Microsoft Scrolls Project xCloud Preview

Microsoft officially rolled out the xCloud Project preview for Xbox users. Previously, Microsoft has invited a number of people to participate in the beta version of this project.

“Public preview is a critical phase in our ambition to bring streaming games globally on the scale and quality of experience that is desirable and expected by the gaming community,” said Kareem Choudhry, head of cloud gaming at Microsoft, quoted by The Verge

Kareem assessed, now is the right time for the company “to test Project xCloud in a wider capacity”.

The people involved in the beta have tested streaming to a limited extent on a number of game titles, namely Gears 5, Halo 5: Guardians, Killer Instinct, and Sea of ​​Thieves.

This test requires an Android 6.0-based Android phone or tablet with Bluetooth 4.0 support, a Microsoft account, and an Xbox One controller that is activated via Bluetooth to use Project xCloud.

Partnership with Operators

For now, only Xbox users in the United States, United Kingdom and Korea alone can try out this public preview.

Another step taken by Microsoft is to forge partnerships with mobile operators to test its services. Among others, Microsoft has partnered with SK Telecom in South Korea, T-Mobile in the United States, and Vodafone in the UK to optimize xCloud for cellular networks.

“Cellular networks are an important part of global connectivity today, so we will work hard to ensure gamers have a great experience and Project xCloud is optimized for the widest possible network configuration range,” Choudhry said.