EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE XBOX ONE
The Xbox One is a powerful monster, full to the brim with amazing features and using a shop front filled with top notch titles from AAA hits to indies.
Microsoft’s response to the PS4 and successor to the Xbox 360 has been around for over two years now and a lot has actually altered because that time.
But, for those of you still discussing whether to purchase an Xbox One, there are some key concerns you may want responded to first.
We have actually endeavoured to address those concerns for you in one helpful Xbox One Frequently Asked Question guide, to make sure you feel informed before you part with your money.
CAN THE XBOX ONE STAND UP ON ITS SIDE?
Unlike the Xbox 360, which can being placed on its side or horizontally, the Xbox One can just be put one way.
The Xbox One has been created to be sat horizontally, with Microsoft saying that “vertical positioning of the console is not supported”.
Other positioning pointers include:
- Keep your Xbox One flat
- Position it far from direct heat sources
- Don’t put objects on, under or straight next to your Xbox One
- Keep the vents devoid of mess in order to avoid overheating
CAN THE XBOX ONE DOWNLOAD GAMES WHEN OFF?
Yes, through Instant-On mode. When you first boot up your Xbox One, you’ll be offered the choice of two power-off modes– don’t worry, you can change your mind later on.
The first is called Save Energy and it enables your Xbox One to begin in 45 seconds, but you will not have the ability to background download updates and you’ll need to physically press the Xbox One’s power button to turn it on.
The 2nd is the Instant-On option. It uses a little energy in standby mode, however it instantly downloads any updates, starts up your Xbox One in 2 seconds and you can use the Kinect to switch on your Xbox One with a voice command.
WHAT DOES THE XBOX ONE COME WITH IN THE BOX?
If you’re wondering what you’ll get when you purchase a basic Xbox One, such as whether the Xbox One includes an HDMI cable, here’s everything you get in package:
- 500GB or 1TB Xbox One console
- Xbox One Wireless Controller
- HDMI Cable television
- Power Brick
- Power Cable
- Xbox One Chat Headset
DOES THE XBOX ONE COME WITH A HEADSET?
In the box with your brand-new Xbox One, you’ll receive the Xbox One Chat Headset. Separately it costs around ₤ 20. It’ll just offer you mono noise, however it does include a microphone.
The objective is to provide you a quick and simple option to obtain chatting with your mates online right out of package. There are definitely much better choices offered, though.
DOES THE XBOX ONE HAVE BLUETOOTH?
Sadly, the Xbox One does not support Bluetooth. So that means if you wish to use your expensive non-gaming wireless earphones or a wireless mouse and keyboard, you’re ambuscaded.
You’ll have to use the Xbox One Stereo Headset adapter to make any 3.5 mm jack earphones suitable with the older Xbox One controllers, but the current controllers consisting of the Xbox One Elite Controller now feature 3.5 mm jacks in the base.
When it pertains to peripherals like mice and keyboard (which can be used for navigation and typing just), you’ll have to use ones with USB connectivity.
DOES THE XBOX ONE HAVE DLNA SUPPORT?
One of the huge things Microsoft has focused on delivering over the course of 2014 is improving the home entertainment features of the Xbox One– taking it tantalisingly close to being the all-in-one entertainment console it constantly guaranteed to be.
That includes the introduction of DLNA support in the Xbox One October update. DLNA assistance allows the Xbox One to stream media material from DLNA-equipped PCs or servers, turning your Xbox One into a streaming device.
Microsoft also added the Xbox One Media Player in the exact same update, allowing you to plug in a USB key full of music and video and play that material through your Xbox One.
The Xbox One is likewise among the first consoles– the Xbox 360 being the other one– to get the Plex app. Plex is a media service that allows you to stream all the media content on your computer system directly to your Xbox One.
CAN I USE AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE DRIVE WITH THE XBOX ONE?
Yes, to keep all your games, apps and other content.
The Xbox One can, in truth, support approximately two external hard drives simultaneously, permitting you to
The hard disk drive needs to be USB 3.0 compatible and 256GB or larger in capacity.
You’ll need to format the external hard disk when it’s first plugged into your Xbox One, however then you’ll be given the choice of whether to make it your default installation place.
You don’t have to, however, because if your Xbox One’s built-in disk drive gets too full, your content will immediately start spilling over into your external drive area.
DOES THE XBOX ONE SUPPORT 4K?
The Xbox One supports both 3D and 4K Blu-ray discs at present. Microsoft insinuated at launch that there was a possibility of the Xbox One offering assistance for 4K games and other content in the future, if they’re rendered at that resolution.
