The future is closer than we thought. Microsoft has officially introduced Project xCloud. This is a service that will allow you to play Xbox One products on a large number of platforms, including mobile devices. The announcement took place a couple of days after the test launch of the streaming solution from Google.
There are not very many details about Project xCloud yet. The key feature is the ability to play AAA Xbox One titles from any device “in the cloud”. It is possible on a smartphone, it is possible on an old laptop. At the same time, the presence of a gamepad is optional. The commercial for the new service shows that Halo 5 and Forza Horizon 4 are played both by attaching a smartphone to the controller and using touch sticks.
The appearance of the game in the Project xCloud library on the part of the developer will not require effort. Microsoft assures that it will be able to provide access to the 3,000 titles that are currently available on the platform, without any additional work on the part of developers and publishers.
Public tests are scheduled for next year. Now the company is testing the technology inside. The results are encouraging. You can also play on 4G, but the speed must be at least 10 Mbps. After the worldwide deployment of 5G, there will be no borders,” Microsoft says.
Project xCloud will run on the capacities of the Azure cloud platform, which operates in 140 countries. The latter suggests that there should be no problems with lag in the main territories. Recall that this was the main problem of the first major cloud gaming services — OnLive and Gaikai.
Now Microsoft’s service looks more promising than analogues from competitors. Sony’s PlayStation Now solution is less interesting, since it is assigned exclusively to the PlayStation 4, and the company’s server capacity is more modest. As for Google, its Project Stream is focused exclusively on the PC, plus the company does not yet have either a platform or a library of games.
Also on the topic:
- Ubisoft CEO: the next generation of consoles will be the last
- Google has announced Project Stream, a game streaming service and a possible competitor to modern playgrounds
Source: Microsoft