Microsoft now lets you stream PC games to an Xbox One and use a controller

A newly updated app, Wireless Display app, from Microsoft enables the support so you can play Steam games or other titles directly on an Xbox One. You can use a regular Xbox controller to control the remote PC, enabling game play or even the ability to use an Xbox for presentations.

[gangsta_red]

Is this cool?

[maybelovehate]

Not for gaming lol. But it might be cool to stream your desktop for other purposes. Although I am not quite sure what.

[lxeasy]

I'm cool with this.

[Kumakai]

Yes. More games. Everybody places importance on games. This expands that concept by a whole other ecosystem. So the Xbox in theory has 2 game catalogs. Seems MS is more for the players lately.

[gangsta_red]

Yeah, that's pretty cool for a person like me who doesn't game on PC but now can make a Steam account and play games from Steam on Xbox.

But in my opinion it would have been a lot better if there was a native Steam app to access your account and play games.

Baby steps right...

[SegaGamer]

Except that you need to own the pc which also needs to be on and poweful enough to run the games and have the games installed on that pc. It's your pc that is doing the work, you're just streaming your own pc to your Xbox One.

This has been around for a while now, it's called Steam Link, and you can download it on pretty much any Android device, you could also just use any old Laptop to stream your Steam library with home streaming.

[starchild]

@ gangsta_red

I was going to write a blog post about this (I guess N4G doesn't offer that anymore?), but I really think Microsoft plans to bring PC and Xbox together even more. Before this generation of consoles launched I had commented about how I think Microsoft should merge PC and Xbox software. We've definitely gotten closer to that this generation with Microsoft putting all of their exclusives on PC and the play anywhere initiative.

What I think they should do, though, is to simply turn future Xbox consoles into streamlined gaming PCs. This would mean that the Xbox and PC platforms would fully merge into one single platform.

Doing this would bring a host of benefits to developers and to Xbox and PC platforms. Developers could create a single version of their games that would scale across different PCs and Xbox consoles. This would obviously result in less work for developers. It would also mean that games for PC/Xbox would have a much larger user base to sell to, which would make the platform more attractive to developers and likely result in a greater number of games being created for the platform.

It would also benefit both PC gamers and Xbox gamers because every PC game would be available to play on Xbox consoles and every Xbox game would be available to play on the PC. So Xbox gamers would get to enjoy a massive library of PC games that never showed up on Xbox consoles and PC gamers would no longer miss out on games like Red Dead Redemption 2.

It would also give gamers the option to buy an affordable Xbox console and then upgrade up to a more powerful PC later down the line and still carry their library of games with them.

Consoles are already so PC-like in their makeup. This would mainly just be Microsoft merging Xbox and PC at the software and tools level.

Some people may claim that a console that can run PC games would detract from the ease of use and straightforward nature consoles are known for. And that worry wouldn't be completely unwarranted. However, I think it's possible for Microsoft to streamline the UI and the whole experience in ways that would still be palatable to console gamers. And the benefits are huge and undeniable. If Microsoft could manage to nail that aspect and market it the right way it could be a positive and transformative shift for them and for gamers.

That's what I think they should do. Whether they actually go that far is anyone's guess. They certainly seem to be moving in that direction though. So we'll see to what degree any of this happens.

[Ju]

"need a PC powerful enough"...sure, but a 2 year old quad i7 with a 1060GTX streams content just fine. At 1080p at least. Same as Steam link (on any Android TV).

[DaDrunkenJester]

I have my uses for it. For instance, my computer is in my room so when the wife needs to go to bed I can't continue to play my games. Now I can just stream it to my Xbox in the living room.

Of course you're still at the mercy of your internet speed, but both my Xbox and PC are hardwired in and the last time I streamed my Xbox to my PC it worked pretty well with only a few times where the resolution would drop due to a weird internet issue.

[maybelovehate]

It is a lan connection, no internet involved.

[DaDrunkenJester]

So does that mean we can Stream PSNow on PC and then stream our PC to Xbox so now we can play TLoU on Xbox?

[Jin_Sakai]

“So does that mean we can Stream PSNow on PC and then stream our PC to Xbox so now we can play TLoU on Xbox?”

If you want to play The Last of Us just get a PS4 and support Sony and the developer.

[gangsta_red]

TLoU for Xbox!!!!

[Kribwalker]

@Jin

but if the poster doesn’t want to spend the money on a ps4?

