Xbox One Boss Explains Wait for Background Music Feature

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Microsoft likes the idea of a background music feature for Xbox One, but right now, it's not at the top of the company's priority list. That's according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer, who talked a bit about it on Twitter.

Asked if Microsoft had any news to share regarding when the feature might come to Xbox One, Spencer said, "This one is just a prioritization thing with other work. We like the feature."

He added: "It's in the list of things we want to do, just behind other work we are doing right now."

This isn't the first time the subject of background music on Xbox One has come up. At the end of May 2015, Spencer said it won't be delivered until after Windows 10 integration comes to Xbox One. That's currently scheduled for "post-summer," meaning background music is coming this fall at the earliest.

Xbox One owners can currently use the Xbox Music app to listen to music while playing a game, but only with Snap. This takes up a portion of the screen, making it a less-than-ideal solution.

There is clearly demand for a better alternative. On the Xbox Feedback site, more than 20,000 people have voted for "Play Music From Apps Without Snap (Background Music)."

In other Microsoft music news, the company recently rebranded Xbox One music as Groove.

The next major Xbox One update, the New Xbox One Experience, launches in November. It totally revamps the interface and its biggest new feature is arguably backwards compatibility support for Xbox 360 titles.

Would you like to see the Xbox One get a background music feature? Let us know in the comments below.

@yehuda_vs_world This one is just a prioritization thing with other work. We like the feature.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) October 1, 2015

Posted: Oct 04, 2015 5:32 pm
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Comments

SkyPosted: Mon. Nov 02, 2015

360MoTioN This will be great if this happens.

it will definitely change some things , and it will be great for people like me

DivePosted: Sun. Nov 01, 2015

This will be great if this happens.

Joyful-Posted: Mon. Oct 26, 2015

UZl I remember using this feature on the 360, it was great

Oh yeah, I had so many songs downloaded on to my xbox 360.

SkittlePosted: Sun. Oct 25, 2015

I can definitely see this being a thing, music goes well with everything.

DeluxeHazardPosted: Wed. Oct 21, 2015

This will be a good feature but can't you easily just play your MP3 player right next to you?

OGPosted: Thu. Oct 08, 2015

I remember using this feature on the 360, it was great

SkyPosted: Tue. Oct 06, 2015

xSusan Im pretty sure this will be a more positive feature for many of us (: Love to listen to music and now they're mixing it with games? Awesome =)

yea this is gonna be great

xSusanPosted: Mon. Oct 05, 2015

Im pretty sure this will be a more positive feature for many of us (: Love to listen to music and now they're mixing it with games? Awesome =)

1989Posted: Mon. Oct 05, 2015

this needs to come soon and spotify back on xbox plz.

StonerzardPosted: Mon. Oct 05, 2015

JTHM It makes me happy that Microsoft have corrected them selves and are fixing their mistakes. If they keep this rate going, they could catch up to PS4

If it'll happen, it won't be suddenly. They are slowly getting their console better though. I've always hated Microsoft's music platforms. I think they could much more benefit by trying to stop being the top contender in most digital markets, and instead focusing on only a few. I think it's safe to say that gaming is a larger industry for Microsoft to excel in (pardon the pun) than music. It would be nice to see a Spotify link like with the PS4, because that shit's great. And I got a 3 month free trial because of it.

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