Xbox One upgraded clockspeed, has custom mono driver

Xbox executive Marc Whitten explained on an official Xbox podcast the enhancements they've sneaked into the Xbox One. As summarized here, the Xbox One is now closer in power to its immediate competitor, the Playstation 4. although of course we have yet to appreciate the full capabilties of either system.

One major addition is a new custom graphics driver, which Whitten refers to as a 'mono driver.' Based off of the basic Direct X driver, they take out elements that don't fit in with the Xbox One and improve on it so that it does. The end result is fully optimized for the system and is already in use by the developers.

The second announcement, however, is the podcast's true bombshell, as they have increased the GPU clockspeed from 800 Mhz to 863 Mhz. Whitten explains they decided to do this after taking another look at the hardware and figuring out if it worked as well as they expected it to.

In terms of matchmaking, Whitten explains Team Xbox thought about how to improve it from how its been operating on the Xbox 360 so far. So, for example, the new asynchronous matchmaking system will keep in mind who are at your skill level and what kinds of matches you prefer, but will also consider smaller details like the type of people you prefer to play against. Instead of having to wait out the lobby to fill up, you will be able to put it on the background as you do something else until you Xbox finds a good match.

Finally, in regards to the reputation system, Whitten explains that you will be able to see the reputation rating of your friends and the other people you play with, as well as a feedback mechanism. You will get to track down and add to the system.

There are only a few months left to the system's release, but Team Xbox wants to leave the impression that they are doing some last minute tweaking and will take fan feedback for it. If you do have an interest in Microsoft improving the system, now is the time to make your voice heard.