GameDVR and other Xbox One features confirmed for Windows 10’s Xbox app

By Adam Rosenberg Published January 21, 2015

gamedvr xbox one features confirmed windows 10s app win10 devices print — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft’s big Windows 10 reveal is over, and there’s a big, new feature that fans of video games might be interested in: A full-fledged Xbox app.

Accessible from Windows 10’s newly refreshed Start menu, the Xbox app ropes in an assortment of features including with Microsoft’s latest console. The biggest of those is GameDVR, the XB1 feature that automatically records gameplay as it’s happening, allowing users to pause, go back, and save the last chunk of recently played footage with a few button presses.

Recommended Videos

It’s much the same situation on Windows 10 via the Xbox app. According to Xbox head Phil Spencer, Windows 10 allows players to save the previous 30 seconds of action using the Windows + G command to bring up a menu that captures and stores the clip, similar to the way XB1’s “Xbox, record that” command works.

Unlike the just-announced Xbox One game streaming support on Windows 10 devices, the PC operating system’s GameDVR works with all titles, new or old, regardless of their originating platform. Spencer showed off an example from Civilization: Beyond Earth running in Steam.

There’s likely more to GameDVR than Spencer shared. The menu summoned to the screen with the Windows + G command included more options than were highlighted. Expect more details on this and Win 10’s other new gaming features to be revealed at the annual Game Developer’s Conference in March 2015.

Overall, the Xbox app seems similar in a lot of ways to SmartGlass, the second-screen mobile app that pairs an Xbox One with your device of choice. Through the Win 10 app, users can access to basic features like Friends list, Achievements, and more.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

Gaming

Xbox Game Pass is getting tons of new games following Black Ops 6 success

A cockpit view in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

We know a lot of you are playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Xbox right now, but the company just announced some games coming to Xbox Game Pass -- specifically the Game Pass Standard tier -- in the first half of November.

The biggest game coming to the service (and we mean that literally) is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Xbox and developers Asobo Studio previously reported that it will have a smaller install size than its predecessor -- 127GB versus 157GB -- but it'll also require 64GB of RAM. All of this is to help stream immense detail to the player as they fly around the world. Asobo says helped it to increase "the detail of its virtual environment by a factor of 4,000." Alongside the hyperrealistic graphics is a new career mode where you go through training and missions to become a pilot and a challenge mode where you compete against other pilots. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is coming to Game Pass at launch on November 19.

Gaming

3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (November 1-3)

xbox game pass recommendations november 1 throne and liberty

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was a monumental addition to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate last week, so no week of additions to the service will live up to that for a while. Still, that didn't stop some more games from trickling onto Microsoft's subscription service in the wake of the latest Call of Duty. In fact, the games that came to the service were quite good. If you're wondering what you should be checking out next as a Game Pass subscriber after you're done with Black Ops 6, consider trying one of these games.
Ashen
ASHEN | Gamescom 2018 Gameplay

In July, A44 released Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, and it was part of Xbox Game Pass from day one. Now, the studio has brought its previous Soulslike to the subscription service. Originally released in 2018, Ashen stood out from the crowd at the time thanks to its distinct, grayish cel-shaded look and open-world design years before Elden Ring came out. Ashen still stands as one of the best indie Soulslikes ever released, so those who have never played it before should give it a shot now that it's on Xbox Game Pass. It'll also make for an enjoyable Game Pass Soulslike double-feature with Flintlock.

Gaming

Best gaming console deals: cheapest prices on PS5, Xbox S and X and Switch

father and son playing video games

While gaming PCs are great, if you're the type of person who wants a more plug and play experience and to sit at the TV, then a PS5 or Xbox makes a lot of sense. That said, there aren't a ton of great deals on the consoles themselves right now, although there are still quite a few good bundle deals that are worth grabbing. To that end, we've gone out and collected our favorite Series S and X deals, PlayStation 5 deals, and Nintendo Switch deals, so you can pick whichever one sparks your fancy.
Xbox Series S 1TB + 1TB Storage Expansion Card -- $450 $500 10% off

The Xbox Series S is the less powerful but cheaper option out of the newest generation Xbox line. When comparing the Xbox Series S versus the Xbox Series X, the Series S takes a hit in all the component categories. That means it's not quite as fast. But if you're not hung up on getting the optimal performance out of your system, you'll actually notice very few differences. The two biggest ones are the Series S's inability to play in 8K, and its lack of a disc drive. Most people don't even have 8K TVs, so that shouldn't be an issue. If you're alright with downloading all of your games straight to the console's memory (and you have a separate DVD or Blu-Ray player), the Series S will work fine. It's quite a bit smaller anyway, and easier to fit on a shelf.