My Xbox Live for iPad Update Lets You Control and Browse Your Xbox Live Content

TouchArcade Rating:

My Xbox Live [Free] on iPad just got a lot more useful overnight.

Microsoft has released a new update for the iPad version of its Xbox 360 companion app, allowing you to browse, launch, and control specific Xbox Live content from your iPad. You can also see and stream new Xbox Live content from the “Discover" section of the app.

In a nutshell, Microsoft has turned My Xbox Live into a rough Xbox 360 media remote. You can launch the latest episode of Breaking Bad from the app, for example, and then pause, rewind, or fast-forward the episode from the app via a virtual controller interface. We have an image of the interface in this article.

In order to get My Xbox Live to play nice with your console, by the way, you’ll need to set companion to available in your system settings. Just blade over a few spaces when you pull up the dash and you’ll see the option.

We gave this a test run earlier this morning and were pretty impressed by just how well it worked. Content launched really fast and setup was, surprisingly, a breeze. And while those are awesome things, it’s hard not to note what My Xbox Live still doesn’t do as you play around with it. You can’t turn on your console from the app, for instance. Also, you can’t buy content from the app, making this all kind of a wash for some of us.

One interesting thing we discovered is that My Xbox Live’s virtual controller will pop up when you launch a game from the app. Unfortunately, none of the games we tried to play with via iPad responded to virtual button presses. Games we tried included: NBA 2K12, Spelunky, and Rock of Ages.

Regardless if you watch enough Xbox Live video for this to become a thing you’ll use, this is a solid first taste of what Microsoft’s SmartGlass initiative is going to bring to the Xbox 360. Our take? We’re hungry for more.

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  • 13 Comments

    1. AlecShobin

      First game was great, I'll have to check this out. Between this and Fieldrunners 2, it's kinda cool to see two war related ios sequels launching on the same night!  

      1. Himmat Singh

         Yeap. Pssst...did you guys plan it? Haha.

        Anyways, both are strategy games, both have icons with a face covered with a hat, both have a cartoonish touch. Similar yet different. Just hope we don't wait too long for an Android release now.

        1. Rubicon Development

           Would've given that a swerve if we knew tbh. But then again there's always something decent coming out. It's one of the great things about iOS. Unless you're a developer with a new game, lol

    2. OniMitch

      Really enjoying this so far. Definitely worth a look!

    3. Rubicon Development

      Thanks Jared. :)

      Hope you all like it...

    4. LOLavi

      Multiplayer is great! Add me: okayyy

    5. Ap0calypse

      Insanely buggy

      1. Rubicon Development

        It was for a day. A new update cures the crashing we had on old devices.

    6. Xavier Salinas

      Hey Everyone, these guys are great developers. Very active in the community and quick to fix things. Instant buy for me.

      Plus they don't price gouge you with buying separate version for your iPad and iPhone.

    7. TLTD

      More Advance Wars/Fire Emblem/Disgaea/Jeanne D'Arc type TBS/SRPG games PLEASE!

    8. Robert W. Olejniczak

      When are you planning on coming out with this for the Kindle fire?
      Also for the PC?

      I look forward to your reply.
      My friends play this game and I want to be able to play also

    9. Robert W. Olejniczak

      I am wondering when you guys will have the app available for the Kindle Fire?

      also would be nice to see a PC game.

      my friends play this game and I would love to play it to.

      1. Rubicon Development

         PC just went out on Steam. We'll be starting a Mac port shortly. Thanks.