960°

User Made Xbox One In-Game Menu Is Simplistically Brilliant

GearNuke: "Xbox One has the same Metro UI interface as found on Windows 8. Enthusiastic designers tend to bring their own imaginations to life by modifying the designs with their own ideas and sometimes the results are mind blowing"

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gearnuke.com
Snookies124189d ago

Yeah, that's a great design. Nice and easy, simple and efficient.

Bigpappy4188d ago

I am convinced that M$ just focused on basics, and decided to patch later. They really weren't prepared to launch in 2013.
They do have a nice console with neat features though. They can do some unique stuff with multiple OS running at once. I want to see where they go with it the rest of the year.

Major_Glitch4188d ago

@mister Funny, the sales figures would say otherwise. Or perhaps you know something the rest of us don't?

testerg354188d ago

Major, I think he meant that the PS4 is also missing features and has some bugs.

theRell4188d ago

How do sales figures tell if a console was ready to be released or not? There's no logic with that. Ready or not, the people were going to get it.

DragonKnight4188d ago

@Mister_Dawg: Yeah they were. PS4 began design phase in 2007. The features that are missing from the PS4 were due to a change in focus, not an oversight.

Yes, that means they purposely left out mp3 playback and DLNA support. They wanted to focus on getting the gaming and sharing aspect of the console done before frivolous extras that may be nice to have but are unimportant in the grand scheme.

And before anyone says BC, keep your PS3s and you won't have a problem.

Droidbro4188d ago

@mister true but irrelevant to the article
@glitch sales have nothing to do with the states of either UI

AndrewLB4188d ago

Dragon- If what you say is true, it doesn't reflect well on Sony. 6 years should have been plenty of time to make sure the PS4 was capable of playing MP3's and CD's, DLNA (since sony invented it), HDMI video capture, perhaps some youtube support, and most of all.... They could have designed an interface that doesn't look like a first year compsci student designed it.

You neglected to mention what Sony was focusing on all these years if they weren't adding the above features, or polishing the interface. The vast majority of the hardware was done by AMD since it was a slight adaptation of their current APU and not some ground-up new creation.

Oh yeah... it was DRM! Remember how they had pretty much the exact same DRM crap that Microsoft initially had, but Microsoft caught all the flack from the media because they opened their mouths about it. Sony saw the sh*t storm, stayed quiet, and removed all the DRM in their day one update.

christocolus4188d ago

@bigpappy

I totally agree.Ms has major plans for their os but they tried to launch same time with sony and i feel its one of the reasons alot of features are missing out of the box and also the reason why twitch streaming isnt supported yet..im expecting big things down the line though.Ms is good at software and they will keep updating/improving the xbx one os functionality over time.

ITPython4188d ago (Edited 4188d ago )

Both consoles were essentially incomplete upon release, however unlike Microsoft, Sony had some focus on what they wanted done and what they were willing to leave out as a sacrifice. They left out non-gaming stuff so they could focus on the gaming aspects to get that completed. And will add the non-essential stuff later.

The XB1 launched with a jack-of-all-trades mentality including a ton of non-essential gaming things, but they are all incomplete.

Think of it this way, say you had 4 different pieces of homework you needed to get done for a college class. What Microsoft did was do a little bit of each one (each 50% finished), but didn't complete any of them. Sony however, finished the first two pieces of homework 100%, but they didn't work on the other 2 at all.

It's technically the same percentage completed, but Sony had the focus to finish two of them completely. IMO, Sony's approach was the right way to go about it. I would rather have less completed features (especially if it's focused on gaming) rather than more features which are all incomplete.

DragonKnight4188d ago

@AndrewLB: Your post is funny. Ever considered taking it on the road to comedy clubs? Might get a laugh.

Think for a second. The PS3 was the all inclusive console. It had every conceivable feature and came at a premium because of it. And what happened? Years of "the PS3 has no games" and "the PS3 is too expensive" and "I want games, I can play mp3s on my mp3 player"

Sony decided that everything game related had to come first, everything else was non-essential. You only have yourselves to blame. Sony is always in a lose lose situation. When they give you everything, it's too much. When they take stuff away to make it cheaper, you cry because it's gone. When they try to focus on the games, you cry for pointless extras.

The vast majority of the hardware was done by AMD? Are you nuts? All AMD did was design an APU. That's one chip. Sony did the rest. That took research and development time you know.

"Oh yeah... it was DRM! Remember how they had pretty much the exact same DRM crap that Microsoft initially had, but Microsoft caught all the flack from the media because they opened their mouths about it. Sony saw the sh*t storm, stayed quiet, and removed all the DRM in their day one update."

Remember how that was actually a B.S. lie made up by MS fanboys to try and lump Sony in with Microsoft's bad moves? Well I do. Sony said MONTHS before MS even hinted about DRM that the PS4 wouldn't have it. None, at all.

