Snap Mode is a feature on the Xbox One that allows gamers to use stripped down versions of some apps - such as YouTube - on the right side of their screen, without leaving the game. Now, it appears that Microsoft may be permanently removing the feature soon.
According to a tweet by Microsoft executive Mike Ybarra, the Snap Mode feature on the Xbox One is being removed for "bigger things" in the future. He says that:
We replaced Snap to improve multitasking, reduce memory use, improve overall speed, and free up resources going forward for bigger things.
— Mike Ybarra (@XboxQwik) January 24, 2017
The public response to the move has been rather mixed. Many lament the fact that Microsoft has removed an existing feature without offering a suitable alternative. Meanwhile, others who found the Snap Mode experience cumbersome, are anxiously awaiting the "picture-in-picture" mode that is rumored to be coming soon to the Xbox One.
The aforementioned mode will allow gamers to use apps in a small corner of their screen - instead of using a quarter of it. This will reportedly enhance multitasking and allow gamers to utilize fully functional versions of apps.
That said, Ybarra's tweet does not explicitly state that the picture-in-picture mode will be replacing the Snap Mode. However, the "bigger things" hint likely points towards it, among many other features slated for the Windows 10 Creators Update that will also be making its way to the Xbox One.
Source: Microsoft via Windows Central
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