Xbox Project xCloud on Android is Almost Flawless | Gamerheadquarters

With home network testing Xbox Project xCloud on Android is almost flawless streaming the games to your device without the need for a console.

[Jin_Sakai]

Please tell me the magic that xCloud uses that others aren’t so I can believe it’s nearly flawless.

[darthv72]

The magic is the strength and reach of their network. I havent used stadia so i have no experience but i have used PSNow as well as remote play and both do okay for themselves but since being in the xc beta it is really good even on my old S6 and ATT 45mbps internet. MS has really put forth a lot of funding to build a strong backbone for their data centers and it shows in how quick and easy it is to jump into a game from my phone.

I can see why Sony would partner with them to help with their streaming needs.

[rainslacker]

So strength and reach of network. In other words, it's going to depend on if you're within the cherry zone of where their servers are located? In other words, it's performance is going to be dependent on other factors?

The magic isn't about it working better, just that it an work better for more people if what you say is the case. This kind of sounds like it's not the best solution for the masses, because one's experience is going to be anecdotal.

[GottaBjimmyb]

@rainslacker yea, that is how things work, more densely populated areas have the benefit of more advanced infrastructure. Not very hard to understand and not new. IDK where the idea that everyone needs to be able to have something or it shouldn't exist has come from...

[KillBill]

Key words that say it all "strong backbone".

[darthv72]

Rain, I am in Sacramento California... I'd hardly call that a cherry zone (not with our shithead governor) but it is fairly close to the bay area which is probably where the central valley server farm is located. But the takeaway here is I'm also using ATT which doesnt have the best track record for speed and performance and yet I still get a good result on the beta. So somewhere between MS and me there is magic happening and it certainly isnt ATT.

[Christopher]

***that is how things work, more densely populated areas have the benefit of more advanced infrastructure***

Someone should inform Houston, Texas about this concept.

***Rain, I am in Sacramento California***

You have ISPs in your area that provide 1000Mbps rates. That's inside a bubble. That's better than what I've gotten in the DMV region (400Mbps up/down) and in Houston (250Mbps down, 5Mbps up). I'm assuming your up is not 1000Mbps potential, but it's gotta be way more than the 4k required 20Mbps.

[rainslacker]

Except the point is, people's experience will vary. What may suck for one customer on one service, may work great on another service. Lots of dependencies to say if streaming will work for someone, and it's been said often, so MS "magic" as darth explained seems more like a matter of circumstance for the user.

I mean, unless people should just move somewhere where the internet doesn't suck. Kind of remember that notion not going over too well some years back.

[Sonyslave3]

Ms got that azure network that Sony and Nintendo are using.

[King_Noctis]

Instead of asking the question in a mocking tone, maybe sign up for the beta, wait for the invitation to arrive, download the app, and try it out yourself?

I know, that takes a whole lotta effort than just coming here and mocking the service.

[Traecy]

Sensitive.

[MadLad]

@traecy

Nah. Noctis was just being logical and straightforward. Your take on it though ..

[Jin_Sakai]

“Instead of asking the question in a mocking tone, maybe sign up for the beta, wait for the invitation to arrive, download the app, and try it out yourself?”

I don’t have a way of testing the service. Maybe I’ll wait for a DF technical analysis? Regardless, there’s no magic happening that doesn’t plague all other streaming services. If there is please inform me.

[shiva1]

@Sakai

"I don’t have a way of testing the service. Maybe I’ll wait for a DF technical analysis? Regardless, there’s no magic happening that doesn’t plague all other streaming services. If there is please inform me"

When u r really waiting for PS5 goodness with those blue glasses on, you would definetely not have a way to see what other colours look like.

You just need to take those glasses off and put some transparent ones to see the world.

[akbennyewu]

@Traecy

Cocksucker

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

As if someone with a PS5 avatar would be satisfied with ANY positive MS news.

[Jin_Sakai]

@SPEAKxTHExTRUTH

“As if someone with a PS5 avatar would be satisfied with ANY positive MS news.”

