GC 2013: Xbox One Hardware UI Screenshots Released

Microsoft has released some screenshots for Xbox One’s UI.

[THC CELL]

Looks too much like Windows 8 what I hate. But as always we will cope as long it plays games

[Christopher]

Metro UI is here to stay. It's the new "start menu". I'm not a big fan either, but it's not like someone is coming out with a better option to compete with them any time soon.

[abzdine]

windows 8...no comment!!

[Magicite]

Sir, uve got a crazy amount of bubbles.

[abzdine]

it's crazy how similar to W8 that looks.. damn!

[JokesOnYou]

Its a bit annoying on pc without a touchscreen, I just go to classic view on my laptop, but here I think it looks great for the X1 UI. Why wouldn't they use it, its their baby and it integrates all microsoft products, it would be stupid not to build a ecosystem like that.

[ScepticTankAvenger]

I'm skipping Windows this generation. Buying me a Mac Mini. The Windows 8 UI is just too much of a turn off for me.

[otherZinc]

Haters will hate all day, that's awesome. People don't have to use the features, however, most will.

[vigilante_man]

It looks awful. I have Win 8.1 preview as well as win 7. It only really works on touch screen tech.

I am looking forward to using the PS4 interface but it will also take time to get used to. But I hope MS dith this touchscreen UI.

[HammadTheBeast]

@Jokes

Cause the majority of people think Metro is trash, yet MS are too stubborn to change it.

[uncharted56]

I hate the windows 8 interface it works well for a touch interface but sucks for others. There is a reason why they are officially bringing back the start button. I think it will such for this too because it can take forever with the control but kinect will probably make it easier.

[Godmars290]

A PC OS as "popular" as Windows.

Sadly you need MS money to take on MS.

[RememberThe357]

I love Windows 7 and I see no reason to "upgrade."

For the Xbone though this looks perfect.

[Ritsujun]

Gross. GZDSXDDTDBT.

[dredgewalker]

For windows 8 it is really, really annoying and it made me angry using it, but for the Xbox One it works since you can use kinect for it.

[falcon97]

It's not as inventive as WiiU's UI with about 500 mii's in real time running under their favourite game badges and you can friend request any1 right on the UI,this xbox 1 UI looks rubbish abit like a smart phone or windows 8 ???

[CommonSense]

Looks nice and clean for a console dashboard, to me.

[iamnsuperman]

I an on the fence with Windows 8. I think it looks good here and on tablets but their smartphone windows 8 style is awful and I don't think it looks that good on a PC when it doesn't have a touch screen

[Christopher]

My biggest complaints?

1. Metro UI only works on one monitor on PC.
2. You can only split a screen in Metro UI as 20%/80% and that's it.

It's clearly a UI designed for tablets only and forced limitations PC users have to deal with.

I know I work in desktop mode, but that can mean other issues in Metro UI integration (must be run in Win7 mode or Win8 mode, no hybrid).

[nick309]

I prefer windows 8 than windows 7... You dont have to use the metro menu for pc stuff at all .

[wicked]

I moved to windows 8, works like 7 when you flip to desktop. But metro is good for quick glance at new email, appointments etc also some good apps in store now. But like @cgoodno, I would like one monitor with the metro screen and my other 2 with the desktop on. Win8 works great on my tablet and even my 8 year old son is a wiz with it, he was showing my wife how to personalise her profile! so it's not difficult to pick up and use.

[kaozgamer]

@cgoodno

Agreed. However they now have the 50/50 split in windows 8.1 preview

[MasterCornholio]

I have windows 8 on my Samsung series 5 Ultra book and it does take time to get used to it. But after a while the start menu doesn't bother me at all plus there are many things that I find easier to do with 8 than Vista (from my last computer).

Motorola RAZR i

[Christopher]

@timotim: If true, that is excellent news and may get me back on Win8. I'll keep an eye out for it. Thanks.

[dredgewalker]

I'll keep my Windows 7, there's not much benefit for me upgrading to 8. I'm not having problems with my memory and I'm certainly not digging that interface after trying it out on my gf's laptop. It irritates me that it's not intuitive and even shutting it down is a chore. My mind simply refuses to learn Windows 8.

