Microsoft announced plans to bring its Xbox gaming platform to the cloud, so users can stream and play games across multiple devices. Public trials of the Project xCloud are planned to start in 2019.
Developers of the more than 3,000 games available on Xbox One will be able to deploy their games on xCloud and reach a larger audience across devices. Gamers will receive an experience on all devices, including smartphones, that’s consistent with the speed and high-fidelity expected on PCs and consoles, Microsoft said.
The company is already testing Project xCloud. The test runs on devices (mobile phones, tablets) paired with an Xbox Wireless Controller through Bluetooth, and it is also playable using touch input. Microsoft said it's developing a new, game-specific touch input overlay that provides maximum response in a minimal footprint for players who choose to play without a controller.
Microsoft is also working on reducing bandwidth and optimising latency, so users can stream the games over mobile networks. Currently, the test experience is running at 10 Mbps, and the company said its goal is "to deliver high-quality experiences at the lowest possible bitrate that work across the widest possible networks, taking into consideration the uniqueness of every device and network". Developers and researchers at Microsoft Research are also creating ways to combat latency through advances in networking topology, and video encoding and decoding.
The company plans to host the new system in its Azure data centres. It's enabled compatibility with existing and future Xbox games by building out custom hardware for its data centres. This included designing a new customizable blade that can host the component parts of multiple Xbox One consoles, as well as the associated infrastructure supporting it.
