Tag: Xbox Cloud Gaming

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Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming stick and TV app could come ‘in the next 12 months’

Microsoft is a leader in cloud gaming and its ecosystem continues to expand on that front. For over a year, we’ve known the company is working on developing a stand-alone Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming stick to plug into a TV or display. Additionally, a native smart TV app is also on its way.

This streaming-focused future could very well arrive in the next year. Most recently VentureBeat’s Jeff Grubb and Tom Warren from The Verge corroborate the story that Microsoft’s next major shift is on its way. Grubb states that the Xbox streaming stick or “Roku-like puck” may launch “in the next 12 months.”

In November 2020, Xbox head Phil Spencer first discussed the possibility of being able to stream games directly to a TV or display without a console. Later last year, Spencer confirmed the development of both a streaming stick device and a native TV app that could function as an Xbox Cloud Gaming portal.

However, since that time, Microsoft remains quiet about when this concept will become reality. Grubb and Warren both bring up an “Xbox Everywhere” initiative Microsoft is working on. “I’m pretty sure we’re gonna hear a lot more about it in the coming months,” Warren says. Based on the name, one can imagine taking your games and progress with you from a console in one room, to a smartphone, and to a TV in another.

This past week, Microsoft and Epic Games launched Fortnite on Xbox Cloud Gaming. This release is important for a number of reasons. First, the company is prioritizing a launch of a free-to-play game on its service. It also doesn’t require a subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Secondly, Epic Games and Fortnite have been banned from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store. Launching on Xbox Cloud Gaming sidelines the ban. Microsoft and Epic restore the ability to play Fortnite on iOS and Android devices.

Finally, while it’s only one title, it’s another leg forward in a reality where a player’s entire library is accessible through Xbox Cloud Gaming. This is something Microsoft has envisioned since day one of this initiative. As more devices and options are brought into the fold, the ecosystem effectively opens up to more players.

Image credit: Microsoft

Source: The Verge

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You can now play Fortnite on your iOS device through Xbox Cloud Gaming

After finding a way to come back to iOS and iPadOS via Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud streaming service, iPad and iPhone Fortnite gamers will be pleased to know that Xbox is offering Fortnite for free as part of its Xbox Cloud Gaming service.

Starting today, anyone with a Microsoft account and an iOS or Android device, in addition to PCs can access Fortnite directly from Xbox Cloud Gaming without any installation or membership needed. All you need is a device with a browser and you’ll be able to access Fortnite through the cloud service.

Additionally, since the game is available on all supported platforms, you can play Fortnite with your desired controls, including touch, controller or mouse and keyboard.

While the streamed version via Xbox Cloud won’t be as smooth and responsive as an in-device app, it’s still better than nothing for those longing to play Fortnite on their iPhones and iPad again. Further, Xbox says that it is looking to add more free-to-play titles to its cloud service, but it didn’t mention which games it is targeting.

Learn about how to access Fortnite through Xbox Cloud Gaming here.

Image credit: Xbox

Source: Xbox

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Mobile Syrup

Over 10 million people have used Xbox Cloud Gaming: Microsoft

Microsoft says more than 10 million people have used its Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming service.

The company revealed the figure during its Q3 2021 earnings call. It’s a notable statistic since public data into the game streaming landscape has largely been unavailable. Historically, Microsoft has only offered random stats like “20 percent of Cloud Gaming players use touch controls,” and even less is known about user habits for Google Stadia. (Nvidia GeForce Now, meanwhile, offers a free trial that includes in numbers)

That said, Microsoft didn’t provide any further details about Cloud Gaming’s audience, so it’s hard to gauge ongoing success. All we really know is that Game Pass — the $16.99 CAD/month ‘Ultimate’ tier of which is required for Cloud Gaming — hit 25 million subscribers in January. No data on monthly active users of Cloud Gaming has been provided, nor did Microsoft clarify what constitutes a single stream (i.e. ‘x’ number of minutes).

We don’t even know how many of these 10 million-plus people are existing Game Pass members. That’s because Game Pass has had a “$1 for your first month” introductory offer for a while now, meaning it’s unclear how many people may have signed up, tried out streaming and later cancelled.

Still, unlike, say, Google’s beleagured Stadia service, Microsoft has been positioning Cloud Gaming as merely an option, rather than its core gaming platform. On top of Cloud Gaming being available on iOS, Android, Xbox consoles and PC, consumers can still purchase Xbox/PC games physically or digitally as normal. Xbox is also still positioning Cloud Gaming as a beta as it plans to expand the service to other platforms, like TV apps and Roku-esque streaming sticks.

