This week Microsoft began testing the Project xCloud game streaming service for Windows 10 PCs, and the preview version, which allows streaming Xbox games to PCs via the cloud, has now become available to all Microsoft employees. The Verge journalists received exclusive screenshots and learned more about how xCloud works on their PCs.
Microsoft has prepared the Xbox game streaming application for Windows 10, which is distributed through the Windows Store. Like the Android or iOS versions, the app requires an Xbox One controller, a Microsoft account and a good Internet connection. However, the PC application will not only support xCloud, but also stream games from a local or remote Xbox One console.
There are many games that can be tested by Microsoft employees in xCloud, but currently, the application is limited to 720p broadcasts. “Internal preparations are being made with 720p, and 1080p resolution will be available a little later,” Microsoft’s support team told employees.
The implementation of the service on a PC is very similar to the way Android or iOS works, including the user interface and the way games are accessed and transmitted. The PC shipment is definitely ready for extensive testing, and it is likely that Microsoft will soon inform Xbox testers outside the company.
Interestingly, Microsoft has recently updated its xCloud blade servers, according to journalists: Each of them now contains eight Xbox One S instead of the previous four. In addition, Microsoft is already working on converting its xCloud servers to the Xbox Series X processor.
This next-generation single-chip system is capable of running four Xbox One S game sessions simultaneously on a single chip. It also includes a new integrated video encoding unit that is six times faster than the current external video encoding used in existing xCloud servers.
Microsoft is committed to running xCloud with PS4 controller support and streaming on Windows 10 this year. The maker of Xbox plans to integrate Project xCloud and Xbox Game Pass later this year, which will allow players to stream games from the company’s subscription service directly from the cloud without confusing download and installation.
Source: The Verge