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[SPDIF]

This is originally from Dual Shockers.com. I wouldn't normally copy and paste an entire article, but since this website is banned I don't think I have much of a choice. I've highlighted what I feel are some of the more important points.

Today Microsoft held a panel at Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Which DualShockers attended. During the panel, Microsoft’s Jason Ronald gave an overview on what the future of game development on Windows and Xbox looks like:

•Xbox live active users are now over 48 million.
•DirectX 12 is helping to “push the limits of visual quality and performance” on Xbox One, thanks to the collaboration of early adopters among developers.
•The goal of the Universal Windows Platform is to make it easier for developers to to make their games where their players want to play.
•If developers want to make games only for the console, Microsoft will continue to support that.
•Moving forward, Universal Windows Platforms will support devices that haven’t even been released yet, like Internet of Things devices, HoloLens and more.
•Rise of the Tomb Raider and Gears of War Ultimate Edition are the first wave of Universal Windows Platform titles. Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition and Quantum Break are considered the second wave, alongside many more in currently active development.
•Microsoft is “fully committed” to making Universal Windows Platform the “greatest platform for game developers.”
•The API surface area for game scenarios has been expanded to make sure that game developers don’t have to do “unnatural things to take advantage of the platform.”
•The packaging and ingestion process for triple-A games has been improved, since there are very different problems in shipping a 50 megabytes smartphone app and a AAA title that weighs 80 gigabytes. Microsoft has spent a lot of effort in improving that experience.
•Microsoft continues to work with middleware providers to give developers all the tools and support they need when they work on Windows.
•The company is listening to feedback from developers and gamers, and and it directly influences the roadmap for improvement.
•The ability to disable V-sync will be implemented later this year, alongside support for G-Sync and freesync. Those features are being tested right now by Microsoft’s first party studios.
•UWP app support will be implemented on Xbox One in summer 2016. Developers that are writing an UWP app on Windows 10 today can be confident that it will run on Xbox One. The vast majority of the code is directly portable across devices, leaving developers time to optimize the code for the unique capabilities and control schemes of each device.
•A lot more announcements about the UWP roadmap and the future of UWP will come at Build between March 30th and April 1st. All the content will be livestreamed.
•DirectX 12 reduces CPU overhead significantly compared to DirectX 11, offering up to 50% CPU and 20% GPU performance gains on existing PC hardware.
•Star Wars: Battlefront is the first DirectX 12 title on Xbox One.
•Microsoft wants to make sure to drive improvements in the PC DirectX 12 drivers thanks to a deep partnership with Nvidia, AMD and Intel.
•Multi-GPU setups are fully supported, both for traditional SLI and Crossfire with arrays of the same GPU, and unlinked setup with different GPUs, that wasn’t available before. If you have an integrated GPU DirectX 12 can take advantage of it to get more performance out of your PC.
•Gears of War: Ultimate Edition will get an update soon adding support for multi-GPU.
•A new and improved shader compiler and Shader Model 6 are coming.
•Performance monitoring tools that are now available for Xbox will be made available for PC developers. The best performance tools will be made available across all platforms. In the future, if any improvement is made to those tools for one platform, it will apply to all.
•Support for High Dynamic Range and Wide Color Gamut will be implemented, allowing for an improvement in detail “arguably more impactful than raw resilution itself.” If a game uses phisically based rendering, high dynamic range support can be added with a “very minimal engineering cost.” That’s because PBR already generates most of the data necessary for HDR.
•A developer preview of HDR support for Windows 10 will be available later this year.
•Microsoft’s goal is to provide a single tool chain for developers regardless of the target platform, PC or console.
•An universal development center will be implemented, providing developers with a single path to submit their games regardless of the platform they target.
•Microsoft “strongly recommends” moving development to Windows 10, but will also continue to support Windows 8.1. The company understand that there is a significant IT cost for large studios to completely move over to Winows 10.
•The Xbox and Windows stores will be merged later this year, bringing features from the Xbox store to the Windows store as well, including DLC support, bundles, subscriptions, pre-orders and flexible platforms.
•Xbox Live is seen as the “connective tissue of a cross-device gaming ecosystem.”
•Microsoft is making a significant investment in increasing reliability and availability of Xbox Live. It’s “critical” for Microsoft to make sure that the service is always up and running with all of its features.
•The company is focusing on making Xbox Live integration easier for developers.
•New features are being implemented, like tools to drive engagement, retention and monetization, and cross-network gameplay support.
•Microsoft will implement a Xbox Live Tournaments Platform for competitive gaming and eSports.
•The house of Xbox is working with eSports industry leaders in order to learn from their experience and understand what makes eSports compelling for players of all different skill levels.
•Microsoft wants to make sure that its offering is “the home of the best competitive gaming ecosystem.”
•It will be easy for developer to integrate support for tournaments in their games, taking advantage of Xbox Live.
•Developers can create a single tournament integration in their game, and support multiple tournament operators with it. They can also create their custom tournaments.
•For this new platform, Microsoft is initially partnering with Faceit and ESL.
•A preview SDK of the tournament platform is available for developers today. The first titles supporting the platform will launch later this year. More announcements on what these games are will come at a later time.
•ID@Xbox now includes over 1,400 developers. Over 200 titles have been shipped and many more are coming.
•Microsoft made the following commitments to its game development partners: ◦Provide the best platform and services for both developers and gamers.
◦Enable partners to target the largest gaming ecosystem in the industry.
◦Continue to provide the most passionate and engaged gaming community.
◦Unify the developer and customer experience across console and PC.
◦Deliver the most efficient, powerful and easy to use game development tools, allowing developers to focus on making their games great and fun.
◦Listen and respond to feedback from the development community.
•If a developer wants to make a console only experience, that’s great and Microsoft will love to have them on the platform. If they want to make it PC only, that’s great as well. Yet, there are many gamers that have both platforms, and Microsoft wants to give developers the ability to target both at the same time.

