Digital Foundry writes:
"The idea here is that 'Smooth Streaming' allows for an instant start to watching your video with no perceivable buffering, with the picture quality dynamically changing according to the bandwidth conditions. Should you have access to a sustained five megabits of bandwidth between you and the server, Microsoft promises a full 1080p video stream with 5.1 surround sound. If those conditions change for the worse, the stream dynamically switches to a lower quality, lower bandwidth version without skipping a beat.
Initial reports from the E3 conference suggested that this technology would be a US only affair for users of the NetFlix video streaming service, but PR blurb from Microsoft this morning suggests that Smooth Streaming is set to be rolled out on the new, improved Zune video service that sees the Xbox Live video marketplace expand from coverage in eight territories to eighteen.
So, just how good is it? Will it stand up to real life internet conditions? Is it all just PR hype or has Microsoft actually delivered something here?"
Xbox 360 launched 18 years ago and was a generation-defining console that invited many people to jump into gaming for the first time and connect with friends around the world. We’re thrilled people continue playing their favorite Xbox 360 games on Xbox 360, or on newer consoles via Backward Compatibility for supported titles.
"we believe in game preservation"
Remember the media reaction when PlayStation wanted to shut down the PS3 store (but then kept it open)... where is that reaction here?
What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it.
You’re getting a chance to buy what you want before they close it. Moving forward digital stores should work like Steam. It’s just in this beginning they made it platform specific and closed off. A hindsight in their part and it sucks, but what is the percentage of people buying anything off these stores and what is the cost to keep the servers up?
I get it and yes making strives so this isn’t the case every gen we go into is absolutely a must. I mean PSN on PS3 is so convoluted to buy anything since you can’t use a credit card. Vita store is gone. It’s going to go away eventually.
"What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it."
My point is when PlayStation did this every website under the sun was writing articles talking about how "anti-consumer" it was yet I haven't seen anything like that happening when it's xbox doing it, in fact mostly what I see is praise from media when xbox makes obviously false claims about game preservation while they close down their store and xblig and push for digital only consoles streaming and subscriptions.
What I am asking is for everyone to be criticized or praised equally.
I mean look at the way the PS5 Slim's detachable disk drive was reported, it was super critical. Even though in reality they made it easier for people who initially buy a digital only console to move to physical, it was actually a step away from digital only. But did it get reported like that at all... no.
And you can still buy stuff on PlayStation you just need to add money to your account on the website or a PS4/5.
That reaction isn't here because you can still play Xbox 360 discs of supported BC titles on Series and Xbox One, and you can still buy BC titles on the current Xbox Store.
It still sucks losing access to non-BC titles but don't act like it's the same situation. Let me know when PS5 actually supports my PS3 library.
How are you going to play those discs on your Series S (which 75% of xbox owners have) or your adorably all digital Series X?
And keep in mind that BC on xbox is an extremely limited selection of games, it's less than 25% of retail releases, and way less than the entire catalogue.
It's not a solution for the future, this isn't how "game preservation" looks, it's the fake PR that makes it that much worse.
I'm not getting an all digital Series X so bark up someone else's tree, creep. I have my Series X for that disc support and functioning old hardware I still buy discs for (Bought Sudeki, Super Paper Mario, and 3D Dot Game Heroes a few months back - one for each old platform).
Fact is there's a mechanism that exists for Xbox OG and 360 BC physically and digitally. PS has none for PS1 or 2 or 3. If you're gonna bring PS into an Xbox article, at least know what you're talking about.
"Fact is there's a mechanism that exists for Xbox OG and 360 BC physically and digitally. PS has none for PS1 or 2 or 3. If you're gonna bring PS into an Xbox article, at least know what you're talking about."
I understand that, I'm making commentary on the fact that xbox is moving to digital only (and that the vast majority of current gen xbox owners do not have a disc based option) and not towards preservation as they claim.
And obviously people can play games on the original hardware for as long as that lasts, I have hundreds of games from "retro" consoles, I own nearly 200 PS3 discs alone.
Is there some reason, you feel the need to make personal insults in every comment, I reply to what you say without insulting you. But you know whatever, it says more about you than me...
And for the record "you" was being used colloquially I wasn't speaking you directly.
It won't as far as emulation. The os3 was built different.
I am in agreement though. I wish Sony would sell like an ultimate console. Have it where you have to order off their site and make it have real bc. Like the og ps3 had ps2 inside so to say.
@Ein You're a creep because of your obsessive comment history making everything revolve around Sony or how awful Xbox is to a point that you're now just throwing irrelevant things in any way you can.
And don't try to make "you" colloquially now just because you're wrong about me and your feelings got hurt.
Whatever, keep insulting me, if you think that is going to make me change my opinions or what I say you couldn't be more far from the truth.
