We’ve reached the Gamerscom stage of the bustling list of exhibitions and conferences in the gaming calendar, and Microsoft has taken the opportunity of the occasion to outline a particularly exciting update for Xbox One owners. Pretty soon, early adopters of the new-ish console will be able to stream TV directly to their smartphone or tablet, adding yet another feature to the already expansive list of entertainment-specific perks.
Last year, Microsoft waited until just before the E3 expo to finally unveil its answer to February’s announcement of the Sony PlayStation 4, and it was much to the bemusement of the hardcore gaming faithful that the Redmond tech giant spent a good portion of that time waxing lyrical about the numerous entertainment-related features. Many left the subsequent showcasing at E3 wondering whether Microsoft was actually creating a games console or a set-top box, but while the release of Titanfall in particular has brought many gaming purists back onside, the Windows maker’s determination to seize control of the living room has not petered out all that much.
At its Gamerscom press event, Microsoft outlined a number of enhancements relating to the non-gaming side of the bargain, noting that in a software update headed in the near future, Xbox One users will be able to stream TV directly to their SmartGlass-enabled smartphone or tablet.
The SmartGlass companion app, which is available on iOS, Android and, of course, Microsoft’s own Windows Phone platform, has become an increasingly integral part of the Xbox experience in recent times, and provided the Xbox One and mobile device are hooked up the same home network, TV content will beam directly from the entertainment system.
Having just taken the wraps off the Digital TV Tuner, which will launch in October at the cost of $40, it’s clear that Microsoft is making a concerted push in this field, although if you’re a Stateside consumer, you may have to wait a little longer for both the TV Tuner peripheral and the streaming feature. Last week’s announcement of the TV Tuner noted that it would be available across several European nations, and naturally, the stream TV update will initially roll out to those countries.
The full list of features announced are as follows:
We’ll be keeping an eye out for specifics on the TV-related updates, as well as any news on a U.S. release, so stay tuned!
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