On 6 december, the Xbox 360 update. The interface of the game console is getting a new look that fits in perfectly with the style of Windows 8 and Windows Phone. The update also includes further integration with social media.
The Xbox 360 will from 6 december the Metro interface, which Microsoft also uses for Windows 8 and Windows Phone. Microsoft also has the integration with Kinect is improved, so that the motion sensor can be used to menus and topics to select. Especially the voice recognition is improved.
Further, Microsoft has been working on integration with social media. So, players can use Beacons to indicate that they have a certain game and want to play. Friends on Xbox Live and Facebook may that Beacon to see, and then play along. In addition, Facebook Sharing is introduced, which makes it possible to Achievements in games on the social networking site.
Microsoft is looking for with the new update the ‘cloud’. Who is a paid Gold account on Xbox Live, savegames now store it online. It is also possible to see the whole profile of a player online store, which allows players so a Roaming Profile, such as Microsoft calls it. Not only data of the player stored, but also savegames and the friends list. Roaming Profiles make it possible to have a profile on another Xbox to use. It was already possible to have profiles on other consoles, but then had to each time a cumbersome recovery procedure has to be followed.