Game streaming has gone from something that could only be imagined as a far-fetched futuristic concept to something that is really one thing and has even gained some steam among users (although some companies are not really doing so well). And everyone wants a part of the game streaming game, from companies like Nvidia to even Microsoft, which also has its own game streaming service called Xbox Cloud Gaming and formerly called xCloud (we’re still going to call it xCloud to simplify). Considering that you can’t buy an Xbox Series X right now (or maybe you can), this is probably the next best thing, but it does have some limitations. The good news is that most of these limitations are disappearing with new features and improvements in the works.
The first of these improvements is the fact that Microsoft is making an application for Windows called Xbox Game Streaming. This Windows app will not only allow you to stream your games from the cloud and provide the xCloud experience to devices and computers running Windows 10, but it will also allow you to stream games from your own consoles if you have an Xbox Series S or an Xbox Series X, although this last feature is not yet functional in this (very crude) unreleased version of the application that The Verge put their hands.
This application is nothing new, as it was first discovered last year in a much more difficult state, which means that Microsoft is actively working on it. It will not only provide the xCloud experience for Windows PCs, but will also be compatible with ARM devices, meaning you can also play games on your always-connected laptop or tablet. This app also includes features like touch support (which will allow you to play without a controller) and support for the gyroscope (although it also appears to be broken).
and yes, the xCloud app for Windows will work on ARM devices like Surface Pro X 👍 https://t.co/ymyjQDmaeH pic.twitter.com/3XXYAGaVRH
– Tom Warren (@tomwarren) February 27, 2021
The second of these improvements is support for 1080p streaming, as reported by Windows Central. At the moment, xCloud streaming is limited to 720p, which is probably good for smaller screens and smartphones and is really better in terms of bandwidth and responsiveness as it’s easier to move a 720p stream across a network, but it can get very confusing very quickly on a larger display. 1080p streaming offers better quality for your games, as long as your Internet connection allows.
Other competitors, like Google Stadia, already support 1080p streaming, so Microsoft is trying to catch up on that. At the same time, most of Microsoft’s server infrastructure is based on the Xbox One architecture, and Microsoft is set to switch to the Xbox Series X architecture this year, so 1080p streaming may be one of the first results of these changes.
Are you an xCloud user? Are you enjoying these changes?