Positive Updates on Cloud Gaming for Xbox Users
Positive Updates on Cloud Gaming for Xbox Users
Lastmonth, Microsoft disclosed an intriguing plan for their 'Stream Your Own Game' endeavor, an enhancement to Cloud Gaming which permitted users to play Xbox digital possessions over the internet on compatible TVs and smart devices such as phones, tablets, and PCs. No download required.
Previously, only Game Pass Ultimate titles, which were specific to the service, could be streamed. However, this new function added select purchased games that weren't accessible with the paid subscription. The list consisted of around 50 titles, including blockbuster games like Baldur's Gate 3, Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat 1, and Star Wars Outlaws, as well as various indie offerings such as Animal Well, The Plucky Squire, and the critically acclaimed Balatro.
Beginning today, Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha rings (presumably exclusive clubs one can only join with a mysterious green blood ritual) can now test out the 'Stream Your Own Game' feature on actual Xbox consoles, and with more games added to the initial 50, like Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake.
In essence, if you're part of the exclusive preview, you can now stream own games to your Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One. Although, if you're still using an aging Xbox One, what on earth are you doing, good sir? No matter, as the charm of streaming surpasses outdated hardware. That's the idea, in short.
But why should you care, you might ask? Well, Xbox appears to be aiming to broaden the scope of streaming beyond the limited titles available on its Game Pass Ultimate subscription, and usher in a convenient future where every game we buy will be playable via the foreboding cloud.
I'd contend that this is the ultimate direction of the industry - if not in the following generation of gaming, then surely in the one after. All streaming, all the time. Microsoft is ahead of the curve in this regard, I'd say, despite its recent hardware struggles and apparent lack of clear vision. The slogan "This is an Xbox" caused confusion, but maybe that is the clear direction after all. The direction is: You can access your game library from any device, anywhere. Traditional consoles will soon be a thing of the past.
I recently reposted an ex-PlayStation developer David Jaffe's comment from earlier today on X, where he was responding to someone lamenting Sony's acquisition of FromSoftware:
Jaffe is a long-time advocate for game streaming technology, and if you watch his livestreams, you'll notice that most of his gameplay comes from NVIDIA's GeForce Now service. I share his futuristic perspective, in that eliminating traditional hardware altogether seems like a route to not only more games but better games, as well as broader access to individuals in various situations.
With any luck, we can finally end the console war nonsense, as the device you're playing games on ultimately doesn't matter much. It's like arguing about the kind of paper we print books on. The content is what matters. Streaming makes traditional hardware obsolete. This is a good thing, I think.
Of course, internet speeds are a concern, but those are improving every day. And honestly, you don't really need the fastest internet to enjoy game streaming. 10Mbps download is the absolute minimum for Cloud Gaming on Xbox, with 5Ghz Wi-Fi recommended for wireless connectivity. Wired ethernet and higher download speeds are always preferable, but 10Mbps, in the grand scheme of things, is nothing for gamers using this feature.
So, if you're an Xbox Insider and have joined the green blood ritual (unfortunately, I'm not and haven't), give this new feature a whirl and let me know what you think. It'll be great when 'Stream Your Own Game' becomes available to the general public, as it's a sign of things to come - better things, I'd predict. I recently bought a PS5 Pro, and frankly, it's a superfluous piece of hardware. Delete it all, I say.
Let's cast our games over the internet. Magic, in the truest sense.
- This new feature allows you to stream your own purchased Xbox games on your Xbox Series X/S or Xbox One, as part of Microsoft's expanded 'Stream Your Own Game' service.
- NVIDIA GeForce Now, a popular game streaming service, is often used by game developers like David Jaffe for its convenience, which aligns with Microsoft's vision of a future where every game we buy can be streamed via cloud gaming.
- Xbox Series S, like other compatible devices, can now stream games from the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate library or your own game library, thanks to Microsoft's advancements in game streaming technology.
- Microsoft's cloud gaming services, including Xbox Cloud Gaming and 'Stream Your Own Game', are poised to challenge traditional console gaming, as the company aims to offer a seamless, device-agnostic gaming experience, allowing users to stream their own games across various platforms.