[NarutoFox]

Why would I wanna do this🤔🤔

[Cobra951]

One scenario: Powerful desktop PC in your mancave; Big TV with connected Xbox in the living room. Add guests or family.

[luckytrouble]

The problem is that stuff like this only works well most of the time over a hardwired Ethernet connection. Wireless is super hit or miss every single time, but even hard wired is far from perfect. Just check out the Steam Link if you want an idea of how effective solutions like this actually are. As a hint, the Steam Link failed to really catch on for a reason, that reason being that with all caveats considered, it makes what is essentially streaming over your home network a vastly inferior choice to just playing on your PC.

[jznrpg]

You can connect your powerful desktop to big TVs . You have been able to do that since forever

[NarutoFox]

Fair enough

[rainslacker]

Couldn't you just buy a ethernet based HDMI extender for about $30 for the device, $10 for the network cable, then get a USB hub which can work over your ethernet for about $20-25 to play the game natively without having to get the console, or deal with network lag? Those two devices don't offer up the same lag that you get from streaming video over your internet, and requiring another app to access the stream. I've done it in the past, long before remote play for games was ever a thing. Used to play SimCity on the big screen, but eventually gave up because the text was too small and it wasn't that pleasant. But all PC's have an HDMI out now. So, basically about $50. Maybe more if you need to do it over wi-fi, which probably would introduce some lag, but likely not more than you'd get through the app.

In my scenario above, you use your original computer, just have to have it output the game through the HDMI. No fuss, no settings, no problem. Could even use Steam's big picture mode.

[andibandit]

@rain

What about the controls?

[iplay1up2]

I have a 65 inch 4K HDR TV, with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, that is why I want to stream through my X1X!

[maybelovehate]

Windows 10 does not natively support Dolby vision and only a handful of games do but none of them would be capable of streaming in Dolby vision to your tv since the desktop emulation does not support it.

[MisterLou]

So connect your PC to your 65 Inch 4k HDR TV, and play in glorious 4K instead of downsampled to 1080p or less.

[crazyCoconuts]

It's a nice utility to have. Steamlink is a really cheap box that has been doing this for a long time for PC gamers. Based on the fact that it's being discontinued, I'd guess it hasn't been in really high demand. I use mine once in a while. but any PC with steam can already stream from any other PC with steam, and there are other ways to do this with a variety of devices so Xbox is just adding one more way to the list

[jagermaster619]

You don't because you have playstation...

[jznrpg]

Yeah plenty of games to play on PlayStation. This gives people a reason to turn on the Xbox so you feel better about it even though you neglect your much more expensive PC.

[NXFather]

My primary reason would be for better pixel retention on Oled televisions.

[Donnie81]

This could be useful if it’s somewhat high quality

[Kumakai]

This is pretty badass to me.

[SegaGamer]

Meh, it's basically just Steam Link with a different name. It's been around for a while now.

[RevXM]

So what, steam link is discontinued.
And this feature is badass whether or not its been done before. Also the steam link only work with games on steam no?

I bought a 1s mainly as a 4k bluray player and occasionally games if this works well Ill be using it a lot.
Hopefully it will work with every game in the future, for now Ill be impressed if all games with native xbox controller support works and the stream over ethernet is a solid quality. M&K support later will be apreciated.

[SegaGamer]

@RevXM
Steam Link the device is discontinued, the actual app is still going and after the recent update, it's better than it was before (at least for me anyway) And no, it's not just for Steam games, I can stream my whole desktop with Steam Link.

[King_Noctis]

If Steam Link is discontinued how can people without one stream their games to their TV?

[SegaGamer]

@King_Noctis

Laptop, tablet, phone, fire stick and others. Just connect one of these to the tv, download the app, or use Home Streaming on Laptop and you can stream Steam games, simple.

[badz149]

@king_noctis

Buy a HDMI cable long enough for the tv and play natively without the extra input lag? No?

[King_Noctis]

@segagamer&badz

Good solutions, but if someone already have an Xbox, I doubt they would do that when the solution is already infront of their face.

[SegaGamer]

@King_Noctis.

It's more likely that people will have one of the devices I mentioned than an Xbox One.

[SegaSaturn669]

I noticed that Xbox One can upscale Oblivion. Almost tempted to buy one...almost.

[Movefasta1993]

as in elder scrolls ?

[SegaSaturn669]

yes

[iplay1up2]

It runs in 4K on X1X. As do a ton of older games. Hell , SSX, is in 4K on X1X. That is an amazing game!

