[url=http://www.oxm.co.uk/54785/features/xbox-one-games-why-you-shouldnt-underestimate-microsofts-core-line-up/?page=1][b]Microsoft will invest no less than $1 billion into games next gen - an unprecedented sum for the firm - and Xbox One will swipe 15 exclusive titles in its first year at retail, including eight new IPs. All that's on top of a two-year period of bulking up...[/b][/url] [quote][B]NEWS[/B] [url=http://kotaku.com/xbox-ones-kinect-can-turn-off-microsoft-says-noting-510100564]5:29 Kinect's off button[/url] [url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/xbox-one-breaks-pre-order-records-at-blockbuster/0116237]5/28: Preorder record[/url] [url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/27/4369584/ps4-drm-used-games]5/28: Used games DRM[/url] [url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/27/4370030/xbox-one-words-with-friends]5/27: Casual gaming[/url] [url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-05-24-microsoft-applies-for-patent-on-tv-achievements?utm_source=feedly]5/27: TV achievements[/url] [url=http://gearnuke.com/xbox-one-will-allow-instant-saves-and-resumes-like-the-playstation-4/]5/26: Instant saves and resumes[/url] [url=http://imgur.com/E789Ez8]5/25: Remote play[/url] [url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/24/4362680/xbox-one-games-will-require-regular-authentication-checks-used-games]5/25: Mandatory authentication checks, no used games fee[/url] [url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/24/4361974/the-xbox-one-can-talk-to-you-will-feature-remote-play]5/24: Talking Kinect[/url] [url=http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/05/phil-harrison-xbox-one/]5/24: Microsoft VP interview[/url][/quote] [quote][b]MEDIA:[/B] [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bFVptu6QbY]Full Xbox One reveal[/url] [url=http://www.theverge.com/microsoft/2013/5/21/4352428/xbox-one-pictures]Hardware pictures[/url] [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dk0ZXN9AK0]Conversation about Xbox One[/url] [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6gHM95JQq0]Kinect hands-on video[/url] [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds1cCtIgSBc]Controller hands-one video[/url] [url=http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/xbox-one-official-game-box-design-unveiled/]Game box pictures[/url][/quote] [u][b]FAQ:[/b][/u] [quote](CTRL+F to jump to a section) 111. Hardware and Tech Specs 222. Gaming and Cloud 333. TV and Multimedia[/quote] [b][u]111. Hardware and Tech Specs[/b][/u] [b]What's in the box? Are there Arcade and Pro models?[/b] The Xbox One package comes with the console, controller, and Kinect. Peripherals like a headset are unconfirmed. There is only one model. [b]What are the specs? How do they compare to the PS4?[/b] - 8-core AMD Jaguar CPU - 12 CU/768 SP AMD GCN GPU - 8GB DDR3 system memory - 500GB HDD - Blu-ray drive - 2.4/5.0GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n, multiple radios with WiFi Direct support - 4K HDMI in/out (for cable TV passthrough) - USB 3.0 The PS4 is more powerful. Its GPU has 1152 shader cores, while the Xbox One's has 768. The compute power of the PS4 is 1.84 TFLOPS, compared to the Xbox One's 1.23. The PS4 has faster GDDR5 memory with 176.0 GB/s bandwidth, and the Xbox One has DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The PS4's GDDR5 memory is at 5500 MHz, while the Xbox One's DDR3 is at 2133 MHz. [b]Is it backwards-compatible?[/b] No. [b]Is there anything worth knowing about the Xbox One's design?[/b] Not really. The Xbox One is designed to fit into your entertainment center, while the Xbox 360 was supposed to stand out. This happens in a pretty literal manner, since the Xbox 360 is meant to be placed vertically, while the Xbox One is meant to be placed horizontally. [b]How about the controller?[/b] The controller's handles and thumbsticks have been redesigned for better grip. The D-pad is now a plus design. The Start and Back buttons have been replaced with Menu and View buttons. Triggers have individual rumble feedback. There is no battery hump, and the controller can either be charged through USB or powered by AA batteries. [b]I'm guessing Kinect has been upgraded, right?[/b] Kinect 2.0 uses time-of-flight technology to be far more sensitive and responsive, and it's now able to detect gestures like wrist rotation and even your heart rate. It records in 1080p and has more advanced microphones for voice recognition. And it uses IR vision to see in the dark. It will be able to speak to you, much like Apple's Siri. Kinect is used to navigate the Xbox One. It allows you to turn on your Xbox and TV, search for TV programs, launch games and apps, multitask, and record gameplay with just your voice. You can also use gestures to customize your home screen (what you see when you turn on Xbox One). Kinect can also recognize individual players and voices, and automatically bring up their profiles and information. [b]Isn't that last part kind of Orwellian?