Microsoft revealed some great Xbox One news at BUILD 2014

Apr 2, 2014 17:40 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft today announced the Universal Windows Apps concept at the BUILD 2014 conference, explaining that developers can now create programs that can be used on multiple platforms, as they can now re-use most of the code no matter if they are trying to appeal to PC, smartphone, or tablet users.

The company also revealed that Xbox One will eventually support universal apps as well, with Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s EVP of Operating Systems Group, explaining that such a feature is essential for the company’s plans to boost living room entertainment.

Xbox is currently being used in 80 million TVs in living rooms across the world, Myerson said, so such an implementation makes sense, he added.

Myerson used Visual Studio to demonstrate that building universal apps for the Xbox isn’t too difficult, showing a demo on the Khan Academy app to explain that much of the code can be re-used on smartphones, tablets, and PC projects.

Microsoft’s executive also added that Kinect for Windows v2 now uses the Kinect sensor that’s available on the Xbox One, so it can be used in smaller spaces as well. DirectX 12 technologies will also be part of future Xbox One improvements, he said, but also on mobile phones powered by Windows Phone 8.1.