So, I'm sorry but, you're wrong. It doesn't look bad on Sony that they cared more about games and game development than you having yet another device among the millions that can play mp3s. It looks bad on people that care about these things so much that they'd cry about them instead of being happy that Sony didn't launch another PS3. You know, with difficult to use hardware, a price that most don't want to pay for, and a long road of them having to make their own machine look good when it comes to games because 3rd party developers don't want to put the work into it to do it themselves.

TheRedButterfly4188d ago

I beg to differ. Microsoft /was/ ready to launch in 2013, but everyone demanded they alter their polices, resulting in a complete OS/UI overhaul… And considering what they launched with only 6 months later? More than a job well done!

You try reworking an entire operating system in 6 months and have better results.

hobbit1534188d ago (Edited 4188d ago )

@DragonKnight Sony revealed in Feb. 2013 did not say anything about DRM. Microsoft revealed in May 2013 talked about DRM. Microsoft from reveal till E3 2013 tried to explain/damage control DRM stuff. E3 2013 Sony comes on stage, says they care about the gamer, no DRM etc. get high praise for it. But Instead of watching the magic show the Sony wizards were putting on, You need to go back and look behind the curtain. (Hint: Sony had/has the same DRM policy as Microsoft.) It is fact! Stop spreading FUD!!! After E3 2013 Sony president said Sony/1st party not doing DRM but, they would not tell 3rd party not to use DRM. Why do you think EA, Ubisoft etc. got rid of online passes. (This part, speculation on my part: because of Microsoft DRM AND Sony DRM in place, But after May 2013 Microsoft reveal Sony backed out).

ziggurcat4188d ago

@ andrewLB:

"it was DRM! Remember how they had pretty much the exact same DRM crap that Microsoft initially had, but Microsoft caught all the flack from the media because they opened their mouths about it. Sony saw the sh*t storm, stayed quiet, and removed all the DRM in their day one update."

no one remembers that because there was no actual DRM planned for the PS4.

+ Show (10) more repliesLast reply 4188d ago
3-4-54188d ago

XB1 was rushed. We will get an interview or article that tells us so within the next 1-2 years.

We all know it.

Whatever Microsoft spent on XB1, could have been done for %50 by many other companies.

They probably wasted millions trying to design a new controller.

It would have taken me 5 minutes to be like " Keep the same controller, we spend the money elsewhere"

Boom done.

Drewidian4188d ago

I think a large part of its incomplete and missing features is largely due to the redesign of the system they had to make due to policy changes. They literally had about 4- 5 months to make it work. I personally think that under the circumstances they did a decent job. I just wonder how it compares to the original planned one and what it would have looked like with those months of extra development time. We'll never know, but I too will look forward to the retrospective reflection of this Year's changes.

oof464188d ago

The system wasn't rushed. Both Sony and Microsoft had mapped out what they wanted to do after the ps3 and 360.

What WAS rushed was Microsoft fixing things to comply with their backtracking on the "always online" component.

MajorLazer4188d ago

Your genius knows no bounds /s

AndrewLB4188d ago

oof46- You mean like Sony disabling the exact same intrusive DRM in their day one patch? Sony got away with it because when they saw Microsoft catch hell from gamers, they kept quiet about it and removed it on day one.

oof464188d ago

@AndrewLB: Plausible, but we'll never know unless someone from Sony says anything. But, as far as I know, you don't have to download the day one patch to play your ps4 offline. For the Xbox One, it's mandatory.

But, looking back, it was a genius move by Sony to take notes on everything gamers hated about the Xbox One when it was revealed and go the opposite direction.

DragonKnight4188d ago (Edited 4188d ago )

@AndrewLB: Your ignorance is amazing. If Sony disabled that same DRM with their day one patch, why was the patch not mandatory and you could play offline hmmm?

Oh, you don't have a PS4 so you didn't know that? Exactly. Stop spreading lies and FUD.

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

That article is from Feb. 21st 2013. That's right at the official reveal of the PS4, before the official reveal of the Xbox One, before the E3 where (if we were to believe your terrible logic) Sony would have had to make the last minute decision (a terrible business decision to make when you have stock holders to answer to, and actually I believe is illegal) to cancel DRM and begin creating that "day one DRM removing patch" you keep talking about.

What's your explanation for that? That Sony already did their corporate espionage and found out a year before that MS were going to have that DRM and then predicted the fan outcry a year later and decided to wait until they were proven correct so they could remove the DRM from the PS4?

So Sony is now...

