Xbox One Essentials: All You Need to Know

We've taken a closer look at what the Xbox One offers as it launches this week. The first part of our analysis focuses on hardware and services, while we'll dive into the software for launch and beyond with a separate piece later this week.

The Xbox One was officially announced back in May (a few months after Sony unveiled PlayStation 4) and the event was met with mixed reactions. Prior to the announcement rumours of an "always on" console had been flying around and when Microsoft confirmed that they would practically do away with ownership of games by introducing a license system across digital as well as physical games, it was met with huge resistance. It wasn't until after E3 that Microsoft reversed that decision, along with a few other minor adjustments.

It's been a rocky six months from announcement leading up to launch, and Microsoft have been forced to change parts of their vision. Family sharing won't be there on day one, however we're expecting to see it some form of it in the future. One positive is news that after going online with your Xbox One once, there is no further online requirement and your games will work offline.

Hardware Specifications

The Xbox One comes packing an eight-core AMD processor, clocked at 1.75 GHz, making it particularly suited to multitasking. Alongside that there's 8GB of DDR3 RAM, an additional 32 MB of eSRAM embedded in the memory subsystem, and 8GB of flash memory. The Xbox One's GPU is, like the CPU, AMD tech. It'll feature 12 compute units, with a total of 768 cores, clocked at 853 MHz.

This time around Microsoft are jumping on the Blu-Ray bandwagon (after they backed the ill-fated HD DVD's last time around), and all consoles will come equipped with a 500 GB hard drive. There'll be USB 3.0, HDMI input and output (but not composite or component), and you'll be able to connect to the net via either ethernet cable, 802.11n wireless, or Wi-Fi Direct.

Launch Details

Friday November 22 is the date when Xbox One hits store shelves in 13 selected countries and regions around the world (UK included). It was originally planned to be released in an initial 21 territories, but 8 were delayed until 2014. One interesting thing to note is that Microsoft have created a special limited Day One edition of the console that comes with a specially designed controller and some exclusive digital goodies. The Day One editions appear in bundles with Forza Motorsport 5 and FIFA 14, although getting your hands on either could prove hard with most retailers already having sold out their allotment.

The future doesn't come cheap as evident by the £429.99 price tag, that includes the Kinect camera and one controller. We'll have more on the launch line-up in a separate piece, but suffice to say there is plenty to be excited about even with Watch Dogs slipping.

Interface and Online Service

Microsoft has talked a lot about their improvements to the user interface. How you can quickly move between various applications - TV, games, Skype, etc - and how voice control will further facilitate this.

Xbox Live has been the backbone of the Microsoft's Xbox division for many years providing Xbox gamers with an online service that outclasses the competition. Of course, that comes at a cost and the full Xbox Live experience will remain a paid for subscription this generation. Expect more services and partnerships to roll out on Xbox Live as Xbox One clearly targets the position of livingroom media hub.

Increased cloud features that not only allow for storage, but actually will help further the gaming experience (as in the case of Forza Motorsport 5's Drivatar system) are also part of the Xbox One online infrastructure. For the future Microsoft are also looking at features similar to those Sony teased at the PS4 unveiling such as playing games while they're being downloaded and streaming. There is also potential for moving some of the processing to the cloud, but that is not something we're likely to see in the immediate future.

Another big part of the interface is Smartglass, something Microsoft tested the waters with on Xbox 360, but that will be fully explored with Xbox One. Adding a second screen into the equation is something that developers are clearly looking to exploit and it will likely play an increasingly large role as the generation matures.

Controller

Much like Xbox One comes across as a refined and improved version of Microsoft's vision for Xbox 360, the new controller comes across as a refined version of the often praised Xbox 360 controller. According to Microsoft there are 44 (we haven't counted them) improvements or new features, but the one thing that immediately struck us was that it was ever so slightly smaller. Still, it sits really well in your hands. The second most significant thing we experienced were the vibration motors that have been added to the triggers to allow for more precise feedback.

One area that troubled us was the bumpers. They are a bit too rigid and the plastic feel is not one that oozes of quality. One slightly weird thing of note is that Xbox One allows for 8 controllers to be connected with the console allowing for 8 player local play. The controller retails for £44.99 without a play and charge kit.

For more on the controller, read our Hands-On Impressions.

