Microsoft xCloud | Price, Beta, Release Date, etc.

Microsoft remains committed to providing Xbox One and PC fans with more ways to play their favorite games, whether through physical discs, paid digital downloads, Free Xbox Games Gold title or vault from Xbox Game Pass. An upcoming service, Project xCloud, will let players enjoy their favorite games instantly, whether they’re playing on console, PC or even mobile. This service has the potential to completely change the way we experience the game – and you’ll be able to try it out soon. Here’s everything we know about Microsoft xCloud.

What is Project xCloud?

Project xCloud is Microsoft’s video game streaming service that allows players to instantly stream console and PC games to devices of their choice using an internet connection (such as smartphones smart Android). Similar to the system used by Google Stadia, you won’t download the games you play in Project xCloud. Instead, they’ll be streamed from Microsoft’s own servers, using the Azure Cloud architecture that has been deployed in games such as Crackdown 3 and Titanfall. There are 54 different Azure regions around the globe that will provide stable service to users regardless of their location.

Project xCloud is not designed to replace traditional digital and disc-based gaming. Instead, Microsoft hopes it will open up console-quality games for those who currently lack the necessary hardware to do so or can only play on mobile devices. It also means that players will be able to enjoy a particular Xbox or PC game they’re interested in without having to purchase the entire system.

The quality limits on Project xCloud are still unknown. In one blog post in March 2019Microsoft Corporate Vice President of Gaming Cloud Kareem Choudhry says the company still values ​​the console experience, as it enables 4K gaming with HDR, while xCloud has so far focused on devices. mobile where resolution isn’t as important as streaming on something like Stadia.

How does Project xCloud work?

XCloud project uses Microsoft’s Azure data center hardware to display the remote gaming experience, and games are then streamed to the device of your choice. Each server blade has internal components of four Xbox One S systems, if the demo video that Microsoft releases is accurate.

The same cloud saving system currently used to create Xbox Play Anywhere – a cross-purchase program for Xbox One and PC – will also be used under Project xCloud. This means that if you’re playing a game at home and need to leave, you’ll be able to resume directly where you left off.

During a demonstration on Inside Xbox in March, we got a first look at Project xCloud in action. Running on Azure datacenter servers, Forza Horizon 4 has been shown streaming to Android phones, with a quality similar to that of console games. The framerate appears to be identical, allowing the experience not to drop in any way to function through streaming.

To optimize the experience for mobile players, Microsoft will provide a variety of controls. These include the ability to use the Xbox One controller over Bluetooth – a feature brand new Xbox One controllers have – and touch support will also be offered. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all control scheme for a touchscreen, the game will also have their own unique settings to best match the action a player will take.

Valuation

So far, Project xCloud is offered for free as part of a Game Pass Ultimate subscription, which costs $ 15 per month. It’s not available in any other form, and Microsoft doesn’t seem ready to launch it as a standalone service in the near future. There are some additional costs if you want to buy a special Bluetooth controller for xCloud streaming, but the newer Bluetooth-enabled Xbox controller works fine, and if the game supports touch controls, you even No need to use a controller.

The first Android beta

While the whole of xCloud is still technically in beta, Microsoft is holding brief preview betas as part of the service rollout. The first beta for xCloud only supports Android devices and officially ends on September 1, 2020, before launching the service on Game Pass Ultimate later that month. Beta testers can save the game progress to their Xbox profile so it can continue after the beta ends.

During this time, more than 50 games are available to play. These include Gears 5, Madden NFL 20, Devil May Cry 5, and Tekken 7Although not all games tested in beta were made available through Game Pass.

The second iOS / PC beta

Microsoft was unable to deliver xCloud on iOS in the first beta due to the well-known strict Apple policies on the App Store. Microsoft has decided on a workaround using a mobile web browser for iOS and completely dismissed the headaches on the App Store. In early 2021, the company announced via a blog post that iOS support for xCloud will begin with beta for both iOS and PC in spring 2021.

So far, no specific release date has been announced. It is not yet certain whether this will be a shorter preview beta like with the more official pre-launch Android in terms of iOS support or whether iOS features will be added to xCloud without preview time.

Release date

After the first beta, Microsoft announced the launch of Project xCloud on September 15 for Android as a bundle with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for $ 15 a month. As long as a user has Game Pass Ultimate and an Android device running Android 6.0 or higher, they can play more than 100 games on their device at no additional charge. Several playable games are included Minecraft Dungeons, Destiny 2, Let me know why, Gears 5, Sea of ​​Thievesand Yakuza Kiwami 2. There are no plans for exclusive games over xCloud.

“As the world around us changes and entertainment is available no matter what device, our vision is to make games accessible in a variety of situations,” Microsoft said. . “All the experiences you’d expect on Xbox and your game profile to accompany you on your mobile device, including friends roster, achievements, controller settings and game progress. save.”

There are currently a number of gaming accessories you can buy specifically for Android gaming with xCloud, including the Razer Kishi mobile gaming device, the Moga XP5-X Plus controller with an Android phone attachment, and more options. Microsoft also continues to expand its support in the region, with plans in 2021 to bring services to Australia, Brazil, Japan and Mexico.

So far, there are no rumors of a standalone service for xCloud. However, Microsoft has repeatedly called xCloud as a multi-year project with future updates. The next phase of this project appears to be support for iOS devices, which Microsoft confirmed is on the right track by spring 2021.

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