Xbox’s Major Nelson Talks E3 Plans, Kinect, Xbox One to PC Streaming via Internet and More

During a live edition of his Major Nelson Radio podcast held at PAX East, Xbox Live’s Director of Programming Larry Hryb talked about a variety of interesting topics.

[DopeTech]

'Also mentioned that people loved the Xbox One Elite controller, and Microsoft heard “loud and clear” that people want more premium-level experiences, so they’re “absolutely working on something like that” for the future, even if he could not give specifics'.

Hinting at XBOX 1.5 maybe? We'll have to wait and see at this year's E3, It's gonna be so EXCITING, Brace yourselves guys, ALL ABOARD THE HYPE TRAIN CHOO CHOO!!

[slate91]

Lol it has been boarded. But it would take a LOT for me to buy in to the idea of a half-upgraded console. I dont like the idea honestly

[DopeTech]

Ok, look at this.

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

This news was yeaterday, and even Gamestop hinted at that but won't comment furthermore until they reveal it themselves, that's what they said, sooo....It's pretty much real. MARK MY WORDS!

[MachuchalBrotha316]

I guess you forgot about Phil saying if and when, it will be a significant upgrade for thier consumers. He doesn't like the Idea of an Xbox One and a half. Hahaha

[dcbronco]

Everyone assumes this has something to do with Microsoft and it might. But there have been several companies rumored to be working on a console. Sega, Apple and Amazon have been rumored to be working on consoles. So while Microsoft is most likely the third, it could be one of the others or even a second Nintendo handheld device. But no guarantee it's for Microsoft.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Xbox 2. There will be no incremental crap. Ball out!!

[81BX]

I hope so. I think Nin has forced ms and sony to do a .5 or a full new console early this gen

[hardcorehenry]

This is what I expect. i won't be bothering with any half steps. Give me a new xbox and I'm all over that shiznas

[slate91]

I was expecting this too. But it would be too good to be true honestly.

[ninsigma]

OK so if MS announce a xbox TWO to release at the same time as an announced "PS4.5", that would be perfectly ok would it??

[jb227]

Ok, let's work this hypothetical scenario out.

If it is an 'Xbox 2' & not the 'incremental crap' of a .5 model, it would essentially still have to be roughly on par w/ a Neo or an NX unless MS plan on taking a huge hit on every console sold.

So the power would be roughly the same as the Neo or the NX, what about the games? The idea of a 1.5 & the Neo is that it'll play everything that the base model played & at least for now the base model plays everything the Neo does. If we are talking an entirely new Xbox console this year, then games get a little cloudy. Will every XBO game be playable out of the box? BC is on XBO now, but it's happening in 'incremental crap' form, so maybe every XBO game ends up playable on the 2 eventually, but where does that leave people who bought an XBO but can't upgrade? Will they be able to play Xb2 games? Certainly never saw that happen before. I can't play PS4 games on my PS3, you can't play XBO games on your 360.

Sounds to me like the 'incremental crap' is the only fair solution to releasing new hardware this soon...anything else & your potentially $500 investment only lasted you 3 years, a single Gears, a single Halo, handful of Forzas, and a few others. Not really worth it to me, and most likely not worth it to most gamers & XBO fans.

People seem to just latch onto anything Spencer says w/o giving it any critical thought. I'm not sold on the idea of a mid cycle hardware upgrade, but I'm entirely against a 3 year cycle full stop. The only idea I've liked is moddable upgrades. They'd have to work flawlessly & we shouldn't ever have to deal w/ errors & conflicts like PC guys do, just an easy plug & play model that will let me get the benefits of the new power w/o having to pay for an entirely new box.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

I wouldn't consider Fall 2017 to early 2018 "early"...that's right around the time a new generation should start.

Gens are not supposed to last 8-10 years. Last gen was an outlier.

[christocolus]

I can't wait to see Recore and Sea of Thieves.

[DonMamon]

Me too I hope they release the PC version same day as the X1 version

[christocolus]

@DonMamon

Nice. I'm not a PC gamer but I'm happy to see many people playing on Windows 10. I think Sea of thieves would benefit greatly from having a simultaneous release on both MS platforms. It will be good to have many players online on launch day.Hopefully it will be released same day as the Xbox one version.

[MagicBeanz]

But wouldn't an xbox 1.5 be bad for the industry just like PS4 Neo?

[Vasto]

The upgraded Xbox One will be Xbox One Elite.

[poppinslops]

They already have those... been on the market for a year or so.

That said, upgraded consoles are coming, though I've no idea what they'll be called or how they'll be marketed... People thought the Wii-U was just an incremental Wii upgrade - three years later and it's a dead console.

Personally, I think incremental console upgrades is the stupidest move the industry could make... it's blatantly greedy and it puts even more pressure on devs (who are already overworked), forcing them to account for additional hardware at a time when most of 'em are strugging with PC ports.

[Lennoxb63]

"That said, upgraded consoles are coming, though I've no idea what they'll be called or how they'll be marketed..."

They'll be marketed like the upgrade of a phone would. The average consumer knows the difference between the iPhone 6 and 6s, I think they can figure out which console is the lower end and higher end one.

The iPhone 6 and 6s (and even the 4 and 5 series) play the same games and apps because they all use the same store. Just like the upgraded consoles will. Then again, I'm still skeptical on them existing.

[No Way]

"Hryb talked to the team working on the app to stream Xbox One games to PC, and he mentioned that he’s going to try to get them to implement a beta option to stream via the internet (outside of your local network) and try out how it works." This is important to me, :D Really hope they get this done and make it work fluidly.. I've already been trying to get it to work, but to no success.

