Xbox One Unveiled. Here’s The Rundown

Well, Reveal Day is here and millions of people are wondering what’s coming in the world of Xbox.  More than 10 years ago, Microsoft innovated the gaming industry with the Xbox 360.  Since then they’ve added Live Service, Kinect, Apps and many other items to bring your console to the fore-front of your living room entertainment centre.  How can Xbox top what they’ve already done?  What have they got in mind for the next generation of games and entertainment?  Read on to find out more.

The name of the next generation of consoles is Xbox One and it will recognize your name and your voice.

It is a little larger than you’d expect.  About the size of  the old BetaMax VCR’s from the 70’s.  But it’s going to have all the bells and whistles.  The console will be able to automatically remember what you were last doing and show that on your home screen.  Using your voice you can browse the new dashboard with a much faster interface.  One of the features available will be integrated TV.  You’ll be able to connect your cable service.  They’ve also put in instant switching.  You can switch between game, TV, movies, etc.  simply by saying it.

Using hand gestures you can also “grab” the screen and shrink or enlarge it to go back and forth between the dashboard.  There is a “Snap Mode” which will allow you to use multiple applications at the same time without the console slowing down.

And now for the news that everyone has been waiting for.  SKYPE!!!  Skype will be included in the new console.  You’ll be able to take or send calls while watching movies or gaming.  Like sports?  You’ll be able to keep track of your fantasy team while watching your games.

Can’t find anything to watch, use the Xbox One Guide.  You can search using Voice, Favourites or what’s Trending.  With Favourites, you’ll be able to keep track of what you watch the most or use Trending to see what’s popular.  The new console will be connected and ready to go.  There will be 5 billion transistors and 8 GB of RAM in the console as well as a BluRay player.  There are three operating systems in the console to help with the processing speed necessary to keep up with the latest games and apps.

The new Kinect Sensor has been completely redesigned to better relate to voice and gestures and comes pre-packaged with the new console.  The new camera will give a 1080p view of the world.  More joints will be understood by the sensor so that it will better follow you.  It will be able to read your heartbeat while exercising.  The new controller itself will feature over 40 new innovations including a new D-Pad and better feedback through the triggers.  You’ll still be able to use Smartglass with the new console as it is now a native part of the console.  But how will all this work together?  Through the Kinect.  It is the centre of the whole hub.  When you log in with Smartglass, pick up your controller or speek the sensor will understand and make sure the proper function is being accessed.

As for online experience?  Over 300,000 servers will be available to enable better, faster access.  If you are watching a movie, playing a game or browsing the web but want to play an online match, the system will search for your perfect match for you without having to back out of what you are doing and wait.

For fans of EA Sports, there is a new partnership between them and Microsoft.  Their games will be powered by EA Ignite.  The games will be able to better understand how you play and bring that to impact directly into the game.  It is designed to immerse you into a more realistic gaming experience.  The games will be able to make smart decisions four times better than before.  Using the internet, EA Sports games will be able to access real-time info and bring that directly into the game.

Forza Motorsport 5 is scheduled to be released on Xbox One.  The game example running on the new console was brief but exciting.  It will be expected to release at launch and more info on Forza will be announced at E3.

Quantum Break, released by Remedy uses real graphics merged with CGI to tell the story about a girl who seems able to tell the future and possibly control it.  The game is going to feature “Bullet Time” like you’ve never seen it before.

In the past, television has been one-sided.  Now you’ll be immersed into the experience.  TV is going social.  You’ll be able to discuss what’s going on with friends.  Xbox One is going to be the next water-cooler.

And the big news for Xbox One and TV…  A Halo television series.  Fans everywhere will be sure to love this one.  Although they had a video message from Steven Spielberg, it looks as though he will be the executive producer of the series.

Finally, CoD fans will be pleased to hear that all DLC for the game will be released exclusively first on Xbox One.  The next CoD game will feature motion capture and a new engine.  This is set to help bring the CoD series completely into the next generation of console gaming.  Using model characters from MW3 as compared to characters using the new engine you’ll be able to see much more detail bringing you further into the game experience than you’ve ever been before.

CoD Ghosts World Premier was featured at the reveal.  Using the new engine, you could practically see water droplets from water falls or dripping from a dogs tongue.  Even though I’m not the biggest fan of the CoD series, the reveal had me wanting more.

The new console is set to be released later this year with more information coming up at E3.  Until then be sure to keep up with news Gamer Living.  We’ll have the latest news and info, on Xbox One as it comes available.  In the meantime, head over here to catch the reveal if you weren’t able to view it live.