Will the indignities never end? Microsoft announced today that the Twitch live gaming broadcast feature for Xbox One will be delayed until "the first part of 2014." This feature, already shipping as part of the Sony PlayStation 4, is considered key functionality for many hardcore gamers. The good news? A Game DVR feature will save high quality video files to SkyDrive for sharing.
"We know the ability to instantly broadcast gameplay is something the gaming community is excited about, and we are too," a new post to the Xbox Wire blog notes. "We are working to ensure the initial Twitch on Xbox One broadcasting experience meets the expectations of the Twitch community, so while this feature won’t be available right away, we’ll let you know as soon as it is ready. Our goal is to deliver it during the first part of 2014."
Microsoft does offer resigned Xbox One customers a few hopeful points, however.
First, Twitch on Xbox One will be more robust than it is on the PS4, and will support both Instant Switching and Snap mode, the latter of which lets you view two experiences onscreen at the same time. It also works with the voice command functionality in Xbox One, of course.
Second, Microsoft separately revealed today that Xbox One gamers will be able to save edited video game clips directly to SkyDrive using a feature called Game DVR. These 720p H.264 video files will then be available on any SkyDrive-connected device you own. (Game DVR, naturally, requires an Xbox Live Gold subscription.)
As I noted the other day, Sony makes Twitch available in its Live from PlayStation experience on the PS4.
The interface lets you choose from available live feeds, and while the video quality isn't exactly HD quality, it's serviceable.
