170°

Edge: The Baffling Incompetence of Xbox One UI

It looks like an improvement. And as long as you aren’t actually using it, it is.

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edge-online.com
colt-of-tipton3797d ago

I don't like the fact they have made everything a app its really annoying and i prefer to have a guide button but saying the apps are slow to load is BS , they load super quick even in snap mode in my opinion.

cleft53797d ago (Edited 3797d ago )

The problem with the UI is that it's menus after menus. It looks streamlined but it's actually really convoluted. I would say I am surprised that this happened, but if you look at the UI for Windows 8 this UI is a nature fit for Microsoft. With that said, I am sure this is something that can and will fix with patches, etc.

bessy673797d ago (Edited 3797d ago )

I don't understand where you see the convolution. Want to watch Netflix? Say "Xbox go to Netflix". In Netflix and want to play Dead Rising 3? Say "Xbox go to Dead Rising 3". In Dead Rising 3 and want to check scores on the football games? Say "Xbox snap NFL". Even with a controller navigation is really easy. Press the guide button to get back to the dash from anywhere, set up some pins for things you use a lot, and simply scroll left and choose them. People make it out to be a ton more complicated than it really is.

Edit: I don't get what people are disagreeing with. That's how it actually works. I know, since I'm using it as I type this.

abzdine3797d ago

Windows 8 is the worst thing i came across in a long time and the UI in that design is really not what i would prefer.
I prefer the PS4 UI where everything is in front of you and you don't need to look for anything.

Boody-Bandit3797d ago (Edited 3797d ago )

bessy

People are disagreeing because right now the X1 UI has a fair amount of issues. I am helping a friend write an article about it right now. My son and I played several hours on the X1 over the holidays. We ran into quite a few issues.

1 of them being while we were both signed in, even though he was the primary account, when he asked me an an X1 command and I told him? The X1 responded to my voice and signed me in as the primary account and literally signed him out completely.

I mean there are a lot hiccups I ran into. There should be more attention brought to this so MS will address these issues as soon as possible.

This UI was not ready for launch and is nothing like MS markets it in advertising. It is not close to being seamless. Not even close. When the voice commands works they work great but this console isn't easy to navigate for the masses.

Kinect even appears to get confused at times. This console is going to need several updates before most of these hiccups are worked out. Hopefully all of them can be ironed out. If not, what was the point of going in this direction at all? At the end of the day I still prefer using the controller over Kinect and even that is cumbersome. Too many menus.

One thing is for sure. They need to address XBL gaming part of things ASAP. The friends list, partying up, voice messaging, friends online notifications, etc... Seriously these things should've been priority one for the X1 launch. It sucks having to literally go to your friends list just to see if they are online.

Another thing I would want if this was my primary console. Keyboard compatibility. It's so much easier surfing IE with a keyboard vs an X1 controller.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3797d ago
Gazondaily3797d ago

"The party system, another former highlight, is similarly broken. It now insists on inviting every member to each game launched."

Yeah wtf is up with that? It makes no sense.

"[it] doesn’t show if people are in parties, gives no option to join them and no longer shows the biographical detail that enabled you to identify people."

Again...such a glaring omission. I don't understand MS' mindset behind these decisions.

come_bom3797d ago (Edited 3797d ago )

The problem with Microsoft is that they don't listen to consumers... they make changes without consumers feedback, and then try to force those changes on the consumer.

Xbox One UI and Windows 8 are a good example.

ThatCanadianGuy5143797d ago

Hands down the worst UI i've ever seen.Can't believe what a step down it is from the 360 Blades.

That windows 8 effect just ruins everything

bessy673797d ago

I'm guessing you've never used it.

cleft53797d ago

It's a UI people are discussing not gameplay or graphics. UIs are designed to be visually pleasing, so if the UI doesn't look visually pleasing than that is already a failure on their part. Also, there are a number of places that anyone can go and try out a Xbox One.

Just because you like the Xbox One, now I am the one doing the guessing, it doesn't mean you should bury your head in the sand about the negatives facing that console. Had people done that you would still have your DRM and not being able to rent/sale/buy used games. Both of which would have bothered you more than you know.

I love the PS4, but I keep my eyes open to it's flaws because if they do exist I want to see to it that Sony gets them fixed. Stop behaving like a fanboy and start behaving like an informed consumer.

Sleepless3797d ago Show
donman13797d ago

Yep... thats Microsoft once again trying to force their failed tile system UI down the consumers throat. Hey Microsoft... how many years now and the Windows smartphones still is sh*tty and unpopular. Now they applying the same failed UI with their console.

bessy673797d ago

And I'm guessing you've never used it either. I get it, hating on MS is the "in" thing, but maybe you should try some of these products before just following the fanboy hive mentality and throwing them under the bus.

curtis923797d ago

@bessy right, because NO ONE could ever dislike the windows tiles, yes? If someone doesn't like it then they must not have used it. Because MS has perfected the OS UI, no doubt. /s

donman13797d ago (Edited 3797d ago )

@Bessy67,

I am going to forgive your ignorance. Part of my job is to test and recommend technology based on the users needs. In my department we have Windows, Android and iOS based technology (smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops). So I speak as a person who have used and tested these various UIs. The tile system is not liked in general and is one of the reason why we still use windows 7 and have no interest in upgrading company wide to windows 8.1. Windows smartphones are not popular for that reason also.
So yes... I have used and tested their products and they are terrible. I don't speak about something I have not tried. Ok sir. Good!!

TheFallenAngel3797d ago

Windows 8 is the worst. My sister bought a laptop with windows 8 and she hates it too. Returned it and bought an apple laptop. She loves it.

BobBelcher3797d ago

Honestly, if you know how to use it, then it's great... But that's the story of windows 8.1 as well.