In related news, Microsoft confirmed that Xbox hardware revenue was up 14 percent in Q3, although it warned that future performance could be affected by Chinese production shutdowns.

Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Xbox unveils two cloud-based support tools for developers at GDC 2022

At Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2022, Xbox revealed two new initiatives that aim to support developers working on games for the cloud.

The first, titled Azure Game Development Virtual Machine, is designed to leverage Microsoft’s extensive Azure network to provide a pre-built game development kit. This will include core game development solutions like Unreal Engine, Parsec, Blender and DirectX.

Per Microsoft, this will allow developers to boot up a game dev workstation or server “in around five minutes,” more easily validate their pipeline performance and save hours of downloads and configurations for game dev tools. Studios can also use Azure Game Development Virtual Machine to migrate and test cloud-native remote game creation.

The Azure Game Development Virtual Machine is now available in public preview to developers.

Xbox’s second GDC announcement, meanwhile, relates to ID@Azure, an extension of its ID@Xbox indie game publishing division. Through ID@Azure, indie developers will receive free tools, resources and support on cloud services. Specifically, ID@Azure will provide some funding opportunities, as well as a dedicated education portal, 24/7 support from Azure experts and more.

ID@Azure was available in limited beta in December, but Microsoft is now opening it up for general availability. The company adds that the program will be offered to any developer, regardless of which platforms it might be targeting.

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Valve’s Steam Deck now supports Xbox Cloud Gaming through Edge

Valve’s handheld Steam Deck can now run Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly called xCloud) platform through Edge.

It was previously possible to play Xbox Cloud Gaming titles through Chrome but handheld controls didn’t work, forcing players to use an external controller with the portable. Now a new beta Linux version of Microsoft Edge designed specifically for the Steam Deck includes full support for the potable’s built-in controls.

In a recent Reddit post, Miss Quarry, a community manager at Microsoft Edge, explained that Edge’s development team worked closely with Valve to bring full Xbox Cloud Gaming support to the Steam Deck through Edge.

“We’re particularly excited about this ourselves as we feel it can open new opportunities in the Linux gaming community,” said Quarry. Microsoft’s Catherine Gluckstein, the company’s head of product and strategy, also tweeted about the new Linux version of Edge designed for the Steam Deck.

This opens up the Steam Deck to the wide variety of Xbox Cloud Gaming titles, including Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Sea of Thieves, Minecraft Dungeons, The Outer Worlds and more. Microsoft has also released a detailed guide to creating a simple link to Xbox Cloud gaming on the Steam Deck to make it easier to access from the handheld. I’ve yet to try out Xbox Game Streaming with the Steam Deck, but I imagine the performance would be similar to playing a title through Edge on an iPhone or iPad.

It’s worth noting that several Xbox Game Studios titles are already compatible with the Steam Deck directly through Valve’s SteamOS, including Prey, Psychonauts 2, Forza Horizon 5 and more.

In other Steam Deck-related news, the device is now capable of running Windows, though the experience is far from perfect.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes Xbox Cloud Gaming, costs $16.99 per month. I’ll have a review of Valve’s Steam Deck on MobileSyrup in the coming days.

Source: Reddit (Miss Quarry), @CJGluckstein Via: The Verge

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Xbox Cloud Gaming gets ‘major performance improvements’ on iPhone and iPad

Xbox has said it has made “major” improvements to its Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming service on iPhone and iPad.

Per the company, these updates “should” enable a “smoother and more responsive gameplay experience.” It’s unclear what, specifically, has been tweaked, but in general, it seems like the overall streaming quality should be better.

Based on its testing, Microsoft says it’s seen a “significant increase in positive player feedback” and 35 percent longer playtimes since it’s made these changes.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is included with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription, which costs $16.99 CAD/month. Members can access the service on supported iPhones and iPads by visiting Xbox.com/play using Safari. From there, sign in with your Microsoft account and pin the website to your Home screen.

Source: Xbox

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Mobile Syrup

Mouse and keyboard support is coming to Xbox cloud games

I might finally start using Xbox Cloud Gaming (oft called xCloud) thanks to an upcoming, much-needed addition: mouse and keyboard support.

Currently, Microsoft’s game streaming service only supports gamepads and touch (on limited titles). While there’s nothing wrong with those options, I’ve found that restriction to be one of the main reasons I don’t use xCloud. The few times I’ve wanted to try xCloud games, I couldn’t because I didn’t have a controller handy. What did I have? Yup, a keyboard and a mouse.

Windows Central spotted the news in a developer Q&A video. A comment from Jorg Neumann, the head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, at 8:40 confirmed that xCloud keyboard and mouse support was on the way.

