Microsoft is releasing a new Xbox app for Android today that includes an overhauled design and the ability to remotely play Xbox games streamed directly from your console. The Xbox remote play feature, known previously as Console Streaming, lets you remotely connect to an Xbox One console and play games you've already downloaded to it.
This is different from Microsoft's xCloud service, as anyone with an Android phone can now stream all of their games directly from their own Xbox One console. xCloud currently only works with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate titles, and games are streamed from Microsoft's cloud servers instead. Here's a brief look at the differences in a hands-on from last year:
We have two ways to stream on your Android phone or tablet through our technical previews: Stream from your Xbox One console with Xbox Console Streaming (Preview) – Play Xbox One games installed on your Xbox One console, including games from Xbox Game Pass, on your Android phone or tablet. Microsoft has rolled out a new Android Xbox app, which will allow all Xbox One owners (and Series X/S players in the future) to stream games from their console to their phone or tablet. The service is only available on Android as of writing, but it could go to iOS in the future. Our pick for 'Best' phone for Project xCloud and Xbox Game Streaming goes to the OnePlus 8, balancing. Alongside the game streaming addition, the Xbox app for Android has also been updated with a new design that's clearly tied in with the new dashboard changes coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X.
here's my first look at Microsoft's new Xbox Game Streaming feature. It turns an Xbox One console into a game streaming server to play games remotely on an Android phone. Full hands-on here: https://t.co/CzePiX9nnepic.twitter.com/b1fjfYzmNg
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) October 30, 2019Xbox One Android Streaming Apps
Alongside the game streaming addition, the Xbox app for Android has also been updated with a new design that's clearly tied in with the new dashboard changes coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X / S. The next-gen Xbox consoles come with an updated controller that includes a new share button, and this updated Xbox app is designed to complement that. The app will let you know once a capture is done and uploaded, and you can then share it quickly to social media networks like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and more.
This new Xbox app is also designed to make it easier to set up an Xbox Series X or S console in November. You can use the mobile app to configure settings, all while a console downloads its relevant updates. The app will also support the ability to install any games to your home console, manage a game library, and free up storage space, or simply use it as a remote control to navigate an Xbox console.
Microsoft's new Xbox app is available in beta for Android phones and tablets from Google's Play Store. Microsoft makes no mention of iOS here, but the mobile app will also be updated for iPhone soon too. It's just highly unlikely that remote streaming of Xbox One games will be enabled as part of the update for iOS.
An Xbox program manager just revealed that all Xbox one testers - those include Xbox insiders in the Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead programs - based in the UK and US can try out the new gaming streaming feature. Using your Android device, you can stream the game directly from your Xbox One.
The best part is that the feature works with all Xbox One and Xbox 360 games installed on your Xbox One console without any limitations.
There are a couple of requirements that you need to meet in order to use the feature. First and foremost, you need an Android device as Microsoft hasn't disclosed any plans on bringing the functionality to iOS devices. Secondly, you'd need an open or moderate NAT type, upload bandwidth of at least 4.75 Mbps with 9 Mbps being preferable. Network latency should be 128ms (60ms or less for optimal experience) and the Xbox One console should be set to instant-on in the power options menu.
Regarding smartphone requirements aside from running Android 6.0, you'd need Bluetooth 4.0 support, a Bluetooth-enabled wireless controller to connect to the phone and the Xbox Game Streaming (Preview) app from Google Play Store.
As we already outlined, the feature is available only to early testers, so you can say it's a preview. It will be made available to the masses real soon.
Reader comments
- JimmytheHand
- PMn
So, they've taken an Xbox and turned it (finally) into a Wii U? Sounds good to me, please port breath of the wild to the hardware in a series X! :)
- Dj million
- Nu7
An Xbox program manager just revealed that all Xbox one testers - those include Xbox insiders in the Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead programs - based in the UK and US can try out the new gaming streaming feature. Using your Android device, you can stream the game directly from your Xbox One.
The best part is that the feature works with all Xbox One and Xbox 360 games installed on your Xbox One console without any limitations.
There are a couple of requirements that you need to meet in order to use the feature. First and foremost, you need an Android device as Microsoft hasn't disclosed any plans on bringing the functionality to iOS devices. Secondly, you'd need an open or moderate NAT type, upload bandwidth of at least 4.75 Mbps with 9 Mbps being preferable. Network latency should be 128ms (60ms or less for optimal experience) and the Xbox One console should be set to instant-on in the power options menu.
Regarding smartphone requirements aside from running Android 6.0, you'd need Bluetooth 4.0 support, a Bluetooth-enabled wireless controller to connect to the phone and the Xbox Game Streaming (Preview) app from Google Play Store.
As we already outlined, the feature is available only to early testers, so you can say it's a preview. It will be made available to the masses real soon.
Reader comments
- JimmytheHand
- PMn
So, they've taken an Xbox and turned it (finally) into a Wii U? Sounds good to me, please port breath of the wild to the hardware in a series X! :)
- Dj million
- Nu7
Xbox Streaming Android App
I so much love it work so fast.
- Stak
- w47
I can see comments thinking this is/similar to a cloud service. Correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't this somehow similar to Steam Link and not a cloud gaming service like Stadia? Also, the upload speed mentioned should be your home network upload...
Streaming Xbox To Android
