Xbox One and Windows 10 to have cross-platform gaming, video streams

News.Xbox.com

Early this year, Microsoft announced that it is trying to unify the gaming experience for both PC and Xbox One. The demo, held in this year's recently-concluded Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and the Game Developers' Conference in San Francisco, is a step in that direction. 

According to Xbox head Phil Spencer, the plan is for people to play games universally, whatever system they may prefer.

He said, "Over the last 13 years, Xbox has been focused on creating and expanding great gaming and entertainment experiences on console ... Now, we are also bringing that same focus, passion, and commitment to gaming on Windows 10, enhancing the PC games and gaming devices you already love, including the Xbox One. We've listened and learned from our past efforts in PC gaming and I am excited about what the future holds." 

In the cross-platform gaming that Spencer previewed, one highlight for the new features for both Xbox One and Windows 10 apps is the social and cross-platform gameplay. In the revamped Xbox Live, for example, players get interaction and seamless gameplay on both platforms. Gamers can compete with each other across all Microsoft devices, and can send and receive messages on both. This means that there players who prefer an Xbox One controller can still play against Windows 10 gamers on multiplayer modes. 

Another feature overhaul is the enhanced Game DVR. The video recording on Xbox One can be imported to Windows 10 with the touch of an app, and players can conveniently edit and share game clips on their social networks. 

Spencer added, "Gaming was once central to what we did on Windows, but we lost our way."

He said that the company is hoping to have a Windows release that can be considered as the best one for gamers.