Microsoft’s Project xCloud will be launched on Android devices for the first time for its public trial this upcoming month. Avid gamers from some countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, and South Korea, will have the opportunity to enjoy the triple-A (AAA) titles on their android devices including tablets, mobile phones, and other devices with screens. Nevertheless, this public trial service is far from perfect; it comes with a few restrictions.
One of the caveats of this trial service is that it is not the promised console streaming that Microsoft revealed at the E3 this year. Theoretically, the promised service enabled players to stream the games from their devices to their smartphones, which means that every player will have their individual xCloud server. This feature is an edge that gives the service an upper hand against its competitors, such as the infamous Google Stadia.
Besides, the company has announced earlier that the xCloud game-streaming console trial will be released this October. True to their words, the plans are still going to be fulfilled. However, today’s announcement is far from the topic at hand.
The company is instead, removing its standard, live game streaming system, and gearing up to launch the console’s public test later this year.
Another caveat of this service is that it is only available for Android users. The good news is that the company is working on making the xCloud compatible with iOs devices, though no solid strategy has been planned out.
Furthermore, Microsoft’s spokesperson stated they are excited to collaborate with Android teams in the initial stages of their public preview. They are also teaming up with other sectors to make the service available for various screen-based devices with an internet connection. He further added that the company would reveal more details about their work on bringing the project to other platforms some other time later.
Players that are interested in joining the project’s trial must have a smartphone or tablet that satisfies the following requirements: run on Android version 6.0 or higher, have Bluetooth version 4.0, and a wireless Xbox One gamepad with Bluetooth.
The trial project will run four games, including the “Sea of Thieves,” Gears 5, Halo 5, and Killer Instinct. During the trial, the service will launch these games for free.
The project preview will run in phases, starting with a limited number of gamers and increasing the numbers as the trial continues. Microsoft has yet to reveal any detail on the specific timeline of this preview and only stated that it would go on until the service can work on every occasion and its technology is stabilized, this would take months or even years. In the meantime, the company revealed that the project preview would hit the public in October.
