Microsoft releases new update for Xbox Video

Dec 9, 2014 12:49 GMT  ·  By

MKV file support will be offered to Windows 10 users when the new operating system becomes available, but it appears that the company is really serious about bundling compatibility for this particular file format in all its existing Windows versions.

Starting today, users running Windows 8.1 on their PCs and tablets can play MKV files without the need for additional software thanks to an update for Xbox Video, an application that’s pre-installed on this particular OS version and which can be accessed from the Modern UI.

According to the official changelog released by Microsoft today, the new Xbox Video version comes with several improvements in terms of performance and issues, but also with support for the MKV format, which could be played until now on Windows only with additional codecs or dedicated apps.

At this point, VLC Media Player continues to be one of the top apps available for Windows users who want to play MKV files on their computers, but there’s no doubt that Xbox Video would appeal at least to a handful of users who do not wish to look for third-party apps for this particular task.

It still offers some limitations

VLC clearly comes with some pretty big advantages for those on Windows 8.1, and Microsoft’s offering still has some limitations that might push many users to third-party solutions in the coming months.

Basically, while Xbox Video can now play MKV files, downloadable software solutions such as VLC still offer more options, including subtitles and additional codecs for better audio and video quality.

That’s actually one of the reasons Microsoft needs to improve Windows Media Player in Windows 10 and make sure that MKV files can be played with the built-in tools without an impact on users’ customization power.

Windows 10 coming with native MKV support

The upcoming operating system is very likely to come with support for MKV files by default, and Microsoft has confirmed that it’s working on such a feature for the Technical Preview.

At the same time, Microsoft is also developing FLAC support for Windows 10, so the new OS would clearly offer a strong advantage to users who work with such multimedia formats on a regular basis and who have until now had to install additional software in this regard.

Windows 10 is projected to launch in mid-2015, but MKV and FLAC support could be released anytime soon as part of the Technical Preview builds that are released to users enrolled in the Windows Insider Program.

Xbox Video on Windows 8.1 (7 Images)

Xbox Video UI on Windows 8.1
Xbox Video UI on Windows 8.1Xbox Video movies on Windows 8.1
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