[jznrpg]

Why not get it on PC and use the much better mods and such . It will have much better assets not just a resolution change

[SegaSaturn669]

That's a fair point. I noticed it didn't have controller support, though. Even though it might not get a re-release, part of me just says it's gonna come eventually.

[sprinterboy]

Do you think we'll get a MS buys out valve scenerio in the near future?

[SegaGamer]

No.

[--bienio--]

There is no chance ever mark my words Never happens.

[rainslacker]

Valve would have to want to sell it first. It's privately owned, so it's really in the hands of one man to decide. Since that one man is already a billionaire, he really doesn't need several billion that he'd get from selling it. Since that same man has a rather rampant hate for MS, and created Steam to be the anti-MS, it's hard to believe that he'd ever be willing to sell. It's also questionable if MS would even want to spend that many billions on Steam, when they can likely just make their own store, and do it on their own. It will take longer, but it'll be significantly cheaper. That's what they're doing now, and MS is taking a very long term view on what they're doing with Windows and services right now.

[jznrpg]

I guess the option is nice but who would pick the xbox over their PC . Unless you are running a very old machine and don’t like mouse and keyboard and likes adding latency to games ,I guess it’s for that guy

[timotim]

That's because you aren't a PC gamer, nor is thinking correctly. Most gamers who have a good gaming PC, normally only has one in their house. This PC sits stationary in one room in the house...but their are many rooms in said house. They then buy Steam Links and put them In various rooms throughout the home and use the powerful PC to get games to the other screens in that home. Xbox consoles now allow them to put the powerful PC in the office say, yet stream the games in the home to the living or entertainment room where groups are more likely to form. This brings more synergy between PC and Xbox consoles...

[rainslacker]

Going by many steam gamers, they say just hook it up to your TV if you want to use it on the big screen. There are cheaper ways to do what's being done here. There are also better ways to do this which don't involve streaming.

If one has a PC, and an Xbox, then nothing wrong with having the feature, but it's not really something to write home about. Just another added value app for the system.

[timotim]

Whatever room you use, if the gamer doesn't want to lug around their PC from room to room then yes, what is being presented here is a good solution. Cheaper ways, sure...but more versatile, maybe not. Isn't Microsoft suppose to be releasing a really cheap discless Xbox One anyway? Sounds perfect for this case use. And how many of those cheaper Steam Links can play Xbox One, 360 and original games that never made it to PC?

Never suggested any one was writing home about it...doesn't change the fact that this has never happen before for a console to do and makes perfect sense in Microsoft's ecosystem.

[Xavi4K]

Well the latency wasn’t that bad I tried FFX today and its good to play from the comfort of my couch on the big screen

[Dragonscale]

Zero point to this.

[thexmanone]

I would not say that. Being able too stream steam games from the pc in the man cave too the up stirs OLED TV is a plus for me.

[RevXM]

This.
Its just a nice convenient feature, I have a big tower desktop computer and its heavy. This is better than lug it around and set it up back and forth between my desk and tv. If you are a pc gamer and already have an X one, this is great and when it gets M&K support it will be super sweet.

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

Wouldn't your awesome gaming rig be in your man cave?

[thexmanone]

@xX-oldboy-Xx
Yes my rig that i built is in my Man cave, But I`m getting too old too be sitting in that chair for too long and 2 feet away from the screen.

[timotim]

Says who? Have you ever heard of Steam Link? With this announcement, Microsoft just made ALL Xbox consoles Steam Links devices. This brings more synergy between PC and console in their ecosystem. Which console are PC gamers likely to buy...one where they have to split games between, or one that features crossplay and cross buy with the PC they already own...even allowing them to stream games both ways to other rooms in the house???

[timotim]

Whoa...Microsoft ain't playing right now. No pun intended haha. They're going in for sure! This is two unprecedented announcements in two days...team Green is putting in that work.

[Ricegum]

I know. I can't wait to get Halo collection on Steam. Although these decisions will no doubt affect Xbox sales.

[timotim]

It will also affect Xbox game sales and brand power...in a good way, so I'm sure Microsoft appreciates your business either way. Like you were probably never going to buy Xbox hardware to play the game...but here, now, at least you will invest in a good Windows 10 PC and buy an Xbox game being sold through a store you like...win/win for everyone.

