An addition to Xbox will be good news for anyone who likes to stream content. For Xbox One users, Microsoft’s recent upgrade is likely good news. Microsoft has announced its plans to roll out a streaming game feature for the Xbox One.
Following Microsoft’s recent E3 press conference, the company announced this technology launch. People will be able to stream games from the Xbox One to the PC. For users in the Xbox Preview Program, they were able to start using streaming games on Monday.
The update will allow users of the latest-generation Xbox to turn their PCs and tablets into gaming devices. For PCs, they will have to use Windows 10 to be able to get the streaming capabilities. Tablets such as the Surface Pro 3 will be able to stream games this new way too.
Most of the games on the Xbox One will be available to stream to PC or tablet. An obvious exception is the games that require extra hardware, such as the Kinect. Even multi-player games will be eligible. In this instance, players can use microphones, provided they are compatible with Windows, to communicate with one another for strategy play or good-natured banter.
Later in the year, Microsoft plans to release an adaptor that enables users to connect their wireless Xbox One controllers to their PCs. They will then be able to use the controllers for games they stream or run natively.
A big advantage of the Microsoft update is that people will be able to play games on their PCs even when their TVs are being used for purposes other than gaming. As PCs can run upwards of a thousand dollars, it’s a valuable benefit to be able to expand their usage.
Currently, only invited members of the Xbox Preview Program can stream games with the upgrade. For everyone else, you will have to wait for later 2015.