Microsoft reports consequences of using ten percent extra Xbox One GPU

Microsoft has announced the consequences of using the ten percent extra GPU computing power with the Xbox One. Previously, this ten percent of the GPU computing power was assigned to Kinect by default.

Developers can choose to use the extra computing power in their games. Microsoft has announced this via its official site. For example, the extra computing power can be used to put down more enemies in a game or to run a game at a higher resolution and at more frames per second.

There was doubt whether games that were going to use the extra ten percent GPU power would still have all the functions that Kinect entails. There was also doubt whether the voice control of the Xbox One through the Kinect would still work once the ten percent extra GPU was taken.

Microsoft now says that the Kinect’s depth and infrared sensors will indeed stop working if the extra GPU power is assigned to a game. If the extra GPU power is not used in another phase of the game, the game can use the sensors. Where and when the game takes full advantage of the Xbox One’s computing power can be determined by developers through the console SDKs. However, users always have the option to use voice commands. For example, they would still have the option to command the Xbox via voice during a game to record gameplay.

Microsoft says it has made the Xbox One a ‘flexible’ system that can distribute its GPU power in the ‘correct way’. This optimization of the distribution of GPU computing power gives developers full control over how they use the Xbox One’s extra memory. For example, Bungie would have chosen to run the Xbox-one version of Destiny, just like the PlayStation 4 version, at 1080p at thirty frames per second.