Microsoft Cloud Gaming - coming to Samsung TVs

[TehStu]

I've hopefully got no-data cap FTTH coming later this year and that makes me way more interested in using this generally. Especially for games we only occasionally play on the Series X, so tired of juggling the 1TB of space.

[Hass]

https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-confirms-its-taking-a-new-approach-to-its-game-streaming-device-090144247.html

 

 

I'm guessing that the "new approach" is simply putting a streaming app out on existing platforms (e.g. LG WebOS, Chromecast etc.) rather than asking people to buy yet another dongle. This is what Geforce Now is doing and it makes a lot of sense.

[TehStu]

Yup. There are enough smart TVs and streaming sticks out there now. Get writing apps.

[Simmy]

Is there any sign of a resolution bump coming in the near future for this?

 

It works really well but at low bitrate 1080p or less it looks, well... Not great.

[Rayn]

I'm actually quite fond of the cloud gaming service, it's a great way to try out games before downloading on Game Pass. Even with a high speed internet connection it can take a while to download games that are 100+gb. 

[alex3d]

Fired this up today over the uni internet here (one of those super fast connections) and it's indistinguishable from at-home gaming. Absolutely superb.

[rafaqat]

On 08/10/2018 at 17:34, Stanley said:

Yeah I understand that, but there's a difference between premium and imo, unplayable, which is how I find most of these services.

 

Just looking back to when this was announced. Are they still unplayable fort you or got better over the last 4 years?

 

[Stanley]

1 hour ago, rafaqat said:

 

Just looking back to when this was announced. Are they still unplayable fort you or got better over the last 4 years?

 

I use Xcloud a bit for trying stuff out, and it’s ok, but I wouldn’t ever consider playing a game properly that way when I have a Series X and a decent TV, I don’t see the point when I can get next to no lag and better visuals. 
 

Same with PS Now, it looks ok but I can feel the lag. I’m disappointed the new service doesn’t have backwards compatibility for PS3 games, I might actually subscribe if it did but I’m not paying for streaming only. 
 

I’ve heard Stadia is better but honestly I can’t be bothered with it. 

[Simmy]

Geforce Now 1440p 120fps is the "wow I have to look really closely to check this isn't being played locally" service.

 

As for xcloud - when you say indistinguishable from local play, are you also normally playing on series x / 4k telly?

 

I only ask because xcloud looks rough to me - it's noticeably low(er) bitrate than it needs to be and I am not even sure it's 1080p.

[Paulando]

I no longer have an Xbox so XCloud is perfect for me - I would only play on a smaller screen though, on my phone with a Kishi or on a (relatively) small tablet. I imagine it looks like ass on a big TV.

[AlexM]

I find it comparable to local streaming on the Xbox Series S, however I also find local streaming from the XSS notably inferior to the PS5. Considering Microsoft's focus on streaming I expected it to be the other way around.

[TehStu]

Interesting, local streaming from my Series X to Win 11 laptop is rock solid, even over wifi. It's a massive, massive improvement over XB1 local streaming. I always assumed that was due to the lan but sitting in the exact same place, the XB1 streams pixelated nonsense and the XSX buttery smooth. Obviously still limited to 1080p, I assume.

 

@Paulando while visited inlaws I showed off Flight Sim streaming on a 75" TV on his XB1 and it was still impressive. You're going to see any artifacts at that size, but it reasonable. When this thing hits smart TV apps, I reckon loads of people will take it up.

[Gabe]

I've never known why my Xcloud (and Stadia) look so awful and compressed. I've tried wired & wireless on my current 900Mb/s Hyperoptic line (and a 200Mb/s Virgin line prior to that) with a low ping & jitter and yet I get blotchy, compressed graphics all the time. It's not unplayable, but it's such a poor visual experience I have no desire to use it (although I did play Outriders to completion because it wasn't on normal Game Pass at that time, but it really ruined the fun of enjoying the graphics).

 

Any ideas what could be causing it? It's very annoying.

[alex3d]

5 hours ago, Gabe said:

I've never known why my Xcloud (and Stadia) look so awful and compressed. I've tried wired & wireless on my current 900Mb/s Hyperoptic line (and a 200Mb/s Virgin line prior to that) with a low ping & jitter and yet I get blotchy, compressed graphics all the time. It's not unplayable, but it's such a poor visual experience I have no desire to use it (although I did play Outriders to completion because it wasn't on normal Game Pass at that time, but it really ruined the fun of enjoying the graphics).

 

Any ideas what could be causing it? It's very annoying.

 

It's interesting. I had it both on the same connection: great picture, no lags & very low bitrate and lags (for a few seconds). Not sure either what's causing it. Uni line is an ultra-high-speed one, so can't be that.

[Mr. Gerbik]

9 hours ago, Gabe said:

I've never known why my Xcloud (and Stadia) look so awful and compressed. I've tried wired & wireless on my current 900Mb/s Hyperoptic line (and a 200Mb/s Virgin line prior to that) with a low ping & jitter and yet I get blotchy, compressed graphics all the time. It's not unplayable, but it's such a poor visual experience I have no desire to use it (although I did play Outriders to completion because it wasn't on normal Game Pass at that time, but it really ruined the fun of enjoying the graphics).