 

[Figments]

As I said in the other thread, as long as their words are put into execution, it looks good.

 

[Abriael]

This is originally from Dual Shockers.com. I wouldn't normally copy and paste an entire article, but since this website is banned I don't think I have much of a choice. I've highlighted what I feel are some of the more important points.

You're welcome

 

[Poodlestrike]

Bullet points sound good, the key is the execution.

 

[vasametropolis]

Lot of good info in there. If they keep improving the things that devs and gamers hate they will get some favour. I think it's important they let UWAs run outside the Windows store to be sold on competing platforms. If devs can automatically support Windows store without losing out on the rest of the market I think they'll bite. I think people are worried about getting locked into Windows again though... devs will want to support Vulkan and if UWP doesn't let them co-develop for another platform simultaneously (easily) they may have a problem.

 

[Vashetti]

As I said in the other thread, as long as their words are put into execution, it looks good.

Bullet points sound good, the key is the execution.

Yup, all sounds great. Hopefully they follow through

 

[Jrs3000]

Finally someone made the thread for this. This site isn't banned and talks a little about it too just to have a non banned site confirming as well:

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/ga...-to-unify-windows-10-pcs-and-xbox-one-1317085

 

[gabbo]

Would really like to see them follow through on these, and also some of the things GAF discussed for the store that aren't mentioned.

 

[timlot]

A lot of good features in that list. I'll just add I don't understand why dualshockers is a banned site. They seem to pretty informative and unbiased.

 

[PG2G]

Anyone know if UWP supports VR? Would be interesting to see a future Xbox just piggy back on Oculus Rift or Vive. Gives those headsets much more value if you can use them on multiple devices as well.

 

[Cynn]

Microsoft is here to kick some ass it seems. Very exciting stuff!

Anyone know if UWP supports VR? Would be interesting to see a future Xbox just piggy back on Oculus Rift or Vive. Gives those headsets much more value if you can use them on multiple devices as well.