[DerekTweed]

Get Halo MCC on steam and then stream it to your Xbox? lol

[--bienio--]

Exactly that’s the plan. It’s not about hardware, it’s all about software. Microsoft knows ( obviously it’s time for that) he can’t ignore Pc market anymore. Gears on steam next!! Btw can’t wait for e3 this year.

[txboy05]

This is pretty sweet

[ocelot07]

I mean it's an ok feature to have I guess. Been doing this via an old netbook I connected to my monitor in my bed room for the past 3 years. Steam links are dirt cheap as well.

[SLiSH83]

But if Sony did it, this would be the absolute best thing ever, but since it’s MS, ehh blah
I really don’t understand people on this site at all.
Bunch of hypocrites

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

Not really mate, grow up. Most PS fans just want games, that's it. While extra functionality and compatibility are good things, it's not the be all end all.

ms is just distracting people from the fact they'll see this gen out without another true exclusive. Maybe another sequel, maybe not.

[gangsta_red]

"Most PS fans just want games, that's it"

Steam doesn't have games? Wouldn't Sony fans then like this?

"..they'll see this gen out without another true exclusive"

Oh, so not just games but they now have to be true exclusives. I keep forgetting how Sony fans keep moving goal posts.

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

If I have a beast rig (which I do) I won't be needing a PS4, xbox or any other console to use STEAM or any other PC game or game provider.

Yes mate - they have to be true exclusives to be called 'exclusives' - not timed, not console exclusive. This is not a hard concept.

Try and keep up, there is no goal post moving - never has been.

[chiefJohn117]

Welcome to n4g lol

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Cool stuff if Sony it would be cool too, but it is not convincing that they're 3rd party right now.

[masterfox]

yay ?

[chiefJohn117]

This is a big deal. PC and Xbox has been integrated

[Mithan]

This is what Steam Link was doing. Its a great feature for people who have a gaming PC in a room far away from a TV and want to lounge on a sofa and play on their TV and can stream it.

The SteamLink actually does a very good job at 1080p and with virtually no lag for single player games.

Its a good feature, just should have come out 3 or 4 years ago.

However, until k&m support is added (like SteamLink and nVidia Shield), this is kind of a useless feature for many people, even though most steam games support an Xbox Controller these days.

[zombiewombie]

So could this be why the Steam Link died? Maybe steam will release an app on every console and do a remote play type thing.

[rainslacker]

Steam link died because not many people brought it or used it. Steam tracks that stuff, and they generally don't continue support for things that aren't going well for them. There are other ways to achieve the same thing, and they don't require ethernet for the video, and can even give you full 4K if you buy the right Ethernet HDMI adapter. HDMI is a simple serial connection, and the data that travels over the wires is the same regardless of if it's an ethernet cable, or a thick coated cable like you're accustomed too. The ethernet ones require a signal strengthner though, because HDMI has a limit where it starts to degrade. The KB/Mouse can be done through a wireless, or even network enabled USB hub, which can also accept your controllers. All you need to do is either output all the time through HDMI(dual display), or manually switch it when you want to play a game. There are probably even apps out there which can monitor different keyboard/mouse inputs, and switch the output display for you when you use one. If I were going to do the methods above, I'd write an app if I couldn't find one.

I might try out the feature to see how it works though. Nothing wrong with having it on the Xbox. But I wouldn't tell a PC gamer to run out and buy an Xbox for the feature.

[Bladesfist]

Yer they gave it away for almost nothing on one Steam sale. I picked it up for about £2 and have used it to stream life is strange to the TV. It seemed to work pretty well except for a few annoying bugs. Didn't consider buying it before at it's normal price though.

[rainslacker]

Remote access is really nothing new. It was available as far back as Win95 as a core feature of windows. I wouldn't say it was fast enough to run a game back then though. Before that, it was available if one knew a few tricks. But the concept of remote computing has been around before Bill Gates ever created windows.

[Munnkyman]

I feel like I would use this if I wanted to have a bigger screen. I have a smaller pc screen and streaming to the bigger tv would be nice

[Xavi4K]

Just tryed palying FFX from my pc to X1X it works great with no noticable latency my xbox is connected to eathernet however my pc isn’t

[WhyHate]

It shouldn't come to any surprise, Xbox One.

[william_cade]

cool, I guess. I heard Crackdown 3 was amazing.

[Sophisticated_Chap]

This year is going to be bonkers for new announcements, and there are sure to be some big ones. Halo on PC is a great way to start the year off, and now this :)

[2ndhandcorn]

Handy i will try as these days my hands go numb using mouse and keyboard for long sessions.