Microsoft’s Project xCloud game streaming service has been shown off, with a mobile device playing the full-blown version of the popular Xbox One game, “Forza Horizon 4.” While the device playing the game is an Android phone, it should also be possible to accomplish the same gameplay on an iPhone or iPad.
Microsoft’s streaming service will allow games to be played on devices other than an Xbox or PC for the first time, opening the door for Xbox games to be played on an iPad, for example. Project xCloud allows games to be run in the cloud, and with video sent to a display or app and then input sent back in the other direction. It’s something that has been done before by the likes of OnLive, a service which was bought by Sony and turned into PlayStation Now.
In the demonstration shown below, Forza Horizon 4 is streamed to an Android phone that is connected to an Xbox One controller via Bluetooth. As you can see in the video, the results were rather impressive.
Streaming games from the cloud means most of the graphics rendering can be done on remote servers, meaning the local device need not be all that powerful. (Of course we know that iOS devices are more than capable of rendering HD graphics in games.) However, game streaming does require a fast internet connection, although that likely won’t be an issue with the advent of gigabit fiber connections to homes and the development of 5G wireless networks.
We’ll keep you posted on Project xCloud as we hear more info. We do know that a public beta testing period is expected sometime in 2019.
