With Titanfall figuratively just around the corner, Microsoft dished out details on the Xbox One’s March update in time for the game’s launch yesterday. This long-awaited update will fix many of the console’s social interaction problems that users have been experiencing since the console dropped back in November, 2013.
Microsoft’s chief product officer Marc Whitten issued the details on the update yesterday evening, GMT. After receiving a lot of feedback since its launch, this update is said to be the most significant software update for Microsoft’s next-gen console, fixing many social issues such as its party chat feature and improving matchmaking too. Whitten listed an extensive rundown of the changes that the March update will bring to the Xbox One, addressing some the biggest feedback Microsoft has received from the console’s users, such as including Twitch live streaming support, being able to chat with friends who are playing different games, 50Hz output support, and various other improvements.
Thanks to the update, the console will now have your friends list feature front and center on the homepage of the Friends app; you can now chat with friends who aren’t playing the same game as you, and when you enter a party chat the chat’s audio will be turned on by default. You will also be able to invite friends to the game you’re playing, much like what you could do with the Xbox 360. The extensive list of the update’s biggest fixes can be found below. The rest of the update’s fixes can be found via the source link below.
- Get to your friends list faster. The friends list is now front and center on the homepage of the Friends app. Click the Social tile on Home, or say “Xbox, go to Friends” to see who’s online and what they’re up to. From there you can quickly send messages and get into a party.
- Party chat on by default. When you party up, chat audio is turned on by default.
- Chat with friends playing different games. Party chat is now separated from people playing your game, so you can chat with your friends who are online or you can chat with everyone playing the game.
- “Invite friends to game” option available in your multiplayer titles. Similar to Xbox 360 titles, when you’re inside a game’s menu you have a simpler and quicker way to set up your multiplayer battles. Selecting “Invite friends” lets you invite friends to your game and party.
- See a list of “Recent Players.” This is a simple list that shows you Xbox Live members you’ve recently played with, making it easier to stay in touch with people, add new friends after your multiplayer sessions, or report a player for bad behavior.
- Twitch live streaming support. The best broadcasting and spectating experience on any game console is on its way to Xbox One with the new Twitch app launching on March 11, just say “Xbox broadcast” to start sharing. Xbox One is the only next-gen console that allows you to archive your Twitch broadcasts and view live Twitch streams regardless of their original source.
- Dolby Digital sound. Optical out now supports 5.1 Dolby Digital, enabling devices such as sound bars and headsets with only optical in to be able to receive 5.1 Dolby Digital from Xbox One over optical. We’re also adding support for Dolby Digital surround sound over HDMI. Now you’ll be able to have the best sound quality no matter what speaker setup you are using.
- We will now support 50Hz output to Xbox One. You can set the live TV app to display at 50Hz for full or fill modes, fixing the frame rate issues some users in Europe have been experiencing while watching live TV on Xbox One.
Source: Xbox.