Better late than never, Microsoft is adding a Snapchat-like stories feature to the Xbox app for iOS and Android.
Judging by Microsoft's description, "Xbox Stories" works the same as those on other platforms, but the content has the particularity of lasting up to 72 hours instead of one day. This is all part of Xbox's big May update, where it also introduced its new Quality of Service (QoS) marking feature.
Intense player stories
In these stories, you can share exciting gaming moments by posting game clips, screenshots, and achievements with your friends or the community at large. Stories can be replied to with a message or a quick emoji reaction, just like you would on other platforms.
When you update the app, you'll see a new Stories channel right on your home screen. You can start posting stories by opening the channel and tapping on the new plus symbol next to your gamertag. You can then select what you want to share, add a title during the preview page, and hit the publish button. This new feature is currently available in Australia with possible rollout to other regions to come.
It is true that it is strange to see Microsoft doing this. Especially when the latest trend is ripping off TikTok by having a seamless vertical video stream. Many other social media platforms implemented their own version of Snapchat Stories, only to discontinue the feature soon after.
Now we just have to wait for Microsoft to make this Xbox feature go global before everyone abandons the concept of stories altogether.
New priority marking system
In the same May announcement is the QoS tagging feature. This is a new feature that allows players to set a priority tag for certain console system functions that can get bogged down with latency and congestion. In this way, during times of high user traffic, your connection remains stable and has priority over others.
Things like party chat, console streaming, and multiplayer modes are given as examples of areas that will have this mark. That said, not everyone can make the most of it.
According to Microsoft's support page for QoS Tagging, your router/gateway and ISP network must support the DOCSIS Low Latency standard for this to work. Microsoft also warns that there may still be connection issues if you use markup.
Now we just have to wait for Microsoft to make this Xbox feature go global before everyone abandons the concept of stories altogether.