Skip to main content

Xbox One game capture offers picture-in-picture commentary

xbox one game capture allows for lengthy clips picture in commentary upload studio

UPDATE: It turns out that Phil Harrison’s promise that gamers can record “as much or as little as they want” on Xbox One was taken out of context. That’s according to an update from Microsoft, via Game Informer, in which a spokesperson states that the Xbox One’s game DVR buffer only supports up to five minutes of footage.

ORIGINAL POST: The Xbox One’s game capture capabilities won’t place any limits on recording length, as Microsoft’s Phil Harrison confirmed during a talk at Eurogamer Expo (via VG24/7). Harrison revealed this detail as he showed off the November console’s “Upload Studio,” the app that powers game capture on the Xbox One, noting that gamers will be able to record “as much or as little as they want.”

Upload Studio also allows players to overlay recorded commentary on top of captured clips. Using the Kinect camera and built-in mic, players are able to record video of themselves commentating over the clip. The commentary then appears either side-by-side with the gameplay footage or in a picture-in-picture box. Upload Studio also includes privacy settings that allow player to keep a recording private, share it with friends, or make it publicly viewable.

The app appears to be “intuitive,” according to VG24/7, with transitions and other basic editing features looking “simple and easy to use.” We’ve reached out to Microsoft for additional clarification on Upload Studio and its features, and will update this post accordingly when we hear back.

Adam Rosenberg
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…
Your Xbox Live Gold subscription will turn into Xbox Game Pass Core this September
Xbox Game Pass Core's logo over a library of games.

Microsoft finally made the decision to move on from its monthly online-access subscription service Xbox Live Gold. On September 14, Xbox Live Gold will transform into Xbox Game Pass Core, with current Gold subscribers automatically gaining a Game Pass Core subscription.

An Xbox Live subscription tied to online play has existed in some form since Xbox Live launched in 2002, but Xbox Live Gold as we now know it truly came into form in July 2013 when Microsoft started the Games with Gold program that gave subscribers free games each month in addition to that online access. Although Microsoft rolled back some online restrictions in 2021, Games with Gold continues to this day. That will all end when Game Pass Core launches.

Read more
Microsoft beat the FTC. Here’s what the controversial court ruling means for Xbox
Xbox's logo used during the Extended Games Showcase

You’ve probably heard that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lost its case against Microsoft after an exciting and revelatory trial. On Tuesday, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley denied FTC's motion for a preliminary injunction to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard before its potential completion by July 18. Ultimately, Corley did not believe that Microsoft owning Call of Duty would “substantially lessen competition” in the game industry. It was major win for Microsoft after months of regulatory hoops and roadblocks, but the FTC quickly moved to appeal the decision. This all raises an important question: What’s next?

Over the next week, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, and the FTC will determine the fate of the gaming companies involved in this acquisition and set a precedent for the future of the game industry. On top of that, Microsoft still has to deal with the next moves made by the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which wants to block the acquisition due to its impact on cloud gaming. Following the release of Judge Corley’s Preliminary Injunction Opinion, I spoke to two analysts and a lawyer with knowledge of the video game industry to better understand what lies ahead for Microsoft and Activision, the FTC, and the CMA. The battle isn't quite over yet, even if the end is finally on the horizon.
What’s next for Microsoft and Activision Blizzard
Currently, Microsoft and Activision are in a solid position, as a Judge has ruled that Microsoft is unlikely to pull Call of Duty from PlayStation or lessen competition in the game console, cloud gaming, or game subscription markets by acquiring Activision Blizzard. There’s a temporary restraining order in place until July 14, which the FTC hopes to successfully appeal during. As soon as that order is up, though, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have until July 18 to complete the acquisition.

Read more
Microsoft wins FTC case, removing Xbox’s biggest Activision Blizzard acquisition hurdle
Characters shooting in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Following a multi-week court case, Microsoft has won its battle with the Federal Trade Commission regarding its proposed Activision Blizzard acquisition. The ruling is a major win for Microsoft's troubled deal, clearing the biggest hurdle it faced.

Last January, Microsoft announced its intention to acquire Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. The blockbuster announcement immediately raised antitrust concerns, which resulted in the FTC filing a legal challenge in December 2022. Microsoft has not been able to proceed with the acquisition since then, as its faced similar scrutiny in the U.K.

Read more