It seems as though Microsoft is preparing to release a physical device that will allow users to stream a catalogue of Xbox games to their televisions, as well as giving them access to a library of movies and TV shows, without the need for a console.
According to a report by VentureBeat the device, which will be similar in form to an Amazon TV Fire Stick, could launch alongside a dedicated streaming app for owners of Samsung Smart TVs. Both the physical stick and the app are reportedly set for release within the next 12 months, as the report goes on to detail;
"In the next 12 months, Microsoft plans to release an Xbox cloud-gaming streaming device. This will likely look like an Amazon First Stick or perhaps a small, Roku-like puck. And like a Roku, the Xbox streaming device will enable you to access movie and TV services in addition to a library of games through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
If you already have a Samsung smart TV, though, you can maybe skip a separate device entirely. Microsoft is working closely with its partners at Samsung to develop an Xbox game-streaming app for that company’s televisions. That, too, should debut within the next 12 months."
If it turns out to be the case, this move is hardly a surprising one from Microsoft, they've spoken in the past of a willingness to recruit new players into the Xbox ecosystem via means other than the traditional console route, and they've also been hard at work expanding and improving the performance of the cloud-based aspect of their current Game Pass setup, which already allows players to stream games to a variety of different devices.
It seems as though the future for traditional games consoles and the way in which we access our personal games libraries could be about to get a whole lot more interesting.
Excited at the prospect of a brand new Xbox streaming device and TV app? Let us know in the comments!
[source venturebeat.com]
Comments 24
They should also work with LG TVs for this.
And Microsoft will find out as everyone else will that streaming isn't the future. I've heard so many people say that when that day comes, that's when I'll no longer be gaming anymore. As good as Stadia works and runs, Stadia is failing. This is one of the reasons why I'm more invested into PlayStation because they keep things more traditional and how it's always been.
I know someone is going to tell me, "Sony is going down the same route" Yes they may be but it's so so much further away than Microsoft with the Xbox. Sony aren't nowhere near on the same level with streaming as Microsoft. On top of that, streaming with Sony is more on the back-burner whereas with Microsoft it's what there trying to achieve, it's the be all end all end goal.
I like gamepass as a dedicated gaming subscription service, but if they start cluttering it with films and TV series as well then count me out
@Snake_V5 I'd say streaming has every chance of being part of the future. The main reason Stadia was doomed was the fact that it was a format in itself, with the development costs associated with that, not just a product to stream PC games. Microsoft, and Sony, won't be/aren't in that position. It won't be for everyone and some places just won't be able to do it but just like the TV and films streaming it's definitely happening.
I can see a time - maybe not fora generation or so, when Streaming will be the only way to play the 'biggest', most ambitious games on the market.
We are already seeing 'supply' issues with Physical hardware, and of course the raw materials necessary to make 'millions & millions' of Chips, each pared with LOTs of components inc RAM and Solid State Storage. On top of that, you have the mass distribution costs involved of shipping all over the world - and you know that Consoles are not exactly a 'financial' success for the manufacturer - even without the R&D, all the DevKits etc, the Consoles are often sold at a loss and offset that with Software sales, Subscriptions (like Gold/PS+) and overpriced peripherals.
As expectations to deliver higher quality visuals at higher frame rates, the hardware has to 'keep' up and Consoles are 'expected' to be relevant for years too. That 'limits' the developers creativity and/or choice because of needing to release on the 'weakest' system. That includes the amount of Storage on the Hardware - and/or Physical media if its distributed on Discs - again incurring costs and plastics - not great for sustainability or environmental issues.
Instead of building 'Millions' of individual units, they can build thousands of SuperServers that run MASSIVE games in the cloud and streamed to anyone, anywhere, on any device you have. MS have announced they have a Cloud Publishing division now - specifically for Games 'built' to run Natively in the Cloud (not on local Hardware).
You 'never' own the games, you own a Licence to access that Software which can be revoked at any time. Therefore I do not see it as an issue. If you have a 'valid' license - whether permanent (because you bought) or conditional (because you Subscribe), you can still play games.
I'm not saying that 'hardware' will no longer exist - but it won't be for the latest, biggest, most ambitious games. It will be more like the 'Switch' where some games may well be scaled right down visually and capped at 'low' frame rates but without needing to spend $500+ for hardware, Pay $70+ for the game, maybe have to pay a Subscription for any online aspects, you can play the 'ultimate' edition with the 'best' visuals and high performance frame rates so actually have lower input lag, all by Streaming - as well as all the 'newest', most ambitious games that have to run in the Cloud because they're too big to distribute and too complex to run locally - can't dumb down the AI, Physics etc to run on such 'limited' local hardware.
So, why buy a $500 Series X, if Microsoft is going to allow access to the same content on a $79 streaming device? Could this lead to the end of Xbox consoles as we know and love them?
@Royalblues
Also think it depends what country in the UK LG website when looking at their new TVs, Xbox is their as well saying your Xbox and Xbox gamepass tv partner.
Consoles not going anywhere to much rubbish internet for a start like mine 6/mb sec.
Also I want the premium experience on my premium TV. Native 4K, HDR, VRR, Dolby and bang on response time and zero disturbances etc.
Why not just release the app on the Firestick lol people are always saying Sony should let gamepass on playstation but I don't think Amazon's blocking Microsoft from putting it on their Firestick 🤷♂️
@Grail_Quest same reason you’d buy a series x now over staying on a base Xbox one I guess
@Would_you_kindly maybe will at some point. Don’t forget the important thing you need for gaming over watching something…a control pad. The xbox controller has to work with everything gamepass is on
@Bleachedsmiles you can pair controller's with the Firestick
Haven't bought a Series X yet, barely used XCloud. My TV is a Samsung Smart TV so this might be a way to play new-gen console exclusives.