“The next step for us is mouse [and] keyboard,” Neumann said. “This is platform-level support, so it has nothing to do with us. Obviously, mouse and keyboard works for our sim. So the platform team is working on this. I know I can’t give a date because it’s the platform team. I don’t know their dates, but it’s coming.”

Neumann also said Flight Simulator would get touch control support in the future, and expressed interest in adding gyroscope support for mobile devices. Both would make Flight Simulator much more accessible on mobile devices, which can access the title now thanks to its recent arrival on xCloud.

Despite the lack of a timeline, it’s great to know that mouse and keyboard support is on the way. xCloud, to me, has always stood out as a great way to game on the go or for testing games before committing to a download. For the former, I often have a laptop with me when I’m away from home — mouse and keyboard support would make it much easier to use that for xCloud. For game testing, mouse and keyboard support would make it much easier to try PC titles like Age of Empires IV.

Source: Developer Q&A Via: Windows Central

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What’s new on Xbox Game Pass on console, PC and mobile in late January 2022

Every month, Xbox adds new games to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

Typically, new games are rolled out in two waves, and now, Xbox has revealed January’s second batch of Game Pass catalogue additions.

As previously confirmed, Canadian games Rainbow Six: Extraction (Ubisoft Montreal) and Nobody Saves the World (Toronto’s DrinkBox) are coming to the service on day one. However, there are several other titles hitting Game Pass in the final weeks on January:

  • Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Anniversary Edition (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 18th
  • Nobody Saves the World (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 18th
  • Death’s Door (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 20th
  • Hitman Trilogy (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 20th
  • Pupperazzi (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 20th
  • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 20th
  • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege: Deluxe Edition (PC) — January 20th
  • Windjammers 2 (Cloud, Console and PC) — January 20th
  • Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Master (Console and PC) — January 27th

Meanwhile, the following nine games have received touch controls on mobile:

  • Anvil (Game Preview)
  • Archvale
  • Exo One
  • The Forgotten City
  • Nobody Saves the World
  • One Piece Pirate Warriors 4
  • Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator
  • Stardew Valley
  • Unpacking
  • Death’s Door (when the game releases on January 20th)

Finally, these four titles are leaving Game Pass on January 31st:

  • Cyber Shadow (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Nowhere Prophet (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Prison Architect (PC)
  • Xeno Crisis (Cloud, Console and PC)

Xbox Game Pass is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Android and iOS in beta. Game Pass for Console and PC Game Pass each cost $11.99 CAD/month.

Meanwhile, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $16.99/month and is required for streaming (which Xbox refers to as ‘Cloud’) to mobile devices and browsers. On top of that, this tier includes Game Pass for both Console and PC, as well as subscriptions to Xbox Live Gold and EA Play.

Find out what came to Game Pass earlier this month here.

Image credit: IO Interactive

Source: Xbox

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20 percent of Xbox Cloud Gaming players exclusively use touch controls

Microsoft has revealed to The Verge that 20 percent of people who use Xbox Cloud Gaming exclusively play games with touch controls.

Cloud Gaming, a perk of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, allows games to be streamed to mobile devices, consoles and PCs. While Xbox controllers are universally supported, developers have the option of enabling “touch controls” in their games to give players a virtual gamepad. More than 100 Cloud Gaming titles support touch controls as of last month.

What’s more, Microsoft told The Verge that 30 percent of players of the following games exclusively use touch controls:

  • Dragon’s Quest XI
  • Football Manager 2022 Xbox Edition
  • Hades
  • Minecraft Dungeons
  • New Super Lucky’s Tale
  • Scarlet Nexus
  • Yakuza: Like a Dragon

According to Microsoft, Xbox Cloud Gaming titles with touch controls have seen an average of double the usage. More information on touch controls can be found here.

Source: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Xbox Cloud Gaming gets ‘Clarity Boost’ for better streams on Microsoft Edge

Xbox Cloud Gaming now offers crisper, less blurry pictures on Microsoft’s Edge browser through a feature called Clarity Boost.

In a blog post, Microsoft noted that Clarity Boost “uses a set of client-side scaling improvements to improve the visual quality of the video stream.”

Refer to the image below from the Canadian-made Gears 5 for an idea of how Clarity Boost looks in action:

Xbox Cloud Gaming Clarity Boost

For now, Clarity Boost is only available on Microsoft Edge Canary, but the company says the feature will come to all Edge users sometime in 2022.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is included with a $16.99 CAD/month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription alongside Game Pass for Console and PC, Xbox Live Gold and EA Play. The service launched on Xbox consoles earlier this month and is also available on Android and iOS (via browsers).

Source: Xbox