[rainslacker]

I'd imagine that might be in the works already. MS is no stranger to remote access of that nature, and if they can make it work locally, there is no technical reason it couldn't work on an outside network. TCP/IP works the same regardless of it's local or remote...latency consideration is the only thing that changes. That and some kind of way to have remote discovery to be able to access one's home network via the internet...but that's probably easily achieved through XBL in some way.

[donthate]

There is no implementation issues for doing this over the internet. The main issue is that some (or a lot of) people will have issues due to poor internet and call support. I have it on my PS4, and tried it. That is about it, because it sucks major balls to use it. It is a pointless feature for me, and I have 100+ Mbps internet.

[rainslacker]

I've never had a problem with it myself outside of when I have dodgy connections outside the home. Doesn't matter who does it, or how good they are at net code, TCP/IP is going to limit it for some people depending on their internet. That's not something I'd blame MS for, nor should anyone else.

If their reasoning is that it's too much of a hassle for support, then they won't do it unless there is huge demand for it. However, I'd imagine it's more trying to tune the streaming to reduce lag to be within acceptable tolerances.

[lastking95]

It's as good as confirmed new consoles are coming. If they're going to do this the jump in completely not half a$$ed. Just make sure it's BC (obviously will be) and that the one is forwarded compatible. People keep hyping 1080p 60fps but idgas about that, that much it's the better gameplay (more on screen, better ai, mechanics) and yes i do believe it should have singleplayer exclusive content. (Online Co-op would have optimize for the lowest common denominator at least until after a few more year and No exclusive games til then.

Sunset overdrive 2 with cloud destruction and player vs player. OMG😋 that alone would make me satisfied with MS' e3

[jb227]

"If they're going to do this the jump in completely not half a$$ed. Just make sure it's BC (obviously will be) and that the one is forwarded compatible."

You do realize you just described the "half a$$ed" route of an upgrade right? Higher specs that play all games and the base model still being able to play all new games. That's exactly what the Neo is rumored to be. So basically what you are saying is that you don't like the idea of it being marketed as a current gen console. So just semantics really.

[lastking95]

How? If thats the case ps4 and xbox one are half done since ps3 and 360 are get some of the game. Same goes for ps3 since ps2 played some. Like i said not all games just some till the install base grows....kinda like this gen and last. Duh

Half a$$ed would be no exclusive content or gameplay. Just resolution, frame and graphics boost.

[Davi123]

So... they will repeat all over again... one more E3... the same talk... of the last 2 E3........ interesting...

[conanlifts]

I feel for nintendo if these upgrade rumours are true. They get ready to release nx and decide to make a 2.5tflop ( speculation) console. Then a few months later sony and ms release upgraded 3.5 tflop consoles. That would be a shame for nintendo. Although i guess all original ps4 and x1 games could be ported over easily.

[Ghostbob]

Sea of Thieves please

[OneAboveAll]

Announce partnership with Sony for Cross plat play.

[ninsigma]

That would be good. I think it would make certain types of people cry though xD
Can't be having partnerships with the enemy and all that :p

[Condemnedman]

I don't want a half arsed upgrade I want a full upgrade that plays all my xboxone and 360 games. Bring it MS.

[Inzo]

Well so much for any new games being announced.

[noksucow73]

I think Kinect would be good if implemented with VR

[FlexLuger]

^^This. It can track fingers for a start as well as the entire body...It would be perfect for VR. Certainly more advanced than sony's own cam.

[maybelovehate]

I just want the Xbox UI on PC and a partnership with Valve to integrate Steam into it. Not the full Xbox One OS, but just the UX/UI shell running on top of Windows 10.

[sangoku_d]

pretty embarrassing, supposed 'cloud' company isn't doing what playstation can and since launch on vita

[ScorpiusX]

Bring it and take my money

[FlexLuger]

My thought exactly. Hoping MS go back to intel CPUS ike they did with the OG xbox. But a AMD part seems more likely if we are talking a .5 upgrade. Either way...I like all this talk of upgraded consoles. Im up for it. Im not broke like so many N4G usres who are against these upgraded consoles....to such people I say....

Be good little boys and your parents might buy you a .5 console for xmas or your bdays. The whining must stop...go and get jobs or something.

[ScorpiusX]

Been a consumer of MS product for a long time now , went crazy when they entered the console field.
Loved Xbox , thought it was a great system , 360 continued what Xbox started but for some reason they seem to have lost touch with their cut throat no holds bar mentality.
So when talks of keeping funded games at bay or when they are talking about upgrades i get a feel that they may return to what they do best and that be ahead of everybody . Beside they always get slammed for doing anything or nothing so i say do something and give them people something to whinny about with purpose .

[iNFAMOUZ1]

well the new xbox for sure i have to get it for halo 4k hopefully they redo all the classics also, but for playstation 4k, probably too, damn man i just bought a oculus rift, my wallets screaming bloody mary

[ScorpiusX]

Being an Early adapter is not cheap by any means .....

[EazyC]

Can't wait to see Crackdown 3. And how's about a new Viva Pinata?

[Orionsangel]

Wow! Cortana! That was the first thing I deactivated from Widows 10.

[RosweeSon]

At least someone's talking about Kinect ;)

[zb1ftw777]

It's a shame kinect died a death.

I picked up sports rivals and the 4 player bowling is awesome for party evenings with friends.

I've hosted two now and both were a roaring social success. The technology is awesome.

But yea, basically dead. Not many people enjoy moving about whilst gaming, and zero dev support.

Controller and a cosy chair is just.....better.

The same thing will hold VR back. Moving gets tiring.