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

ziggurcat4188d ago

@ andrewLB:

sony's stance had always been they there would be no DRM.

it's always amazing when people like you keep blathering on with unsubstantiated nonsense like that, and you don't provide an ounce of proof.

so, please... enlighten us all with the copious amounts of evidence that you seem to have pointing to sony not only planning the same DRM as MS, but also removing it in a day one patch.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4188d ago
oof464188d ago

I believe Mister_Dawg was referring to the OS of both systems. From what I've read online and heard on podcasts, both were coming in hot for launch. They'll get things fixed and added as time goes on, so no biggie.

Amplitude4188d ago

the lack of a music player is the only thing really awful about the ps4. MusicUnlimited is great but the ps4 app randomly stops playing, plays the same library songs on shuffle over and over, and is in maintenance half the time. Not to mention the app takes just long enough to load that picking a new artist mid-game is frustrating...

like its honestly not even excusable, its 2014 lol

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4188d ago
IRNMUNKEY4189d ago

Yep it's great and Major Nelson said he has already passed it on to development team. Hopefully we get something similar.

Cueil4188d ago

it looks like consolidation of apps... soemthing that I imagine will happen... and I think that the Friends List may be one of the first things we see go this route with party chat

DragonKnight4188d ago

Major Nelson is lying. That's just a typical PR response to say "hey, looks good" but it won't go further than that.

andibandit4188d ago

"That's just a typical PR"....

Just like your typical BS

DragonKnight4188d ago

@andibandit: Ouch, you sound extra butt hurt today. Did Major Nelson promise something to you too?

IRNMUNKEY4188d ago

Hmm why not? So does the same hold true for the Sony god Yosh? Or has he promised things that haven't happened.

They already said the next update is going to be based on customer feedback so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

Tctczach4188d ago

@dragon I love how you automatically jump to he is lying and think it is PR. Maybe he did like it. Seems to be a little immature...

DragonKnight4188d ago

I never said that he didn't like it. I said he's lying, and I meant about passing it on. That's not going to happen and you know it.

TotalSynthesisX4189d ago

Very nice. Bravo! Microsoft, take notes.

XiSasukeUchiha4188d ago

Nice menu MS write this down now!!!!!

H0RSE4189d ago

The console just launched, and it hasn't even received any real updates yet. Compare the UI for the 360 at launch to what it is now...

oof464188d ago

I would like to respond to your comment, but it's buried beneath an offer for 15% off my car insurance.

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220°

Xbox Mass layoffs Are Expected To Hit On July 2, 2025

The previously rumored mass layoffs at Xbox are expected to happen on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, according to a new rumor.

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twistedvoxel.com
16h ago
lukasmain12h ago(Edited 12h ago)

They will have fired close to 20,000 people all up after this round of lay-offs coming, since the ABK deal announcement in January 2022. Shocking really

January 2023:
Microsoft laid off 10,000 employees, which was a significant workforce reduction.

January 2024:
Approximately 1,900 gaming employees were laid off following the Activision Blizzard acquisition.

May 2025:
Microsoft announced a further 6,000 layoffs as part of an organizational shift.

June 2025:
Additional layoffs, including 650 in the gaming business, focused on corporate and support functions

11h agoReplies(2)
Obscure_Observer11h ago

"They will have fired close to 20,000 people all up after this round of lay-offs coming, since the ABK deal announcement in January 2022. Shocking really"

It's not that shocking considering these numbers aren't just Xbox numbers as you're deliberately trying to make it seem for some reason.

Interestingly, another no shocking fact is that whenever Microsoft releases its quarterly earnings reports, you're quick to point out that those numbers aren't exclusive to Xbox. Yeah... go figure.

Ganif9h ago

They also fired around 2500 people across Microsoft's gaming divisions and Zenimax shortly after buying it, and before they closed down 4 studios including Arkane and Tango.

I remember Satya boasting about how compassionate he was for splitting the list 50/50 across the two companies.

8h ago
Obscure_Observer6h ago

"They also fired around 2500 people across Microsoft's gaming divisions and Zenimax shortly after buying it"

Bring your sources. I´ll wait.

1dmj4h ago

He doesn’t have any sources lol

He also forgot that Sony does layoffs too

Hereandthere9h ago

Let's hope its not as bad as socials are making it, good luck to those that unfortunately lose their jobs.

9h ago
Lightning778h ago

Could be not as bad could be horrible. But it's Ms so I'm expecting the absolute worst.

-Foxtrot8h ago

Sometimes I feel like they brought in Sarah to take the heat away from Phil.

Phil has always stuck his nose into everything Xbox related when it's something positive or at least neutral but as soon as they went the multiplatform root he's stood back and let Sarah do most of the talking in terms of PR. Now they are doing the same with layoffs.

The person who should be let go is Phil himself.

RhinoGamer886h ago

Phil and his inner circle of circle jerk bros like AG.

