Windows 10 Anniversary Update w/Xbox Play Anywhere and Background Music – August 2nd

So you might have heard of this new fangled OS from Microsoft called Windows 10. If you haven’t, then I can only assume you are some kind of Amish cave dweller with no concept of the world around them.

But moving on, Microsoft announced the “Windows 10 Anniversary Update” which would be released on August 2nd, and with it a whole host of updates to Windows 10 such as Additional Security Features like Windows Information Protection, and Windows Ink which will “bring the Power if Windows to the Tip of Your Pen” and much moraes an,garg aaaaaaaaaaaaa

Sorry about then. I fell asleep whilst writing it. If you’ve come here to read about the functional and work related side of the upcoming Windows 10 update, I hate to disappoint, but this is a gaming website – I honestly care about it, but not enough to write about. I’m here to tell you about the gaming side of Windows 10, which quite frankly seems to be about half the reason Microsoft even made it.

I’m talking about it’s functionality with Xbox and Xbox Live and in particular – Xbox Play Anywhere.

Microsoft are banging the drum of equal gaming experiences across PC, Mobile and Console, and since they have fingers in each of those pies, they are keen for some standardisation across the board.

“Today’s gamers see their gaming experience silo’d by their devices, where mobile gaming is different than PC and different than console. Equally, content doesn’t extend across experiences. This changes with great new features for Xbox One and the Xbox app on Windows 10. Stay connected with friends on Xbox Live and enjoy even more games across your favorite devices with the Anniversary Update.”

The only thing is, is that PC, Console and Mobile ARE different, so the experiences will be as well. If I want to be told by a 12 year old that he did unspeakable things to my mother, then I’ll play on a console. If I want to while away the minutes whilst also sitting on the porcelain throne, I’ll play on my phone. And if I want to play proper games, I’ll stick to the PC. (Joking of course, nothing like a good stereotype!)

Anyway, it looks as though the Windows 10 update will also extend to the Xbox One bringing Cortana to the Xbox in the process as well as rolling out Xbox Play Anywhere. The key points from the Windows 10 announcement with regards to Play Anywhere are:

  • With the Xbox Play Anywhere program, you can buy a game once and play on your Windows 10 PC and Xbox One with shared progress, shared game saves and shared achievements. Every new title published from Microsoft Studios will support Xbox Play Anywhere and will be easily accessible in the Windows Store.
  • Xbox Play Anywhere games will be offered within the new unified Windows Store on both Windows 10 and Xbox One. You’ll be able to find the content you want faster and purchase game and app bundles, pre-orders, pre-downloads and subscriptions such as Xbox Live Gold.
  • On Xbox One, gamers will be able to use Cortana commands to find great new games, see what your friends are up to, start a party, accomplish common tasks and turn on your Xbox One by saying “Hey Cortana, Xbox On”.
  • Top fan requested features for Xbox One, such as Language Region Independence (allowing gamers to choose any supported language, regardless of their location) and support for background music, will come with the Anniversary Update.
  • Gamers can enjoy the Windows 10 Anniversary Update on the new Xbox One S. Available starting at $299 USD this summer, with a limited 2TB Xbox One S launch edition available in August for $399 USD, it’s the only console with support for HDR gaming and 4K Ultra HD video and Blu-ray.

This is now confirmation of the huge news from earlier in the year about Microsoft wanting to build further links between their platforms, mainly between Windows PC and Xbox. This is a massive effort from Microsoft and is also a massive tick in the box for PC gamers who might also be looking at a console in the future and are torn between the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Me personally? I’m still on the fence over the 2 of them, but this is about you people not me…

Speaking of which, tell us your views on this! Will this make a difference to your PC / Xbox gaming experience? Is this an absolute bonus or a bit of a fad? Whatever you think, let us know in the comments below or in the RGM Forums.