Home Gaming Microsoft may allow you to stream PC games to your Xbox One

Microsoft may allow you to stream PC games to your Xbox One

2 min read
49

streaming

We know, from Microsoft’s Windows 10 event last night that the company will allow gamers to stream games from their Xbox Ones to any other Windows 10 devices they may have lying about. That includes phones, tablets and yes, Desktop PCs. As a supercharged version of the PlayStation’s remote play, it’s a feature that many are excited for. Even better? They’re looking at the possibility of it going the other way.

Yes, much like you can stream your Steam games from your powerful desktop to a much less capable laptop, Microsoft is exploring the possibility of streaming your PC games to your Xbox One – allowing you to use your Xbox One as a desktop extender to play your PC exclusives from the comfort of your couch.

If this does end up happening, it could put quite a dent in to the value proposition of Valve’s upcoming Steam Machines. Priced similarly to consoles, Steam Machines arguably provide less value. Being able to use an Xbox One for the purpose would give people the best of both worlds. I know I’d rather spend R6K on an Xbox One that will allow me to stream my PC games and play Xbox One games, than spend the same (or more) for an underpowered mini PC.

With regards to Xbox One to Pc streaming, Microsoft is targeting 1080p, at 60fps. That’s impressive, given that hardly any actual Xbox One games run at those resolutions and frame rates.

“It will really largely depend on the scenario to which someone is trying to play,” Microsoft’s Mike Ybarra said in a group interview after Microsoft’s event.

“But we want to make sure that we can get the optimal experience.”

It’s running at 720p and 30fps right now in the testing labs, but the company expects it to reach the 1080p/60fps sweet spot by launch later this year.

I don’t know about you, but I get the feeling that Microsoft has regained a little of their ambition, spark and drive after getting walloped by Sony in the early rounds of this console generation. Competition breeds innovation, I suppose.

Last Updated: January 22, 2015

49 Comments

  1. HairyEwok

    January 22, 2015 at 14:56

    From Windows I’m probably most hyped about the HoloLens. That piece of technology will make a huge leap in the entertainment industry. Good on you Microsoft for making PC and Xbone people game buddies…. Still going toget a PS4 though.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      January 22, 2015 at 14:56

      “toget”

      Reply

      • ToshZA

        January 22, 2015 at 14:57

        #NeverToget

        Reply

      • HairyEwok

        January 22, 2015 at 14:57

        Oi, it’s hard being perfect ok XD

        Reply

        • Blood Emperor Trevor

          January 22, 2015 at 14:58

          No it’s not.

          Reply

        • ToshZA

          January 22, 2015 at 15:01

          Says the PS4 user. 😉

          Reply

          • HairyEwok

            January 22, 2015 at 15:04

            I don’t have a PS4…. I’m too poor to support any console.

          • ToshZA

            January 22, 2015 at 15:15

            Ditto >_<

  2. Admiral Chief

    January 22, 2015 at 14:56

    Finally EierdoosEen runs 1080p and 60fps! And people said it was not possible!

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 22, 2015 at 15:09

      teh cloud is reals

      Reply

  3. ToshZA

    January 22, 2015 at 14:57

    Um. Yes please.

    Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    January 22, 2015 at 15:05

    This is good, Xbox One has no games anyways so you might as well stream PC games to it XD

    Reply

    • A_Guest

      January 22, 2015 at 20:08

      Sarcasm?

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 22, 2015 at 21:23

        yup

        Reply

    • Skyblue

      January 22, 2015 at 21:05

      LOL, jou bliksem! Halo MCC, Forza 5, PvZ and ummm…. ummmm… nou is jy sommer a p#@$ ;-p I really did purchase too early but that would apply to both consoles if it wasn’t for Resogun.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 22, 2015 at 21:22

        This is true XD

        Reply

  5. Ghost In The Rift

    January 22, 2015 at 15:06

    Okey that’s it, im getting a xbox if that is true!!

    There is that word i like to hear ”Stream”,

    But whats the bandwidth you need?

    Reply

    • HairyEwok

      January 22, 2015 at 15:08

      South Africa isn’t near the threshold of streaming anything over the internet. Unless you want to stream in 240p.
      Edit: The stream from PC to Xbone or vice versa will be over Wifi so it should be about 500Mbps if I’m not mistaken.

      Reply

      • Viking Of Science

        January 22, 2015 at 15:10

        False. You can Stream just fine at 720p on a 4MB line. and besides, in home streaming is’nt affected by internet speed. Think remoteplay with the PS4

        Reply

        • HairyEwok

          January 22, 2015 at 15:10

          Check the edit….

          Reply

          • Viking Of Science

            January 22, 2015 at 15:11

            Edit Checked… Nice Save…. XD

    • Viking Of Science

      January 22, 2015 at 15:08

      It’ll work over your in home Wifi, so you just need a decent router… your internet speed shouldn’t matter….

