox One will launch with over 20 games, many more announced

    Xbox One
    Xbox One

    Microsoft is unveiling its list of Xbox One launch titles at Gamescom today, including Battlefield 4 and Ubisoft's Watch Dogs. There are 23 titles in total so far, but Microsoft leaves it open for more to be confirmed as launch titles in the coming weeks before the November release. The Xbox One launch titles include:

    Alongside the launch titles, Microsoft recently released some stats on its Xbox One games line-up. 38 percent of the titles are exclusive to Xbox One, 37 percent are brand-new IP, and 44 percent will include timed or exclusive content for Xbox One. There are over 50 titles in total planned for the Xbox One so far that are expected to debut over the course of this year and 2014. Microsoft hasn't confirmed exactly when the Xbox One will be made available, but its planned for a release in November.

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  • Tom Warren

    Aug 20, 2013

    Tom Warren

    'FIFA 14' bundled as a free digital download with European Xbox One pre-orders

    xbox one fifa 14 (verge stock
    xbox one fifa 14 (verge stock

    Microsoft is planning to bundle a free copy of FIFA 14 with European Xbox One pre-orders this year. At Gamescom today the software maker unveiled the free game alongside new additions to the Xbox One line up, and a new ID@Xbox program for indie developers. A free copy of FIFA 14 will be included with all European pre-orders, while stocks last says Microsoft. FIFA 14 on Xbox One will also include Ultimate Team, and an exclusive "football legends" mode that combines the stars of today with those of previous years. Ruud Gullit and Freddie Ljungberg will be the first players available in the new game mode, with Pelé and Patrick Vieira planned for the future.

    Seven European countries will be able to take advantage of the free FIFA 14 offer, as all pre-orders from Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom are covered. The game will be offered as a digital download, and all pre-orders to date and pre-orders from today are covered. Microsoft is also launching an Xbox 360 FIFA 14 launch bundle on September 27th in Europe for £199.

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  • Aug 20, 2013

    Vlad Savov

    'Fable Legends', 'FIFA 14' Ultimate Team, and 'Cobalt': Xbox One news at Gamescom 2013

    fable legends
    fable legends

    Microsoft's Xbox One Showcase event at Gamescom 2013 is primarily intended to let people get to grips with its next-gen console, but there are a few noteworthy news items as well. Firstly, Fable Legends has been announced as an upcoming Xbox One exclusive, the latest in the long-running series of role-playing games from Lionhead Studios. Microsoft says the new game will feature an "online world of Albion like you've never seen before," while the big gaming appeal is pitched as the ability to play as either the villain or the hero.

    The Unreal Engine 4-powered game is still at the pre-alpha stage of development, so some animation stutters were predictably visible in Lionhead's demo, however the whole thing conveyed a real sense of next-gen gaming. The gameplay looks to focus on tactical team play, whether with AI sidekicks or via online multiplayer, and villains will be able to prearrange monster spawn points and other nasty surprises for oncoming heroes.

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  • Tom Warren

    Aug 14, 2013

    Tom Warren

    Xbox One launch delayed to 2014 in eight European countries

    Xbox One reveal (MS stock)
    Xbox One reveal (MS stock)

    Microsoft originally revealed Xbox One would launch in 21 markets in November, but the company says it's delaying the availability in some European countries. Eight countries have been hit with a delay to 2014: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland. The Xbox One will now launch in 13 markets in November: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom, US, and New Zealand.

    Microsoft isn't detailing the exact reasons behind the delay, but the company does say there are "many factors," including localized Xbox One dash support, additional voice and languages, and partnerships for apps in each country. Customers who have pre-ordered the Xbox One in the eight delayed countries will receive a "pack-in game" when the console finally launches in 2014. "We understand this will be disappointing news for our fans in the impacted countries, and we are doing everything we can to bring Xbox One to you as soon as possible next year."

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  • Aaron Souppouris

    Aug 12, 2013

    Aaron Souppouris

    Let Microsoft take you on a seven-minute tour of the Xbox One controller

    xbox one controller press image stock
    xbox one controller press image stock

    A lot has been said about the virtues of Microsoft's next-generation console — some good, some bad. One thing that's been met with near-universal acclaim, at least from first impressions, is the console's new controller. Although we already had a look at the controller when the Xbox One launched back in May, Microsoft has decided to share an in-depth video on the new peripheral. In the video, Zulfi Alam, general manager of the Xbox accessories group, talks Microsoft's Major Nelson through each design decision, from the type of motors involved in feedback to where individual screws are placed. If you've already pre-ordered an Xbox One, or are planning on picking one up soon, it's an interesting watch.

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  • Jacob Kastrenakes

    Aug 10, 2013

    Jacob Kastrenakes

    Xbox 360 will drop Microsoft Points starting next system update

    microsoft points
    microsoft points

    Starting with the next Xbox 360 system update, gamers will no longer have to deal with the much-maligned Microsoft Points system that's long been used to facilitate digital downloads. Microsoft hasn't announced when that update is coming, but the software has been in a public testing phase for over a month now. As on the Xbox One, Points will be replaced a much simpler system: gamers' local currencies. Microsoft will also begin selling gift cards that can be redeemed through the system, but they won't be in stores until later this year.

    Fortunately, Points that are left over on gamers' accounts won't just vanish when the change happens. Microsoft plans to convert all remaining Points — be they already in the system or still lying around on unredeemed gift cards — into a cash credit that it says will be of an equivalent or greater value. Those gift cards will be accepted until "further notice," and the same policies will apply on the Xbox One, which will exclusively use local currencies out of the box.