[thehitman]

Ya my laptop has windos 8 and I dont really like it too much. Its not good for tech savy people(ironic) cus they switched so many things around and that metro thing is quite annoying. I am glad they put the start menu back however, but pressing the window key and the start menu not popping up is quite still annoying.

[Blaze929]

"Its not good for tech savy people(ironic) cus they switched so many things"

please, do tell me more.

[thehitman]

For example finding and changing all of the regular things you would want to do on a PC like the administrative settings very hard to locate at first while using metro. Simple shortcuts are no longer there like mycomputer they tried to streamline everything but the differences are so night and day its really a completely different OS and you have to learn it again from the top down unlike all previous versions of windows.

[IronFistChinMi]

It's actually easier to find those features with Win8, just start typing and it will come up. You can also pin them to the Metro.

Sounds like you need to spend more time with it, or you don't actually have it.

[thehitman]

@iron i shouldnt have to guess where functions are they should just show up and be obvious. If I am looking for a certain settings/function its very hard to find where it is especially since MS changes a lot of locations where things are. I dont want to search everything I want a list of options which metro doesnt allow easily.

[MarkusMcNugen]

Right clicking the bottom left of the screen may help you out a little bit.

http://www.magnetismsolutio...

[Athonline]

I am doing software development for some time now and found Windows 8 much easier to navigate around. In fact I know prefer using Win8 over OS X and Linux.

Why should a simply menu define you? Back in <WIndows 95, we didn't have start menus, OS X doesn't have one... same with GTK+ (GNOME) UIs in Linux...

If you are a tech savy person, then the UI and the platform shouldn't be a problem...

[nukeitall]

I like the Metro look. It is very clean, simple and easy to read.

Most other recent UI, is extremely hard to read and is messy.

As cgoodno said, until something better is shown, Metro is da sh!t.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Agree THC but that is a hard pill to swallow. Yikes, that looks cluttered and ugly.

[H0RSE]

I don't mind the Windows 8 UI, except when it's on Windows 8, because it's actually practical on other devices.

Something I don't like from the screens, is that they kept the location of notifications at the bottom center of the screen. I was hoping the notifications would be much more low profile and dedicated to one of the corners of the screen.

[sobotz]

Multitasking while playing a game is awesome

[rainslacker]

I know while I"m pulling off those 10 hit combos in my games I've always thought to myself that I'd want to go onto Bing and search out information on the newest Star Trek movie. Real gamers use Bing.

[sobotz]

Yeah, it's a sweet feature. Finally I can snap GameFAQS while playing my games too.

[DoomeDx]

^ Glad I have a PC right next to my console. I only have to turn around 90 degrees and there it is! A pc!

[SniperControl]

@sobotz

I think Rain was being sarcastic dude........

@DoomeDX,

I for one always have a laptop, tablet, smart phone free at hand to look up anything i need whilst gaming.

[Mike134nl]

I don't think it is as much about multitasking but about snapping between different applications without delay and snapping back.

[BluEx610]

I'm going to troll my friends Xbox One, and say "Xbox, Bing Back Door Sluts 9" While they're playing a game lol.

But on the real, snap mode is nice to have, but I personally rather use my phone, tablet or PC instead of having something blocking my screen and me talking to my TV lol.

[deadie]

"Real gamers use Bing"?

eh - ok??? Feels like irony but i aint sure?

[MasterCornholio]

@SniperControl

I have a wikia app on my smartphone which is a fantastic way to access guides on the net.

Motorola RAZR i

[OC_MurphysLaw]

you guys are commical... So a new console allows you to multitask while you game and you down play it with the come back of "I have a laptop, tablet or smart phone near me all the time anyway so I don't need it"... F'ing brilliant logic.

So you do multi-task but you would much rather do it through two seperate devices versus one? Now thats smart... @DoomeDx "I can turn 90 degrees and there it is" LOL... yes that sounds much better than just looking at the same screen.

[rainslacker]

This comment is what happens when I stay up for 40 hours straight.

"Real gamers use Bing" is my "/s" in this comment for those that didn't get it.:)

[Ritsujun]

You need to diet, creature.

[-Alpha]

Really love the split-screening.

[n4rc]

looks slick.. cant wait

[theWB27]

Clean..very easy to read. I like.

[TheKingWilliamV]

I wonder if they will allow dynamic themes in the background hmmmm wonder how that will work now.

