November sees Microsoft’s annual Hackathon event, where teams of developers, designers, and innovators from across Microsoft come together to compete to create new viable products and services within and around the Microsoft ecosystem. This year’s Hackathon winner is an app that helps you Providing technical support to a loved one remotelyConsider the all-too-familiar frustration one might experience when trying to help a less tech-savvy friend on the phone.
Microsoft’s Hackathon 2022 event (opens in new tab) More than 68,000 employees from around the world took part in what Microsoft describes as “the world’s largest private hackathon,” which saw more than 10,000 inventions compete for the grand prize.
Thanks to reliable sources, I recently had the opportunity to check out some hackathon projects, and a couple of Xbox-specific projects definitely caught my eye. One project includes a “Windows Handheld Mode” shell for Windows 11, which makes the interface more suitable for gaming on a Steam Tech-sized handheld. There are also prototype streaming services that reward viewers with Microsoft Points for watching live streams on Xbox while integrating Twitch or Patreon. Another idea involves an “Xbox Inventory” system that would allow you to collect and carry game items between titles. My favorite project — and one I think is most needed — is an extension of the existing Xbox Achievements system, which the designers have dubbed Xbox Achievements 3.0.
While it’s unclear who’s behind the project, Microsoft’s team of designers and developers came together during this year’s Hackathon event to create a concept for what’s being called “Xbox Achievements 3.0.” The system will work alongside the existing GamerScore system to award bronze, silver and gold trophies, similar to the PlayStation, for various titles and system-wide achievements. For example, in the video shared with us anonymously above, you can see a concept medal pop for playing 300 titles on the Xbox Game Pass.
The presentation also showed how each medal tally would be displayed under your profile on Xbox.com and on consoles, giving players another way to show off their achievements on Xbox Live (later renamed Xbox Network, though it was later renamed Xbox Network). call it).
However, the concept is very attractive, although it will never materialize as a real product. This reminds me of some proposals that have been cancelled Xbox industry system Microsoft has acknowledged the fact that gamers’ habits have changed. More players are sticking with one service-oriented title for the long term, rather than grazing across multiple titles. Xbox Game PassAn all-you-can-eat library keeps Xbox achievements afloat. Vampire survivors At the end of each run Pop 5G delivers GamerScore achievements, indicating a truly exemplary use of the aging system. However, many unscrupulous indie publishers have started releasing shovelware games designed to deliver 1000 Gamerscores for doing practically nothing – the Sony Playstation is a practice. plans to banno less.
In any case, the fact that developers are looking into this at Microsoft, even in a hobbyist capacity, has given me a growing spotlight on how little Xbox achievements have evolved, while competitors like PlayStation and Steam have built and improved on the systems Microsoft pioneered. Day again. improves One of the main concerns that Xbox fans have shared with me is Xbox Achievements During the big feedback survey I conducted last year.
I for one hope that something like these Xbox “medals” will one day materialize into an actual product.
