What is the point of having a Xbox One?

"Why would a PC user want to access the XBL app if they don't own an Xbox?"

Because some games will have cross-platform play. Because they can text/voice chat with other people on their friends list regardless of platform. Because they can share achievements from PC games and Game DVR clips recorded in any PC game with the community.

I think some people are really missing the point of this, although that's not really surprising given the name. It's just like Xbox Music and Xbox Video. The names imply that those services are for Xbox users only, when they're not.

 

@Sigma

I'm still not getting it. I can share my Battle.net and Steam achievements with people on the Xbox? If you don't own a Xbox why would you have a Xbox friends list? I have friends/family than own Wii's but I have no idea what their user names are and would
have no desire to message/chat with them from my PC with a Wii app while they're gaming. I'd call, text, email.

Are we assuming this PC gamer is playing the app games from the Windows store so they would be getting achievements in some cases and possibly have a friends list (do those games access Live now?) If that's the case I guess it makes sense.

But for the PC gamers playing games on Steam, Blizzard, Desura or stand alone games I'm not seeing the upside for them still.

 

There are Windows 8 games that have achievements and leaderboards, but they're PC games. The same will be true of Windows 10.

It basically combines the functionality of the SmartGlass app and the Games app into one, adds universal Game DVR functionality so you can grab a clip from any game you're playing on PC and share it, plus there will be cross-platform PC/Xbox One games and
associated features that go with those (messaging/chat). Look at how many people share game clips on the Xbox One. There will be tons of people doing that with PC games too, as the ability to record is built into the OS, as is a means to share those clips
out to Live or other social networks.

As for cross-platform games, I expect we'll see quite a lot of them, at least, where it makes sense. I don't think a cross-platform FPS would work due to the advantage in aiming that you get with a mouse, but it would work fine for lots of games. MS have
said that they'll leave it up to developers. So, further down the line, if you're on PC you will be able to fire up the Xbox app, see if any of your friends are playing a particular cross-platform game - and it won't matter if they're playing on PC or Xbox
- and you can join their game right from there.

Your original comment was talking about PC gamers on the whole (again, lol). There will be some PC gamers who see absolutely no use for this at all, but there will be some who do. It combines the SmartGlass and Games apps into one nicer app, with more features,
more cross-platform functionality, and in time, cross-platform games.

 

It's just a social thing. Maybe some people do want to see the games their friends play on xbox/pc, maybe some people do want to chat/msg their friends family while they play pc/xbox. There is no bad side to it as I see it.

I'm sure to a lot of people it may seem point pointless but I'd imagine there are alot of people that will enjoy using it too.

 

I guess that's why I don't see any usefulness in it for me personally. I'm on 3 platforms and the vast majority of my friends are on a single platform, trying to keep track of people on one platform while on another.....way to much work.

@Sigma

We are going to see how well a cross platform shooter works. Tom Clancy's The Division rumored to be cross platform between PC, One, PS4. Console forums will be interesting if they use PC hit detection, I can see the rage threads now.

 

How did they handle cross-platform play with Shadowrun? I'm remembering through a haze I admit but didn't they 'nerf' keyboard and mouse so that it wasn't a whitewash?

As to the Xbox app, wouldn't it be handy if Microsoft could cut a deal to be able to see and message your Steam friends. Vis-versa from the Steam client.

 

@Vaynel

Shadowrun used console hit detection and basically as you moved your mouse you had the same sway I guess for lack of better term you get with a controller. I honestly think they would have to that with any cross platform shooter or the guys with the uber
gaming mice would have a huge advantage.

 

Thanks for the info. I thought my memory was playing tricks on me for a minute.

I suppose though that is going to have to be the compromise if people want cross-platform, One and PC, play. That or they would have to limit the cross-platform games to controller only.

 

I don't like PC gaming , never have. I'll stick with console gaming.

 

Really? That's the message you got out of it???

Sell Your Xbox and buy a PC. Really? Maybe you needed sub titles or something. I mean if you want to get PC to play games on it go for it. I really doubt Microsoft is trying to tell people to sell a system made by Microsoft and buy a computer made by someone
else and hope you pick Windows.

 

I'm not sure what isn't to like about PC gaming. You can set everything to update automatically if you want, game on your TV, and play with a controller. I can see how the initial purchase price would be off-putting though. My PC cost me near £1500 ($2263
USD), a touch more than the cost of a console

Well if you want to play games then you'll be at least dual-booting with Windows.

 

That's a good thing about Xbox 1. In NZ, Xbox 1 with Kinect is RRP$749 but some authorized retailers, in particular JB Hi Fi, are selling it for $699. In the US, Kinect with Xbox 1 RRP is $499. Name me a PC which sells for US$499 from a reputable site/company/authorized
retailer which has 8GB DDR3 RAM, and the power of an AMD Jaguar 8 core APU. You generally only get low end PC's with like 2 or 4GB RAM at that price range. It also has to have all the features that the Xbox 1 console has. And when Windows 10 comes out late
this year (expected), HP in NZ is likely to keep the average sells for a new PC around NZ$1,000. Gaming PC's usually are about NZ $2999+ with 8 or 16GB RAM. Where as a good 4GB RAM PC intel core i5/i7 or AMD processor, sells for about NZ$799-$1099 or more
depending on the retailer and model. The NZ dollar is weaker than the Australian.

 

@Smiles

In the US companies like Cyberpower and Cybertron build budget PC's and even the less than 500 dollar range ones have 8gb ram.

There is a myth that PC gaming is still as expensive as it was in the past. Vaynel and I may be running rigs that cost in the thousands but even for most of what I do it's overkill. In my 20 plus years of building PC's I've developed an expensive habit of
upgrading simply because I can rather then needing to. Any gamer can become a PC gamer for not much more than it cost to be a console gamer and the savings on games will actually make PC gaming cheaper in the long run.

 

OP you are streaming in most games. I don't think all games will cross played. If anything could happen. This be a good thing if you go after achievement. You not just awarded a achievement onues. But twiest. But that if it owned list of achievements.

 

My pc cost over £1000 gaming pn it is great but I love the fact I can slob about on my sofa or bed and play a console