While Microsoft has been quiet as of late, their announcements today show that they have been hard at work making improvements to the Xbox LIVE experience for all users.
Starting today, Xbox One owners can stream their gameplay via Microsoft's Beam streaming service. Microsoft said that the latest update is designed to get gamers to stream their content more often. They achieve this by providing easier access to those aspects of the UI. It is an impressive overhaul that is definitely a push towards Beam over competitor Twitch, which has had its own streaming app on the Xbox One for awhile now. It seems like Microsoft hopes that they can bring the popularity of game streaming back under their own domain. It should also be noted that there is no need to download an additional app or feature set and there is no need to create any new accounts. Beam is fully native in Xbox.
The new Home design puts emphasis on performance overall and puts content related to the games you're currently playing at the front and center of your home screen. This latest overhaul is part of Microsofts continued mission to improve the platform and bring it back to being primarily a gaming device after trying to push Xbox One as an all around entertainment device for years.
The Guide has also been given a facelift, which will give users quick access to the media controls and the most used content in a new menu that is easy to access via the Xbox Button on your controller. Multitasking has also been improved, and now allows for in-game achievement tracking via an UI overlay. Cortana is also available ontop of anything else you're doing so there is no longer a need to jump from app to app to change certain settings via voice control.
Microsoft is really pushing Beam this time around. Only time will tell if this will payoff not only for them, but for everyone using Xbox as well. The new push towards Beam might alienate some users and could wind up a distraction but the other changes in this update feel like a long needed "win" for the company.
We'll bring you more, as always, as we get it.