” There’s no hardware limitation at all,” said Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi at the time to Forbes.
IS THE XBOX ONE CLOUD USED FOR MORE THAN JUST STORAGE?
Cloud assistance and storage doesn’t sound really exciting, however on the Xbox One it will actually be really helpful for games. Primarily it’ll be a location to save settings, game progress and other information.
Game developers will likewise be able to include brand-new functions, repair bugs and improve the method games play. Take Forza Motorosport 5, for instance, where the cloud support powers the brand-new Drivatar feature. The developers can see which cars and races prove popular and improve the AI of virtual challengers to make one race play out in a dramatically various method from one week to the next.
WHAT ‘S BRAND-NEW ABOUT THE XBOX ONE KINECT?
It’s a bigger system and you’ll have to make a little extra space for it, but there are some really clever things this second-generation motion-sensing controller can do. For starters, it has a larger visual field that means you just need to be 1.4 metres or two away, making it better to use in smaller sized spaces. It can now track six individuals at once, tell who’s holding the controller, work in the dark and can even track facial expressions. So it’ll know when you’re smiling after you’ve finally made it through the mandatory day one update …
HOW MUCH IS XBOX LIVE GOLD?
Xbox Live Gold costs ₤ 5.99 a month in the UK, or you can pay ₤ 39.99 for a yearly subscription. If you can pay for the lump sum, we ‘d recommend you opt for the yearly subscription, as the one-off payment will save you over ₤ 30 off the monthly payments.
Not only does Xbox Live get you access to online multiplayer video gaming, with faster matchmaking, but you’ll also secure free games on a monthly basis through the Games With Gold deal.
There are likewise Handle Gold to make the most of, too, providing you discount rates of approximately 75 percent off selected games in the Xbox Live shop each month.
Previously, you ‘d require an Xbox Live Gold subscription to gain access to home entertainment functions such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Instant Video or perhaps the Xbox One OneGuide EPG, however Microsoft changed its policies in 2014.
DOES THE XBOX ONE HAVE IMPROVED MATCHMAKING?
The Xbox One is designed to discover your best partner online.
Now, when we say ‘best partner’ we undoubtedly do not mean it in the online dating sense. The brand-new Smart Match function will assist you find a suitable gaming mate, all without needing to sit waiting in a lobby. The brand-new matchmaking system, Smart Match, runs in the background and matches you to other players based upon characteristics such as ability level, track record and language. It’ll even inform you when it’s discovered a match so you can prepare to obtain it on. (Your game face, that is.).
HOW DO I WATCH TV THROUGH MY XBOX ONE?
Natively the Xbox One works with cable television or satellite TELEVISION services like Virgin Media or Sky, so if you’re lucky adequate to sign up for one of those, you can feed them straight in.
Just plug your cable/satellite TELEVISION set-top box into your Xbox One by means of HDMI cable, then your Xbox One to your TELEVISION via another HDMI cable television. As soon as you’ve done that, turn on your TELEVISION and Xbox One. Your console will bring up the TV Setup actions that will direct you through the basic procedure.
For those of you who don’t have cable television or satellite TV, the Xbox One is now suitable with Freeview and Freeview HD signals thanks to a cool and economical device referred to as the Xbox One Digital TV Tuner.
Selling for ₤ 24.99, the Digital TV Tuner is an economical way to get Freeview feeds incorporated into your Xbox One experience, without the requirement for a monthly payment subscription.
To use the Digital TELEVISION Tuner, just plug your aerial cable television into the TELEVISION Tuner, then feed the USB cable television of the TV Tuner into the back of your Xbox One. You’ll then be directed through the same TV Setup procedure similar to cable/satellite.
CAN I WATCH TV AND PLAY GAMES AT THE SAME TIME?
A feature ideal for multitaskers, the Xbox One will let you run two applications at the very same time, so you can play games and capture up on Game of Thrones at the very same time. It uses the exact same ‘Snap’ feature as Windows 8-running devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro 2, enabling you to also double up with other apps like Skype chats. Now you can pretend you’re paying attention to family and friends overseas while you slash through another opponent in Ryse.
ARE THERE DEDICATED SERVERS FOR ALL XBOX ONE GAMES?
This must be a source of good news for all Xbox One multiplayer gamers. Taking advantage of the cloud, Microsoft has exposed there will be devoted servers for all Xbox One games and they will be free to all developers. Basically this implies games against pals will be played on more steady connections, so you can have no problems when you get another hiding on FIFA 14.
