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Windows 10 Xbox App Revealed

Xbox boss Phil Spencer discloses new details about the Xbox app for Microsoft's latest operating system.

44 Comments
Image credit: CNET
Image credit: CNET

Microsoft on Wednesday officially revealed the Xbox app for Windows 10, which was teased late last year. Xbox boss Phil Spencer took the stage at Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond to make the official announcement and talk more about it.

Overall, Spencer described gaming on Windows 10 as "more social and interactive." The Xbox app will show all the games you've played across Xbox and PC devices, and it will also feature a Friends list.

As you can see in the image above, the Xbox app for Windows 10 is similar to the current SmartGlass arrangement, meaning you can access messages, see notifications, track achievements, and view Game DVR clips.

The Xbox app for Windows 10 also allows players to record game footage just like they can on Xbox One and then share with friends. Spencer was even shown recording a game from his Steam library. Pressing "Windows + G" will bring up recording commands.

Spencer also stressed that Steam "runs incredibly well on Windows 10."

Windows 10 Briefing: All the News

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Ripper_TV

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So it's GFWL2, as was predicted. Just what we needed...

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IMDLEGEND

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What about Cortana?

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barrica

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good, i still want an xbox one, but this Christmas was gtx 970 or xbox one. I went for the graphics card instead. I like the one but at this moment i felt the graphics card is more worthy. I played Borderlands in 4k resolution and it works great. Other games will be more demanding. But i can say that iv experienced next gen. Ohh and Tomb Raider in 3d + Anti Aliasing my god, ive played 3d games on xbox and ps3 last one being Uncharted 3. Shame the current consoles arent able to reproduce anti-aliasing. I spent £300 on a graphics card, that costs the same as an xbox one + 2 games, just for graphics.

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VakarianGirl

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I have absolutely no interest in getting a Windows 10 PC and looking at Xbox One stuff on it. That's what I use my Xbox One for.

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onesiphorus

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Interesting details for the app.

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Mraou

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And it will run in memory and you have to annoyingly go to task manager and kill it, I bet, like most of Windows 8 apps that you don't want running in the background.

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Xisiuizado

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<< LINK REMOVED >>
You need to close the apps, not just minimize them. Either use the close key, F4, or drag the app to the bottom and hold until it flips over then release it.

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Link3301

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I thought we were gonna here about pc gaming at this event? This is all just Xbox stuff really for the most part.

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rasterror

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Do you seriously think they can cover everything in just 2 hours? But I see what you're saying. I'm hoping more is shown off at E3 or a separate event. I would love another Age of Mythologies.

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illage2

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I believe they'll be sharing more at the GDC later this year.

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Evil_Sidekick

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Do people understand that the more social it is, the more companies can know what you are doing and spy on you?


Honestly, i have no interest in social media as i have the REAL LIFE for that.

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Ahiru-San

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<< LINK REMOVED >> yeah, you know they know you are, you know, playing video games….

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Unfallen_Satan

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This is an optional app, right? If I don't let Steam keep track of all the games I play on PC, not too many non-Steam games nowadays, I sure as hell will not let MS keep track of what games I have or play on the PC.

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Tiger_Ali

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Gonna pick one up for my son in may so make this garbage more streamlined before than, could care less about the circumstances.

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rasterror

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If it's garbage then why pick it up at all? Do you find joy in giving your child trash?

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Tiger_Ali

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<< LINK REMOVED >> No but obviously like every other American he does enjoy a constant dose of garbage like McDonalds and minecraft....

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rasterror

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You mean that game that is one of the greatest selling, most played, and highest rated games that just sold for $2 billion?

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Tiger_Ali

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<< LINK REMOVED >> precisely the trash I was referring too!

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compu22

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HOLY SH*T WHY ALL THE HATE? Its a cool feature to have, why the hell re people hating on it?

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rasterror

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Because it's cool to hate Microsoft.

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ecter1216

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Wth is with all this social gaming crap.

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nikon133

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Games were social by definition for the whole history of mankind. You had to get together with other human beings in order to play cards, chess, Yahtzee, Monopoly... make your pick. Only with raise of computers and Internet have we become able to play with (or against) AI, or even to consider real people as virtual in online games.

Maybe it is my age, but I actually enjoy social aspects. Playing anything with friends (and being able to communicate, jest, laugh with them) boosts almost every gaming experience tenfold for me. And then, we always have extra topics to discuss when we meet in real. Bonus, however you turn it.

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rasterror

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That's cool. I was really hoping for backwards compatibility for 360 but this is nice.

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Gadeos

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Is a new OS really necessary for an APP???

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Ultramarinus

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Why the heck is it an 'XBOX' app on a PC? Couldn't they come up with something universal?


So, is this and DX12 all that's about "we'll show you stuff about gaming on PC"? Rather disappointing.

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rasterror

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True there needs to be more to it and I hope there is. I have the app on my phone so getting my computer just to upload a video is useless to me. It's better than Game Center on iOS that's for sure.

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Thanatos2k

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Is Microsoft pretending they care about PC gaming again?

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Welverin

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Yes.

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JohnMafia

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The only thing interesting about this would be if I could use it to launch games from any source, Steam, Origin, Uplay, Standalone etc. And if it would keep track of time played and achievements and such. Otherwise, who cares.

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santinegrete

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That's nice and all, just don't make it mandatory for executing and playing my games. Social features are so superfluos to me.

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blackace

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Project Sparten browser was interesting. Phil was wearing a Battletoads T-Shirt. Streaming XBox One Games on PC. I wonder if this could be done with XBox 360 games to XB1?

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LimpTool

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Also able to stream all of your X1 games to any Windows 10 PC or laptop.

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santinegrete

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<< LINK REMOVED >> can you do that? I don't see that in this article.

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gajbutler

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lol GameDVR recording the last 30 seconds and at a horrible bitrate.... how is that exciting?


Just gonna still use Nvidia ShadowPlay which records at a very high bitrate and up to the last 20 mins or full manual recording. I don't get why Phil Spencer was acting like this is a new thing to do without hardware.

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Avatar image for deactivated-58f0b3e37f423
deactivated-58f0b3e37f423

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So much for supporting gaming on windows... Suck my fat c0c micro$. He's been hyping up this reveal since he came out of his momma and learned to talk.

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rasterror

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Okay. And for those that haven't even heard of shadowplay?

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Link3301

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Uh they won't use it I guess or they will hear about it later. I don't see what point you're trying to make here.

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gamingnerd121

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<< LINK REMOVED >> They will hear of Shadowplay.

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