The game via Xbox streaming arrives in Spain in its preliminary phase. At FreeGameTips we bring you our impressions of Project xCloud in depth.
Project xCloud is the next workhorse in an Xbox division that is committed to expanding its range of services. After having gone through a trial period in some selected territories, the second wave has reached our country. A small group of users and specialized media have already had access to this private beta. How have our first days been with the game via streaming from Microsoft?
At FreeGameTips we were not caught by surprise. It is the third time that we have been able to access a build in development. The first, during the past E3 2019; the second, in the London enclave of X019. The advancement of technology has made it so that almost seven months later we checked how well this initial foray into our market works.
Requirements: be one of the first users
Before entering the matter, you should know that you can apply to the Project xCloud beta from now on. Through this link you can register your request; It will be the company who chooses who can join in advance in the next wave of invitations. Although, as usual in this type of beta services, it needs some requirements for its operation.
The current version only works on Android mobile devices and tablets from 6.0 onwards. Likewise, it must be compatible with Bluetooth 4.0+, since it needs to link an Xbox One controller. During registration you will be asked by the company that provides you with the internet. It really is a purely informational requirement. What you should have is a Wi-Fi connection or mobile data at 5 Ghz with 10 Mbps download.
During the process, you will be asked to sign in with your Microsoft account. Forget for a moment any Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass subscription: this test does not ask for anything from your Xbox profile, as the titles selected during this early phase are provided directly to you.
Once the registration is complete, you must wait for an email to appear informing you of your selection in the program. Until it happens, you will not be able to access it, even if you download the Xbox Game Streaming application (preliminary version).
Project xCloud: catalog pic.twitter.com/uMq4P9y70e
– Alejandro Castillo (@ Acastillo117) May 10, 2020
As we said at the beginning, Project xCloud currently offers its own test catalog. It is made up of almost a hundred different titles from all companies and genres. From first party like Gears 5 to independent titles like Brothers: A tale of Two Sons, massive multiplayer like Black Desert, or driving games from F1 2019 and Forza Horizon 4, among others. Clicking here you can the full spectrum.
First hours with xCloud
The process of adapting to the xCloud platform is as simple as entering any application from the menu of your device. After making the first start, your account remains linked so that the game is instantaneous. Once inside all the weight of the interface is carried by the games. A string of games in rows of four remains to be selected. Selection that we can make with the touch screen or directly with the crosshead of your controller.
Fluency is total. The transition between choosing a game, starting it and being inside it is practically instantaneous, saving distances from the video game's own loading times, of course. The initial charge varies depending on the coverage we have at that time and how busy the network is. In cold, xCloud is the service that comes closest to becoming the Netflix of the video game.
Let's get into the background. Without the need for your console, you can access the Xbox One catalog from practically the palm of your hand. Only you, your mobile, your controller and an internet connection. But it still takes it to a new level, as saved games are synced to your profile cloud.
Project xCloud: Yakuza 0 pic.twitter.com/yR5K4m0JVu
– Alejandro Castillo (@ Acastillo117) May 10, 2020
Let's take Yakuza 0 as an example. If I complete a chapter and save the game on my console, I can turn it off and continue from the same point through xCloud. The division has high hopes that the service will debut to the great masses adhered to one of its flagship products, Xbox Game Pass. Until it occurs at some point in the remainder of the year, this landing in Spain confirms a fundamental commitment to cover all the Xbox markets.
Phil Spencer said it at the FreeGameTips microphone: “We are committed to making it our goal to bring the entire Project Scarlett experience to all of our Xbox markets; We don't want anyone to feel displaced. " Every tip of the Xbox X as of this Christmas is made up of Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Windows 10 and Project xCloud. Right in the center, Xbox Game Pass, where everyone meets. "No, streaming will not replace the traditional method," said Phil. Because the future is here to contribute, not to substitute.
performance
The moments of greatest enthusiasm with the platform have been when we have fully enjoyed stable coverage. Depends on gender, that's true. There are some like World of Final Fantasy that are a real pleasure to be able to enjoy them in a portable way. Because, yes, there is a graphic downturn given the compression of the broadcast, but depending on the title it is a sacrifice that we can.
Games like Dragon Age: Inquisition are a bit annoying for long sessions. The native resolution (900p) and the refreshment that is produced on screen leaves us with a slightly blurred visual, costly to adapt, especially since it is an open world. However, Yakuza 0 is just the opposite.
When the connection responds as it should, latency continues to be felt across the breadth of the catalog. Right now it is very difficult to play titles that require control precision, such as driving or shooters. Either one selected by Codemasters or Forza Horizon 4 itself is mission impossible. When you go to the limit and the control responds later to what you see on the screen, it is common to crash in front of the guardrail.
Project xCloud: F1 2019 pic.twitter.com/JSxirYHL33
– Alejandro Castillo (@ Acastillo117) May 10, 2020
Shooters vary. Halo 5: Guardians is playable, though awkward if you're used to the traditional experience. It is cumbersome to chain actions when some movements are lost or interpreted differently from the command you have executed. A movement as simple as shooting at the hand of a jackal to reveal its head is not as precise as on the console. The acceleration of the sight causes that on several occasions it goes too far towards the axis to which we are heading. The title of 343 Industries allows you to configure it, but it is not usual. Borderlands 2 has strong aiming acceleration and is not adjustable from the menu.
On the other hand, games that do not demand that rhythm in control are the perfect accompaniment right now. The aforementioned Final Fantasy is joined by others such as Civilization VI, Cities: Skyline, A Plague Tale or The Bards Tale IV, among others. Given the situation the network is going through in these moments of confinement, it is difficult to give a final assessment of how xCloud performs. It depends on the time, in our case.
At night it is common to have better performance peaks, where we are hardly warned of loss of coverage. On the other hand, mid-afternoon is when we have been worst. We are talking about a symmetrical 600 MB Wi-Fi connection supplied by Movistar. The distance between the router and the mobile phone has not influenced us so much either. It can go wrong for us by sticking to it. In our case, playing in the living room or in the bedroom has not changed the experience.
The Reviews has been done on a Samsung Galaxy S6 clinging to a Moga Gaming game clip, the officially licensed Xbox support. It remains attached to the control in perfect condition, being able to regulate the size depending on the device placed. The angle is also modifiable.
It is clear that the difference between their maximum rivals is there. Google Stadia performs and offers better visual quality than the current xCloud version. Of course, we are talking about a service that is already in its final version, not to mention the business model, two different universes between the two.
Conclusions
Xbox's future is here. It is a fact. This demonstration confirms that the division is serious about its commitment to 2020 and beyond. Latency and compression still have room for improvement, especially for genre titles that require maximum precision. But both the catalog and the politics behind it make it a promise that has materialized successfully.
We are looking forward to seeing how a service evolves that has become, more than ever, the present.
