Google Stadia Google

Project xCloud is a new video game streaming service from Microsoft that lets gamers stream any Xbox One game directly to an Android phone.

During its test period, Project xCloud is giving users access to dozens of free games in Microsoft’s cloud, or they can stream their own collection from their Xbox at home.

Project xCloud uses technology similar to Google’s Stadia, another streaming video game service that launched earlier this week. However, Google is asking Stadia users to spend $130 to access the service, and users only have access to about 20 games — many of which are being sold at full price.

Microsoft is positioning Project xCloud as a supplement to its existing Xbox business, while Google is hoping that gamers will ditch their home consoles in favor of its streaming-only Stadia service.

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Streaming is the future of video games — no less than five major companies are testing or have already launched cloud gaming services that can stream blockbuster games directly to Android phones, laptops, and other devices.

Earlier this week Google launched Stadia, an ambitious streaming-only video game platform meant to challenge industry juggernauts like Microsoft and Sony. Google claims that Stadia will eliminate the need for expensive Xbox and PlayStation consoles, telling Stadia users that they will have access to 4K graphics and the strongest possible computers thanks to Google’s breakthrough streaming technology.

Microsoft’s video game streaming service, Project xCloud, entered beta tests just a few weeks ago with a very different approach. Google has lauded Stadia as the next step for the gaming industry, but Project xCloud is designed to supplement Microsoft’s hardware business and give gamers more ways to access the existing Xbox ecosystem.

Together, Microsoft and Google are giving us an early look at how competition between cloud gaming services could shape the way we play games.

Microsoft’s Xbox streaming app isn’t official yet, but it’s already way better than Google’s new video game service

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