We knew there was going to be some sort of update to America’s Next Top Gaming Network, we just didn’t know to what extent. Thanks to the Xbox One reveal today, we now have a clearer picture — though it does remain a bit cloudy, on purpose.
Get it? Clouds? Because Xbox Live will firmly be attached to cloud gaming for things like saves, asynchronous multiplayer matching, and even some of the Microsoft Azure-boosted online computing that could take a load off of the processor.
Live’s new “Smart Match” system will allow for better matchmaking, using “advanced algorithms to pair players based on skill, language, and now reputation.” This basically means that you’ll hopefully always play with someone of your level, rather than relying on a developer to figure that out on a per game basis. It’s essentially baked into the console. Now, players will be able to initiate match-making, hop out and do something else (thanks to the multitasking), and hop back in when a match is made. Think of it like the beacon system that Live currently uses, but with strangers as well as friends.
Furthermore, and thanks to the cloud side of things, games will always be “alive”. Every time players pick up the controller, the latest stats and changes have already been fed into the experiences, sometimes even per user. That means that your characters have their latest stats loaded in, even when you’re not online, for your friends to play against.
Players will also be able to capture and share game video, thanks to what the company is calling “Game DVR”. Yes, it’s what Sony is doing with the PS4, and what the Wii U does with its image capture and sharing to the MiiVerse. Social media, get it?
The company chatted up its new dynamic achievements, which essentially make it possible for developers and publishers to add in cheevos whenever they see fit, such as for DLC, community feedback, wins & losses, etc. It’s meant to show our “personal story” of playing a game, rather than focusing on a score. Don’t worry, though: our current Gamerscores WILL transfer over to the new console.
Finally, since we’ve always been shackled to the 100 friend limit, the Xbox One’s Live will allow for 1000 friends on our lists! That means that within a week someone on the Internet will start to complain that it’s not enough, instead of withing the hour.
Source: Xbox
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