Microsoft is developing a technology that will stream Xbox games to PC browsers, the tech blog Neowin has claimed.
According to the report Xbox 360 and Xbox One titles will be playable using the service, which seeks to eliminate the lag usually associated with playing interactive games over the internet.
Last month, Microsoft Research published a report on a project named Outatime, which seeks to allow seamless gameplay over the company’s vast Azure cloud computing network. The service was tested with two games, the role-playing adventure Fable 3 and the fast-paced shooter, Doom 3. Researchers claim that testers using the low-latency tech to play games via browsers were impressed with the responsiveness of the experience.
Microsoft has not commented on the veracity of the Neowin report, which claims that Xbox games have already been successfully tested with the system:
“The Xbox 360 games offer up the full experience, including the dashboard running in the browser too. So don’t think this is some hacked together project, this is the real deal. The product, as it stands right now, has Xbox branding and works outside the walls of Microsoft.”
Playing console-quality games that are streamed to home computers or mobile devices via remote servers, is not a new idea. The OnLive cloud gaming platform launched in 2010, offering an array of familiar titles such as Assassin’s Creed and Batman Arkham Asylum. However, it remains a niche service, with many users of early versions experiencing latency and degraded picture quality. Last year, upgrades improved the performance, but support from game publishers remains inconsistent.
Sony, too, would like to extend its PlayStation brand beyond specialist console hardware. Launching in the US this winter, PlayStation Now is a games-streaming service providing access to classic PlayStation 1, 2 and 3 titles. It will be available to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita owners but will also be accessible directly from the latest Sony Bravia smart TVs.
At the same time, Sony and Microsoft have made aspects of their online services available on smartphones. Xbox Live runs on Windows Phones, while Sony’s Xperia handsets run a range of back catalogue PlayStation games.
However, a difference between the reported Microsoft plans and Sony’s PlayStation Now concept, is that NeoWin claims Outatime can stream the latest Xbox One titles, even at 60 frames-per-second. It does this by predicting inputs from the player and rendering multiple possible frames. The question is whether Microsoft would want to jeopardise sales of its Xbox One console by effectively making its feature set available to all PC owners with a web connection.
No release date has been mentioned for the technology. Microsoft UK has been contacted for comment.
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