Microsoft introduced Xbox Cloud Gaming in 2020 with much anticipation, but the company's ambition to advance cloud gaming has encountered technological challenges and ongoing disputes with Google and Apple over various issues. However, a recent report suggests that Microsoft is intensifying its efforts to expand the reach of Xbox Cloud Gaming.
A report from earlier this month revealed that Microsoft is planning to test a feature allowing Xbox owners to stream any game in their library, even if it's not part of Game Pass. According to The Verge, this is just the start of Microsoft's plans. The company is reportedly exploring additional cloud-gaming enhancements and the introduction of direct-to-cloud controllers.
The report attributes the discovery of Xbox's direct-to-cloud controller support to the developer of the Better xCloud app, although this feature is not yet ready for deployment. Currently, Microsoft's focus is on enhancing the visual quality of its streams to enable Xbox games to be played without a console that matches the performance of the Xbox Series X|S. There are also plans to increase bitrates on Xbox Cloud Gaming soon. However, resolving and upgrading the ongoing latency issues will reportedly require more time and more powerful hardware.
If Microsoft can successfully implement these changes and provide console-free gamers with an experience comparable to or better than owning an Xbox Series X|S, it could significantly impact the sales of physical consoles. Both Microsoft and Sony have released digital-only consoles this generation, but if Microsoft can truly eliminate the need for a physical console, it could further disrupt the industry—though Google's Stadia did not achieve similar success.
Source link: https://www.gamespot.com