Now we’re bringing avatars into the equation? I just call BS when I see it.

You want to make an argument then instead hitting the disagree button and going off topic tell me the magic happening that doesn’t plague all game streaming services that supposedly make xCloud a near flawless experience.

Stadia was so fast that they used the buzzword “negative latency” and we see how that went.

[NeoGamer232]

Why don't you just watch the video. You don't have to believe. Just watch it and you will see.

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

Why not go research the “magic” yourself instead of low key trolling and being lazy

[lazyboyblue]

It works. That's the only magic it needs.
That and Microsoft aren't forcing it on anybody or pitching it as the future of gaming. It's just there if you want it.

[SyntheticForm]

@Jin

Not sure about "magic" but they do have quite a solid infrastructure, and that goes a long way. So far in fact that Sony, a direct competitor, will be taking advantage of that tried and true avenue, using it themselves, but not before paying for it.

[timotim]

Microsoft's world wide reach dwarfs both Sony and Google. Where's your nearest datacenter...that's a major component. This is why PS chose to partner with Microsoft on that front.

[Ricegum]

Luckily the majority of PlayStation owners aren't interested in streaming games.

[darx]

I know options suck.

[Ripsta7th]

then why da f did they make PS NOW?

[AnubisG]

@Vokun,

If MS is going down this path, there won't be an Xbox platform within 10 years. This will be their last physical console and after that Xbox will be a "virtual" console that will be able to be reached from any device. Than slowly it will become something else and you will have zero choices but will have to put up with digital and streaming and your gaming will be up to your internet speeds or availability. Also, Xbox was dead last in every single generation it has taken part in. So what are you talking about? Playstation has always been and always will be the superior console experience.

[ReadyPlayer22]

Sony would be stupid NOT to expand PS Now into next gen. I guarantee it'll be a talking point for them as it will for MS. Especially when you have big money players like Google and reportedly Amazon coming into the market.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

I thought they all have PS NOW

[timotim]

You will be in for a rude awakening when you see how Sony expands on PS Now in the future. It doesn't really matter what you think "PlayStation owners" are interested in, when Sony themselves are...

[DPO]

I strongly agree

[Kurt Russell]

Maybe the majority are not interested. But as a Playstation owner myself, I am, it will be incredibly useful to fit within my current lifestyle.

[akbennyewu]

And luckily the vast majority of all gamers don't give a shit about VR, but we don't get into that fact ever when talking about innovating features.

[GottaBjimmyb]

Yea, and Amazon absolutely blows both google and MS away, so if they ever were interested in doing so, they could compete. They seem to have dipped their toes in a few times, but could be interesting.

[KillBill]

Only in scope of sales. Amazon markets to a lot but infrastructure wise Azure has the wider footprint covering many more regions with more data centers. Each of the major public clouds has their own market focus and the reason Sony chose Azure is simply because it is the best cloud system for what console gaming needs. https://www.forbes.com/site...

[DPO]

🤦🏻‍♂️

[NeoGamer232]

I wouldn't say Microsoft dwarfs google. MS seems to have 55 data centers worldwide and Google about 22 (Did quick counts on their web sites).

Double in those numbers is not dwarfing. People need to pay attention to Google. They are a big cloud player. Amazon and MS are the top dogs right now, but Google has both the capability and skills to be up there with them.

[PS4Gamer1984]

Legit question. Why is there endless love for Xcloud but endless hate for Stadia?

[GottaBjimmyb]

Honestly, I think the reason is two-fold:
1. MS doesn't often let their product lines die, so it is a safer bet to invest in the ecosystem.
2. Xcloud is a direct platform alternative where all purchased content can be used on your console, PC or other devices. Stadia is streaming only.

Basically, flexibility and brand strength. Google has done some really cool things, but they have really weakened their brand, at least when putting their name on a product, it doesn't really add much to it.
Nexus, google health, google talk, google hangouts, picasa, inbox etc, etc, etc.

