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Xbox One console updates to add external storage, real names and auto-sign-in

Microsoft’s Larry Hyrb (aka Major Nelson) has just posted a list of changes coming to the Xbox One within the June updates. Previously known updates include the Games With Gold where premium live members get two free games and exclusive discounts and Home Gold to replace the Gold requirement to access premium services such as Netflix. Per this updated infographic, it also seems that the Home Gold for Xbox One means only one user needs to have a gold account to let all local users access multiplayer (one console per gold account).

We can now expect to be able to set up a console to automatically sign in, as well as format and use external USB3.0 drives that are 256GB or larger, and have real names on your friends list. The formatted drives are not just restricted to the console you’re on – you can transport your games (and their DLC) on the removable drive so you can access them on other consoles (after signing into Live, of course). Larry goes on to describe that there are different control options, so no one is being forced into it (learning from Blizzard’s mistakes, it seems). The automatic sign-in is certainly a welcome change, especially for those who do not use the Kinect auto-sign in.

Smartglass sees some updates with dashboard pin reorganization and OneGuide changes alongside more markets being opened up including Canada,  UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. The Smartglass App will be able to act as a universal remote to allow you to access functions such as recording shows and interacting with your cable box.

No mention of UI changes is made to accommodate the Kinect-less version of the console, though they have mentioned they’re working on making it easier to use. We’re glad to see Microsoft taking an active role in listening to the users and community – but that is tempered with concern that they themselves don’t have a vision for their product. While some of the DRM designs we saw last E3 were almost insulting, the idea that we could trade in digital games was a breath of fresh air. Here’s to hoping that between Microsoft engineers and a vocal user community that this can find it’s way back to the platform in a way that makes sense.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada, at a young age I was forced to decide whether the harsh northern winters were going to claim my fingers, or to turn to the safer pursuits of indoor activities. Little did I know that a little game called Ninja Gaiden would bring my digits more pain than frostbite ever could. Starting with Vectrex and C64 games and moving forward through the era of electronic entertainment, I sampled as much as I could in the different platforms, and began my interest in PC gaming from wrestling with DOS memory management.

While console games were a part of my earliest gaming memories and I certainly had played on most platforms including 3D0, all things Nintendo, PS1 and the like, truly the PC was my domain until the Xbox. As an old PC gamer, I ever chased the cutting edge technology. Eye of the beholder with CGA 4 colors was my first step down the the path of blowing thousands of dollars on PC upgrades over two decades. Ultima 7, with the Guardian talking to me through my monitor, still haunts my dreams and keeps me ever hoping for a decent Ultima 8 and 9. From the 3DFX SLI VooDoo2s and Aureal to today's GPU driven DirectX games, the new and shiny pictures seem to keep me going. My PC gaming has slowed down with the market shift though, and although I have choice games that will ever be on PC, I have found myself in console gaming with a bit of portable gaming in my life.

Back around the turn of the millenium (and long before fatherhood), I had fired off an email offering to help Ron with a little-known site called ConsoleGold. Little did I know it would be be a part of my life to this day. While I've seen my fair share of shovelware (thanks Ron!), I manage to try and find the fun in most games. Leaning towards sandbox and action titles, I've grown to love games for their potential to reach art. Console agnostic and excited for the progress of tomorrow, I fancy the latest and greatest, but still enjoy the good old classics ... as long as they've been revamped from their 8bit graphic roots.

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