Microsoft is focusing big on game streaming on mobile devices. The company is already testing Project xCloud, which allows you to stream on a mobile device directly from the cloud. Now, it has come up with one more streaming feature, called Xbox Console Streaming. This new feature allows you to play any of your own Xbox One games on your Android phone or tablet. If you want to use this feature, here’s how you can stream Xbox One games to Android phone.
Requirements for Xbox Console Streaming
Microsoft’s Xbox Console Streaming lets you play your own Xbox One games from your console on an Android phone or tablet. In terms of the number of games supported, Xbox Console Streaming gives more options than Project xCloud. Project xCloud is limited to just four games currently, while Console Streaming supports all the Xbox 360 and Xbox One games that you have installed on your console.
“You’ll be able to play your owned and installed Xbox One games, including Xbox Game Pass titles, on an Android phone or tablet remotely from your home console,” Xbox program manager, Jonathan Hildebrandt, said in a blog post. This feature does not yet support original Xbox titles and Xbox 360 backwards-compatible games.
Talking of how you can stream Xbox One games to an Android phone, there are a few requirements. Presently, this new option is not open to all users, rather is limited to Xbox Insiders as the feature is in the testing phase. To register to be an Xbox Insider, visit this link.
“If you’re an Xbox Insider in the Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead rings in the US and UK, you can now try a preview of Xbox Console Streaming,” Hildebrandt said. Microsoft, however, has promised to expand the program to more rings and regions going forward.
Another requirement to test the Xbox Console Streaming feature is that you must have a phone or a tablet running Android 6.0 or higher. Also, you will need a Bluetooth-enabled Xbox One Wireless Controller. Additionally, the feature also requires an open or moderate NAT type.
Just like Project xCloud, the Console Streaming option is available only to Android users. As of now, there is no information when (or if) Microsoft plans to bring Project xCloud or Console Streaming to the iOS users.
How to stream Xbox One games to Android phones
Now that you know the requirements, let’s check the steps to stream Xbox One games to Android phone:
First, download the Xbox Game Streaming (Preview) app from the Play Store.
Second, follow the on-screen prompts to set up Xbox Console Streaming.
Third, the app will perform a home network test. The minimum required upload bandwidth is 4.75Mbps, while the preferred bandwidth is 9Mbp. Required network latency is of 125ms or less, while the preferred latency is 60ms.
Fourth, set your Xbox One console to instant-on in the power options.
You can also test the connection for Xbox home streaming by following the below steps:
First, press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
Second, go to Settings > Network > Network settings.
Third, chose the Test console streaming.
The system will now start to test your network. Once the process completes, you will get a report detailing issues (if any) with your network connection. Go through the report, and if everything is green, it means you can move forward. On the other hand, if some points are marked in red, you will have to fix them first. Any Yellow color points would mean potential problems that may affect your streaming experience.
For help on the network test, you can refer to the video below:
Troubleshooting tips
One possible issue that you could encounter while using or setting up Xbox Console Streaming is UPnP and port forwarding. UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) is a set of protocols that allow devices to communicate with each other securely. There are routers that don’t support this and this may affect the NAT type, which is important for a stable Xbox Live experience.
NAT or Network Address Translation is required for the console to communicate effectively over the internet. This, in turn, helps in hosting streaming of your games. Not having an open Nat type could result in connectivity issues on Xbox Live or in Xbox parties, and there are plenty of ways to get an open NAT (a simple Google search will help you with that).
Talking of the accessories that you may need for the Xbox Console Streaming, the foremost is an Xbox One Bluetooth controller. Additionally, you may also consider buying extra AA batteries for the controller if you plan to use console streaming heavily. Another accessory that will ensure uninterrupted gaming sessions is a power bank. Gaming is battery intensive, so to ensure your phone doesn’t run out of juice, a power bank is a must. Further, to enhance your gaming experience, you should buy a mobile phone mount. There are plenty of options available in the market, but we expect Microsoft to come up with higher-quality peripherals soon.
For more information on Xbox Console Streaming and how to stream Xbox One games to Android phone, check out Microsoft’s blog post and support hub.