I've been posting my own speculation (or is it hopefulness) that MS will partner with Oculus for VR and find a way to make it work on Xbox. Perhaps the new, more powerful Xbox Ones that are rumored have been designed to support VR. Phil said newer boxes would exist NOT to be yearly updates but to embrace innovation as it comes. I heard that as "We need an Xbox One that can support the full Rift experience."

 

[Segaswirl]

Is Star Wars Battlefront using DirectX 12 just now on the X1 or is it going to get patched with it?

A DX12 game at 720p seems pretty disappointing. Not bashing the X1 or anything, it's my main console of choice this gen... but still...

 

[Chris1]

•The Xbox and Windows stores will be merged later this year, bringing features from the Xbox store to the Windows store as well, including DLC support, bundles, subscriptions, pre-orders and flexible platforms.


Does that mean you'll be able to buy XBL subs with gift cards?

Not sure I like the sound of that though the windows store is horrible, it's worse than the current xbox one store somehow.

 

[Disaster Nebraska]

Lots of good promises in there. Now all they have to do is deliver.

 

[Cynn]

Is Star Wars Battlefront using DirectX 12 just now on the X1 or is it going to get patched with it?

A DX12 game at 720p seems pretty disappointing. Not bashing the X1 or anything, it's my main console of choice this gen... but still...

I agree. Seems really odd to use that as your example unless it was being updated at minimum to match the 900p PS4 version. Otherwise people are going to be quick to point out its 720p handicap.

 

[Head.spawn]

•Microsoft is making a significant investment in increasing reliability and availability of Xbox Live. It’s “critical” for Microsoft to make sure that the service is always up and running with all of its features.

Xbox Live upgrade? If they can find a way to mitigate downtime because of ddos kids, that'd be great.

 

[ShutterMunster]

Proper HDR support has me jazzed. MY EYEBALLS ARE READY!

 

[RowdyReverb]

The Xbox and Windows stores will be merged later this year, bringing features from the Xbox store to the Windows store as well, including DLC support, bundles, subscriptions, pre-orders and flexible platforms.

I'm really interested to see what this looks like.

 

[madjoki]

Sounds good. But it's one thing to say and another to follow up on it.

•The Xbox and Windows stores will be merged later this year, bringing features from the Xbox store to the Windows store as well, including DLC support, bundles, subscriptions, pre-orders and flexible platforms.

Cross-buy would be nice too.

Is Star Wars Battlefront using DirectX 12 just now on the X1 or is it going to get patched with it?

A DX12 game at 720p seems pretty disappointing. Not bashing the X1 or anything, it's my main console of choice this gen... but still...

It says "will be" implying it's not. But don't expect a magic bullet. It haven't improved much on PC and Xbox's current graphic's api is already to the metal, which is main improvement of DX12 over DX11.

 

[LCGeek]

Then if MS means talk for the sake of either platforms and gamers make a low level windows os without the bloat, real buffer bloat fixes, and finally fix your kernel sync issues driver/bios/chipset/os that keep stuttering issue at play.

Linux is hollering MS it's says a good way out of a problem and all you have to do is swallow your pride. You made big moves with sql and crossplay now is the time to unite the kingdoms. There are no other moves to what I mentioned. You can fix bufferbloat you can't fix stuttering without a whole new kernel. Just make it MS you can charge for linux and people would pay for a proper way and bc. Do you smell it, I do profit and better performance. Only idiots say you have to leave windows, I'm saying you can have both and beat valve to the punch.

Damn the weed is good tonight....

 

[JaggedSac]

I'm really interested to see what this looks like.

Yeah, hopefully this makes crossbuy more standard.

Then if MS means talk for the sake of either platforms and gamers make a low level windows os without the bloat, real buffer bloat fixes, and finally fix your kernel sync issues driver/bios/chipset/os that keep stuttering issue at play.

Linux is hollering MS it's says a good way out of a problem and all you have to do is swallow your pride. You made big moves with sql and crossplay now is the time to unite the kingdoms. There are no other moves to what I mentioned. You can fix bufferbloat you can't fix stuttering without a whole new kernel. Just make it MS you can charge for linux and people would pay for a proper way and bc. Do you smell it, I do profit and better performance. Only idiots say you have to leave windows, I'm saying you can have both and beat valve to the punch.

