How portable? The answer surprised even us. Based on our conversations with AMD and what they’re willing to say (and not say) we are of the belief that Mantle isn’t just a low level API, but rather Mantle is the low level API. As in it’s heavily derived (if not copied directly) from the Xbox One’s low level graphics API. All of the pieces are there; AMD will tell you from the start that Mantle is designed to leverage the optimization work done for games on the next generation consoles, and furthermore Mantle can even use the Direct3D High Level Shader Language (HLSL), the high level shader language Xbox One shaders will be coded against in the first place.

Now let’s be very clear here: AMD will not discuss the matter let alone confirm it, so this is speculation on our part. But it’s speculation that we believe is well grounded. Based on what we know thus far, we believe Mantle is the fundamentals of the Xbox One’s low level API brought to the PC.

By being based on the Xbox One’s low level API, Mantle isn’t just a new low level API for AMD GCN cards, whose success is defined by whether AMD can get developers to create games specifically for it, but Mantle becomes the bridge for porting over Xbox One games to the PC. Nothing like this has ever been done before, so quite how it will play out as a porting API is still up in the air, but it’s the kind of unexpected development that could have significant ramifications for multiplatform games in the future.

The Xbox One's DVR will automatically record gameplay as achievements are unlocked, an Xbox official said.

Xbox Australia Product Manager told YouTube user ChampChong that, while Xbox One players have the option to forego recording gameplay, the DVR will automatically capture when achievements are unlocked.

The gameplay can then be shared, although it's been announced that sharing on the Xbox One will be limited to Xbox Live at launch, and social sites such as YouTube or Facebook won't be viable sharing outlets from the outset.

It won't be automatic for every Achievement. It's a feature that Developers can unlock for achievements, OR, for instance, have hidden in the game for doing something cool or discovering something hidden. Basically we allow developers access to GameDVR and they can put conditions on an automatic recording.

But not every Achievement will automatically be recorded.