[kingPoS]

I have to say Sony nailed it with themes. How easy it is to go looking for free themes via the browser.
.
.
.
VERY!!!

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Judging by MS it seems they don't want to allow much UI customization. I guess you can pin things like Win 8 but I would expect lots and lots and lots of green!

Sony hands down has the best theme support and solution. I remember when they changed the dashboard on the 360 after I spent a few bucks in themes. They were barely visible after the UI change making them basically worthless and MS said nothing.. Took the money and ran.

[bub16]

wow windows 8!? give it a year and they will change the look of it anyway just like 360

[Wizziokid]

I prefer the 360 UI tbh

[Dobgamers]

360 was good but come on man, X1 is MUCH better and faster!

[Kayant]

Now this (and Touch devices) is where the Metro UI works well. Fast and light interface with smooth transitions and Colourful but on PC it's no no IMO. The black theme looks awesome.

[GodGinrai]

well..it reinds me a little bit of the current dash mixed with a more 'metro' style lay out, with gesture replacing touch.

[JunioRS101]

I don't mind the windows 8, I'm the minority that likes the tiles and boxes and stuff.

But that plain black background surely must be customize-able ?

Other than that, I have no complaints. Simplicity isn't a bad thing as long as it gets the job done.

And besides, the more complicated the UI the less RAM available for games

[Hufandpuf]

I like the minimalist design. But everything just looks so unorganized.

[niaboc]

Hahah the ps4 UI is unorganized. Take another look.

[Hufandpuf]

The Ps4 UI doesn't look any better, but at least everything is structured. It just looks like MS smashed some tiles together. I hope it's better when I get my hands on the system.

[Antwan3k]

it looks like the tiles are either recent things you were doing or customizable pins.. so basically it's not "unorganized" because you are the person organizing them..

[Hufandpuf]

So your saying everyone will start with a clusterfuck of tiles unless we organize them ourselves? How's that going to bode over with the rest of us?

[Funantic1]

Sony and their UI patches....

[PsnGammer21]

Cann we all just agree that xbone and it games suck(exsclusives)

[Convas]

No. We can't. Sorry.

[ElementX]

Can we just agree that you're a troll?

[PsnGammer21]

Yes yes I trolling I will agree but the works from keyboard only type truth so xbone sucks sorry :)

[PsnGammer21]

Yes yes I trolling I will agree but the words from keyboard only type truth so xbone sucks sorry :)

[XboxFun]

He has 5 bubbles and I have two...

I've had two well saids, no bubbles added.

Marked ONCE for trolling, instant de-bubble.

Good job N4g.

[nevin1]

I still like to see video of both UIs in action.

[torchic]

so that's why Microsoft has been showering deadmau5 with gifts 'n stuff

I really like the UI though, it looks clean and purposeful; just does the job it needs to do. that's all you need in a UI

[YodaCracker]

The snap feature is really a game-changer to me. I hate using apps on the Xbox 360 for a number of reasons. They take too long to load up and you have to exit completely back out to the dashboard to open another one. It's really frustrating. But being able to multitask with the Xbox One and have several apps open at once with your game paused in the background really will change the way I use my console.

If I'm playing a game today on the 360 and I want to look up a video guide on YouTube, I would have to completely exit the game, open the YouTube app, watch the video, exit back to dashboard, start up game again... No thanks. With Xbox One I can just open the YouTube app with my game still running, just like a window in the background.

If this is as intuitive as it sounds, it's going to be frustrating to play on other consoles that don't have this kind of simple, user-friendly interface.

[WeAreLegion]

It works great on the Vita and smart phones. I'm glad we'll be seeing it on consoles now.

[ufo8mycat]

Just use your phone to look up the guides :D

[N8]

Looks nice. This looks cleaner than the 360 ui in my opinion

[PFFT]

Im an Xbox guy but ill be honest this looks too simple and it looks great no doubt BUT im actually liking the PS4 UI over the Xbox One................DONT KIL ME!

[TheKayle1]

no one will kill u but as the ps3 had a low design UI and ps4 have simply a copy of the mestro UI ...

theres no way the UI from sony could beat a ms one

like theres no way ms could do "in house" hw better than sony

[PFFT]

Well thats true. I cant wait to take out this baby for a spin come release date.

[TheKayle1]

one of the best UI created in the last years...

[sincitysir1]

I hope I can customiZe. Life is all about customization

[Plagasx]

Sighs....Windows 8..

