Microsoft has previewed its xCloud game streaming service for the first time. The demonstration comes just days before Google is planning to reveal its plans for game streaming at GDC 2019.
Xbox game streaming
During the company’s ‘Inside Xbox’ show, Microsoft’s Kareem Choudhry was in the studio to talk about and demonstrate the so-called xCloud game streaming service that was announced back in October 2018. In a blog post, he further explained that the goal is to provide gamers with choice and versatility.
- “We’re developing Project xCloud not as a replacement for game consoles, but as a way to provide the same choice and versatility that lovers of music and video enjoy today. We’re adding more ways to play Xbox games,” said Kareem Choudhry, CVP of Gaming Cloud at Microsoft. “We believe in the future where you will be able to seamlessly access content on your phone, tablet or another connected device.”
The demonstration comes just days before Google is planning to reveal its plans for game streaming at GDC 2019. Google has announced ‘Project Stream’, a public test of its game streaming technology, and is rumored to be developing a game console. Sony is already in the game with its PlayStation Now game streaming service and the busy expanding it to more regions.
Microsoft is imagining that xCloud will help it reach far more gamers by allowing them to stream games over the internet to variety of devices such as consoles, handheld devices, streaming players, and Smart TVs. Kareem Choudhry has previously said that “there is going to be 2 billion gamers in the world, and our goal is to reach every one of them”. The company is planning to launch a public trial later this year.
That sounds like a lofty goal but judge for yourself. The actual demonstration of xCloud starts from around 3:30 in the video.
