Your Xbox One and PC can now work hand-in-hand

By Brad Jones March 11, 2015

new features xbox one update may xboxappforwindows10 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

When Microsoft announced its plans for Windows 10, it was clear that the Xbox brand was about to be brought closer to Windows than ever before. Now, a new build of the Xbox app for users running the Windows 10 Technical Preview might give us our first taste of how this works in practice.

The new update brings with it a host of features, including the all-important ability to connect to your Xbox One. You can now use the app in the same way that you would interact with the console via Smartglass, as well as being able to browse OneGuide from your PC.

GameDVR functionality has also been expanded. You can browse game clips uploaded by other players, with the groundwork seemingly laid so that a future update will allow you to record video from your computer, which was teased at the unveiling of Windows 10 and has been possible on the Xbox One since launch. Also included as part of this update are improvements to the activity feed and user profiles.

While there’s plenty left to do before the Xbox One and a Windows 10 PC are as complementary to one another as Microsoft suggested when these features were first announced, it’s promising to see this progress being made. Today’s update won’t redefine anyone’s gaming experience, but it’s a good sign that the functionality that’s been promised will arrive in time for the full launch of Windows 10 later this year.

Users running the Windows 10 Technical Preview can download the Xbox app update from the beta version of the Windows Store.

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Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…

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