DT: “Microsoft brought Project xCloud, its upcoming cloud gaming service, to E3 2019. I played Halo 5 and Hellblade: Senua's Sacrafice on a smartphone powered by an xCloud server hundreds of miles away. It worked, but it wasn't magic. here are first impressions of Project xCloud.”
Free games? In THIS economy? Well, in exchange for your eyeballs at least. (Figuratively, not literally... although don't give them ideas.)
What you need to know
• Microsoft Gaming CFO Tim Stuart recently described how in the future, you may be able to view ads to gain access to Xbox Game Pass.
•Recent Xbox Series X|S code strings we've seen seem to corroborate this, with the ability to earn 15 minute blocks of Xbox Game Pass access in exchange for watching ads.
•Game Pass across PC, Xbox, and Cloud features hundreds of games in exchange for a low monthly fee.
Hmm..... I used to earn GP by way of searching with Bing but I hear the rewards program is being revamped. I still earn points but it seems they did change the amount you get per search. I dont know how i feel about this. It sounds like they are going the Youtube route where right in the middle of something you are enjoying, an ad pops up and you have to sit through it (if it does not have a skip option after 5 seconds).
I pay for my GP access, so this wouldnt really bother me but I can see it affecting plenty of others. It reminds me of the rumor about how some game companies (EA, Ubisoft) were toying with the idea of running ads before you ever get into the game. Like the old days of renting movies from Blockbuster and not being able to skip the previews (yes, some DVD had a non skip option for previews). I pay for stuff so i wouldnt have to deal with ads, but even now they are encroaching the very things i pay a premium for.
This whole thing is just..... a bad idea.
Such a shame cause even if you don't think this is a big deal what's next they put ads on ultimate gamepass and the free one gets more. This is disgusting. Yes even if Sony goes this route I'll feel the same. We got enough ads in this world ffs
You don't say?/S
You mean the company that puts ads on the dashboard, tried to force a camera on Xbox One to push ads is experimenting with ads for game pass access? No. You must be joshing. Lol
Wouldn't put it past them.
Microsoft has launched a new Bing feature that lets you experience Xbox Cloud Gaming supported games just by searching for it.
At Xbox, we’re always looking to make gaming available to more people in more ways. So today, we’re announcing that Xbox Cloud Gaming will be available in more places with the Logitech G CLOUD Gaming Handheld when it launches in North America on October 17.
I can pretty much do the same thing with my steamdeck. I get that MS doesn't need to make their own dedicated portable... not anymore. this unit for $300 looks to be pretty decent for other stuff as well, not just xcloud gaming.
Cloud gaming on a handheld, hard pass... Cloud gaming is still pretty terrible even on a dedicated, cable connected device let alone one connecting over wifi. Sounds like someone in charge at Logitech loves the buzz word “cloud” and demanded a handheld be made regardless of whether it was a good idea. I’ll stick with my steam deck.
"Microsoft botched the announcement of Project xCloud at E3 2019."
They only mention what we already knew and also also how an Xbox can act to stream on devices.
If it not ready then it's not ready. No need to jump the gun like Google did with stadia.
I haven't heard any negative review of Xcloud, this is coming out of nowhere.
Many problems to solve. Joystick + device feels clunky (never though before that Nintendo actually found a solution to this), The Hellblade demo was bad (3rdP) and how can you make 3rdPs in general to embrace X-cloud, interface issues even with Halo and Gears, Lag, Freeze... I mean if you have all these problems in a showcase - which only purpose of existing is to sell you on the idea, and in ideal conditions (great internet at the very least? if not why even show it?)- What will happen when the real thing comes out?
Well if you base your assumptions on just one review of the experience then you don't have the full picture. From what I've read from different sites, its works but not flawless yet. Even phil said it' not for everyone and still needs work...but its the early day for this type of tech.
'Text and fine UI elements are too small on the smartphones. I found myself stuck in a dead-end hallway while playing Halo 5. Except it wasn’t a dead end. The end of the hallway was an elevator but, because the on-screen prompt to activate it was so small, I had to scour the area before I noticed it"
Well, that tends to happen when you rely too much on on screen prompts.
Difference is Microsoft aren't relying on Xcloud like Google are with Stadia. They're not charging us a premium for it either.