Microsoft to trial cloud service that will enable game streaming across devices
Tech giant Microsoft is working on a new cloud service that will let users stream games across devices such as consoles, personal computers and smartphones.
Called xCloud, Microsoft’s project is expected to break barriers in terms of game titles being available for specific devices only.
“Scaling and building out Project xCloud is a multi-year journey for us,” Microsoft’s cloud gaming chief Kareem Choudhry was quoted as saying by The Verge. “We’ll begin public trials in 2019 so we can learn and scale with different volumes and locations.”
According to The Verge, Microsoft has come up with new custom-made hardware for its data centres that will help games on its flagship console Xbox become compatible on PCs and mobile devices.
It is currently testing games with Xbox wireless controllers connected to other devices in order to cut down latency and help process video encoding and decoding at an optimum level so that games run smoothly. The company also said that this would enable gaming on 4G networks as well.
Microsoft’'s move is expected to open up new revenue streams. The company, which competes with Amazon and Google in the cloud services segment, might see a growth in revenue if it decides to sell the new service at a premium. Other rival services remain mostly free for now.
Other similar competitive services include Sony’s PlayStation Now, Shadow, and Liquid Sky.
Nvidia had to create a waitlist just after it started the beta service of its GeForce Now, a cloud-based streaming service that allows people to experience high-end gaming on low-end machines and even on Apple’s iMacs, which are not known for their gaming capabilities.
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