BX813797d ago (Edited 3797d ago )

I agree, It seems like a mess till you get it down. I didn't like it at first but It's easy to use now. I can't wait to see where it's at in a year or so. Also my big complaint is the Party chat system. Am I the only one who get into a party chat?

Edit: Also fix the damn thing so I can check my memory

Christopher3797d ago

So, essentially, it's a mess until you train yourself to like it? That's not how UIs are supposed to work.

PsylentKiller3797d ago

@cgoodno

All UI's are a mess until you figure out how to use them. Some are more intuitive than others. Apple's iOS is one of the most simplistic UIs on phones and tablets. The home computers are a bit more complicated. Android is complicated to the person who only uses iOS. Linux is extremely complicated to people because it is unknown and unfamiliar to them.
Windows, like everything else, gets easier to use over time. I think the main problem with Windows metro design is that Microsoft made it look streamlined and intuitive but in action it is not. It seems simple to use until you find yourself searching through menus to find the surround sound beta option. Is it in video and sound settings? No. It's in TV settings under the troubleshooting tab.
Game freezes up. You have to go to settings > bluray > clear persistent storage. What the hell is persistent storage? Why do I have to do this on my own?
It's easy to use now, after a week and a half of use but omg is it the complete opposite of intuitive at times.

BX813796d ago

That's not what I said at all. I said "It seems like a mess till you get it down", not what you said "So, essentially, it's a mess until you train yourself to like it?". It seems like a mess because it's new, when you learn it you actually see it's not bad. You're welcome.

MaverickStar73797d ago

It seems like any other product that introduces a new UI. People hate it in the beginning but then come around once they figure it out.

PSnation43797d ago

its windows 8 style... majority of the people hate it.. nothing going to change that till they redo it

bessy673797d ago

No, the majority of people who have never tried it and simply listen to people with obvious biases like you(PSnation4)hate it.

Christopher3797d ago

@bessy67: No, actually, most PC gamers don't like Windows 8 compared to Windows 7 either. I went back to Windows 7 because I actually had more options for control over my PC. Rainmeter alone allows me to do more than what Win8 can do.

Now, Win8 does improve on certain features, but those could have easily have been an SP for Win7, but Microsoft pushed them to Win8 so they could force people to upgrade to the new OS.

Thehyph3797d ago

Maybe, it's just not a good UI then.

A good UI should be intuitive right off the bat. Double so if the UI is meant to be the center of an entertainment unit for a family.
See: iOS. Apple made it so your grandma can figure it out.

Aside: I've only had limited experience talking to the new Kinect. It works. It understood me, and I didn't have to repeat myself. That's great, BUT that delay is not pleasant. Some may say "what delay?" I'm referring to the laggy response that my android phone (which is a tiny fraction of the power of a console, and a fraction of the size of Kinect) doesn't have.

I don't mean to be a fanboy, but I am generally unimpressed by Kinect. Google Now just works for me, and it does it faster than SIRI or Kinect. I've used it at the grocery store, walking downtown, in the middle of my living room similar to a Kinect scenario, and more.

If two microphones and an ARM chip can do it so smooth, then why does a stationary Kinect have a delay.

MaverickStar73797d ago

My feelings are that people often point the finger at the new UI. But to use the UI you need the human element. Not all people figure these systems out as easily. When someone has been using a system for many years and then moves to a new machine with a new system they are going to feel a little lost because trying to do things differently. That will play into a new users view of how intuitive a new system is. Also UI's are designed to get the most out of the system. With any case, that requires the user to learn how the UI works, not getting the UI to work how they want it to.

I've seen these complaints with every new Xbox and Playstation change, or every time Apple, or some website changes things. Most of the complaints die off, and you are left with a smaller portion of people that genuinely don't like the UI.

Using my PS4 has been a similar experience. I could say it has a terrible UI and is a step backwards in some areas. But the more I use it and learn how things are different, its fine.

nypifisel3797d ago

An UI which is cumbersome to use (optimal is as few button presses as possible), you don't get used too, it's just badly designed. Problem is, the XO UI was designed for voice and motion interaction, thins is; those things doesn't work too well.

Mr Lahey3797d ago

"Xbox One’s debut user experience is stuttering, clunky, and a serious challenge to Xbox Live’s long-held status as the premier console service.

Bluntly, they take too long to load, don’t offer the functionality that Xbox Live was built on, and are, inexplicably, badly handled by the OS."

Windows 8...

BX813797d ago

You have to use the UI for your self. Don't let someone else make up your mind. Once you know what you're doing it's nice.

Mr Lahey3797d ago

True, but I really dislike windows 8 and the whole app concept! So it's no surprise to me that people are having issues with the XONE UI..

Show all comments (56)
190°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv7215h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle2h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Cacabunga1h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff21831h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

purple1014h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos4h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

XBManiac3h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1012h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos2h ago(Edited 2h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic1h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

Show all comments (15)
300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere1d 11h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 9h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos1d 6h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN23h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo1d 1h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies21h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion1d 11h ago (Edited 1d 11h ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger1d 9h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic19h ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows9018h ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

Profchaos1d 11h ago (Edited 1d 11h ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto1d 11h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos1d 10h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long1d 7h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel1d 10h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d 8h ago (Edited 1d 8h ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 9h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

Show all comments (21)
280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10112d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref12d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde11d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197211d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville11d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218311d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos11d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
isarai12d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref12d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan11d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00711d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197212d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

12d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

12d ago
12d ago
Zeref12d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde11d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197211d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197211d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier11d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto11d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218311d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto11d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
Hofstaderman12d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts11d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts10d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic11d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)