Xbox (app)

The Xbox app is an app for Windows 8, Windows 10, Android, and iOS. It acts as a companion app for Xbox video game consoles, providing access to Xbox Live community features, remote control, as well as second screen functionality (formerly branded as SmartGlass) with selected games, applications, and content.

Xbox
Screenshot of the Xbox "Console Companion" app on Windows 10
Developer(s)Microsoft
Stable release
Windows 1048.55.30001.0 / August 1, 2019 (2019-08-01)
iOS1906.625.1605 / July 2, 2019 (2019-07-02)[1]
Android2001.0122.2248 / February 3, 2020 (2020-02-03)[2]
Preview release
Windows 1044.55.30001.0
Operating systemAndroid, iOS, Windows 10
Websitewww.xbox.com/xbox-app 

On Windows 10, the app additionally serves as a launcher for PC games installed on a device (including games obtained from Microsoft Store and Steam), and provides access to the system's screen recording functions. During E3 2019, the existing version of the Xbox app for Windows 10 was renamed Xbox Console Companion, and a new Xbox app was introduced in beta. The new Xbox app on Windows 10 supports Microsoft's games-on-demand subscription service Xbox Game Pass.

Features

Through the app, users can access their activity feed, Xbox Live friends and messages, manage their party, watch saved Game DVR clips, browse OneGuide, and view their achievements. Some games and apps can provide second screen integration via the app, displaying supplemental content. The app can also be used as a remote control for the console.[3][4]

The Windows 10 version of the app allows users to stream games from an Xbox One console over a local network, and has the ability to view and edit Game DVR recordings from an Xbox One console. It also serves as a front-end for a PC version of Game DVR on supported hardware (Game DVR settings were moved to the Settings app on Windows 10 version 1703),[5] and has a library display for games installed on the device, such as those obtained via Steam and Microsoft Store.[6][7][8]

History
The original logo of the Xbox One SmartGlass app

Xbox 360 SmartGlass was originally announced at E3 2012, for Windows 8, Android and iOS. Microsoft demonstrated use cases for the new app within both games and entertainment, including a minimap for Ascend: New Gods, a second screen experience for School of Rock with supplemental content, and Game of Thrones (with interactive maps and family tree diagrams).[9] With the release of Xbox One in November 2013, Microsoft released an accompanying Xbox One SmartGlass app for Android, iOS, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone, which contained more extensive functionality for controlling the console.[10][11]

Windows 10 introduced a revamped version of SmartGlass referred to simply as Xbox, which notably added a library display for PC games, and the ability to stream games from an Xbox One console on a local network.[12] On June 12, 2016, the mobile versions of the Xbox One Smartglass apps were updated for parity with the desktop version, and renamed "Xbox" as well.[13] Xbox 360 SmartGlass was not updated and was discontinued in May 2018.

The mobile apps were updated alongside the Xbox One's May 2019 firmware update, adding cross-platform status indicators to friends.[14]

On June 9, 2019, coinciding with Microsoft's E3 2019 press conference, Microsoft released a new Xbox app in beta exclusively for Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903), which has a redesigned interface, and serves as the client for Xbox Game Pass on PC.[15] In advance of the conference, Microsoft rebranded the existing Xbox app on Windows 10 as Xbox Console Companion.[16]

See also

References
  1. "Xbox". App Store. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  2. "Xbox - Apps on Google Play". Google Play. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  3. "Xbox One's SmartGlass App Does Essential Stuff Your Xbox One Won't". Time. November 21, 2013.
  4. Warren, Tom (2013-11-19). "Xbox One SmartGlass lets you snap apps from your phone or tablet". The Verge. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  5. "Review: Windows 10 Creators Update is quite a small major update". Ars Technica. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  6. "Xbox on Windows 10: social features, game DVR and more". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  7. "Xbox app coming to Windows 10, Microsoft confirms". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  8. "Windows 10 will let you stream Xbox One games to any Windows 10 PC or tablet". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  9. Stein, Scott. "E3 2012: A closer look at Xbox SmartGlass". CNET. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  10. "Microsoft releases SmartGlass Xbox One app for Android, iOS, Windows". PCWorld. 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  11. Phillips, Tom (2013-11-19). "Microsoft releases Xbox One SmartGlass app". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  12. Machkovech, Sam (2015-08-13). "Xbox on Windows 10: What it is, what it isn't, and what's missing [Updated]". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  13. "New Xbox apps for iOS and Android look just like Windows 10". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  14. Bright, Peter (2019-05-17). "Xbox, PC get a little bit closer with the latest Xbox updates". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  15. Gaming, Darren Allan 2019-06-10T10:12:06Z. "This is our first look at the new Xbox app on Windows 10". TechRadar. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  16. "Microsoft readies a renamed Xbox Console Companion app for Xbox management on Windows". PCWorld. 2019-06-04. Retrieved 2019-06-09.


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