A Reddit user by the name of p4n0pt1c0n recently jumped on the site saying that Microsoft’s scheme to get apps working on both the PC and Xbox One console simultaneously is now active. This individual made the revelation when using version 14352.rs1 of the Windows 10 Insider Preview build for the PC and the latest preview build of Windows 10 for the Xbox One, the latter of which was not set to “dev kit” mode.
According to the Reddit user, he installed a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app called CC Player Pro on his Windows 10 laptop, which he acquired for free through a MyAppFree deal. The Xbox One console was on at the time and logged into his Live account, and popped up a message stating that the app was ready to download and install. He did just that on the console, but all CC Player Pro could do at the time was get stuck on the loading screen once it was added.
The Reddit user states that both the Windows 10 machine and the Xbox One need to be logged into the same Live account. After that, customers can jump onto the Windows Store on the PC and perform a search for these specific UWP apps: CC Player Pro, Perfect Movies, and Perfect Tube. When the apps are purchased and installed, a popup will appear on the Xbox One, saying they’re ready to be added to the console. VBA10 and a random Chinese Tetris game, both based on the UWP model as well, can be installed this way too, reports a few other Reddit members.
On the same post, one Reddit user says that when he goes to all apps on the Xbox One, he can open the store page on the console for the specific UWP app he downloaded and installed (Perfect Movies). A shaky GIF provided here clearly shows the app’s market page on the Xbox One revealing that it can also be downloaded on the computer, a mobile device, and the Surface Hub. Perfect Movies is a video player app supporting gestures.
Microsoft is expected to go full throttle with its UWP model next month when it releases Anniversary Update for free to current Windows 10 customers on the PC, and Xbox One owners. Microsoft has made it no secret that it’s striving for a one-OS-to-rule-them-all platform with Windows 10, and has openly pushed to create a universal storefront that coughs up apps that work on all Windows 10-based devices across the board, not just on specific hardware.
The bridge Microsoft is building between the Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs falls under the company’s mysterious Project Helix strategy that seeks to converge the two. The rumored Xbox One Slim and the updated “Scorpio” model slated for 2017 are supposedly part of that plan, as was the cancelled Fable Legends game, which was slated to be one of the first titles to be playable across the Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs. Sea of Thieves and Halo Wars 2 will fill those shoes when released.
There’s a good chance we’ll hear more about the Project Helix initiative during Microsoft’s E3 2016 press event taking place next week. We’ve already heard about a few features that Anniversary Update will add to the Xbox One and Windows 10 PC next month, but we’re betting Microsoft left out the good stuff – the big gaming news, at least – for next week’s highly-anticipated press event.