[/b] It is rumored that Kinect will always have to be on when using Xbox One, and that it is running at low-power when the console is off (so it can turn on with voice commands). There are also unconfirmed reports that Kinect might be used for "visual DRM", where content is provided with a limit to the number of users, and Kinect is used to make sure more people aren't present. [b]While we're on the subject, what about always-online?[/b] Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox One will periodically cross-reference your game license with its servers, for DRM purposes. How periodically is unknown. Your console will not have to be online to do single-player and the like, but developers will be able to leverage the cloud to help process games. [b][u]222. Gaming and Cloud[/b][/u] [b]What games are confirmed for Xbox One?[/b] Multiplatform: -Assassin's Creed 4 -Battlefield 4 -CoD: Ghosts -Destiny!!! -Dying Light -FIFA Soccer 14 -Madden 25 -NBA Live 14 -Need for Speed Rivals -Watch Dogs -EA Sports UFC -Thief Exclusive: -Ryse -Forza Motorsport 5 -Quantum Break -Unknown game by Rare -(RUMORED) Crackdown 3 -(RUMORED) Kinect One -(RUMORED) Kinect Fitness In total, 15 exclusives (8 are new IP's) will be announced at E3. [b]What do we know about used games, trade-ins, and game sharing?[/b] Microsoft has been very vague on this topic. Unlike the current generation games, next-gen Xbox One discs will simply be "install discs". You can use them to play games, but there's no need: when you buy a game, it installs on your HDD, and you never have to use the disc again. When the game is installed on a console, the license to play is tied to the account. Other accounts on the console will also be able to play. When you take the game to a friend's house, you can play it like you always do. But, in the background, the Xbox One loads the game "bits" to the console. When you leave, if your friend decides he likes the game and wants to buy it, he can immediately install a new copy. Here's what happens with trade-ins. You give the game to a shop like Gamestop (lol). Gamestop then uses the authorization it has been given by Microsoft to transfer the license away from your account. When that game is sold again to a new customer, the license is transferred to his account. But when Gamestop sells a used game, it must also pay a fee to Microsoft and the publisher. [b]The PS4 has some sweet game recording and remote play features. Does Xbox One have any?[/b] Xbox One has a "Game DVR" feature, where players can record their favorite moments and share them on sites like Youtube and Facebook. In fact, the console is always keeping records of your gameplay, so it can immediately piece together what you tell it to. Also, Xbox One will allow you to take over for a friend on his console, if he's having trouble with a level or whatever. The console allows you to instantly play games when you begin installing them, and you can instantly resume from where you left off when you turn it on. [b]Any other cloud stuff?[/b] Microsoft has brought in hundreds of thousands of servers for cloud capabilities. Developers will be able to use the cloud itself for compute power, freeing up even more processing space on the Xbox One. Cloud integration also allows developers to change the worlds they've built for the games, and make achievements evolve with players. Theoretically, the cloud will allow the console and games to become better, even if the physical hardware doesn't. [b][u]333. TV and Multimedia[/u][/b] [b]How does this TV stuff work?[/b] On both a hardware and software level, Microsoft inserts itself into the TV-watching experience. Xbox One has an HDMI pass-through that allows it to hook up to your cable box and TV. Once it's connected, it places its own Xbox layer on top of live TV. [b]Inserts itself, huh?[/b] Just the tip. It has a "smart" TV guide that tracks which programming is trending. By using Kinect, you can search for specific programs and channels. Microsoft has also demonstrated a feature that integrates live TV with interactive updates. For example, a partnership with the NFL (worth $400 million!) will allow Xbox One to track live fantasy football stats as games are being played. [b]How about DVR?[/b] Nope. [b]What about other services?[/b] Xbox One supports apps and web browsing. The console has instantaneous switching between TV, apps, and gaming. It will be able to run programs side-by-side in "Snap Mode". So you can surf the web while gaming, looking for walkthroughs and help, or continue a Skype call with a buddy who's watching the same NBA game. [b]Anything else?[/b] Smartglass is now an integral part of Xbox, and you'll be able to use your phone/tablet to control the Xbox and view secondary content. Theoretically, you can even start a game on your phone and continue it on Xbox while watching TV.