In 2010, Microsoft released the Kinect. The device was meant to not only allow better navigation of the Xbox 360’s menus, but also to allow brand new gameplay possibilities. Today, Microsoft announced a new expansion for Xbox 360 titled Xbox SmartGlass that looks to be the next big expansion for the console.
SmartGlass is an application for mobile devices that links wirelessly with your Xbox 360. With the app, you will be able to navigate the Xbox dashboard with your device’s touchscreen. There’s more, of course; SmartGlass serves as a companion to whatever media you’re experiencing. For example, if you’re watching a movie on your television, you can view info about it on your mobile phone, such as who the film’s actors are. Some films even allow you to view interactive information; to demonstrate this, Microsoft showed a clip of Game of Thrones, which lets you follow the events of the show on your mobile device via a map.
Please enter the url to a YouTube video.SmartGlass can also be enabled in video games. An example given was Halo 4; throughout the game, you will unlock extras that can be viewed on Halo Waypoint. Instead of getting up and going to your PC, however, you can enable SmartGlass and view it right on your phone or tablet. You’re also able to accept game invites via the application. The demonstration can be seen above.
Xbox SmartGlass looks to be the next big leap for gaming on Xbox 360, and best of all, it’s absolutely free. The only requirement is that you have an Xbox Live account, and a device compatible with SmartGlass; supported platforms include iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. Xbox SmartGlass is expected to release later this year.