Xbox One NFL, ESPN TV Apps Detailed

Much was made of the Xbox One's TV and sports capabilities at the console's May 21 reveal event, and IGN got to see some of it in action in advance of the opening kickoff of the 2013-2014 NFL season via the revamped ESPN app and all-new NFL app.

First, though is news that an NFL.com fantasy app will be made available shortly for the Xbox 360, in order to "make sure we have something for Xbox 360 until Xbox One comes out in November," said Xbox Sports Entertainment's David Jurenka.

When the system does launch, the ESPN app will return bigger and better, featuring ESPN.com clips from the web, ESPN3 live broadcasts, and the ability to watch live content from ESPN Prime via WatchESPN (the latter feature requires a cable or satellite TV subscription). You'll be able to watch Major League Baseball, US Open tennis, college football, and more. You'll also be able to personalize your channel to bubble your favorite teams in each sport to the top. If you've ever used used the ScoreCenter app on your favorite mobile device, it's largely similar, albeit with the Xbox One's native Snap functionality integrated.

Meanwhile, the NFL app will also be available on Day One and feature live streaming of the NFL Network, including the Red Zone channel. Both of these will require authentication and a corresponding cable or satellite TV subscription. The app will support real-time game stats and a fantasy highlight app that ties into the live broadcast. Of key note is that only NFL.com fantasy leagues will be supported initially. "If you are on NFL.com it's going to work seamlessly," Jurenka told IGN, adding that ESPN, Yahoo, and other fantasy leagues will integrate into the Xbox One's NFL app "in 2014 and beyond." We got to see a live broadcast of an Arizona Cardinals-San Diego Chargers preseason game (unsurprisingly to this Arizona sports fan, the Cardinals muffed a field goal and were losing), and then Jurenka showed off the aforementioned Snap functionality by launching a random Halo 4 video with the fantasy highlights and stats snapped in on the right-hand sidebar.

I asked if Madden video game integration might come in somewhere along the way, perhaps by pulling up your friends' online Madden NFL 25 highlights, and Jurenka simply replied that they have "nothing to announce" regarding a Madden tie-in.

Xbox Live Gold memberships will be required for both the NFL and ESPN apps.

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews and Xbox Guru-in-Chief. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, on IGN, catch him on Podcast Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.

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