Xbox-Powered Streaming of Stadia Embraces Cloud Gaming's Ideal: A Bizarre yet Ideal Way Cloud Gaming Ought to Function
Rewritten Article:
Hang on tight! Let's pretend you and your buddy are hangin' out at his place, peeping his Xbox library. He's keen to try the latest hotshot first-person shooter, but it ain't his. You've got it on a cloud gaming service, but it ain't lookin' swell on your phone, and your buddy don't have a Chromecast Ultra.
"We can play it on the Xbox," he suggests.
You're skeptical. Sure, you know Xbox games can be played in the cloud, but games from other services? Sounds fishy. But you and your buddy fire up the game on the browser on the Xbox, and what do you know, it works!
This ain't just a fairy tale. The Verge tested running Google Stadia via the Microsoft Edge browser on the newest Xbox, and it apparently functions flawlessly. Google pushes Stadia subscribers to use Chrome, but Stadia operates smoothly on Edge because it's a Chromium-based browser. Chromium, of course, is Google's open-source software project, so it makes sense it would just work. Stadia is compatible with Xbox controllers, and according to The Verge, that integration is buttery smooth on the Xbox.
The Chromium version of Edge is only available to Xbox Insiders at the moment, but this cross-compatibility with other cloud gaming platforms is a sweet reason to sign up if you haven't already. But why would one want, or need, to play Stadia from their Xbox? It seems backwards, but that's the magic of cloud gaming—you're meant to be able to play games anywhere from any device.
Because Stadia and Amazon's Luna work in the Edge browser, and the Edge browser seems to be operating just fine via Xbox, you don't need a Chromecast Ultra or even a Stadia controller. It's the same story with Luna—you don't need a Fire TV Stick or a Luna controller to play on your TV when it's compatible without them. You can also link your Stadia and Luna accounts to your Ubisoft account, so you can play any of those games in the cloud via your Xbox. Not even the PS5 can do that! There might be a "secret" browser, but it ain't a Chromium-based browser.
Cloud gaming platforms are currently fragmented, with nearly every major tech company offering their own service. The financial incentives are there, but browser compatibility is making games a bit more accessible to those who wouldn't otherwise want to invest in more hardware needed to play those games. If you're part of the Xbox Insiders program and hankerin' to check out Stadia or Luna, you can do it without buying any new gear.
As a pc gamer mainly, that's enough to make me seriously mull over grabbin' a new Xbox.
Enrichment Insights:- Stadia and Luna are only partially compatible with the Microsoft Edge browser on Xbox consoles, not fully integrated like Xbox Cloud Gaming.- Currently, Google Stadia and Amazon Luna do not officially support playing directly on an Xbox console through the Microsoft Edge browser.- The Chromium version of Microsoft Edge is not available for public use, just for Xbox Insiders.- Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) is Xbox's own cloud gaming service, separate from Stadia and Luna.- The ability to link Stadia and Luna accounts to Ubisoft accounts can enable seamless cloud gaming on various devices, but it doesn't ensure full compatibility across all platforms.- The fragmentation of cloud gaming platforms is driving some financial incentives and attempts to make gaming more accessible.
- The future of tech gaming might not require a Chromecast Ultra, as Stadia runs smoothly on the Microsoft Edge browser on the newest Xbox, thanks to its Chromium-based structure.
- Surprisingly, you don't need a Stadia controller to play Google Stadia on your TV as it works flawlessly on the Edge browser via Xbox, making it accessible without additional hardware.
- Similar to Stadia, Amazon Luna also seems to operate effectively on the Edge browser through an Xbox, eliminating the need for a Fire TV Stick or a Luna controller.
- With the potential to link Stadia and Luna accounts to your Ubisoft account, you can play various Ubisoft games in the cloud via your Xbox, a feature not even the PS5 can boast about.
