It feels like every time Microsoft talks about their different platforms, they keep stressing how they use the same stuff. Apps for Windows 8 can be used on Xbox One, maybe, sorta, one day. Now, we get rumor of a new OS coming next year that will unite Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox One OS. Kind of.
Codenamed Threshold (yes, it’s named after the planet around which the halo ring orbited in Halo), this goes beyond an operating system. According to ZDNet:
From what I’ve heard, Threshold doesn’t refer to a single Windows OS — not even the expected, converged hybrid comprised of the Windows Phone OS and Windows RT. Instead, the codename refers to the wave of operating systems across Windows-based phones, devices and gaming consoles.
[…]But Threshold will add another level of commonality across Microsoft’s various Windows-based platforms, sources said. With the Threshold wave, Microsoft plans to support the same core set of “high value activities” across platforms. These high-value activities include expression/documents (Office, and the coming “Remix” digital storytelling app, I’d think); decision making/task completion (Bing, I’d assume); IT management (Intune and Workplace Join, perhaps?) and “serious fun.”
I’m not too sure I want to know what they mean by “serious fun”, but I’m so tired of these rumored changes that will unify everything. Either do it, or don’t do it, but stop saying that you’ll bring it all together and make it so mobile apps/games can work on Xbox One. It would be great for developers, but so far it just isn’t there.
Last Updated: December 3, 2013
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 3, 2013 at 12:32
Played a game this weekend that runs Games for Windows Live. Wow. What a terrible system that is.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 3, 2013 at 12:39
Yes. Yes it is.
Bob Miles
December 10, 2013 at 09:23
Since when is “Games for Windows” as “system”? lol
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 10, 2013 at 16:25
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System
Admiral Chief of Souls
December 3, 2013 at 12:32
One ring to Vaseline them all
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 3, 2013 at 12:38
and in the darkness lube them.
Kensei Seraph
December 3, 2013 at 12:33
Sounds like they’re priming the market for the launch of SteamOS.
Hammersteyn
December 3, 2013 at 12:44
Maybe the cloud will be incorporated and like Apple laptops,PCs,phones and consoles information will be linked together. But who knows with MS
Bull Terror
December 3, 2013 at 12:51
And ps4 is running a BSD system… NEED I SAY MORE? 🙂
DrKiller
December 3, 2013 at 14:03
I like all the words used! “Maybe”, “sort of”, “one day”, “perhaps”, “i think”, “assume”.. Sounds like the same mindset they had when they thought about the Xbox One