With less than a month until the Xbox One hits store shelves and gives Microsoft fans their first taste of the next generation of console gaming, it's high time to put all the details out on the table. As such we have a colorful collection of Xbox One tidbits to share, included final dimensions for the console, more details about Xbox One achievements, the console's quick-install manual, and confirmation of party chat's player limit.
First up, one of the Xbox One developers chimed in on a Reddit thread confirming the dimensions for both the Xbox One console and the Kinect 2 peripheral. It might not seem like an important detail, but for those gamers whose entertainment centers are already cluttered by a PS3, a 360, a Wii U, and any other cable devices, this could help them prepare a space. See the specs below:
Console (LxWxH):
13.1" x 10.8" x 3.1"
33.3cm x 27.4cm x 7.9cm
Kinect 2 (LxWxH):
9.8" x 2.6" x 2.63"
24.9cm x 6.6cm x 6.7cm
Kinect cable approx. 9.5 feet (2.9m) long
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Second, is a new detail regarding how achievements will work during local multiplayer sessions on the Xbox One console. On the Xbox 360, multiplayer achievements were delineated by which portion of the circle surrounding the trademark Xbox 'X' was lit up. For example, if player 2 unlocked the achievement then the top right quadrant would light up.
With the Xbox One, however, players can color code their achievements to make it clearer who unlocked what. The below demonstration video for Powerstar Golf includes an example of color-coded achievements at the 11:15 mark:
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The Portuguese version of the Xbox One quick installation guide has also found its way online, and gives gamers a brief overview of how to set up the console. Obviously, veteran gamers will be quite familiar with the process — as they have likely done it dozens of times — but there are still some interesting details to be gleaned from the manual found here.
For starters, the manual reveals that the new optimum distance for Kinect 2 - which boasts a wider view angle and more detailed camera - is 1.4 meters. We'd suspect that the English version will round that down to an even 4.5 feet, but, regardless, that's a solid improvement over the first Kinect, which had a suggested distance of 6 feet.
A few minor details from the manual include the new battery slot for the Xbox One controller, where the power buttons are located on the console and controller, and how the new Xbox One chat headset plugs into the controller. Admittedly, it's not exactly mind-blowing stuff, but still some interesting details to look over.
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And finally, much like with the PS4, we have confirmation that the Xbox One will support up to eight players for party chat. The one caveat to this announcement from Microsoft, though, is that they make a point to mention "at launch," suggesting that the Xbox One could support more players in the future.
Again, it's important to mention that this is the console's native party chat, not in-game chat, which is different. Party chat is a console's cross-game chat, functioning almost like a conference call between up to 8 friends who could be gaming on the same title or different titles. The players in a match, on the other hand, typically dictate limitations for in-game chat.
By now, Microsoft has likely made all of their big announcements in preparation for the launch of the Xbox One (at least we hope they have). As we near the final stretch, however, there are still some finer details worth considering, and that many gamers are curious about. Things like color-coded achievements, or console dimensions, might not seem all that interesting, but some people (present company included) live for these very particular details.
What do you think of the color-coded system for Xbox One achievements? If Microsoft increases the party chat limit, what should they increase it to?
Microsoft's Xbox One releases November 22, 2013.
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Source: Reddit, Game Informer, NeoGAF, Twitch (via Kotaku)
Follow Anthony on Twitter @ANTaormina