While the Xbox One is, in most ways, a robust entertainment system, offering TV, movies, and videogames, the system still lacks the ability to play background music. One fan tweeted at Xbox boss Phil Spencer asking when this feature will be added (via GamesRadar).
@TheEjderha83 Won't be before summer sorry to say.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) January 14, 2016
While the Xbox 360 allowed users to play background music from an MP3 player connected via USB or from the system’s hard drive from launch, it seems Microsoft has withheld this feature from the Xbox One intentionally. Mike Ybarra, the Xbox Director of Program Management, said in November that the company wants to give fans background music “in a way that surprises fans,” instead of the simple implementation seen on the Xbox 360.
While Microsoft hasn’t yet given fans what they want on the music front, they did get a much-requested featured in backwards compatibility last year. The November system update launched with 114 compatible games, with the library growing by a few games every month.
Usually, the games launch on the same day they’re announced, but this month has been different. When one fan asked on Twitter when they could expect the newest batch of titles, Phil Spencer’s answer was more hopeful than his reply about background music.
@HiddenStryder Have a couple more games doing the final run through on, wanted to wait until we had the full list, not too much longer.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) January 14, 2016
Could some of the most requested games, like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, or Read Dead Redemption, make this month’s cut? We hopefully won’t have to wait much longer to find out.