CAN YOU PLAY XBOX 360 GAMES ON THE XBOX ONE?
We’ve described the Xbox One backwards compatibility in detail already, but to put it simply. Yes. Xbox One in reverse compatibility for Xbox 360 games is genuine and really easy to do.
There are presently over 100 games supported by the service, and to run them all you need to do is place the Xbox 360 disc into your Xbox One, or re-download the titles from the shop to play them on your latest console.
CAN YOU USE AN XBOX 360 CONTROLLER WITH XBOX ONE?
If you’re considering using your old Xbox 360 controller with your new Xbox One, you’ll be dissatisfied. The Xbox One is just compatible with the brand-new Xbox One wireless controllers.
In truth, no Xbox 360 devices work with the Xbox One, apart from a couple of headsets if you purchase the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter.
CAN YOU REMAP THE XBOX ONE CONTROLLER BUTTONS?
Yes. If you want exact control over your Xbox One Wireless Controller you can download the Xbox Add-on app on your Xbox One.
This allows you to personalize a few of the functionality of your Wireless Controller, however won’t rather use you Xbox One Elite Controller levels of customisation.
Nevertheless, the Xbox Add-on app will let you do the following to your standard Wireless Controller:
- Remap controller buttons.
- Swap sticks.
- Swap sets off.
- Invert the Y axis on sticks.
DOES XBOX LIVE FILTER TROLLS?
Nobody likes a troll, whether it’s on Twitter or the nasty, swearing types on Xbox Live. Microsoft is addressing the situation with its brand-new credibility system. Dumping the Xbox 360’s five-star grading system, the One’s sophisticated monitoring can wisely recognize ‘correct’ gamers from the offensive trolls, producing a parallel Xbox Live environment where likewise unpleasant players can be delegated frustrate each other while the rest people get along perfectly. At least, that’s the theory– we’ll keep a close eye on how things visit if that’s the truth.
WILL MY XBOX 360 ACHIEVEMENTS CARRY OVER?
Great news, Xbox 360 owners– achievements will follow you over to the Xbox One and can unlock brand-new content on the next-gen console. The nature of how achievements work is changing a little too. Powered by the cloud, Microsoft is including achievements for non-gaming material, so if you use a particular streaming service for a set amount of time, you’ll be rewarded for your commitment.
CAN I USE SKYPE ON MY XBOX ONE?
Skype, the popular VoIP service purchased up by Microsoft back in 2011, is deeply incorporated into the Xbox One thanks to Kinect. Making use of the 1080p HD cameras and stereo microphones, you can make video calls and the Kinect electronic camera will zoom and pan as you move around the room.You can make group video calls with up to 3 other people and there’s even support for instantaneous messaging through the on-screen keyboard. Skype will also power the Xbox One’s celebration chat, which supports as much as 8 users when you’re playing multiplayer.
HOW DOES XBOX ONE REMOTE PLAY WORK?
With Windows 10 came the capability to steam Xbox One games to your Windows 10 PCs and tablets. It operates in a comparable method to the PS4 Remote Have fun with the PS Vita and select Sony Xperia devices.
For Xbox One remote play on Windows 10 devices you’ll require your Xbox One controller and a micro USB to USB cable.
Then to get it working you go to Settings > Preferences on your Xbox One and tick the box that states “Allow game streaming to other devices”.
Next, connect your Xbox One controller to your PC (or tablet) by means of USB, wait for the drivers to install, then launch the Xbox app.
The last but one button from the bottom of the left-hand Menu bar checks out Link to your Xbox One. This will look for Xbox One consoles on the very same network, select the one you desire then the Stream button.
You’ll then be in control of your Xbox One remotely. From there you can do whatever you ‘d anticipate to be able to on your Xbox One.
Naturally, functionality and general success will require a steady and fast web connection.
CAN THE XBOX ONE PLAY USED GAMES?
Although this wasn’t the case when the Xbox One was first revealed, Microsoft altered its mind and made it so the Xbox One can play used games.
Initially Microsoft chose that disc-based games would operate in a similar way to downloaded titles in that you wouldn’t need the disc to play once they were set up. You ‘d have the ability to play and download the game using your Live account on any Xbox One you fancied.
However, as you ‘d anticipate, that had a substantial effect on the pre-owned games market, and saw the policy face huge backlash from the fans.
So Microsoft altered its policy to simulate that of all other consoles, whereby if you have the physical disc, you can play the game. You’ll still have to install the game, however you’ll require the disc in order to play.