Damn the weed is good tonight....

Pass that shit around

 

[Bizzquik]

Lots of good promises in there. Now all they have to do is deliver.

Just thinking the same thing.
Microsoft has been in the news recently for nice-sounding, broad statements....and horrifically bad fine print.
...Tell me when UWP enables full mod support and injection.

 

[Zuzzissm0]

Is Star Wars Battlefront using DirectX 12 just now on the X1 or is it going to get patched with it?

A DX12 game at 720p seems pretty disappointing. Not bashing the X1 or anything, it's my main console of choice this gen... but still...

exactaly what i thouhgt

 

[onQ123]

•If developers want to make games only for the console, Microsoft will continue to support that.

•UWP app support will be implemented on Xbox One in summer 2016. Developers that are writing an UWP app on Windows 10 today can be confident that it will run on Xbox One. The vast majority of the code is directly portable across devices, leaving developers time to optimize the code for the unique capabilities and control schemes of each device.

•The Xbox and Windows stores will be merged later this year, bringing features from the Xbox store to the Windows store as well, including DLC support, bundles, subscriptions, pre-orders and flexible platforms.

Translation: "Y'all can stick around & make Xbox One games if you want but we are out of this bitch & if you're smart you'll come with us to the Windows 10 walled garden , we got Xbox Live , DLC & all that good stuff you love about developing for Xbox but now it's on all Windows devices, speaking of Windows devices that's what the Xbox One is now"

 

[nillapuddin]

By 2018 every "Xbox" game is developed and delivered in UWP wrapper, available to be played interchangeably on W10 desktop and "Xbox Console"

I can imagine that a group of friends will be playing Battlefield ?? together in a party, half of them on a traditional Xbox console and half of them on a desktop computer

 

[SwiftDeath]

•Xbox Live is seen as the “connective tissue of a cross-device gaming ecosystem.”

I'm still not sure how to interpret what MS views Xbox Live means for PC ports/games. It sounds more then just you have to use MS's server network [Assuming it means that too?]

Do you have to have an XBL account? No way they'd try to make PC gamers pay for XBL though so just like a silver account?

 

[Movalpolos]

Looking forward to seeing what transpires.

 

[Locuza]

This is huge:

•A new and improved shader compiler and Shader Model 6 are coming.

DX12 didn't brought any shader improvements and the whole HLSL-Stuff is incredible old.
I hope the update will be really great.

 

[Obliterator]

The fact MS are Livestreaming Build and say the future of Universal games will be revealed then is a big deal.

They must have some big scale announcements going down

 

[HighResTomato]

Enable partners to target the largest gaming ecosystem in the industry.

I feel like Microsoft are going to use this so much in their advertising.

Feel like this is an easy cop out of the generation, anything can be an Xbox soon enough.

 

[JaggedSac]

By 2018 every "Xbox" game is developed and delivered in UWP wrapper, available to be played interchangeably on W10 desktop and "Xbox Console"

I can imagine that a group of friends will be playing Battlefield ?? together in a party, half of them on a traditional Xbox console and half of them on a desktop computer

Yep, that is the where they are headed. Only thing is, would EA release a UWP version on PC? Only way I can think they get EA to do that is if they effectively say if you want to release on Bone, you got to release on Win10 store since they are now the same thing.

 

[Windu]

I'm still not sure how to interpret what MS views Xbox Live means for PC ports/games. It sounds more then just you have to use MS's server network [Assuming it means that too?]

Do you have to have an XBL account? No way they'd try to make PC gamers pay for XBL though so just like a silver account?

? Xbox live is already on Windows 10. Devs can add it to their games. Use the Xbox app to chat etc... With your friends. Don't have to pay for anything.

Go to channel9.com and look up build 2015 sessions on it.

edit: from April 2015. https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Build/2015/2-637

edit: or better yet gdc 2015. probably has more info. Should be on that site as well.

