Software giant Microsoft on Thursday released the NFL app on Xbox One, two weeks before the 2015 NFL season officially begins, offering interesting new features that are expected to make watching NFL more exciting.
One of the major features of Microsoft's NFL app for Xbox One is the Next Gen Stats, according to Geek Wire. This feature allows NFL fans with Xbox One to track player speed (MPH) as well as total distance run from video highlights of certain plays. This is possible because of small device made by Zebra that they will attach on their shoulder pads during every game.
With the Zebra device, NFL will place receivers around the stadium where games are played to track movements of each players and the convert it into stats that are available real time.
Originally, these advanced stats features were used by the NFL for its internal use and NFL coaches and some TV broadcasts, including the 2014 Pro-Bowl. The Microsoft NFL app will now allow fans to have access to these data.
Microsoft's Xbox One app for NFL is part of a $400 million, five year contract the software giant signed with NFL in 2013. In the coming days, the app will be available on Windows 10, Microsoft added.
Under the deal, Microsoft has added a fantasy football integration with its Xbox One app that will allow users and teams on CBS and Yahoo! can see their stats on the NFL app and not just thru NFL.com.
This 2015 NFL season, Microsoft is also set to implement other football-related technologies, such as an app that will run on the Surface Pro 3 tablets.
Jeff Tran, Microsoft's Director of Sports Marketing and Alliances, commented on the project, "This year is unlike any other year as far as the NFL partnership."
ITWorld reported that other features of the NFL app for Xbox One to be activated in the coming days as many of them are still listed as 'Coming Soon,' perhaps because the 2015 NFL season has not yet officially started.
Another interesting feature of the Microsoft NFL app for Xbox One is the What's New Segment that allows users of Xbox One to plug an HDMI cable into their console and connect to a TV to allow maximum benefit of the app.
