Microsoft Now Planning To Stream PC Games To Xbox One

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Microsoft Windows 10 operating system is rolling out today, and one of the new features allows Xbox One games to be streamed to PCs. Though the feature has been long awaited, Microsoft also revealed it is progressing towards streaming PC games to the Xbox one console.

Windows 10 is good for gaming

Microsoft Windows 10 is intended to be “scalable” operating system that can support smartphones, tablets, PCs and Xbox consoles. Cross-platform software  universal apps such as Cortana and Edge can then be used to transfer data across the platforms, says a report from the Motley Fool.

Halo: Spartan Assault is one of the best examples from Microsoft demonstrating how a universal game can be “cross-bought” on one platform (Windows Phone, Windows 8 or Windows RT). The idea behind this strategy is to get app developers who are neglecting the Windows Phone due to its low user base, to move ahead and develop cross-platform apps. Windows 10 completes the circle by providing Xbox One access to the Window Store, thus finalizing cross-purchase access across Microsoft’s platform, says the report.

Taking the concept of cross-platform further, the tech firm plans to reverse the process, i.e. streaming PC games to the Xbox.

A big challenge for Microsoft

Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s head of Xbox, told The Verge that the company is working on coming up with a process that works the other way. “We understand if you’re going to go PC to Xbox, we need to get keyboard and mouse working completely so you could play those games,” Spencer explains, adding “In terms of where we want to go with our platform, those are absolutely in scope of things that we want to do.”

Experts note the process of streaming PC content to Xbox is far more challenging than streaming Xbox content to PC because it require encoding games with the right amount of bandwidth to stream on the Xbox One. Despite the difficulty, Spencer feels, the “challenge is good.”

For now, the firm has not provided a date when this feature will come to the market. But considering it is still early in the Xbox and Windows integration process, it will probably be some time yet.

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