Xbox One owners across the UK are reporting a “juddering” picture when using the Xbox One’s TV integration. The problem occurs when a feed from a set-top box, such as a Sky or Virgin Media box, is input via the HDMI-in port.
The source of the problem seems to be that the UK and Europe use a 50Hz broadcasting system whilst the Xbox One runs at 60Hz – the system favoured in the US and Canada.
“Assuming the reports are true, this represents a significant issue Microsoft has to address”, said Digital Foundry’s Richard Leadbetter. “Displaying 50Hz video at 60Hz means that every sixth frame will be a duplicate, resulting in noticeable judder on a lot of material – scrolling text on news channels, fast pans in TV and movies, and the left to right sweep of the camera in football matches.”
A rather lengthy post on the Xbox Forums includes a note from “Studbucket” – I shall assume that’s not his real name – who is part of the Xbox product team.
“We haven’t been able to figure out why different people on different Sky+HD boxes with the same settings get different experiences though,” posts Studbucket, “We’ve even dispatched devs to home and couldn’t figure out what was going on. We’re definitely aware of the issues though and working on them.”
Forum posts on Sky and the comments section on Eurogamer seem to indicate the problem is not an isolated incident, and it may not be easily fixed.
“There are no easy solutions in this scenario – the kind of frame-rate upscaling required to eliminate the judder at 60Hz would probably compromise image quality,” explained Leadbetter.
“The simpler solution would be to lock the user interface to 50Hz when TV elements are on-screen, switching back to 60Hz for gameplay – though this wouldn’t be quite as seamless an experience as Microsoft originally envisaged.”
Source: Eurogamer / Xbox Forums
Vallon
Why even bother as there’s no integration with UK tv atm anyway. Just shows how incomplete it was for the UK launch if they didn’t test it sufficiently.
Could be really good when its up and running but for now one of the major plus points of that console isn’t working at all for UK market.
TSBonyman
So, the television will not be revolutionised?
Scythegpd
A MS spokesman stated “We listened to feedback from our customers on how they were happy with the frame rates when experiencing our fantastic launch titles like DR and Ryse so decided to enhance their TV experience with the same effect”
#dealwithit
On a serious note, considering this is one of their major selling points and differentiators, this is a pretty big issue they need to sort out bloody quickly.
Nice to see they thought of testing beyond their borders … and people complain Sony treat us like second class citizens …
AddictedAndy
I don’t understand why anyone would want to plug their TV box of choice into a console? Surely pressing one button on a remote and then picking up the sky or whatever remote is easier than messing with a console controller?
Sounds to me like a lot of apps. Great idea, but typically quicker just to do it the manual, traditional way??
Starman
Agreed 100%
Germanos
Because that was suppose to be one of the key features of the console?
beeje13
To be fair, the feature isn’t supported in the UK till 2014. But yes, the feature seems a gimmick in the first place.
AddictedAndy
Yes but why? For what purpose? What real use does it have? Just asking
Matthijs
I dont even have a cable box. Just a ci+ module in my tv.
DeadlyChipmunk
I’ll just stick with my Logitech Harmony. Press 1 button and everything turns on to what is needed with no stoopid hdmi pass through in sight.
Like Scythegpd said, tested only for themselves which you could see coming with the launch all being about American football and basketball.
Fail!
hazelam
more evidence this console is built mostly for the US market?
Jack kevin
In the System Center Operations Manager administrator reassure, some space controllers may seem inaccessible (seem diminished) or get assignments done online in a Not Monitored state.