Obscure_Observer5h ago

"Phil has always stuck his nose into everything Xbox related when it's something positive or at least neutral but as soon as they went the multiplatform root he's stood back and let Sarah do most of the talking in terms of PR. Now they are doing the same with layoffs."

You have no idea what you´re talking about.

*IF* Microsoft decides to address the upcoming layoffs, Matt Booty will be the one in the spotlight since he is the president of XGS.

Phil will probably be on some bs drama later doing interviews telling people how "devastated" and "sorry" he is for those affected while wiping away his tears with money.

Sarah is the President of Xbox (hardware) so she will be better off taking care of hers business and let both Matt and Phil face the backlash.

Jingsing1h ago

Amen to that, All of Phil's industry peers have left or moved on in the time he has been at Xbox. He is like a football manager that doesn't know when to go. I'm almost convinced he just wants to keep holding on so he can leave on a high (egotistical). But he is just causing more damage than good.

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240°

‘I think Xbox hardware is dead’, says Microsoft gaming veteran

One of the founding members of the Xbox team has questioned Microsoft’s multiplatform gaming strategy, and said they believe the Xbox hardware business is effectively “dead"

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videogameschronicle.com
2d ago Replies(3)
Goodguy012d ago

Think that rumor that they'll still make a new console but at a profit at $1000 will be true though. The series consoles will remain their cheap alternative throughout next gen I would say. Keep in mind that game pass and pretty much going 3rd party is their main focus. They want to bring xbox everywhere.

2d ago
GamerRN1d 12h ago

If they don't maintain some kind of console presence, I think they will lose gamepass subscribers and just become a 3rd party publisher who eventually sells everything off

Cacabunga1d 11h ago

Xbox games are releasing on all platforms. Who needs this hardware? PS or PC is all you need

Flewid6381d 10h ago

I've never owned an Xbox in my life and I have GamePass.

thorstein1d 9h ago

The only Xbox I owned was the 360. I have gamepass for my PC.

GamerRN1d 4h ago

Majority of Gamepass users are currently on console...

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 4h ago
crazyCoconuts1d 11h ago

Even if they could get it down to $800 for a box that can run with comparable performance to a PS6 (at, say $200 cheaper) the population of people willing to buy such a thing would be so limited.
It would be the worst of both worlds.

2d ago
Futureshark1d 22h ago

A slow, painful and public death too.

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300°

Looming Xbox layoffs threaten Microsoft's reputation

Even as the company sets out to overhaul the very definition of Xbox, cuts at its studios risk creating a negative image reminiscent of EA's worst era

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gamesindustry.biz
Jingsing4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

I appreciate the article but this guy must be living in a delayed universe, The reputation was ruined 10+ years ago and hasn't recovered since. As such people have voted with their wallets and stopped buying Xbox products in large amounts.

YourMommySpoils3d ago

Their reputation was lost way before that. From the moment Microsoft said they entering the console business, we all knew it would be a downgrade.

Bathyj2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

That's not true at all the OG Xbox had drive and they had hunger and they wanted to accomplish something. It was a great console.

they didn't quite reach their goals and they gave up prematurely because they couldn't win. It was halfway through the Xbox 360 when kinect released and that was when they lost their way and we're a rudderless ship ever since

Agent752d ago

In all fairness, Xbox had some great games with online play, Xbox 360 even better. Xbox consoles started to die with the Xbox One. Ditch consoles for the PC and PS.

YourMommySpoils2d ago

@Bathyj hard to compute ay. Xbox was never better than a PC and that's all they ever were. A demo box. Doesn't get more true than that.

4d ago Replies(1)
isarai4d ago

What reputation is this threatening exactly? 😂

Lightning774d ago

Rumors of Turn 10 being either shut down or hit with massive lay offs is on the horizon.

The issue is MS will do something right only to do something very, very wrong. And they do this what seems calculative at this point. Doesn't matter what they do the Investors and leadership want more and more money an endless bottomless pit of purr insatiable greed. A company that acts like it's broke or hurting is what really, really infuriates me. They've surpassed apple again well over 3 trillion who acts like they're a million dollar company is fk stupid. Pivots and changes for no reason and can't do things for more than a year with out a pivot or changing their metrics.

Christopher3d ago

That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest.

1Victor3d ago

@christopher: “ That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest”
The key word big can be ether good or bad 🤷🏿only time can tell

DarXyde3d ago

First Forza being generated entirely via AI?

If any company would do it, it'd be them.

Nacho_Z2d ago

Isn't the point that it's irrelevant how profitable MS is, the suits have decided it's time that the Xbox division started making them money. Hence the layoffs, the pivots.

hennessey862d ago

That wouldn't surprise me, as motorsport has been heading down hill since the great number 4. Where as playground have consistently put out better games. I think the two studios will be merged under playground games banner.

3d ago Replies(2)
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