Gadgets
Microsoft plans to make the Xbox One more like a PC, allowing gamers the chance to go back and play older games. It is expected that optional hardware upgrades will not only allow gamers to stay up-to-date with new technologies, but that existing games would still run on the new hardware.
As gamers, we’re all aware of the life cycle of our consoles. We buy a cutting-edge system, enjoy the games, and three or four years later, boom, out comes a new console, built with the newest hardware and promising a better gaming experience. We’re then faced with a decision: Spend big money to upgrade? Wait till the new games come to the PC? Forgo the purchase altogether because the console isn’t backwards compatible and will just be obsolete in a few years anyway?
These are legitimately tough decisions for a gamer to make.
At this year’s annual Spring Showcase, Microsoft gave gamers tantalizing tastes of upcoming titles, franchises and software updates. The lineup included announcements for a partnership between Microsoft and Mojang to bring Oculus Rift support to Minecraft, a plethora of games and new features for the Windows 10 Xbox app and Xbox One. But perhaps the biggest reveal?
Microsoft is working to bring hardware upgrades to the Xbox One
.This is big news for gamers who play the latest games but don’t want to let go of their old favorites just to make space. It’s not uncommon to see product phase-outs as a means of getting users to upgrade to the newest products. The typical life cycle of tech upgrades is replacement every five years, but the hardware itself can last 7-10 years without issue.
Related articles
From Console to PC
Microsoft’s Xbox chief Phil Spencer envisions the new hardware making the Xbox more like a PC than a console. As gaming technology advances, Xbox owners would be able to purchase hardware upgrades to keep abreast with the newest games — much the same way as a PC owner might swap in a new graphics card or hard drive.Meanwhile, they would be able to continue to play their old favorites without sacrificing more money and space. This move by Microsoft greatly extends the Xbox One’s life cycle far past the five-year standard.
The Universal Windows Platform
Microsoft’s move from console development to hardware add-ons ties together its work to unify previously unconnected Windows devices. The key to this push is the Universal Windows Platform (UWP).UWP, introduced in Windows 10, is a programming tool designed to make apps and programs compatible across multiple devices. These apps, called Universal Windows Apps (UWA), will all be available from a single app store accessible by all devices. This would allow for apps designed for Windows 10 to run on the Xbox One and Microsoft mobile devices.
There are numerous advantages to the UWP model, for both Microsoft and consumers. Because UWA’s run on a universal platform, Microsoft can put more resources into hardware development without having to worry about its compatibility with previously published games.
Once the UWP system is fully established, gamers can expect to see benefits from a well-connected system. Because UWAs are universal, a copy of a game bought on the PC will be available on other Windows devices, like the Xbox One. Cross-platform play, the ability to start a game on one device and pick it up on another, will also be possible.
The Future of Gaming
Microsoft has already made moves to ease consumers into a UWP-like ecosystem. In 2015, Microsoft worked to meld Windows 10 to the Xbox by developing an Xbox app to allow for some cross-platform play. It also updated the Xbox One software to be compatible with Windows 10.In the next few years, Xbox fans can expect to see the lines blur between console and PC gaming. Microsoft’s plan to make additional hardware sets the Xbox One up to become much more modular and customizable than any previous console. In the long run, this freedom might just be what console gaming needs.| By Kayla Matthews | Embed |
0 comments:
Post a Comment