Microsoft will launch an expanded preview of its video game streaming service Project xCloud in early in 2020, ahead of a full launch later in the year. The service, which will take on Sony’s PlayStation Now and Google’s Stadia, will support both Windows PCs and Apple Macs, and interestingly, also the PS4 game controller.
The company said xCloud, which is already available in preview in the U.S., the U.K. and South Korea, will soon be made available to testers in Canada, India, Japan and Western Europe too.
When it’s released, xCloud will allow gamers to play their favourite Xbox games on a variety of devices, including Smart TVs, PCs, phones and tablets, both in the home and also outside. The service will be available on Android in addition to Windows, and Microsoft is also working with Apple to bring it to iOS devices.
Microsoft hasn’t said which Smart TVs might be compatible with xCloud so far, nor has it mentioned any media players such as Apple TV so we’ll have to wait a little longer for details on those.
Interestingly though, the company did confirm the service will be compatible with Sony’s PS4 controller the DualShock 4, as well as other types of controllers.
"In addition to using an Xbox One wireless controller, we’ll expand support to more Bluetooth controllers beginning next year, including the DualShock 4 wireless controller and game pads from Razer," said Microsoft.
Clearly then, Microsoft is hoping it will be able to attract players from the PlayStation ecosystem to xCloud, given that it will make its games that much more accessible than they were with just the Xbox console.
Microsoft added that its Xbox Game Pass will also be able to integrate with xCloud, which means gamers will be able to stream titles they’ve purchased through the Xbox store to any compatible device they own.
