MICROSOFT has announced an official release date for its bonkers streaming app which lets you play Xbox games on your phone.
Project xCloud officially arrives next month and promises to let you play games anywhere, anytime by plugging your smartphone into a controller.
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The first public tests of the service will begin in the UK in October, Microsoft said. You can sign up for a public preview on Xbox website.
“A year ago, we announced the first details of Microsoft’s cloud-based game streaming technology, Project xCloud,” a spokesperson said.
“Our intention is to bring console quality games to gamers around the world on their mobile device.
“After months of internal testing, we are ready to begin our public testing of the xCloud project which will begin in the US, UK and Korea in October.”
- You can register for xCloud public tests here
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The xCloud service runs on Xbox One X hardware modified to run in a data center.
It promises to allow users to play Xbox games on any device that has a screen and an internet connection.
“Project xCloud’s cutting-edge global game streaming technology will give you the freedom to play on the device of your choice without being locked to a particular device,” the company said in a blog post last year. .
It’s going on sale soon, along with another streaming service that lets you use your own Xbox console to stream games to your phone or other devices.
You’ll be able to stream AAA games on the go, much like you would with a Netflix show.
Microsoft has said that next month’s public testing will help it test and improve Project xCloud ahead of its full public release, which it is keeping under wraps.
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Video game streaming, how does it work?
We will explain everything to you…
- When you watch a movie, the images you see are already prepared
- This is why very simple computers inside your TV, DVD player or computer can play movie clips.
- But video games render the visuals in real time because a game never knows what you’ll do next.
- This means that you need a lot more computer weight to produce game visuals, compared to a standard movie.
- So if you want stunning 4K PC-style graphics, you’ll have to fork out for an expensive computer.
- Alternatively, you can use game streaming technology
- The idea is that a company like Google, Microsoft or Sony would take care of the generation of the visuals on powerful computers in their own headquarters.
- Then it would send what is effectively a video of that game to your smartphone
- You tap and play, and those commands are sent back to Microsoft or Sony, which then enters them into the game and sends the visuals back to you.
- Because modern internet connections are so fast, everything happens in milliseconds
- The resulting effect is 4K PC style graphics on a smartphone – which is only possible because it is not the phone itself that renders the graphics.
- It also means that you could potentially play an Xbox or PlayStation game on your console, then leave the house and continue playing with your iPhone.
- This kind of technology could possibly kill gaming consoles for good, as all you need is a TV with built-in game streaming technology and a controller to play with.
- But game streaming hasn’t had much success so far
- Sony has purchased several game streaming companies and has incorporated the technology into its remote play features that let you play PS4 games anywhere you want.
- And Nvidia has its own game streaming service, but the slow performance kept it from becoming a mainstream choice.
- The next major service slated to launch is Google Stadia, which many are hoping will be a success.
“The preview will continue until customers consistently report a great experience and the technology meets our quality standards,” a spokesperson said.
In a previous video revealing details of the new service, Microsoft explained that this is not the end of the road for consoles, as they offer an “immersive-only” setup for games.
Project xCloud is meant to be an alternative for those who don’t have console access at all, or just at that time.
The platform will compete with Google’s upcoming game streaming service, Google Stadia.
Stadia will run games on computers that are in Google data centers around the world, then stream the video output to your screen.
Its release is slated for November, while Microsoft has yet to set a firm date for xCloud.
In other news, check out all the latest rumors about the PS5 release date.
We’ve also been scouring the web for Xbox 2 news and rumors.
And read our guide to the best Nintendo Switch games.
Are you going to try xCloud? Let us know in the comments!
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