Peripherals

One thing the Xbox One has that the competition doesn't is Kinect. For better or worse perhaps. While Kinect was an immediate commercial success when launched for Xbox 360 in 2010, it hasn't really given us plenty to share about as far as games go. The new Kinect - included with all consoles - doesn't have to be turned on at all times (even if leaving it plugged in will allow for some neat voice features) unlike what was first reported - and will allow for more exact tracking and will work in less spacious living room configurations. One of the neater features is that the new Kinect will be able to identify individuals and automatically match their Xbox Live gamertag with the controller they're holding.

There are plenty of third-party peripherals planned for Xbox One including headsets from Turtle Beach, but these won't hit store shelves until sometime early next year as an adapter is required for third-party headsets. This adapter will also allow for current-gen headsets to be used with Xbox One.

Naturally given that Forza Motorsport 5 is one of the key launch titles there will be racing wheels for Xbox One provided by Mad Catz and Thrustmaster. The second one retails for as much as a PlayStation 4 and your old racing wheels for Xbox 360 (no matter how pricey) won't be compatible.

For more on Kinect (and some additional thoughts on the controller), read our Hands-On Impressions

Competition

It's hard to look past the obvious duel with PlayStation 4. Both consoles arrive within a week of each other, and they are fairly comparable in terms of hardware strength. They are largely extensions of their previous iterations and the majority of third party releases will hit both platforms. They are clearly competing for the same category of gamers.

Less obvious competition comes from PC and the upcoming Steam Machines, that are going to be far more powerful and thus appeal to the most hardcore gamers. Then there's Wii U that has been struggling, but could potentially rob Microsoft of a casual audience in a similar manner that Wii did. It may not be a huge factor at launch, but after a couple of years on the market you want to be an appealing proposition to mums and dads as well as their teenage sons and daughters. The inclusion of Kinect with every console could be seen as an early move to ensure the console has a family friendly image from day one.

Even less obvious competition comes from the wave of cheap Android-based consoles and the rumoured Amazon console. We have yet to see this segment take off, but if successful they could eat away at a substantial part of the market.

Outlook

Microsoft certainly haven't had a smooth ride leading up to launch. Nevertheless pre-order numbers seem high in their key markets - North America and UK - while it will likely struggle elsewhere as mainland Europe appears to favour PlayStation 4. Microsoft have been aggressive in locking down third party exclusive such as Titanfall and Dead Rising 3, and as always software will play a key part in deciding the outcome of the next generation. The price point may be seen as a barrier, but we fully suspect that Microsoft will adjust quickly should it become a major issue.

Further Reading & Looking Back

We look at the launch titles coming in Xbox One Essentials: The Games.

GAME's next-gen bundles outed.

Xbox One DRM fears return.

Xbox One does "very little" without Day One Update.

Fresh images from Ryse: Son of Rome.

Xbox One Apps unveiled.

Dead Rising 3 screen gallery.

Ryse launching without some features.

B3 maps coming to Battlefield 4 on Xbox One first.

Rubin on Ghosts at 720p, Titanfall also at same resolution.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes details.

EA Sports UFC rendered in 1080p.

Peggle 2 won't make the Xbox One launch.

Kinect privacy policy explained.

New characters for Killer Instinct revealed.

Ryse: Son of Rome live action series confirmed.

Call of Duty: Ghosts not Full HD on Xbox One.

Titanfall to remain Xbox only.

There's 36 endings for The Witcher 3.

15+ Frostbite 3 games in development.

EA Sports on next-gen FIFA.

Destiny beta planned for early next year.

The cars of Forza 5.

The story of Ryse: Son of Rome.

Watch Dogs pushed back to 2014.

Spencer: cross play "makes a lot of sense".

The Crew and the science of fun.

Injustice heading to PS4 but not Xbox One.

Sunset Overdrive to remain Xbox exclusive.

Deus Ex on next-gen confirmed.

Looking back even further: After the console was announced, Microsoft made a few bold promises about how they were going to change things up, with new policies on trade-in games, connectivity, and privacy. However, their proposed new plans didn't go down well with the community (not helped by the fact that Sony stuck to the original formula, creating a groundswell of enthusiasm around PS4). This prompted Microsoft's famed 180 U-turn, where they reversed many of their original policies.

Xbox One was delayed in eight territories, plus here's an explanation. One idea that was cancelled in the U-turn - Family Sharing - might make a return in the future.

Xbox One is not meant to stand vertically. Cloud could potentially mimic Gaikai. Kinect policy shift. Several Xbox One features exclusive to Xbox Live Gold.

You can play Xbox One games while they download. Indie devs to get two Xbox One units. MS explains why they don't have a headset bundled in with the console. License refresh is kilobytes, not megabytes.