Xbox One New Home Page Adds 'Faster, Intuitive Guide' and Beam Live Streaming
Microsoft just released an update for its Xbox One system that revamped the console's home page and added new features, such as a "faster and more intuitive Guide" and a connection to Beam's streaming platform.
To preview the changes and additions for Xbox One, Microsoft has also released a walkthrough video with Xbox Live head Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb discussing what goes on to the recent Xbox One update.
In the video, Major Nelson discussed the changes to be expected with the addition of the Beam service, saying, "Beam is an innovative and interactive live streaming service that gives viewers the ability to watch and play along with their favorite streamers in mere real time." He added that Beam has been designed so "viewers and streamers can interact almost instantly."
Along with the addition of the Beam live streaming platform, Microsoft has also updated the side-panel guide found on the Xbox One home page. Players will now only have to press the Xbox button on their controllers to trigger the Guide.
According to a post made on the Xbox website, opening the Guide will direct players to tabs that Microsoft deems are mostly opened and needed by players such as Games and Apps, Home, Store, and recently opened applications, and even the latest deals and freebies for players subscribed on Xbox Live Gold.
As for the Xbox One home page, Microsoft redesigned it to let players have a simpler user interface that is easy to navigate and will help boost the system's overall performance. With the update, game icons were made smaller, players will the option to communicate with their Club, and view Achievements right from the home page.
"To simplify discoverability and to make it easier to get to the things you care about most, our multitasking features were designed with the new Guide in mind," Microsoft explained in the post on its Xbox website, as it talked about the additional features that enhance multitasking abilities on Xbox One.
While the Beam service is now up on Xbox One, Windows PC gamers will get the same platform on April 11 along with other updates and additional features.