Downloading a game from online storefronts like Steam or the Xbox Live Marketplace is the modern equivalent of waiting for your modem to connect to the internet circa 1998: They’re both long, arduous processes that we all know can happen much faster than they do. The good news is that just like broadband killed dial-up, Microsoft has introduced a new feature called FastStart that will drastically reduce the amount of time it takes to start a new digital game you’ve just bought.Announced at E3 2018, FastStart is part of Microsoft’s July platform update that brings a number of small - but impactful - updates to the console. While some of these other updates are worth noting (pulling up a search bar from anywhere on the UI should be pretty nifty) the biggest update is FastStart. According to Microsoft, games that utilize the feature will half the amount of time it takes from when a download begins to the moment you’re actually able to play it. You won't … [Read more...] about Xbox One July update halves download times
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Microsoft’s ‘Xbox Community Content’ platform could bring more mods to Xbox One games
Microsoft has been rumored to be looking more deeply into mod support for Xbox One for quite a while, thanks to job listings we wrote about in the past. Now, thanks to some internal documents, we have a better idea of how Microsoft plans to turn Xbox One into a great platform for mods and for developers who want to allow mods in their games. For those who don't know, mods are usually community-created maps, items, skins, and other in-game features that can be used to "modify" an existing game, primarily on Windows PC. As of this writing, developers have to set up their own systems and services to bring mods to Xbox One. Halo 5 Forge, Fallout 4, and Skyrim Special Edition are a few prominent games that have their own modding systems, built by their respective studios. Devs, of course, will continue to be able to do that if they so choose, but Microsoft is setting up a system that would not only provide much of the infrastructure required to set up these features but also surface mods … [Read more...] about Microsoft’s ‘Xbox Community Content’ platform could bring more mods to Xbox One games
Minecraft on Nintendo Switch gets Xbox Live Achievements and Gamerscore
Microsoft has aggressively supported Minecraft ever since the company purchased the game a few years ago. One of the most popular versions of the title is available on Nintendo Switch and it just got even better. The Bedrock version of Minecraft just released for Nintendo Switch, both digitally on the Nintendo eShop and as a physical release. As with the recent "Better Together" update for Xbox One, players who already own Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition will be able to upgrade for free. Minecraft is the first game on Nintendo Switch to feature cross-play support across Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, and virtual reality devices. PlayStation 4 is missing from the list as Sony doesn't allow cross-play with Xbox One. This new version also lets those on Nintendo Switch access the Minecraft Marketplace for the first time. You can purchase unique maps, skins, and texture packs from various creators within the massive Minecraft community. Lastly, as is the case with … [Read more...] about Minecraft on Nintendo Switch gets Xbox Live Achievements and Gamerscore
Minecraft Marketplace creators can’t wait for the Switch version
Minecraft Marketplace creators have seen a lot of success this year as more players get into the Bedrock version of the game, which is the universal build of Minecraft that is available on Windows 10, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and mobile devices. Minecraft Bedrock is coming to Switch on June 21, and this will give the creators in the Minecraft Marketplace access to a growing audience of engaged gamers who are spending money. While the classic version of Minecraft lives on with full support from Microsoft, it is the Bedrock version that is the future of Minecraft as a platform. When this version hits the Switch, players will have the opportunity to sign in with their Xbox Live handle (on a Nintendo device) to enjoy cross-platform play with friends on PCs, Xbox Ones, or smartphones. And if players have purchased content through the Bedrock version on other platforms, those will carry over to the Switch. For Microsoft, the benefit here is that it has one Minecraft code that it needs to update … [Read more...] about Minecraft Marketplace creators can’t wait for the Switch version
Microsoft rolls out first Xbox 360 update in two years
Most fans of Microsoft’s consoles moved from the Xbox 360 to the Xbox One a long time ago, but that hasn’t stopped the company from supporting the last-gen machine, which was released way back in 2005. Now, Microsoft has rolled out the old console’s first software update in two years. After moving 84 million units during its run, the Xbox 360 is one of the best-selling home consoles of all time. But the 2013 release of the Xbox One and the arrival of the Xbox One X in 2017 means its popularity as a games machine has faded in recent years, especially as the Xbox One has a backward compatibility feature for Xbox 360 games. So, it comes a bit of a surprise to learn that Microsoft recently released a software update for the Xbox 360. There are no specific detail about what it does, other than bringing “Minor bug fixes and improvements.” The last time the Xbox 360 received an update before last week was in March 2016. That patch, which also brought bug fixes … [Read more...] about Microsoft rolls out first Xbox 360 update in two years