Cloud Storage, Beacons Coming to Xbox Live

June 7, 2011

Microsoft's Larry Hryb offers some new details on Microsoft's Cloud Storage solution for the Xbox 360 on his official blog. Coming "later this year," the cloud-based storage solution will allow Xbox Live members to store game saves and their Live profiles. From the blog post:

"Cloud Storage for Game Saves and LIVE Profile. Here at Xbox LIVE we listen to your feedback. We are making it easier for you to sign into your Xbox LIVE account from any console at any time to access your game saves and full profile, including items such as Microsoft Points to make purchases, Achievements and friends. Cloud storage will allow you to enjoy the same great Xbox LIVE gaming experience even when you’re not in your own living room by giving you the option to store your “game saves” securely in the Xbox LIVE cloud instead of on a portable memory unit or your console’s hard drive. Gone are the days of “gamertag recovery.” Now all you need to do is sign in, no matter where you are!"

Hryb does not say how much space each user will get in the cloud, but it's an interesting idea as long as it is secure.

Microsoft also announced plans to integrate its search engine Bing into Xbox Live and plans to bring YouTube into the service as well.

Other things coming later this year include a new dashboard that is cleaner and easier to navigate, improved and expanded Kinect voice support that allows for better control of menus in the Xbox Live dashboard, and a new Beacon system.

The only thing left worth going into detail about is the Beacon system; Beacons are an easy way to tell your Xbox LIVE and Facebook friends that you want to play a game on Xbox LIVE. Players set a Beacon to tell Xbox LIVE what you want to play. Then, Xbox LIVE lets you know when friends are playing or want to play the same game. With Beacons, no matter what you’re currently doing on Xbox LIVE your friends know that it’s ok to ask you to play your Beaconed games. For example, you could send out a Beacon to let your friends know you’re interested in playing Halo, while watching a movie on Netflix or listening to music.

Expect to hear more about all these new features all this week from E3.

Source: Major Nelson

Posted in E3 2011 Microsoft Online Games Xbox 360 Xbox Live

Comments

Re: Cloud Storage, Beacons Coming to Xbox Live

Submitted by CyberSkull on Wed, 06/29/2011 - 08:17.

I'm really sick of cloud this, cloud that… All it is is just another server-side service.

Shout box

tallimar: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57440902-94/microsoft-legal-win-over-google-may-signal-ceasefire/05/24/2012 - 10:17pm

ZippyDSMlee: TIme or an operation!05/24/2012 - 6:43pm

ZippyDSMlee: PC parts are in wish me luck or hell!!05/24/2012 - 6:43pm

MaskedPixelante: 38 Studios and Big Huge Games are pretty much dead now. http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/38-studios-and-big-huge-games-lay-off-entire-staffs05/24/2012 - 4:39pm

DorthLous: Actually, nop, I did miss the emoticon for some reason (getting used to pics?) and I didn't know you changed it since (since I posted previous to my shout and it was still there.) Anyhow, thanks for taking it out!05/23/2012 - 6:01pm

james_fudge: Well we were just testing it. but it is still on the submission to fight $pam.05/23/2012 - 5:48pm

E. Zachary Knight: James, No I don't have it. I was just wondering who does and why. More curiosity than anything.05/23/2012 - 5:38pm

james_fudge: Did you not see the emoticon and did you not see that it has already been changed back?05/23/2012 - 5:10pm

james_fudge: LOL05/23/2012 - 5:07pm

DorthLous: Why? Not shocked that people are barking to an additional hoop to jump through when posting from their already logged in account or just mentionning this to try to paint me as one always complaining?05/23/2012 - 4:45pm

james_fudge: big shock there ;)05/23/2012 - 4:30pm

DorthLous: I'll add my voice to those wanting it gone :S I'm already logged in, I don't need a captch'a. That's for those registering.05/23/2012 - 3:54pm

james_fudge: Et tu EZK?!?05/23/2012 - 3:51pm

Craig R.: I'm a One Man Quorum! And it's working for me now, thanks. :)05/23/2012 - 3:48pm

E. Zachary Knight: How do we determine who get's the game/captcha thingy? Is there a certain posting threshhold users have to meet before it is turned off?05/23/2012 - 2:25pm

james_fudge: Give it a chance, we're still adjusting it ;)05/23/2012 - 11:20am

james_fudge: One does not a Quorum make Craig.05/23/2012 - 11:16am

Craig R.: If I complete the stupid game, and it just deletes my comment, what's the point?05/23/2012 - 11:15am

Craig R.: Ok, the little captcha game? You can get rid of it already.05/23/2012 - 11:13am

Craig R.: FCC boss is giving the thumbs up to usage-based pricing for Internet access05/23/2012 - 11:08am

All shouts

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