Xbox boss Phil Spencer believes that it will be possible for Xbox games to be playable on smart TVs through an app within the next twelve months.
Microsoft has entered the streaming gaming sphere with Project xCloud. If you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, you can stream many Xbox games to a smart device, like a mobile phone. This requires the use of a compatible controller (save for a few touchscreen games) and a fast Internet connection in order to function. These requirements mean that project xCloud has limitations when used as a handheld gaming device, especially when compared to a dedicated device, like a Nintendo Switch.
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has discussed the idea of an Xbox streaming stick in the past, and it seems that the concept could arrive sooner than anticipated. Spencer was interviewed by The Verge and he was asked about the possibility of streaming Xbox games through an app. Spencer believes that we could see it becoming a reality by the end of 2021.
A streaming app for Xbox games makes a lot of sense, but it would run into the same limitations as Google Stadia. Microsoft’s bread and butter are shooters and racing games, which require twitch reflexes to play, especially online. Stadia has shown us that even a slight hiccup in your Internet connection can make your game temporarily unplayable and ruin your day.
Streaming apps have become a major part of the entertainment industry, with Disney+ and Netflix raking in millions of subscribers around the world. Microsoft has the gaming equivalent to these services with Game Pass, but that involves downloading games directly to the system, rather than streaming them (except through xCloud). If the time comes when streaming gaming becomes viable in the same way that streaming movies/TV shows are, then Microsoft is already in the position to bring Game Pass to the masses.
