The Xbox One got a new batch of media apps yesterday, which up the ante on its media functionality and integration even more than it already is, in spite of Microsoft’s retreat from its now famous ‘TV! TV! TV!’ tag line; these new apps represent a diverse bunch, including anime streaming service Crunchyroll, and home cideo and cinema options such as Encore Play and Movieplex Play.
It’s a broad range, but unfortunately, one of the leading media apps, HBO Go, is still missing in action. According to reports, it is slated to come to the Xbox One some time before the end of this year, but as we race towards that deadline, it seems increasingly unlikely that it will be met.
HBO Go’s utility is set to compound even further next year, given that it will finally be de-bundled from cable subscriptions and be offered standalone. That said, while its absence is glaring, it’s hard to deny that even without it, the Xbox One is a very capable and efficient media player.