Xbox One Update January 2015: Screenshot Functionality Coming

Gamers will soon enjoy a new feature on the Microsoft Xbox One - screenshots.

Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, confirmed that the much-anticipated screenshots feature are soon to come, adding, "Screenshots are coming early this year. I know it has been a question for quite a while. We delivered themes, and I think a natural add-on to themes are screenshots."

The new functionality was first announced in May 2014, slated to be available in the first quarter of 2015. According to Spencer, the screenshot capability will launch in the next few months.

Spencer said about the new function in an article by GameSpot, "Giving people more ability to share their great gaming moments on the platform - whether it's just a screenshot, as their background, or through many of the different social networks that we allow people to share their content through is a long-term commitment that we have."

In May 2014, Spencer shared that taking screenshots on the Xbox One was one of the objectives of Microsoft engineers, to be made available through an update. However, the job was more technically challenging than they expected. In October 2014, Spencer revealed that their engineers discovered a new solution for taking screenshots and that more developments are underway. The engineers found a way to make it possible and have been fixing the setup to cater to Xbox One gamers.

Spencer was quoted as saying, "Two weeks ago, [Microsoft engineers] think they've found a good solution for screenshots. They're working on it. They know people want it. The team has a path to getting it done, and now it's just prioritizing."

ThisIsXbox.com wrote that the Xbox One will be featuring an update in February 2015, which particularly includes the "game-hubs" feature. It is possible that the new content may also include the screenshot feature.

VRWorld reported that gamers can use the screenshots they take as personal backgrounds, similar to how achievement pictures can be used as customizable themes.

The Xbox One's rival, the Sony PlayStation 4, had the screenshot user available since 2013. PS4 gamers were able to take screenshots and share these on social media websites. The screenshot interface of the PS4 is user-friendly and streamlined, making it one of the top features of the console. VRWorld also reported that Xbox One users hope that the new feature will be as easy to use, considering how the Snap Mode feature was a bit complicated for some to use efficiently.