 

[Crayon]

I feel like Microsoft are going to use this so much in their advertising.

Feel like this is an easy cop out of the generation, anything can be an Xbox soon enough.

With Oreo being complacent over their domination of hydrox in the creme sandwich cookie space, an Xbox creme sandwich cookie designed by the surface team could be the next big thing.

 

[vasametropolis]

With Oreo being complacent over their domination of hydrox in the creme sandwich cookie space, an Xbox creme sandwich cookie designed by the surface team could be the next big thing.

I can see the "Surface can play Xbox games!" advertising now.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

With Oreo being complacent over their domination of hydrox in the creme sandwich cookie space, an Xbox creme sandwich cookie designed by the surface team could be the next big thing.

lol.

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

All this news does is make me want to sell my Xbox and create a dedicated Windows 10 partition on my PC.

Hurry up and annouce scalebound PC version please.

 

[burger_shot56]

with all that vision I just can't see how Xbox can be the only win10 device with paid multiplayer. seems odd

Spoiler

free xbox live e3 announcement? nah

 

[Sarobi]

•If a developer wants to make a console only experience, that’s great and Microsoft will love to have them on the platform. If they want to make it PC only, that’s great as well. Yet, there are many gamers that have both platforms, and Microsoft wants to give developers the ability to target both at the same time.

Neat.
Now all we need is 343 to say "Okay, Halo is coming back to PC"

 

[wapplew]

I can see the "Surface can play Xbox games!" advertising now.

Ya, calling PC game "Xbox game" really strange, I guess they really want that brand stick to everything.

 

[Ruff]

Will UWP continue to be mod unfriendly? I only played ROTTR from the windows store and it left such a bad taste in my mouth, couldn't do anything with the game, not even limit the frame rate or even go fullscreen exclusively. As someone who usually customizes most things about the games I play if i am able, i wouldn't continue buying anything else from that store :/

 

[Heshinsi]

I still don't get what the Windows Store version of the game does that is better than the steam version? As far as I can tell, they haven't mentioned anything about modding. Are there graphical features that can only be done by going the app route?

 

[Vashetti]

with all that vision I just can't see how Xbox can be the only win10 device with paid multiplayer. seems odd

Spoiler

free xbox live e3 announcement? nah

Really can't see them giving up that income.

 

[nillapuddin]

MS is moving as whole towards focusing on services, windows phone apps on ios, office everywhere, outlook on everything. it only makes sense that Xbox is next.

Sure, sales arent going great, but the xbox is just a vessel to accumulate more XBL users

eventually they wont care how you are accessing it, as long as you are using the sub

idk how they will make MP work without a sub on PC though, thats the real question

 

[wapplew]

Really can't see them giving up that income.

I believe in Phil Spencer.
For real, nothing is off the table for MS recently.

 

[viveks86]

All this is music to my ears. Don't let us down, Phil

 

[Garrett 2U]

This is a really exciting time for Xbox/Windows 10 users.
I can't wait to learn more about the UWP, it's incredibly ambitious.

 

[Night Angel]

I believe in Phil Spencer.
For real, nothing is off the table for MS recently.

Every move they've made recently benefits them.

I don't see the benefit for them to drop that revenue stream. Seems like wishful thinking.

But really, if they act on what they've said this could be really great for gamers.

 

[bitbydeath]

I can see the "Surface can play Xbox games!" advertising now.

SurfBox?
Xface?

 

[epmode]

I still don't get what the Windows Store version of the game does that is better than the steam version? As far as I can tell, they haven't mentioned anything about modding. Are there graphical features that can only be done by going the app route?

I don't believe there are currently any graphics incentives to using UWP. I'm worried that this will change in the future. Unless the ridiculous restrictions on UWP are lifted, I mean.

 

[wapplew]

Every move they've made recently benefits them.

I don't see the benefit for them to drop that revenue stream. Seems like wishful thinking.

But really, if they act on what they've said this could be really great for gamers.

Just make it MS access, one sub across all hardware. Lost Xbox one sub could recover from new PC sub.