Wow: is it the first time that Microsoft has dropped the Project word from the game streaming service that we called Project xCloud so far?

We have talked several times about how Microsoft’s streaming service is improving, but so far, the hardware itself was not mentioned. The games (whose public test will happen in October) will run from Microsoft’s data centres to our devices (like a mobile phone), and Kareen Choudhry, the Xbox streaming boss, showed off the insides of the servers. They use a specially-designed 2U rack unit to put in the core of eight Xbox One S consoles. These racks will be placed around the world in thirteen regions. You can see the servers in the video below from 1:45 – sure, this is not a strong introduction, but the new detail about the Xbox One S hardware being used for the servers is important!

In the same video, Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, talks about how he doesn’t plan to see cloud gaming take off anytime soon (so is this why they didn’t use Xbox One X hardware for the servers?), so the public test will be somewhat a foundation of the program that will be built up across the next few years. The currently laid groundwork will support the xCloud for a decade, Spencer says. (Which will be awful hardware-wise in the future – you see now why we ask why not go for the Xbox One X spec?) The Xbox boss also said that via the Microsoft ambitions, they will be able to reach more people than ever, as they will not have to buy a console to play. Of course, the costs WE have to pay was not mentioned.

Google Stadia, xCloud, PlayStation Now… when will we see Electronic Arts’ Project Atlas? (And don’t forget: Sony and Microsoft teamed up to work on cloud technology together against Google!)

Source: GameSpot