[KillBill]

Had to down vote you on that simply because in the past MS is actually known for putting their toes into a product line and then when things turned in the slightest they cannibalized assets and dropped products like a hot potato. Just to recall Zune and Nokia to see that history full blown. Their current market plan is to stop doing exactly that but they are not known yet for having reached that certainty point they want.

The reason Stadia is getting hit hard is because they are doing what MS stopped doing. They aren't putting enough focus behind the project and treating it with less emphasis than it needs to survive. MS has a new marketing focus that is directly focused on what xCloud and their Azure has to offer. As you mentioned with the push MS is doing towards an eco system with their product use that allows a wider availability and potential bigger push. Microsoft is trying to do what Facebook did where they are making it so their product is seen as more than just a single concept and allowing more connectivity.

[darthv72]

@bill... you do realize Zune wasnt the only portable media player line to be effected by the ipod... right? There used to be countless brands of media devices before the ipod but it came along and killed them all and Zune was like the last one to stand up to it. In the end it too succumed but not before it proved you could have a quality portable media player that wasnt tied to a single store or system (like the ipod).

But all that doesnt really matter once smart phones started incorporating all of those functions and Zune was rebranded and actually still exists but more of an app in Windows 10. Groove music carried on and is now Xbox music because they have been folding all of these smaller projects under the same xbox umbrella. Sadly the zune hardware is long gone but between the Zune HD and my ipod touch... the Zune was clearly the better of the two. And it still works (unlike my ipod)

[AnubisG]

I hate them both equally if that helps.🤣

[MasterCornholio]

Because you can still play your games natively with Xbox. Also Stadia is still a mess.

[XBox4eva69]

Fanboys. Xcloud isn't any better than anything else, it just has the power of millions of xbots screaming from their caves behind it.

[bluefox755]

MS has much better marketing. That's why you see an endless supply of positive articles about them, despite them being in last place. Unfortunately for them, most people see through it I think.

[Donnie81]

Xcloud is fantastic but I just don’t see myself using it much. Call me old fashion but I like my controller and a big screen while chilling on the couch

[LOGICWINS]

It really depends. I play my Switch in handheld mode most of the time despite having a big screen TV that upscales the image and makes the colors pop for the simple fact that I’m tired when I get home from work. I just prefer to lay on my bed and play in handheld mode. When I get the Series X, I’ll be playing via XCloud on my iPad very often.

[Donnie81]

Yeah that’s a good idea. I got a surface pro that would be sweet for that

[autobotdan]

Yeah at my house I play on my tv. But I use X-Cloud at my work on my lunch hours

[ginsunuva]

.... You can stream to a TV and play with a controller genius

[KillBill]

Though that defeats the purpose of it if your console system is already hooked up to your TV. xCloud is not looking at replacing consoles it is simply looking at being an addition to what you can do with their services.

[CaptainHenry916]

Cool

[punishing1]

I've only tried FH4 on my LG G7 and i guess it's fair to say it's "almost" flawless. I can't see playing a precision shooter or anything that requires precision on it...yet. Still a bit laggy, even in the house. It's still impressive as hell to be running something like FH4 on my phone. I bought a cheap $8 controller holder that works great with it too. Like others have said, I'll stick with my 70" 4K and XBOX1X, but I like where it's headed and to have the option.

[lazyboyblue]

Playing Xbox on my phone while the wife's binging the father Brown tv series is a gift of BLISS from the gods.

[XBox4eva69]

I'm sure it does, *if* you live right next to one of their server centres.

[bluefox755]

Meh, you can keep your game streaming. I'll stick with putting discs in my console and playing them with a controller.

[n1kki6]

DId you guys not read the xcloud agreement. Under no circumstances and your record or post video.

[TheOtherMoon]

I have had the opportunity to use XCloud and it is pretty damn impressive. No matter what positive reviews come out people will still hate because they hate. It's one thing to be loyal to a company/brand, it's another to be blind to innovation because of brand loyalty.

[IRetrouk]

While not flawless, it is a good service, suffers from the same issues other streaming services do though, streamings still not for me but ms have provided a good option for those that are interested.