Xbox
Developer(s)Microsoft Gaming
Stable release
Windows 1048.55.30001.0 / August 1, 2019; 4 years ago (2019-08-01)
iOS1906.625.1605 / July 2, 2019; 4 years ago (2019-07-02)[1]
Android2001.0122.2248 / February 3, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-02-03)[2]
Preview release
Windows 1044.55.30001.0
Operating systemAndroid, iOS, Windows, Tizen
PredecessorXbox Games
Websitewww.xbox.com/xbox-app Edit this on Wikidata

The Xbox app is an app for Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11, Android, iOS and Tizen. It acts as a companion app for Xbox video game consoles, providing access to Xbox network community features, remote control, as well as second screen functionality (formerly branded as SmartGlass) with selected games, applications, and content.

On Windows 10, the app additionally serves as a launcher for PC games installed on a device (including games obtained from Microsoft Store, Bethesda.net, Battle.net, Steam, GOG.com, Epic Games Store, Humble Bundle, Origin and Ubisoft Connect), provided access to the system's screen recording functions, and streaming of games from an Xbox One console on a local network.

During E3 2019, the existing version of the Xbox app for Windows 10 was renamed Xbox Console Companion, and a new Xbox app was introduced in beta. This app is more specifically oriented towards PC gaming, serving as a front-end to games distributed on Microsoft Store, and as the client for PC Game Pass.

Features

Through the app, users can access their activity feed, Xbox Live friends and messages, manage their party, watch saved Game DVR clips, browse OneGuide, and view their achievements. Some games and apps can provide second screen integration via the app, displaying supplemental content. The app can also be used as a remote control for the console.[3][4]

The Windows 10 version of Xbox Console Companion allows users to stream games from an Xbox One console over a local network, and has the ability to view and edit Game DVR recordings from an Xbox One console. It also serves as a front-end for a PC version of Game DVR on supported hardware (Game DVR settings were moved to the Settings app on Windows 10 version 1703),[5] and has a library display for games installed on the device, such as those obtained via Microsoft Store, Bethesda.net, Battle.net, Steam, GOG.com, Epic Games Store, Humble Bundle, Origin and Ubisoft Connect.[6][7][8]

Support for Xbox Cloud Gaming as well as Remote Play from Xbox consoles was added to the app on September 14, 2021.[9]

History

The original logo of the Xbox One SmartGlass app

Xbox 360 SmartGlass was originally announced at E3 2012, for Windows 8, Android and iOS. Microsoft demonstrated use cases for the new app within both games and entertainment, including a minimap for Ascend: New Gods, a second screen experience for School of Rock with supplemental content, and Game of Thrones (with interactive maps and family tree diagrams).[10] With the release of Xbox One in November 2013, Microsoft released an accompanying Xbox One SmartGlass app for Android, iOS, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone, which contained more extensive functionality for controlling the console.[11][12]

Windows 10 introduced a revamped version of SmartGlass referred to simply as Xbox, which notably added a library display for PC games, and the ability to stream games from an Xbox One console on a local network.[13] On June 12, 2016, the mobile versions of the Xbox One Smartglass apps were updated for parity with the desktop version, and renamed "Xbox" as well.[14] Xbox 360 SmartGlass was not updated and was discontinued in May 2018.

The mobile apps were updated alongside the Xbox One's May 2019 software update, adding cross-platform status indicators to friends.[15] In May 2019, Microsoft also revamped the Xbox Game Bar feature of Windows 10 into a widget-based overlay, which features pop-up windows for features such as screen recording, managing audio inputs, viewing the Xbox Live friends list, and monitoring system components.[16]

On June 9, 2019, coinciding with Microsoft's E3 2019 press conference, Microsoft released a new Xbox app in beta exclusively for Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903), which has a redesigned interface, and serves as the client for Xbox Game Pass on PC.[17] In advance of the conference, Microsoft rebranded the existing Xbox app on Windows 10 as Xbox Console Companion.[18] The new Xbox app is pre-loaded software on Windows 11.[19][20]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Xbox". App Store. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Xbox - Apps on Google Play". Google Play. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  3. ^ "Xbox One's SmartGlass App Does Essential Stuff Your Xbox One Won't". Time. November 21, 2013.
  4. ^ Warren, Tom (2013-11-19). "Xbox One SmartGlass lets you snap apps from your phone or tablet". The Verge. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  5. ^ "Review: Windows 10 Creators Update is quite a small major update". Ars Technica. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  6. ^ "Xbox on Windows 10: social features, game DVR and more". Engadget. AOL. 21 January 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  7. ^ "Xbox app coming to Windows 10, Microsoft confirms". Polygon. Vox Media. 21 January 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  8. ^ "Windows 10 will let you stream Xbox One games to any Windows 10 PC or tablet". Polygon. Vox Media. 21 January 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  9. ^ Clark, Mitchell (September 14, 2021). "xCloud and Xbox Remote Play are officially available on Windows". The Verge. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  10. ^ Stein, Scott. "E3 2012: A closer look at Xbox SmartGlass". CNET. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  11. ^ "Microsoft releases SmartGlass Xbox One app for Android, iOS, Windows". PCWorld. 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  12. ^ Phillips, Tom (2013-11-19). "Microsoft releases Xbox One SmartGlass app". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  13. ^ Machkovech, Sam (2015-08-13). "Xbox on Windows 10: What it is, what it isn't, and what's missing [Updated]". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  14. ^ "New Xbox apps for iOS and Android look just like Windows 10". The Verge. Vox Media. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  15. ^ Bright, Peter (2019-05-17). "Xbox, PC get a little bit closer with the latest Xbox updates". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  16. ^ Warren, Tom (2019-05-22). "Microsoft's new Xbox Game Bar launches for Windows 10 as a useful overlay with widgets". The Verge. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  17. ^ Gaming, Darren Allan 2019-06-10T10:12:06Z (10 June 2019). "This is our first look at the new Xbox app on Windows 10". TechRadar. Retrieved 2019-06-10.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "Microsoft readies a renamed Xbox Console Companion app for Xbox management on Windows". PCWorld. 2019-06-04. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  19. ^ Sarkar, Samit (June 24, 2021). "Xbox Game Pass is built into Windows 11". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  20. ^ Machkovech, Sam (June 24, 2021). "DirectStorage on Windows 11: Next-gen gaming performance, with PC requirements". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.

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