The next system update for the Xbox One hopes to improve the console’s social features that some critics say worked better on the Xbox 360. Speaking to Engadget, Xbox chief product officer Marc Whitten revealed plans to integrate features like Friends List, Achievements and Parties, which have become overcomplicated for some users.
The feedback we’ve gotten is pretty valid,” said Whitten. “Some of the social stuff is hidden or harder to use than it was on the Xbox 360. So you’re gonna see us come out with an update where, well, we’re going to fix those things. As a person who’s been pretty involved in building Xbox Live for the last decade, I take it pretty seriously when people say it’s harder to get into a party, and the defaults aren’t right, and I don’t like the model.
“So what I’m trying to do with the team is kind of theme some stuff up. Let’s take an update and really go through a big list of what we’re hearing from customers, what we know is broken with the architecture, areas that we want to improve or complete. I think that’s a theme you’ll really see us push on — that Live experience.”
Closing out the conversation, Whitten hinted that Microsoft intends to have the Xbox One’s game streaming functionality up and running before this year’s E3. With high profile releases like Titanfall about two months away, it might be in Microsoft’s best interest to have things like game streaming and the Xbox One’s party system in working order.