New Plex app for Xbox One and Xbox 360 gets Kinect controls
Voice and gesture controls and a big-screen tile interface on the way as Plex launches app for Xbox One and Xbox 360
A feature-packed Plex app is coming to Xbox One and Xbox 360 for the first time complete with a tiled interface and Kinect voice and gesture controls. Both apps are included in Plex Pass subscriptions and will soon be available as one-off downloads from the Xbox Store.
The new Plex apps use of the Xbox’s tile interface with large icons and images designed for easy navigation on big screens. Similar to the Plex app for Windows the new Xbox apps collect and display artwork, ratings, plot summaries and more information about films and TV shows stored on Plex. In the past accessing Plex on Xbox was a complex and somewhat convoluted process.
Plex said the new app for Xbox would make accessing Plex content a lot easier. Co-founder and chief product officer Scott Olechowski said that the Plex Xbox app was an “important milestone” for the company:
“[Plex for Xbox] also happens to be the platform most requested by Plex enthusiasts, and we have worked hard to design an experience that will delight them and Xbox fans alike,” he added.
A new “media discovery” feature will display content based on viewing habits, creating customised lists to find new content and films and TV shows lost in your Plex archive. Other popular features from the Windows version of Plex are also coming to Xbox. On Deck, which keeps tracks of shows you’re currently watching, will make it easier to pick up where you left off.
Voice and gesture controls are also coming to Plex for the fitst time, with full Kinect support coming to both Xbox One and Xbox 360. Users will be able to navigate their Plex media library, view content and control playback by using a variety of simple voice and gesture controls.
The new Plex app for Xbox One launches on Tuesday 7 October, with the Xbox 360 app available “very soon”. Plex said that in the future both Plex for Xbox One and Plex for Xbox 360 would be available for a one-time fee instead of being exclusive to Plex Pass subscribers.