Check out the new features in May’s Xbox One update

By Gabe Gurwin May 12, 2015

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

Microsoft and “Major Nelson” Larry Hryb have announced just what to expect when you update your Xbox One console this month. Many of the changes come through the Xbox Feedback site, a platform for users to request and vote on changes in subsequent updates.

Voice messages have been available on Xbox 360 for close to a decade, but they had not been an option on Xbox One until this month. The Add Audio Message function now lets you send voice recordings to your friends across both Xbox One and Xbox 360. More than 6,600 votes were cast on Xbox Feedback for this feature.

Additionally, Party Chat will soon receive dedicated servers to solve “NAT traversal issues” — dedicated servers were originally introduced for Xbox One preview members back in March, but others could still take advantage of the feature if one member of a party was enrolled in the program.

Changes are coming to the way you choose to power on your console, as well. The Xbox One SmartGlass app now allows you to turn your system on and off, assuming you are on the same Wi-Fi network, bringing SmartGlass closer to the PlayStation Vita’s functionality with PlayStation 4.

Microsoft has also been working to bring the Xbox App on Windows 10 more in line with the Xbox One. Just a few weeks ago, the company announced new screenshot support, as well as an avatar customization app and “real name sharing.” Windows 10 now also includes pre-loaded Xbox One controller drivers.

If you’re interested in affecting what gets included in future Xbox One updates, the Xbox Feedback site currently has three “in-progress” proposals available for voting. Several of these have already received at least partial approval; for instance, a proposal for PC and Xbox One cross-platform multiplayer was submitted last June, and cross-platform play with Windows 10 was announced this January.

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Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

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