 

Any ideas what could be causing it? It's very annoying.

Check if your NAT is open.

 

Open the relevant ports on your router: https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/hardware-network/connect-network/network-ports-used-xbox-live

 

Google around if your router is known to cause issues with Xbox/Live/Xcloud. If so, try a different router. If your ISP doesn't allow you to use a different router, check if you're allowed to put it in bridge mode at least and install a proper router after it.

[jonamok]

I’d hardly used XCloud at all, as I’d prefer to just play on Xbox, though Game Pass wasn’t getting much use either, as I preferred playing on PS5 to my ageing X1X. Then I got XCloud working on Steam Deck. And now it is bloody indispensable.

[bradigor]

Yeah it's brilliant for Deck even as a way to save space. It's want cross save is important though. 

[Gabe]

19 minutes ago, Mr. Gerbik said:

Check if your NAT is open.

 

Open the relevant ports on your router: https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/hardware-network/connect-network/network-ports-used-xbox-live

 

Google around if your router is known to cause issues with Xbox/Live/Xcloud. If so, try a different router. If your ISP doesn't allow you to use a different router, check if you're allowed to put it in bridge mode at least and install a proper router after it.

I'll give that a look later, thanks.

[Mr. Gerbik]

18 minutes ago, Gabe said:

I'll give that a look later, thanks.

Good luck! Easiest way to check your NAT is to go to settings on your Xbox and do a network connection test. If it says restricted then there's your problem most likely.

 

[Gabe]

18 minutes ago, Mr. Gerbik said:

Good luck! Easiest way to check your NAT is to go to settings on your Xbox and do a network connection test. If it says restricted then there's your problem most likely.

 

I don't have an Xbox, I use it via my PC (and only on the rare occasions where something is on Xcloud and not on normal Game Pass.) 

[Mr. Gerbik]

3 minutes ago, Gabe said:

I don't have an Xbox, I use it via my PC (and only on the rare occasions where something is on Xcloud and not on normal Game Pass.) 

I don't know if this helps:

Quote

If you can't connect to an Xbox multiplayer game on Windows 10, go to Settings > Gaming > Xbox Networking. If you're having a similar problem on Windows 11, open the Xbox Console Companion app, select Settings, and then select the Network tab. Look for NAT Type

But you need to check your Xbox Live NAT somehow. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can chime in

[Paulando]

Now this is decent for me, what’s the best/cheapest way to play it on a TV? I have a Firestick 4K, but I guess it would need to be sideloaded as it isn’t on the store. Is there an official Android TV app yet?

[metallicfrodo]

Everything I’ve read about xcloud on fire stick is that you can side load the app but the actual performance is beyond dreadful.

[Paulando]

2 minutes ago, metallicfrodo said:

Everything I’ve read about xcloud on fire stick is that you can side load the app but the actual performance is beyond dreadful.

Yeah, I’ve heard this too, and it’s a pain to get working.

 

Does Google TV have a native app yet?

[Yiggy]

19 minutes ago, Paulando said:

Yeah, I’ve heard this too, and it’s a pain to get working.

 

Does Google TV have a native app yet?

I don’t think any of those device types do yet. Some suggestion that’s what they’re talking about launching at the moment though. Instead of a stick/puck type thing. 

[TehStu]

https://www.thurrott.com/games/268288/xbox-cloud-gaming-samsung-smart-tvs

 

The app will appear on 2022 model TVs later this month, works with recent (bluetooth) Xbox controllers and PS5 dualsense.

[Paulando]

That’s great news. Hopefully there’ll be official support for Google TV and other TV sticks.

 

Enjoyed playing Tunic on my iPad with this over the last week or two. It’s been absolutely flawless.

 

I would love being able to play games I own digitally from the cloud though - do we know if that’s coming? One of the big issues with playing non-first party stuff on Xcloud is that they can disappear from the service at any time. If Tunic goes I won’t be able to play it at all 

[bear]

8 minutes ago, Paulando said:

That’s great news. Hopefully there’ll be official support for Google TV and other TV sticks.

 

Enjoyed playing Tunic on my iPad with this over the last week or two. It’s been absolutely flawless.

 

I would love being able to play games I own digitally from the cloud though - do we know if that’s coming? One of the big issues with playing non-first party stuff on Xcloud is that they can disappear from the service at any time. If Tunic goes I won’t be able to play it at all 

https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/9/23159492/xbox-game-pass-cloud-gaming-library-owned-games-feature

 

Quote

Microsoft is planning to bring a lot more games to Xbox Cloud Gaming later this year, allowing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to stream most of their own game library. “We’re excited to share that later this year, it’s our intent to roll out the ability for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play, from the cloud, select games they already own or have purchased outside the Xbox Game Pass library,” says Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire editor in chief.

 

 

That was just announced as well today. 

 

 

[Paulando]

@bear Amazing! This is just genuinely brilliant all round.

[Mr. Gerbik]

Yep brilliant news. Being able to stream games I bought digitally instead of it being limited to game pass is excellent. So is the tv app, hopefully they'll roll it out on LG tellies also. Nothing beats playing on actual Series X but it would be nice to have the option to play on a different telly in the house (due to whatever circumstances) without lugging the console around.