How you choose to treat other people only reflects poorly on you. (and this time it's not colloquially)
The PS3 situation may have something to do with no forward way to play those games on newer hardware. Not to mention the PS3 store has been around far less than the 360 store. 360 store closing was expected and they did a pretty good job making many of its digital games forward compatible with XBO and subsequently the Series as well. Ones they could not come to an agreement with are going to be left behind, but here is your chance for last minute deals for you to continue playing on your 360.
Just because the 360 store closes doesnt make all of those games you have (digital/physical) stop working on real 360 hardware. If people have physical 360 games, chances are they also have the means to play them. Just like People with PS3 games having a PS3. It would be nice if all older games worked on newer hardware... but that is not for us to decide, that is for MS, Sony and Nintendo.
Difference being the 360 games will still be sold on series consoles, while the PS5 only preserved a selection of Ps3 games for premium subs. If the Xbox 360 store closes the games will still be available, if the Ps3 store closes then those games are gone.
How does this contradict what they said about game preservation?
As far as what I have read that is not accurate, except for a small selection of games that are available through BC.
And even when the PS3 and Vita stores were going to be shut down they still were still going to be available to download if you purchased them already.
So you’re asking for equal treatment? That’s not how the world works or don’t you know? Which I can can’t believe you’re that naive. Xbox gets attacked on this site all the time. You have to ask why that was a big deal amongst the PS3 fan base? Because it wasn’t Xbox fans that were throwing up a huge stink. It’s was PlayStation fans and look at the results, Sony gave in and kept it open. You should celebrate it, instead of worrying about who takes it on the chin more.
The one thing I’ve Learned, is these companies don’t need people to defend them. They have all done things worth criticizing, but it will never be equal.
While the 360 store is closing and you will not be able to make any new purchases from a 360..... you can still download content you have previously purchased prior to the closure. The same can also be said about access to 360 games available on the XBO/Series. You will be able to make new purchases of titles that are available on the current store as well as download previously purchased content that is also compatible with the XBO/Series.
RIP Xbox 360 digital store and all its games.
It really grinds my gears that they are waiting till 10 days before closing to give the best discounts and the list as of now is 100 or less titles from the massive 360 library
I should have enough points by the weekend to get £25 credit off MS, (hardly ever spend money on xb1), might look at a few of these.
The Xbox 360 store was one of the only advantages the Xbox Series consoles had over the PS5. When I got my series X, I spent more playing Xbox 360 games vs current-gen Xbox games since that was the golden era for Xbox and several titles had enhancements such as 4k resolution and fps boost.
Closing this store will now only benefit the competition.
The xbox360 store is closing on the xbox 360.
Xbox 360 games are unaffected on the xbox one and series consoles.
"Xbox will stop supporting the ability to purchase new games, DLC, and other entertainment content from the Xbox 360 Store on the console ->and the Xbox 360 Marketplace (marketplace.xbox.com).<-&q uot;
You will not be able to purchase any 360 games. You will only be able to play xbox discs if you have a console that support discs which doesn't look great for the future of xbox, if it has one.
@Ein
Why are you repeating what i said?
You will not be able to buy digital 360 games to play on your 360.
You will still be able to buy 360 games on Xbone and Series consoles. Go to marketplace.xbox.com, that's the old browser store and not the new one.
Backward compatibility works for many games on newer consoles, but titles such as The Simpsons: Hit and Run have been left out.
From base building to swinging willies, here are the best survival games around, which include a couple of less than obvious picks.
"Initial reports from the E3 conference suggested that this technology would be a US only affair for users of the NetFlix video streaming service,"
Wrong. MS was very clear that they will be rolling this across all Video Marketplace content and I don't recall MS even mentioning Netflix since MS has nothing to do with the Netflix service beyond providing a portal. They could very well do this for Netflix but MS was speaking about it's video marketplace.
Love the improvements and keep them coming MS.
Cant wait...I need to upgrade my Zune 30gb to the ZuneHD. Its going to be a beautiful Xmas.
I think this is all PR hype. I'll believe it when I see it. I just don't see them actually streaming 1080p. Especially since a majority of their customer base is in the US. In the US the average internet speed is like 4mbps, which is still lower than the overly compressed 5mbps they're shooting for. So most people won't even be able to use this in MS's biggest territory. Not to mention, 5mbps? Sure it might technically be 1080p, but at the kind of compression it might as well be no more than 720p. That compression will greatly diminish the quality. So like I said: PR hype, cause it's only "technically" 1080p, and that's only if you happen to be the select American customers with above-average connection speed.
This spit actually works!!! God dammit Microsoft may be on to something here! These lucky mucks!
Wow I just streamed the video that wa linked in that article. It works fantastic.