Our top 5 moments during the Xbox One generation
We're just over a week away from the 10-year anniversary of the solid yet controversial Xbox One. Coming off the heels of the powerhouse that was the Xbox 360, people were anxiously waiting to see how Team Xbox would continue their surge forward. While falling behind from the get-go with questionable marketing decisions, the crippling DRM announcement would help Sony have one of their simplest yet most impactful PS4 videos to release. We're just now coming out of the gorge that the Xbox One dug itself for the brand. Despite all the negativity, the Xbox One, in my eyes, was still super solid. Really good games, hidden gems, and experiences that were unique to the console, with things like Kinect still being involved in the early stages and ideas like "Snap" that would evolve into quick resume and being able to jump between multiple games and apps without losing progress. The Xbox One, throughout all its trials and missteps, truly came out as a decent console at the end of its life and was here to celebrate its accomplishments and more positive moments. In celebration of Xbox One's 10-year anniversary, here are our top 5 moments with Xbox One.
1. Phil Spencer takes charge.
As mentioned, the Xbox One was plagued from the start. With a dramatic shit to a home multi-media device, which at the time could've been seen as warranted, Don Mattrick, who was in charge of Xbox at the time, was previously voted one of the smartest people in tech by Fortune Magazine in 2011 and one of CNN Money's top 10 tech visionaries. Gaming seemed to be on the wayside for Xbox, as they wanted the next console to be an all-in-one media unit. The Xbox One was finally unveiled on May 21st, 2013, and by July 1st, Don Mattrick was gone from the company. The damage was done, though. Don's previous comments, essentially telling people to "stick with the 360 and shove it" if they didn't like the direction this new console was going, tied in with an E3 showcase in June that was overshadowed and punched down on by Sony's own showcase later in the day, left this as the most dire dark time for Xbox and its fans. Finally, March 2014 came around, and Satya Nadella announced the promotion of Phil Spencer to head of Xbox, also overseeing Groove Music and Microsoft Studios. Phil was no stranger to the spotlight being seen at the past few years of E3 showings and managing Microsoft's European studios like Rare and Lionhead. Phil was a gamer and didn't come off as a corporate suit like many executives do. He played and loved gaming, and when he spoke, it was with a casual attitude that you'd almost expect in an Xbox Live chat. He has done wonders for the brand since taking over, bringing a more focused approach to gaming and massively expanding Xbox's development, acquiring the likes of Bethesda and Activison/Blizzard in recent years. While Phil has the general feeling that his time with the company is coming to an end after 22 years, he has the impossible job of carrying the brand into a more positive light.
The Xbox One dashboard took on a more traditional “Windows Phone” aesthetic.
2. Kinect was actually really good.
Oh boy, controversy! People didn't like the Kinect, plain and simple. From the idea of studios like Rare being forced to make Kinect titles to forcing the attachment to be forced into the console, arguably raising the price for an already struggling machine, Kinect, plain and simple, was not "it". On the other hand, I absolutely adored this thing. Using voice features to snap content to the side of the game you're playing and motion control for navigating the dashboard and menus, it was a unique idea that I hardly had issues with. Ryse Son of Rome was an excellent example of how the Kinect could be used in a non-intrusive way. Yelling out commands for archers to rain blazing hellfire down on enemy troops in the heat of battle was an eye-catching experience throughout. "Fru," developed by "Through Games," is one of the most memorable Kinect games I can remember. A 2D platformer where you used your body shape and different positions to reveal hidden platforms, doorways, and solutions to puzzles on your journey. It was an excellent demonstration of how traditional gameplay mixed with this augmented spatial capture technology could be beautifully mended hand in hand. Also, a quick shoutout to Xbox Fitness, the fitness program at launch that gave you access to multiple fitness DVD workouts and programs for no additional charge presented in a game-ified way, batteling for leaderboard spots. Personally, I lost 30 pounds "playing" this app.
3. ID@Xbox opens the gates.
2014 also saw the launch of the ID@Xbox program. Announced at Gamescom, the program saw to open the digital storefront to new, smaller developers. Joining the ID@Xbox program helped open the doors to newer developers who may not know the ins and outs of getting in line with a publisher. Games released through ID@Xbox have access to things like Kinect, achievements, and SmartGlass at the time. Developers also gain a direct line of communication for things like marketing and optimization through the teams at Xbox. Think of it as a glorified indie storefront with Xbox behind it, helping push and elevate the teams towards success. The ID@Xbox program at this point has helped release well over 2000 titles and helped bring in over 2.5 billion dollars to indie developers. Some notable ID@Xbox games you should check out are Ashen, Superhot, and yes, even Cuphead was an ID@Xbox game.
4. Some of my favorite gaming moments
While I have deep nostalgia for the Xbox 360 and wish every day to go back and relive gaming like I did back in 2007, something still hits a special place in my heart with the Xbox One generation. This was the first console I was able to buy on day one, and I went to the midnight launch after spending six hours at my local Walmart. I remember calling in to work on my way to the store and telling my boss I was going to be gone the next two days. This was also the time I started hosting E3 watch parties! Having 8–9 people stuffed in my mom's living room with 3–4 TVs set up was something I'll always remember. The closest thing to having that kind of in-person atmosphere for an E3 event. Never forget the "Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus Alpha" announcement and how out of left field it was. I remember the room exploding and chips exploding when the announcement of the Master Chief Collection happened, and just a group of friends getting excited by the possibility of a nostalgic return to our glory days.
5. Xbox One actually had a killer lineup.
Most people look back at the Xbox One as lacking in almost all fields, but when you really take the time to examine what was offered, the Xbox One was honestly a solid box. The launch day lineup was packed with Dead Rising 3 and Ryse Son of Rome, both offering varied use of Kinect and smartglass integration while having solid traditional gameplay. I personally spent my first week at PowerStar Golf having a blast. Sunset Overdrive is the prime example people use for star power on the system and has gone down as an underrated cult classic. My beloved Sea of Thieves took its first voyage during these years, and Killer Instinct brought a much-needed fighter to the platform and taught me the ropes to become the only fighting game I stood a chance at online. Multiplatform titles were hitting every mark as well. I've said it before and I'll say it again, but Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare was the most balanced, solid class-based shooter on the platform and the game I spent the most time on this generation. The Ori franchise got its start, Quantum Break made a leap through time to land as an Xbox Exclusive, and we made way for the first iteration of Titanfall in 2014.
Share your favorite memories with the Xbox One below! What games were you playing, or what achievements did you master with the console?
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