A long-held dream for Microsoft is finally coming true as players will be able to stream games that they own through Xbox Cloud Gaming beginning next month. Nevertheless, the announcement has met a fair share of applause and criticism. Let’s take a closer look at what that means to the community, the challenges that are there, and what fans are saying.
Streaming Arrives for Xbox Cloud Gaming
There’s exciting news for the video gaming world this month. Microsoft is about to enable players to stream their own game libraries from the cloud. The upgrade will go live in November, but it has been in development under the Project Lapland initiative.
As cited from The Verge, “Project xCloud was supposed to launch with game library streaming in 2020. Microsoft then announced it would support your game library on Xbox Cloud Gaming in 2022, but it never launched that year.”
Fast-forward to 2024, the rollout of Xbox Cloud Gaming will be gradual as these new cloud streaming capabilities are put through their paces with extensive testing by Xbox insiders before the public gets a taste.
Barring any last-minute announcements, gamers could soon get access to and play the titles they own, and this would expand the rather limited library of games now on offer through the Xbox Game Pass.
In addition, Microsoft wants to update the Xbox application on Android so users can buy games right from their devices. It comes after a recent ruling of the court that is basically barring Google from requiring Google Play Billings for Native apps starting from November 1st.
As Xbox president Sarah Bond put it, “Starting in November, players will be able to play and purchase Xbox games directly from the Xbox App on Android.” This is done in an attempt to bridge the gap between ownership and accessibility by making it easier for gamers to get into their favorite titles when on the go.
Cloud Streaming and Its Challenges So Far
The idea of streaming games directly from cloud gaming is not new; it is something that has been possible for many years but never got mainstream due to a myriad of challenges involved. Some of these include server capacity, severe network latency issues, and issues of game compatibility.
Google Stadia serves as a cautionary tale in this regard. After many years of planning and millions of dollars down the drain, Stadia abruptly shut down on January 18, 2023. Rumors have it that Google simply struggled with high expectations versus the reality of streaming performance.
Central to Stadia’s failure in cloud gaming was an inability to provide a consistent, high-quality experience across variable network conditions. There were complaints among gamers due to the latency issues and how that generally ruined the gameplay, especially within fast-moving genres like first-person shooters. Another problem that plagued Stadia was relying on third-party publishers – a move that limited its library and made the platform generally less appealing.
Google was poised for success given its vast network of servers globally. However, experts hold the opinion that Microsoft might have the upper hand due to its existing Xbox infrastructure and relationships with game developers. By ensuring a wide array of titles that can stream effectively, Microsoft will likely avoid some of the pitfalls that have plagued Stadia.
Success from Xbox Cloud Gaming, however, will depend on whether it can respond to the inherent problems of cloud technology to offer the best experience to users.
But not all gamers need 4k streaming quality to enjoy their experience. For example, casino games on Xbox usually utilize low poly animations that don’t require a high frame rate or sharp graphics to provide a seamless experience. That said, casino gaming options on Xbox are limited to options like the following:
- The Four Kings Casino and Slots
- Golden Royal Roulette
- Poker Club
These games offer a very basic casino experience and cannot yet match real-world online casinos. Therefore, all passionate gambling enthusiasts are advised to take advantage of the traditional gaming experience and check out this list with best-paying casinos in Canada according to CasinoCanada.com. This is where you can find great casinos with top-rated games.
What Fans Are Saying
With such news of cloud gaming hitting the scene, you’d expect overwhelming excitement from the community, but that isn’t the case. The gaming community is split between players who are thrilled by the potential of streaming any game on any device and those who harbor concerns about inherent cloud gaming issues.
On one hand, many fans are visibly excited to see Xbox Cloud Gaming provide access to a whole library of games without a console. Something that players who value portability will appreciate.
Social media is already buzzing with gamers and enthusiasts expressing excitement about the accessibility to games and the convenience of playing anywhere with a stable internet connection. Some users say streaming will eliminate the need for high-end hardware, democratizing gaming to a wider audience.
Still, video quality and potential latency issues are a major concern for games. When you think about it – gaming is something we do to enjoy ourselves. So, even little differences in FPS, minor lags here and there, and subpar video quality are enough for the other half of the gaming community to stick with their hardware.
While often expensive and not easily accessible, consoles have provided unmatched consistency, and cloud gaming must match that if it ever hopes to become the default way of gaming. But where we see a problem, companies eye profits.
According to Statista, “The global cloud gaming market size was valued at USD 5.76 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 9.71 billion in 2024 to USD 126.62 billion by 2032.”
With significant investments into the sector, companies like Microsoft will definitely be innovating ways to fix these problems and dominate the cloud gaming sector. It wouldn’t even be too surprising if we eventually find Google reviving the Stadia project and joining the race sometime in the future.
