Xbox 360 cloud storage plans revealed
"Gone are the days of gamertag recovery."
Microsoft has unveiled plans to introduce cloud storage for Xbox Live profiles and game saves.
The news was not announced at the platform holder's conference, but tucked away in an open letter from Live exec Marc Whitten.
"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," the letter reads.
"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!"
Also promised are a new dashboard ("Simpler. Cleaner. Easier to navigate"), expanded voice support and something called "Beacons" - "a way to tell your Xbox Live and Facebook friends that you want to play a game on Xbox Live".
So, for example: "Imagine sending out a Beacon to let your friends know you're interested in playing Halo, while watching a movie on Netflix." Of course you have to imagine having Netflix unless you're American but never mind.
"I can't wait to open the doors to your new home for entertainment this holiday," Whitten's letter ends. Shiver. "Rest assured, there is more to come."