      Reply

    • Skyblue

      January 22, 2015 at 21:00

      It’s all local but I wouldn’t rely on wi-fi to get it done. It can get rather bandwidth intense so a network cable and you’re sorted.

      Reply

  6. Ghost In The Rift

    January 22, 2015 at 15:10

    I think they just might have killed the PS4,

    Its like chess, your move Sony…

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 22, 2015 at 15:12

      Yeah, pretty impressive from the side of MS

      Reply

      • Ghost In The Rift

        January 22, 2015 at 15:17

        Just makes me wonder what Sony has in mind now, maybe they pushing Morpheus now.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 22, 2015 at 15:34

          Well they have PS Now for the first world countries. I’d get that if our internet wasn’t as shit as it is.

          Reply

          • Ghost In The Rift

            January 22, 2015 at 15:39

            Yeah no kidding, we got supper fast internet but you can buy a Ferrari with what it costs per month

    • Skyblue

      January 22, 2015 at 20:58

      Haha, no chance yet but it’s great to see them making meaningful strides at last.

      Reply

  7. frikkenator

    January 22, 2015 at 15:12

    And they now integrate with Steam. If I can stream my games from steam I’d be a happy man!

    Reply

  8. Galbedir

    January 22, 2015 at 15:44

    I must say…someone at Microsoft just kicked up their game…After the Xbox One shitstorm, they have really made a turn around. It’s actually looking more appealing to me then the Ps4 now.

    Reply

    • Skyblue

      January 22, 2015 at 20:57

      This is great news but speaking as an adopter of both consoles I can honestly say that my PS4 is getting more use in my home atm due to the exclusives and GTA V being superior on that platform.

      Reply

  9. Jivesh Hanoomaun

    January 22, 2015 at 15:46

    So none of this is of any relevance to us

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      January 22, 2015 at 15:57

      Why? If you have an in-home network, it’ll work – it doesn’t function over the internet.

      Reply

      • Jivesh Hanoomaun

        January 23, 2015 at 17:00

        Awesome!

        Reply

  10. Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event

    January 22, 2015 at 15:47

    I am not so sure about streaming my pc games on an Xbone. I would rather still use steam as it works and requires very little in term of hardware for your second pc. I am using a Asus Eee PC Seashell series netbook to play Wolfenstein 1080p 😛

    Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      January 22, 2015 at 16:07

      but xbone exclusives :<

      Reply

      • Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event

        January 22, 2015 at 19:56

        Can’t remember an Xbox exclusive that did not make its way to pc eventually.

        Reply

        • Skyblue

          January 22, 2015 at 20:54

          Not nearly as impressive as the PS exclusives but there are a few gems in there.

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Xbox_360-only_games

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Xbox_One-only_games

          Reply

        • Pieter Kruger

          January 23, 2015 at 07:34

          Yeah and with cross buy and cross play, how many “Console Exclusives” will Sony lose?

          Reply

          • Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event

            January 23, 2015 at 08:33

            Would say very little. Their exclusive are usually due to them owning the devs like Naughty Dog.

          • Pieter Kruger

            January 23, 2015 at 08:52

            That’s why I mentioned “console exclusives” and not true exclusives accepting that console exclusives also release on PC. So all those I would be able to Stream to my Xbox where as Sony does not and never will have that capability as MS owns Windows.

        • Matthew Holliday

          January 23, 2015 at 09:39

          forza :<
          its the only one i care about

          Reply

    • Skyblue

      January 22, 2015 at 20:55

      Steam streaming is THE shit dude, I’ve been very impressed as well.

      Reply

  11. Jonah Cash

    January 22, 2015 at 15:49

    This streaming to other devices still doesn’t make any sense to me at all!! When I’m on my laptop I am on my laptop… When I play games on my TV I play games on my TV…. Maybe that is just me?

    Reply

    • Skyblue

      January 22, 2015 at 20:39

      I was the same dude but once you start streaming it gets pretty cool as long as you have a wireless controller and your setup is correct with regards to proper audio output and hi-res video. Not every game is suitable but it is awesome to chill on the couch and have a better experience than your PS4 or Xbone can offer.

      Reply

  12. bob

    January 22, 2015 at 16:49

    Microsoft wasn’t scared by anyone. This has always been the plan.

    The Xbox One is a DX12 console, and they had to wait for Windows 10 and other upgrades to go out first before they could start implementing this.

    Reply

  13. Jakub Sobczak

    January 22, 2015 at 21:10

    Why can’t we play Xbone games on PC and then stream them to Xbones?
    You’d get better framerates and games would actually render at 1080p.
    Stupid Microsoft.

    Reply

  14. Pieter Kruger

    January 23, 2015 at 07:19

    And…..AGAIN!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

Xbox Series X Restock Update Today: Track on Twitter, Walmart, Best Buy and More

New consoles are on the horizon, and while Sony and Microsoft have spoken plenty about wha…