History of video games/Platforms/Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming
History
[edit | edit source]Development
[edit | edit source]In 2015 Microsoft and Duke University develop "Kahawai" technology that reduces latency and bandwidth needed to stream games by performing some of the game rendering on device and using server technology to improve local output.[1][2]
Launch
[edit | edit source]Microsoft xCloud officially launched on September 15th, 2020.[3] The service was integrated with the Xbox Game Pass.[4] Part of the reason xCloud was expanded was to improve the availability of the Xbox platform to those without the means to purchase a dedicated platform.[5]
On February 15th, 2021, Microsoft began openly testing a browser version of the service.[6]
In May 2021 the platform received media attention after Microsoft launched close integration of Xcloud with their dual screen Surface Duo mobile phone.[7]
In 2022 compatibility expanded to the Valve Steam Deck handheld gaming device.[8]
Technology
[edit | edit source]xCloud servers are based on Xbox One hardware and thus use GPUs made by AMD.[9][10]
By February 2021 server blades based on the Xbox One S home game console were used for the service,[6] with plans to use Xbox Series X hardware later in the year.[11]
References
[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Microsoft Research cuts bandwidth needed for game streaming". Windows Central. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ↑ "More details on how Xbox Project xCloud will likely work". Windows Central. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ↑ Faulkner, Cameron (20 August 2020). "Microsoft xCloud launch: How to to play Xbox games from your phone". The Verge. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ↑ Schoon, Ben (16 September 2020). "Xbox Game Pass isn't supported on Android TV, for now". 9to5Google. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ↑ Patel, Nilay (24 November 2020). "Microsoft's Phil Spencer on launching the new Xbox and the future of games". The Verge. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ↑ a b Warren, Tom (15 February 2021). "Here’s a first look at Microsoft’s xCloud for the web" (in en). The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/15/22283739/microsoft-xcloud-web-screenshots-cloud-gaming-streaming-browser-features.
- ↑ Warren, Tom (2021-05-24). "Microsoft has turned the Surface Duo into a handheld Xbox" (in en). The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/24/22450941/microsoft-surface-duo-xbox-mobile-xcloud-cloud-gaming-dual-screen.
- ↑ Plant, Logan (18 March 2022). "Steam Deck Now Supports Xbox Game Pass and Cloud Thanks To Help From Microsoft" (in en). IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/steam-deck-supports-xbox-game-pass.
- ↑ "6 Things to Know About Amazon's Luna Cloud Gaming Service". Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ↑ "Microsoft announces Project xCloud, its own AMD GPU-powered game streaming service". Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ↑ Warren, Tom (18 June 2020). "Microsoft to upgrade its xCloud servers to Xbox Series X hardware in 2021" (in en). The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/18/21295326/microsoft-project-xcloud-xbox-series-x-servers-hardware-2021.