High performance hardware isn't going to go way for top tier quality.
But what is likely to happen long term is streaming is how the masses get their games, and dedicated hardware will no longer be subsidized to promote sales to sell games. So if you want dedicated hardware you're going to pay for such extreme luxury like the PC market $500 consoles were guaranteed to become $650+ consoles next generation. Maybe even 750 if inflation keeps going. But if streaming took off, most gamers would be fine buying a sub 100 sick. Enthusiasts that want the best would need to pony up $1400 at least. "Consoles" would be a rarer expensive luxury for a small percentage of players. It'll become exotic and move further upmarket to justify it's cost.
@Rural-Bandit I really don’t think we’re as far away as 25yrs before streaming becomes the norm…particularly for the casual gamer.
I mean look at the leaps console streaming has taken in the space of 7 years (6 for uk) since the release of PsNow.
I’d love to see the numbers of gamepass subscribers who have streamed games. I think most of us now try games via streaming them first before committing to installing just cause it’s so convenient. And to be fair to Xbox streaming it’s been pretty decent quality for me for the most part.
Casuals will always make the vast majority of an install base. And will always go for the most convenient option. It’s one of the reasons digital has over taken physical sales now.
Funny, the start of last gen we were all concerned about ‘always online’…the landscape changed so much that by the end of the gen very Very few didn’t have their console always online.
Gen before that we were all kicking off at not owning our games as they introduced digital content…the following gen digital took off so much they released dedicated digital machines
Really wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of this gen most casual gamers are playing games via streaming. And most of the hardcore are using streaming more than they did at the start of the gen.
I think you can easily cut that 25yrs in half before streaming becomes the norm. Next gen Xbox release a streaming ‘console’ alongside a digital one and disc one.
@NEStalgia what’s going to become interesting is at what point do we see the first AAA game not release physical. With digital sales ever raising, streaming taking off, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the first AAA game to not release physical this gen.
@Bleachedsmiles I'm kind of surprised that hasn't already happened. It'll all depend on what retail sales look like for various genres I think. As long as cod is selling well at Walmart it's safe. But, technically, the most played "AAA" game in the world is Fortnite.... And it's never been physical.
Fairly sure this exact news story was doing the rounds a year ago. Can't wait to read it again next year. Its like the Switch Pro rumours. If you keep guessing the same thing over and over again you might eventually be right. They'll do anything for clicks.
@Snake_V5 if you look back in History there was a time when gaming imploded after the Atari VCS. No one thought the model of selling a hardware console and different software you could play on it was a viable business model let alone a major form of entertainment. It took a little known company called Nintendo to basically do the exact same thing, but make it work.
Just because Stadia imploded doesn’t mean that Microsoft’s Gaming everywhere initiate isn’t the ‘Nintendo’ of the modern day. Xbox isn’t saying streaming is the ONLY future of gaming. Just that it’s an option alongside local hardware. I don’t get why that choice is scary to people. If anything, that choice is the differentiating factor between Stadia and Xcloud. Have your cake and eat it too.
@Snake_V5 While I don't see console gaming being replaced by streaming any time soon, I do see streaming as a hugely growing market. Many users simply don't care about the highest fidelity 4K/60-120fps or solid frame rates. 1080p with video compression artefacts is fine for them.
Additionally I don't think Stadia is failing specifically because it's streaming, I think it is failing because:
A) their business model is atrocious and uncompetitive
B) no good exclusives and a tiny library of mostly old games
C) they are going after the wrong market. They are trying to get hardcore gamers on side. On the whole we are tied to our boxes and willing to spend money on them. Instead they should be aiming at the more casual crowd who begrudge, or don't want to, pay for an expensive box. Upgrade the mobile and casual crowd rather than downgrade the console and pc crowd
D) they got off to a bad start by launching far too early, leading to a LOT of bad press, which they never recovered from
That's where Microsoft's solution is so smart. It's additive not a replacement. I've streamed a few slower paced games onto my phone and tablet and it's been great. And picked up a few games I was playing on Xbox when I was away. It's a helpful additional service for us, but it doesn't replace our more powerful boxes.
EDIT: In the future the interesting time will come when server power is more powerful than our boxes, but will streaming technology be up to the task of displaying it quickly enough?
Grail_Quest wrote:
If you want the highest fidelity and higher frame rates then a physical box is likely to always be ahead of the curve for years to come. Game streaming is currently limited to 1080p/60fps at a much lower bitrate with some video compression artefacts. For many that will be OK (if streaming is reliable for them) but for enthusiasts like most people here it just won't be enough.
@Scenes Microsoft aren't saying that cloud is the only way to be gaming but let's be real, we all know that's there end goal. We all know that they want an all streaming only future. There just the ones that are trying to push it more than anyone and certainly more than Sony.
@themightyant Not yet it's not a replacement but we all know that's there end goal.
@Snake_V5 Perhaps. Though frankly IF (it's a big IF) they manage to get cloud working to the point where we don't need to spend £450+ on a console then that is potentially good for the consumer.
I feel we're a LONG way from that happening though, but I accept things change, often for the better. There was a time I was attached to my CD, DVD and even Bluray libraries yet now we stream everything happily. Yet you can still buy all those on physical if you want, it doesn't have to be either/or.
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