[mochachino]

I'm getting a PS4 but the Xone UI looks fine to me, no major complaints here.

[AutoCad]

Not a clusterfk like the current dash..Im liking this alot very sleek and simple

[wishingW3L]

doesn't these guys realize that people hate Windows 8? If only they knew how much people have been buying new PC's and downgrading them to Windows 7. XD

This is not gonna end well. MS does not want to win next-gen either.

[tkato]

I Like it, it's refreshing, besides, the 8.1 upgrade is turning out very good for me, been using it for 2 months now and it's working much better, haters gonna hate, all that bitching about the stuff they did with W8 is just that, bitching.

[Pinkdolphinyfg]

Watching breaking bad on netflix while i play halo? FUK YES!!!!!!! Video chatting with my friends while im in a clan? FUK YES!!!!! I for one am pumped for this feature.

[tkato]

By the time you'll get Halo, breaking bad will be over, like, last year over.

[AutoCad]

How bout watching Walking dead while playing dead rising?

[kingPoS]

Wait! Video chat while in a multiplayer match?!

Confirmed: you sir must have google fiber to be able to completely escape lag and video & audio stutter.

[Pandamobile]

Games only need 1-2 Mbps internet and a <50 ms ping for ideal gameplay.

For video chat, you only need 3 or 4 Mbps. If your internet can't handle two things at once, it's time to join the 21st century.

[BitchShutUpDamn]

But its not at the same damn time. Like your making it seem like

[kingPoS]

@Pandamobile

Too be honest I'm stuck with 3mb dsl, so anything else is super fast to me. I don't really have a good point of reference.

Heck even an upgrade to 12mb would appease me. lol

[fsfsxii]

What kind of a brain do you have???

[tkato]

Looks like my pc and my phone but no way in hell i'm buying an xone..

[porkChop]

Everyone hated the Metro UI and Start Page causing them to redesign the UI with the 8.1 update. And their big idea was to use the same UI that everyone hated for Xbox One? It's great for touchscreens, I'll admit that, but for normal inputs it's horrible.

[GraveLord]

Looks boring to be honest. It's nothing special.

[rela82me]

Kinda reminds me of the PS gamescom conference.

[GraveLord]

You're entitled to your opinion. At least they had a conference though, unlike Microsoft which had absolutely nothing to announce.

There's like 30 indie games coming exclusively to PS4. 15 of those were announced today. If you didn't at least care for 1 of those, you're not a real gamer. Go play your TV TV TV TV COD COD COD COD HALO HALO HALO

[drsfinest72]

sure indie games are fun but they are not very good at replay value. u beat it once. its over. i rather have full blown disk based games again thats my opinion against yours. so no clear winner.

[GraveLord]

And full-blown disc games can't be boring or crappy?

I prefer AAA games as well. PS4 is getting those too in case you didn't' know.

[moparful99]

Funny how Indie's mattered when Microsoft was pushing them hard on the 360 but now that Sony wears the indie crown indy games aren't significant? The hypocrisy and the lengths people go to in order to push an agenda is getting awful.. Sony is putting all of their prowess behind these indie studios some of whom will be making AAA full budget games in a few years time.. Don't forget that most large studios started small..

[okmrman]

youre entitled to your opinion
even if it makes you look like a dumb troll

[josephayal]

so beautiful i can't stop crying

[drsfinest72]

simplicity at its finest. this is why iOS is successful

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

Seems odd that they'd use a touch-based UI for a none touch-based platform.

[kewlkat007]

Very Clean...MS's strategy has always been one UI across all their hardware products..

Not a bad business strategy and helps the bosses at every helm to keep things consistent.

[Unknown]

Can solves that problem genuis and if you don't like that you can always say what you what instead of going through a gazillion menus like Shuei did in the PS4 Gamescom demo. Rabid PS fans are raving about it but the console took forever to boot comparedd to the XO and the GUI looked dated.

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

I'm not saying it's bad. I'm saying it's an odd choice. I'm using Windows 8 right now. I've nothing against the Metro UI, hell I think I use it quite efficiently.

[xc7x]

ugh,really,Win8 dashboard?!

[Unknown]

This is how a GUI should be made. It's sleek and mature. The PSN looks like a teeny boppers playground.

[Unknown]

double