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  • Sean Hollister

    Aug 7, 2013

    Sean Hollister

    Many new Xbox One features will require $60-a-year Live subscription

    Even if the new $499 Xbox One delivers "thousands of dollars of value" this holiday season, you'll need to pay $60 a year to make the most of them. Today, Microsoft confirmed that you'll need a $59.99 Xbox Live Gold subscription to access some of the most highly touted online features of the new game console, including the Game DVR system that automatically records and lets you share video clips of your gameplay achievements, Skype video calling, and the OneGuide TV programming guide that lets you browse and control live TV with a unified interface.

    For Microsoft, restricting features like these to premium subscribers is nothing new. With the Xbox 360, online multiplayer game modes and online video services like Netflix and Hulu Plus have required an Xbox Live Gold subscription (in addition to your Netflix and Hulu Plus subscriptions) for years now, and the price of an Xbox Live Gold account hasn't increased yet since November 2010. Sony is partially following suit, now requiring a PlayStation Plus subscription to play PlayStation 4 games online, though it hasn't specified whether it will charge for other features. Still, these decisions were controversial moves at the time and remain controversial among gamers now. After all the other about-faces from Microsoft as to what the Xbox One can do and at what cost, we wonder if it's the right move.

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  • Aug 2, 2013

    Vlad Savov

    John Carmack feels Xbox One and PS4 are 'very close,' but Kinect is 'a poor interaction'

    John Carmack (Credit: Quakecon_Flickr)
    John Carmack (Credit: Quakecon_Flickr)

    Id Software may not be at the vanguard of gaming innovation as it once was, however its patriarch John Carmack remains one of the most respected developers in the industry. Making his annual keynote address at Quakecon, Carmack didn't dodge the topic of the upcoming generation of consoles, however his opinion has been frustratingly diplomatic: he judges the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 to be "very close." Reiterating his preference for Microsoft's Xbox 360 among the current-gen machines, Carmack says that Sony has made "large strides" to close the gap in terms of developer friendliness, meaning that the choice among the next wave of hardware won't be as clearcut.

    Moving on to address one of the Xbox's undeniable success stories, the Kinect motion control peripheral, Carmack expresses himself a lot more bluntly. To him, the entire experience is "fundamentally a poor interaction." Analogizing it to Apple's old one-button mouse, Carmack opines that "Kinect is sort of like a zero-button mouse with a lot of latency on it." That comment earned him a mixture of disagreeing boos and polite applause, though there was evidently a tongue-in-cheek quality underpinning the provocative statement.

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  • Jacob Kastrenakes

    Jul 24, 2013

    Jacob Kastrenakes

    Xbox One will allow independent developers to self-publish titles

    Xbox One controllers
    Xbox One controllers

    Microsoft is making another big change to its Xbox One policies and opening the console's online store up for all independent developers to publish into. The Xbox 360 has long limited the Arcade store to titles published only by Microsoft and other major companies, such as EA. That largely prevented independent developers from releasing titles onto the Xbox without making a deal with a big publisher — something that many developers didn't want to do. But under Microsoft's new policies, small developers will presumably be able to push a game into the Xbox One's primary storefront on their own.

    Independent developers seemingly won't be limited in any way either. They'll be able to tap into the Xbox One's built-in cloud computing — which should enable them to create even more powerful games — and to generally use the console to its full extent, including getting access to Xbox Live, achievements, and the Kinect. Microsoft hasn't fully detailed what the process for submitting games will be like, but it's promising to reveal more details in August.

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  • Sean Hollister

    Jul 22, 2013

    Sean Hollister

    Xbox One will continually record the last five minutes of gameplay

    xbox one controller
    xbox one controller

    Now, Ken Lobb of Microsoft Game Studios has clarified the feature. "The idea is you're always recording," he told GameSpot at San Diego Comic-Con. "The last five minutes of any game you're playing is always being stored locally on your hard drive." That allows for two different sharing options, according to Lobb: you can either say "Xbox, record that," to instantly save the last 30 seconds of gameplay, or optionally scrub through the full five minutes of footage, edit it down, add extras like Kinect pictures of you playing, and turn it all into a video.

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  • Sean Hollister

    Jul 16, 2013

    Sean Hollister

    Xbox One games can be played while they download, confirms Microsoft

    xbox one controller
    xbox one controller

    One of the major selling points of the PlayStation 4 was how easy it would be to jump right into a game. Just surf the online PlayStation Store for your title of choice, and immediately begin playing. Now, it looks like that advantage might be moot: Microsoft says its Xbox One can perform the same trick, allowing you to play Xbox Live games while they download. While the company had already said that gamers would be able to start playing disc-based games while they install, today Microsoft confirmed to Polygon and Engadget that once "a fraction of the entire game" has been downloaded, Xbox One owners will be able to "jump into the action" while the rest of the title downloads in the background.

    While some of the more exotic cloud computing features that Sony and Microsoft are promising seem like they might be a ways off, it seems like play-as-you-download isn't a particularly hard nut to crack: Sony's PlayStation 3 already uses the technique to allow gamers to begin playing apocalyptic action-adventure The Last of Us while they download its many gigabytes of data. Perhaps that's because it's been floating around the industry for a while: it's a feature we saw in experimental form when we visited Gaikai last year, and before that at a company called InstantAction.

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