Skip to main content

Xbox One YouTube app finishes buffering, will be live for the console launch

microsofts xbox one promo campaign youtube raises important disclosure questions app
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The official YouTube app is now live in the Xbox One store, the streaming video site’s blog revealed (and we can independently confirm). Microsoft’s new console launches on November 22, 2013, at midnight – also known as this very evening – and YouTube will be ready and waiting for those who wish to stream adorable puppy feeds and stupid human tricks through their video game machine.

The free-to-download app supports voice commands that start with the prompt “YouTube,” and end with whichever onscreen command you want to select. It’s a lot like the Kinect-powered Xbox One voice commands, which amount to “Xbox, [perform function].” The YouTube app is a bit more limited in its launch form, however; for example, you can say “YouTube, search” to call up the search option, but you’ll have to manually type in whatever you’re looking for using a controller or paired device. This is separate from SmartGlass; the Xbox One SmartGlass keyboard doesn’t appear to work in the YouTube app, so you’ll need to pair a device specifically for that using the (admittedly easy) in-app instructions.

The app also supports gesture controls, though you’ll need enough space between yourself and Kinect to actually take advantage of that feature. New York City apartments do not afford us that luxury.

The app is a solid start, with a simple, easy to process layout built around a vertically oriented menu that lists the various categories. Choose one and you get a horizontally oriented listing of recommended videos right next to the category list. Imagine the PlayStation 3’s XMB dashboard, then flip it 90 degrees. That’s how the YouTube app looks. You can also sign into your personal account to access subscriptions and the like. The streams look great and automatically notch up to HD in our own testing environment, though your own Internet bandwidth mileage may vary.

Editors' Recommendations

Adam Rosenberg
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…
How to sync an Xbox One controller with your console
Xbox X Controller.

Making your Xbox One controllers work with your game console is a little different than just plugging them in, like in the old days. Luckily, console makers have made syncing wireless controllers relatively easy.

Read more
The best Xbox One headsets for 2022
Person wearing Turtle Beach headset.

The Xbox One has an amazing array of multiplayer games, but a multiplayer gamer is only as good as its headset. Having a good gaming headset can be the difference between life and (virtual) death in most multiplayer games. Quality headsets can help you hear footsteps behind you, call out instructions to teammates, and even point out locations of enemies. Not hearing a teammate can destroy a winning streak.

We've compiled a list of the best wired and wireless gaming headsets. Our choices below are based on sound quality, comfort, and cost. The Astro Gaming A50 is a high-quality headset that has everything to offer, including Dolby Digital surround sound. These picks are also a worthy choice for the Xbox Series X|S for the time being as we wait for more next-gen optimized headsets.

Read more
The best horror games for the Xbox One
blair witch review game 1

The horror genre in gaming is unlike any other. While most genres cater to power fantasies or letting us live out adventures and experiences we want to but otherwise never could, horror games almost take the opposite approach. More often than not, horror games put us in uncomfortable, underpowered, and disturbing situations where we are prey to a greater force. That makes the genre a very difficult one to get right. They need to give you just enough tools to feel like you have a slim chance of making it through, creature and monster designs that aren't cliché or cheesy, and a story that makes you want to keep going even when you're afraid.

Halloween is the prime time for horror, gaming included, but that's no reason to restrict yourself from playing them any other time of year. The Xbox One has arguably the largest library of quality horror titles for you to dive into with a strong lineup, and also thanks to drawing from the previous generation and backwards compatibility. There are a lot of different types of horror games out there, and each tries to scare you in different ways. If you're looking for the best horror experiences you can get on the Xbox One, this list has the ones guaranteed to give you nightmares.

Read more